Packing for a trip abroad, especially to a fashion-centric destination like Paris, is simultaneously exciting and nerve-racking. If you’re wondering what to wear, here are a few ideas on what clothes and accessories to pack when you travel to Paris in the spring or fall. I traveled to France for a 2-week trip and learned a lot! I want to share everything I learned about what to pack, including outfits I saw Parisians wearing and how to stay polished all day. I’ll also cover what not to wear to avoid looking like a tourist!
Why I Didn’t Want To Dress Like a Tourist
Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with being a tourist, that’s why we travel - but there are advantages to avoiding dressing like one. As in any big city, pickpockets often target people who look like tourists. I was repeatedly warned about this by tour guides, cab drivers, shop attendants, etc. Thankfully, it didn’t happen to me, but it’s something to consider. Avoiding hiking clothes, leggings, and certain accessories from tourist street vendors (ahem - red berets) is a good idea. Although I did see some Parisians in athleisure, most people were dressed up.
Outfit Ideas For Your Trip To Paris
In Paris, it felt like everyone was dressed up, which was a fun opportunity! Even though there were popular clothing items, many stylish women in Paris had their own spin on them - often accessorizing with an out-of-the-box item like a fringe jacket, gold Vespa helmet, etc. This is excellent news - dressing for yourself will be the best way to be stylish!
Before my trip, I did a ton of research, looking up Parisian influencers, French capsule wardrobes, and blog posts on what to pack. When I arrived, I was disappointed that the ubiquitous “Parisian” outfits on Instagram and Pinterest weren’t what the average Parisian was wearing. So don’t be too hung up on copying Parisian outfits online when you put your outfits together. It’s probably better if you don’t!
How I Chose What To Pack
I always plan my travel outfits in Stylebook. I have all my clothes in the app which makes it super easy to plan my packing lists anytime I have a free moment.
This time, I started by choosing a color palette and then looking through my clothes for classic, but comfortable items. I decided that navy, green, and white would be my main colors. I then added the clothes to a custom closet folder titled “Paris.” After I selected everything, I started mixing and matching the clothes into outfits, repeating items as often as I could. Finally, I added the outfits to a packing list, and the app automatically made a list of the clothes I actually used.
Saving my outfits in advance with Stylebook is my secret to packing efficiently. When I pre-plan my outfits, I only bring the clothes I need, which saves tons of space in my suitcase. I usually try to keep the number of clothing items low but the number of outfit choices high. Then, I can choose what to wear based on my mood during the trip.
The more versatile a piece of clothing is, the more valuable it is to my packing list. Seeing all of my choices on my phone at once makes it very easy to eliminate any clothes that aren’t pulling their weight. The app automatically collects stats on my most packed clothes so I can see which items have worked well in the past.
How To Stay Comfortable and Stylish All Day While Traveling
You’ll be walking around the city a lot, so being comfortable but stylish will help you enjoy activities more. I always recommend wearing comfortable shoes; my favorites are Geox waterproof flats and Vionic waterproof ankle boots - Naturalizer’s platform white sneakers are a good travel choice too. All of these have stood up to miles of walking while remaining comfortable.
Spring and fall weather can be unpredictable; on some days, it was a cold 50 degrees and raining; on others, it was a balmy 70. The best way to deal with this was to pack layers. I also recommend a stylish coat. I planned lots of cute outfits, but on cold, rainy days, most people only saw my coat, so I was grateful I packed a nice one! I also recommend checking the weather a few days before you leave, just in case. The forecast said that it would rain many of the days we were there, so I packed a rain hat, waterproof shoes, and a mini travel umbrella that could fit in my purse. Being prepared for the weather will make your trip much more enjoyable.
To keep my makeup fresh all day, I used All Nighter Makeup Spray and carried Elf HD Powder in my bag to reduce shine. I also stashed a mini fragrance and travel deodorant in my bag.
Life-Changing Packing Essentials
Febreze - I used this to refresh my outerwear after a long day of walking and inclement weather
Wrinkle Release - Not every hotel had an iron in the room, but thankfully I had a bottle of Wrinkle Release. I sprayed the clothes, smoothed the fabric, and then let them hang in the closet in my hotel room so the wrinkles would fall out.
Comfortable Shoes - I walked 68 miles over three weeks so my Vionic boots were essential!
Powder Compact - I didn’t always have time to refresh my makeup, so keeping pressed powder helped me control my shine.
Small Crossbody-bag - I used a bag I could easily keep in view while on the metro.
Ankle Boots - These could easily be dressed up or down and fit in everywhere, including nice restaurants.
Bring Layers - I had temperature swings from the 30’s to the 70’s
Coat - I brought a coat I loved, and most people only saw my outerwear anyway!
Mini-Umbrella or Foldable Rain Hat - It rained a lot, and having a small umbrella in my bag was a lifesaver
Packing Envelope - Similar to a packing cube, this bag compresses and holds your clothes snuggly - saving space and avoiding wrinkles.
Laundromat - Don’t forget you can wash your clothes in a pinch! Your hotel may have a service, or you can find a laundromat nearby. If it’s warmer or rainier than you expect, you might want to refresh the clothes you plan to repeat.
Outfit Styling Ideas I Picked Up From Parisians
Ditch the Logomania - I didn’t see a lot of visible designer logos. This surprised me the most! I thought that in Paris, being the fashion capital of the world, there would be labels galore, but I was wrong! People were wearing designer bags and clothes, but I saw very few items covered in designer logos.
Keep It Breezy - Relaxed, body-skimming silhouettes are more popular than body-con tight clothing.
Dress for the City - The vibe was generally more dressy casual than going to yoga class.
Forget Distressed Clothing - Even the teenagers in Paris don’t wear ripped jeans. I saw many class trips at various museums, and not one tear, fringe, or whisker was in sight.
Wear Neutrals with a Pop of Color - Neutrals reign supreme in Paris, but Parisians often pair neutrals with one really bright item. I saw many pops of red, marigold yellow, or emerald green.
Don’t Wear a Beret - This is controversial, but if you want to blend in, the one thing I’d avoid is a red beret! These were for sale at tons of souvenir stands and, in my experience, seem to be exclusively worn by tourists. Wearing this is like waving a red flag to scammers and pickpockets. Of course, if it’s your dream to live your Emily in Paris dreams - go for it!
My Paris Packing List for Spring
This is the packing list I created using Stylebook with images of my real clothes. I mostly added my images from stores to create my clothing inventory, which I then used to make outfits and a packing list.
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