Les Parisiennes

Family out for a Saturday stroll, rain notwithstanding

I’ll readily admit, between the weather and our itinerary, it was a considerable challenge to snap street style shots during this visit.For the first couple of days I worried that I’d have pictures of nothing but trenches and umbrellas! But finally on Sunday afternoon the sun came out, I parked us at a nice café for people watching, ordered un verre du vin (just for cover, mind you) and was able to get a few decent shots of les Parisiennes d’un certain age in their natural habitat, April 2012.

Parisian women still love their black. They’ll sometimes add a colored accessory, and often mix black and brown (saw countless women in black pants/brown shoes).  Black leather pants were also spotted a few times, worn by our demographic, but I wasn’t quick enough to get pictures.

Saw more than a few versions of this shiny style of raincoat.

I did not see that many women wearing wedges. 

Browns and beiges were other neutrals of choice.

I was pretending to take a picture of the bridge, and this lovely woman in the grey ponytail (the actual intended subject) tried to dodge out of the way. I covet her jacket.
Formidable!
This woman all in browns, rusts and beiges had a 70’s/ Annie Hall thing going on, right down to the little round John Lennon glasses. 
And then there were those women who didn’t shy away from a bit more color… 

Because the weather was so unseasonably cool and wet, I’m sure that a lot of what I saw was a dragging out of the winter wardrobe, maybe with a spring scarf or accessory thrown into the mix. Skinny jeans/pants still seem to reign supreme, though I did see several women in a *slightly* wider straight leg or subtle boot cut pant. Skirts are almost always knee length or above, regardless of age. Note how sleek *most* of the shoes are. Nothing with towering heels or platforms. Bags are slightly smaller and more structured than in past seasons. Two handle satchel and tote styles dominate. One still doesn’t see a lot of conspicuous jewelry, makeup or “done” hair.

I do wish I’d been able to get more photos. I guess we’ll have to go back again next year!
~

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25 Comments

  1. It might be cold and wet, but I still love these street shots! I also love is when Tish does this…so fun to see what others are wearing in Paris. They seem to like big bags as much as I do!!

  2. Oh, I know exactly which café you were at by the Eiffel Tower! I love that spot for people watching. I also like the café next to the École Militaire métro stop – I always forget the name.

    Beautiful shots – I too love the oatmeal coat and yellow shoes. Sadly I think only tall and thin Parisiennes can wear that look.

  3. It is great, that you took pictures of ” ordinary ” people. Following only The Sartorialist, gives a wrong view of what is really going on.
    Luckily there was sunshine too, had it rained every day…
    Now I am starting to wait to see your purchases!

  4. Glad to hear the chic ladies are not wearing those hideous, enormous platforms (also known as “hooker shoes”). I can’t wait for them to go out of style! I’m never going to wear them in any case, but if they would go out of style, there would be more choices of pretty shoes for me in the stores!

  5. It is not till “formidable” and the very last photo that (if you take out the wondrous backgrounds) that I feel like I am seeing any other sensibility than that of an urban woman of at least the middle class in the same temperature zone. The world really is becoming flat. Montréal is a very French city, though, so my eye has changed. Here one sees skinny jeans mostly on the teens to early thirties. We too cling to winter darks but then, wer had snowflakes in the air on May 26.

  6. Well done on the photographs – think you have done really well – quite a few!! I found it very difficult trying to take ‘snaps’ whilst looking as if I wasn’t when I was in Paris last year! Love the mix of brown with black and grey with brown too. X

  7. My favorite is the woman on the bridge, with the ponytail. I suppose that’s who I aspire to be when I grow up.

  8. Dragging out the winter wardrobe? I wish–I think I put away my sweaters for about a week in March, and out they’ve been ever since. I’m glad you had a good time though–come back soon!

  9. You hit the nail on the head when you said : no conspicuous jewellery, make-up or “done” hair…that’s what I noticed about them also when I was there. I did notice the quality of their bags, shoes and belts. No dingly-dangly earrings, bracelets or necklaces. Wonderful skin and faces..not to mention how they walked and held themselves. Hair natural looking, without being unkempt.
    Quite a role model!

  10. Do I see a few LV Damier bags on the Parisiennes? And didn’t you take one yourself?

  11. The red shoes with the blue tights was an interesting combination. Wonder what the rest of the outfit was like under the beige coat?

    Thanks for sneaking in some fashion shots for us. Yes, you’ll have to go back next year to give us an update!

  12. Wow, great photos you took, so brave, to approach those women.
    Looking at the women I wonder, how many actually are Parisiennes and how many are from Poland, Russia, London etc., just like you – not from Paris. 🙂
    🙂

    The woman with the yellow shoes looks very Parisienne, but wait – no purse?! 😉

    Have lovely days, lets hope for some sun, you so deserve to capture some photos in bright light.

  13. I am going to Paris soon and being a people/style watcher will be snapping photos like this. After all what’s the Eiffel Tower without red shoes to add interest? I can’t wait for the European yogurt.
    I am semi retired and finally able to slow down and make proper meals, etc. but miss the kids and the pace and find I’m not doing all the wonderful things I thought I would. So skip the guilt, every day won’t be perfect but must be enjoyed. Keep up the blog, though.