Scouring fashion blogs shows you the simple way women dress in Europe

Sometimes, on this side of the pond, our fashion tends to be a little...overdone. We aren’t talking about people who are too dressed-up, but often the opposite. We’ve all seen the woman parading around in a tracksuit and flip-flops, but with full hair and makeup. She may also be wearing too many diamonds for day (and for a tracksuit) and a logo-covered handbag. American fashion can be glamorous, but it’s usually overdone with overly coiffed hair and heavy doses of self-tanner.
Scouring fashion blogs shows you the simple way women dress in Europe. It’s simple, but always incredibly chic and pulled-together. Check out Alexa Chung and Lily Allen at the recent FW 11 Chanel ready-to-wear fashion show. While neither is dressed to stand out in a crowd, they still do thanks to the utter simplicity of their outfits. Chung is wearing a vintage dress with black opaque tights and flats with a matching clutch. Allen is wearing a tweed Chanel coat with an exaggerated collar, black opaque tights and black boots. Both looks are wearable and recreating the looks is easy. Here are our tips for getting that Parisian chic style:
- Coats with quirky touches. Think big collars, blouson sleeves and statement-making buttons.
- Look for easy-going shapes. Nothing should cling to your body or swallow you either. You want pieces that gently skim your shape.
- Black opaque tights. Everyone from Carine Roitfeld to random fashion bloggers wear these. Need we say more?
- Invest in a good pair of black flats. Parisian woman wear heels, but they also wear flats quite a bit, so you never risk looking underdressed.
- A fabulous bag. European woman love their handbags. From the classic Louis Vuitton Speedy to a quaint little Chanel clutch, they almost always have a designer bag in tow. If you can’t take the plunge for a pricey bag, go vintage. Think whimsical clutches and plush leathers in black or bold tones.
Katy Perry is known for her out-there style. But when she made an appearance at Paris fashion week, we thought she’d tone it down a little. When Perry isn’t dressed like a circus clown, she often wears pin-up and vintage-inspired garb that is flattering for her figure. Instead of going that route, Perry decided to go full-on wacko for Paris fashion week. She wore a blue wig with Bettie Page bangs and white sunglasses. Her petite figure was covered with a black and white striped dress with a maxi hemline and red heels on her feet. Since every wacko pop star needs a prop, Perry held a fan throughout the fashion show.