I Just Stayed in Paris for a Month—These Are the 5 Items I’m Buying to Look Like a Local

The only trends you need to look elegant this winter.

Jump to category:

  • Fur Coats
  • Collarless Jackets
  • Tailored Wool Coats
  • Classic Cashmere Sweaters
  • Leather Midi Skirts

Paris is my favorite city in the world besides NYC. It’s so effortlessly chic, and everywhere I turn, there is beauty to witness, from the buildings to the art to the fashionable people. I visited Paris for the first time last year and decided I should go on a longer trip to cosplay as a local. I sublet an apartment in the 18th arrondissement and felt like I was the main character in a coming-of-age film.

As I took the train into the city each day, closer to Le Marais, I noticed the outfits of everyone around me. I perused galleries and vintage stores, and it became apparent that there were five main trends the Parisians always wore, no matter where they were going. Those five trends have stayed with me since coming back to NYC. They were all winter-friendly and easy to integrate into an existing wardrobe.

If you’re trying to look as chic as a Parisian local this season, keep scrolling to learn the trends I discovered and shop them.

Fur Coats

Now, fur coats aren’t a particularly new trend, but the Parisians wear them as a staple. These fashion-forward people I would pass on the street looked incredibly chic. They usually styled these fur coats with simple jeans or wool pants.

Shop Fur Coats

Reformation Chloe Faux Fur Oversized Coat

H&M Fluffy Coat

A.L.C. Bria Faux Fur Coat

ZARA Patchwork Faux Fur Coat ZW Collection Limited Edition

AZALEA WANG Bcardi Faux Fur Coat

Cult Gaia Martina Coat

Collarless Jackets

I have never been one to wear a collarless jacket, but the Parisians have convinced me to give them a try. As soon as I saw a woman wearing one in a café and then again on the street throughout my time in Paris, I knew I had to shop for the perfect one to add to my closet.

Shop Collarless Jackets

Reformation Dasha Blazer

ALIGNE Moto Collarless Leather Jacket

J.Crew Cora Lady Jacket in Four-Season Stretch

KHAITE Jameson Jacket

ASTR the Label Bellmere Jacket

Nordstrom Textured Collarless Jacket

Tailored Wool Coats

Now, everyone everywhere should have a good tailored wool coat for winter. Maybe it’s my romanticization of the city, but the Parisians made the plain tailored wool coat look so stylish. You can never go wrong with a classic staple, especially for winter.

Shop Tailored Wool Coats

H&M Oversized Wool-Blend Coat

EAVES X Coco Yaron Manteco Wool Coat

Aritzia The Slouch Coat

Reformation Dakota Coat

LAMARQUE Callie Double Face Wool Coat

Dunst 2-Way 3 Button Boucle Wool Coat

Classic Cashmere Sweaters

Who doesn’t love an ultra-soft and universally chic sweater? Parisians sure do. I’m already a fan of the cold-weather trend, but in Paris, it was a major go-to for these fashionable people. They wore them with pants, skirts, and jeans often.

Shop Classic Cashmere Sweaters

Reformation Meritt Cashmere Turtleneck

J.Crew Cashmere High V-Neck Sweater

H&M Fine-Knit Cashmere Sweater

Enza Costa Knit Cashmere Polo Sweater

Madewell SoftWool Boxy Crewneck Sweater

Nordstrom Wool & Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

Leather Midi Skirts

Last but not least, in the slightest, is the leather midi skirt. Luckily, I thrifted a vintage Gap 100% leather midi skirt from a flea market two years ago to wear on my trip, so I fit right in. This trend was my favorite to see throughout my visit because people would style them in different ways, whether paired with a simple sweater or T-shirt and boots or flats, the combinations were so stylish, I would take mental photos of these looks to try with my own skirt.

Shop Leather Midi Skirts

SRG Mango Leather Skirt

Le Bop Betty Faux Leather Maxi Skirt

ZARA Faux Leather Midi Skirt

Enza Costa Leather High Waisted Curve Skirt

Modern Citizen Rama Front-Vent Vegan Leather Skirt

St. Agni Leather Column Skirt

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