What they’re wearing in Paris: April 2022

For the first several days we were in Paris, it was still pretty cold (we had snow on our first day!) and everyone was bundled up in their puffers and heavy wool coats. On our last few days, though, the weather turned quite pleasant, so I was able to get out and observe what they’re wearing in Paris this spring.

Here are a few common threads I observed.

Sneakers everywhere, on everyone

Well, almost. Parisians love their sneakers, in a multitude of styles. Classic white styles are still popular, both sleek and chunky. I also spotted a notable number of styles with some metallic or sparkly details. (See image on left, above.)

Les bottes

Ankle boots in every style were most common, but I did spot a few women wearing knee boots. The woman on the left was the only one I saw wearing over-the-knee boots, but I thought she looked fabulous.

Jeans

You’ll see just about every denim style and wash on women of all ages, usually topped off with a jacket or blazer.

Light washes, too. Cuts range from super skinny to wide leg, though I noticed more relaxed fits this time. You won’t go wrong with a slim straight leg.

When it comes to skirts, women of a certain age seem to lean toward longer styles with print. They’re worn with sneakers, ankle boots, and knee boots.

Jackets

You’ll see everything from blazers to utility jackets to moto styles. I didn’t notice many women wearing hoodies, except as a mid-layer under a jacket.

Accessories

Once the weather warmed up, I noticed fewer women wearing scarves (of any type). Or hats.

When it comes to bags, many Parisiennes seem to favor a satchel or top-handle style bag. But you’ll also see smaller shoulder or cross-body bags, usually supplemented with a cloth shopping bag. You don’t see many logo bags or fanny packs.

You also don’t see women dripping in jewelry. Usually they’ll select one or two pieces as a focal point, either necklaces, a ring, or brooch. I didn’t notice anyone wearing statement earrings.

What to wear in Paris

Basically, you won’t go wrong in Paris with “smart casual” attire. Paris has become much more casual over the years we’ve been visiting, and even in nice restaurants you’ll see people in jeans and sneakers (but neat). Though you still don’t see people wearing sweats, yoga wear, or “athleisure” styles unless they’re actually jogging.

And though I spied a lot of color in the shops, usually you’ll find Parisians are more comfortable in neutrals, with maybe one piece as a color accent.

We arrived in London yesterday, and have a full weekend planned…more to come!