Cheryl Shops

Paris is probably the most stylish city in the world, and it's my favorite for people-watching (it's my favorite for a lot of things, but I'll cover that in another post). I know it's a cliché, but the women—and the men—are just so incredibly chic. This may be because Paris is a global fashion center, but probably more because dressing well is a culturally ingrained behavior. In other words, French women are just innately stylish. There's no way you can compete, but there is a way to blend in, and that's dressing in such a way that feels, as the French say, bien dans son peau—good in your skin. So I wore something that made me feel pulled together, confident, and like myself, and it was a reminder that I should always dress that way. Maybe I should go to Paris more often!



I bought this glen plaid boyfriend jacket last year at Zara, and while I haven't featured it much here (you've seen it briefly in this post), it's one of my go-tos. It's a bit on the large side (I'm in a medium), but that makes it easy to layer bulkier things underneath if needed, and I've found the exaggerated, padded shoulders actually have a slimming effect. It's a classic, and it looks like I've borrowed it from my boyfriend, which also just feels very Parisian to me. My T-shirt is by Anine Bing, and it's a very delicate linen that only gets softer and better over time. Because it's been so loved, it has holes, but I think they add to its rock-and-roll quality.


If this were any other time of year, I'd probably be wearing jeans, but since it was the end of August—and we had gorgeous weather—I decided to wear my favorite Topshop denim skirt (last seen here). I love jeans, but I've always loved skirts more, and that's what I'm most comfortable in. Plus, wearing a skirt instead of jeans here makes this whole look a little more feminine—it's all about the push-pull between hard and soft.



I don't own a Chanel bag (although I'd love to!) but decided to bring this Marc Jacobs single bag as a nod to the icon. I used to always take this huge hobo bag with me when I traveled, but it's on its last legs—and I'd always load it with too much crap—so I decided to try this one instead. It was just big enough to hold my wallet, phone, travel book, sunglasses, and the essentials, and I like that the strap is short enough to keep my bag tucked securely under my arm (I had the strap shortened when I bought it). This exact style is sadly discontinued, but I've linked similar ones below.



I brought a bunch of jewelry on the trip but ended up wearing my two Hermès bracelets and these two Stella & Dot necklaces most of the time—two of the strands are from the necklace I wore in this post. The bracelets are investment pieces for sure, but they elevate any outfit, and they're very sentimental to me—I bought the double tour for my birthday this year, and I bought the H bracelet the last time I was in France, two years ago. And speaking of French luxury brands, yes, that is indeed the Christian Louboutin store to the right.



If this look were truly "me", I'd be wearing a higher heel, but if there's anything my previous trips to Europe has taught me, it's to wear comfortable shoes on the cobblestone streets. These Vionic oxfords  (last seen here) are no longer available in the silver, but you can still score them in black patent (which might be even better), and like all Vionic shoes, they're ridiculously comfortable. I thought these worked well with this outfit, too, because they play up the whole masculine-feminine vibe.



We shot these photos in the 1st arrondissement in Paris, mostly in and around the Palais Royal. Aside from the St. Germain neighborhood in the 6th, this is one of the most iconic Parisian neighborhoods to me, plus it's home to the Louvre, the Opera, and a bunch of other super-Paris-y landmarks. It's also a fantastic neighborhood for shopping!


OUTFIT DETAILS: Zara blazer (similar here) | Anine Bing tee (current season here) | Topshop moto denim skirt | Marc Jacobs Single bag (similar here; or here) | Vionic Hadley oxfords | Hermès Clic-H and Rivale double tour bracelets | Stella & Dot Abundance and Dez necklaces