22 Days

Jeez not long until Paris! Only 22 more days!

I almost have everything done that I have to have finished before Paris. Except school of course. But I have a new suitcase, I updated my passport, I found out about using my phone internationally, I am almost done with my summer work that is due while I'm there (ridiculous, I know), I have saved up some money, I'm in the process of getting an ATM card for over there, and I have gotten my new-old camera! The only thing left to do is some shopping. Here's a list of the few things I would like to buy before I go to Paris.

1. Ballet Flats
2. Leather Belt
3. Simple White or Black Shirts
4. Simple Black Heels
5. More High-Wasted Shorts

I know I will be fine in Paris without these things, but I feel like they would be a good addition to my wardrobe over there.

Is there anything I'm forgetting to do?

153 Days

Sorry for not blogging in a while! I have dedicated my free time to reading Parisian Chic and trying to alter my closet to be more Parisian!

Here's a short overview of what I took away from the guide...

Be simple. Don't have too many bright colors or too many bold pieces in an outfit. It is much better to mix one bright thing with more simple things. For example, instead of matching your bold vintage bag with something else bold, use it with a plain cashmere sweater.

Don't be scared to be different. If you love a dress that is not particularly "in style" right now, wear it anyways! People will commend you for being bold and, sometime that look might come into style!

Don't follow trends to a tee. Use them in all outfits, but don't use everyone of them in every outfit. It is better to use them one at a time with other simple, classic styles.

It seems to me that Parisians wear a lot of men's clothing. Scarves, blazers, belts, everything... Ines says to shop at H&M in the menswear section. Looks like I'm going to take more out of my dad's closet than just his big sweaters!

According to Ines, there are 7 main parts of a Parisians closet

1. Men's blazer
2. Trench coat
3. Navy sweater
4. Tank top
5. Little black dress
6. Jeans
7. Leather jacket

As long as you have these, it is nearly impossible to go wrong!

Also according to Ines, there are 5 pairs of shoes and 5 bags that should be in every woman's closet
Shoes

1. Ballet flats
2. Open-toed sandals
3. Black heels
4. Penny loafers
5. Riding boots

Bags

1. Big tote
2. Clutch
3. Satchel
4. Ladies' handbag
5. Straw bag

Ines also gave a lot of advice on places to shop. However, seeing as I don't have a couple thousand dollars to spare, I don't think that I will be going to the places she recommended. Also in the book, she gives advice on beauty and make up (overview: keep it natural) and also how to decorate your home (keep it uncluttered). It was a lot of help and had many other tips.

This will definitely be on my Paris packing list!

158 Days

Bonjour mes amis!

I have decided that if I go to Paris solely with my current wardrobe, I will stick out like a sore thumb and will be tagged as a tourist. This is definitely not my intention, so I had to take some precautionary measures to prevent this. As usual, I first do tons of research. It is obvious that I am most lacking in the department of... well everything fashionable according to Parisians. So, I found myself this nifty little book called Parisian Chic, written by none other than Ines de la Fressange (former face of Chanel and fashion designer). Hopefully Amazon will hurry it to my house so I can get started with my Parisian Style Studies.

In the meantime, I have been looking around online for tips. So far, what I have deciphered from the fabulous Google machine is that there are seven main parts to Parisian style.

1. Ballet Flats
2. Skinny Jeans
3. Cardigans
4. Scarves
5. Blazers
6. The "Little Black Dress"
7. Black Everything

Luckily for me, I have skinny jeans (although fewer than I hoped for), cardigans, and scarves. As for the other things, well lets just say that I will be taking some money out of my bank account for it. But, first I will consult and analyze and re-analyze Parisian Chic to make sure that I have my facts straight.

Hopefully this $18 investment will be the solution to my being an American problem.