Paris style report: l’automne 2009 – Glasses, Coats, Bags
Fully caffeinated, une femme once again takes to the streets in search of Paris style.
As previously mentioned, the predominant shape for eyeglasses among all ages is rectangular. Sunglasses show more variety, with aviators seeming to pull ahead of the pack among the more fashion-conscious.
The fur vests spotted in shop windows everywhere last year are still seeing some daylight. I love this classic casual look below. What do we think…is the jacket Chanel or Chanel-esque?
Trenches were ubiquitous, as well as leather and solid coats.
Trenches were ubiquitous, as well as leather and solid coats. 
However I noticed a good number of patterned coats, and also a few with floral embroidery (which unfortunately I was not quick enough on the trigger to capture).
(Click on the one above to enlarge to see the pattern.)
The vast majority of bags seen were black, brown or grey, and of a slouchy shoulder statchel or tote style (think Gerard Darel “24” or similar), and several Vanessa Bruno totes with the sequin trim were spotted, as well as various cross-body bags. Bags sometimes provide a pop of color, most frequently red or purple.
I think the bag above is a Lancel. More about this brand to come…
Below is one of my very favorite street style shots, as it really captures how much diversity of style one sees in Paris. Click to see larger.
Next up, pants and scarves.
(Click on the one above to enlarge to see the pattern.)
The vast majority of bags seen were black, brown or grey, and of a slouchy shoulder statchel or tote style (think Gerard Darel “24” or similar), and several Vanessa Bruno totes with the sequin trim were spotted, as well as various cross-body bags. Bags sometimes provide a pop of color, most frequently red or purple.
I think the bag above is a Lancel. More about this brand to come…
Below is one of my very favorite street style shots, as it really captures how much diversity of style one sees in Paris. Click to see larger.
Next up, pants and scarves.~
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I’m absolutely certain the woman at the far right in the last photo is an American tourist.
I do like the bag slung across the body – I do that all the time as it is practical when pushing a pram.
I’m feelingg quite Parisienne looking at these — rectangular glasses (by a Parisienne co. no less), check; several good coats acquired over past few years, including trenches, check; cross-body bags incorporating pop of colour, check! I think I’m ready for my next visit to check out my Parisienne-ness. . . After looking at your great pics and hearing of your week, I’m inspired to be there.
Oh, how I wish to visit Paris!
Love that little Chanel-esque sweater/jacket, and even more , the patterned trench!
Very interesting. I am mostly struck by how much more rugged the Parisiennes seem to be than they were last time I visited. Wait. Ten years ago. Not good. Not good at all.
Oh, that last picture speaks volumes, doesn’t it? I wonder about the couple in the center… European tourists or Paris natives? They couldn’t be American, could they?
Style Spy, could be, because of the ugly too-small cardigan and shoes. Not because she is fat. Although obesity rates remain lower in France (and especially in chic Paris neighbourhoods) than in most other Western countries, it is absolutely untrue that all Frenchwomen are slim. I have a friend in Paris, who is a teacher, who is very heavy. Somehow she dresses much better than the woman in that pic though, heroic though that is in Paris where plus sizes may start as low as a North American 12.
One place she can find nice (if not top-quality) clothes is H+M, which carries plus sizes in France. They seem to have only VERY small sizes here, and cater only to the very young. Bizarre.
In that picture, I love the image of the chic hijab wearer. I don’t subscribe to any religion personally, but like the fact that many women whose various beliefs dictate modesty nowadays like to be stylish. In Paris you’ll also see “modest chic” among Sepherdic Jewish women, who wear a snood rather than the Muslim hijab. The older woman on the left with her chignon is oh-so-classic Parisienne! Then you have the sporty-intello homme d’un certain âge with his manbag (straight men carry those in France too) and his little book! Bet he rides a Velib bike.
I adore the deep green café table. Hate the big fur vest – shades of Yeti. Looks like a monster from Where the Wild Things Are abducting the child, not a mum.
RML, I always have a bag across body too on my bicycle, and clip a rear red light onto the strap as well as the light on the bicycle itself. Getting dark early here now. Earlier still in Paris, which is considerably north of Montréal.
Lovely shots, Miss Pseu. Thanks for sharing.
Love the heliotrope blouson on the mr. crossing the street. (Their leather blousons are very important to men of mid-years.) I dislike the look of cross body bags on women, but accept the necessity. Thanks especially for shots of women our age! We might have to buy you one of those briefcase spy cameras for your next trip!
Thank you, thank you, thank you another great style report – so enjoyable.
interesting mix of styles.
My chere D.P.,
Your photos on-the-street are fine, but you just WAIT (!!!!!) until you see the red-headed woman I captured on the streets of Paris last weekend.
She will be on-view as of tomorrow.
xo,
Tish
StyleSpy – I’m pretty sure she was a tourist, whether from here or someplace else not sure. But our paths crossed a couple of times that day while I was out wandering.
Good Life in VA – I think the neighborhood we stayed in this time was probably the most diverse yet.
RML – I’m a big fan of crossbody bags as well, especially when traveling or shopping/doing errands. They may not be the most stylish, but it’s great having hands free!
Are you sure that this was just a vacation trip? You have done a great job taking all these pictures and making marks and reporting everything to all of us. Thank you so much for that. I feel like we actually owe you something for this treat ; )
materfamilias – oh, absolutely! Your style would be quite in sync with what I saw in Paris.
Princess Freckles – and my wish for you is that you’re able to visit Paris someday soon!
Katriona – yes, I think the patterned fabric really makes those coats stand out from the sea of beige and black.
LPC – not good that they look more rugged, or not good that it’s been ten years?
sarahn – I doubt that the people in the center are from the U.S. Not many American men would wear such a bright purple jacket.
lagatta – we have lots of Orthodox Jews in West LA. Most of the women dress a bit on the frumpy side, but every now and then you see one who uses the dress guidelines as a jumping off point to really show some great personal style. Yes, that vest is definitely into Yeti territory, not my style. But look how great her boots are!
Miss Janey – you’re very welcome!
Duchesse – you probably can’t tell from behind, but the woman with the red bag and the second patterned coat are also “of a certain age.” I think French women are less likely to cut their hair short just because they’re over 50.
metscan – I have to admit, I really had a good time trying to document the styles I observed!
Aninoz – I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed! I had fun putting these together.
Sher – yes, isn’t she divinely classic?
tishjett – anyone I know? 😉
Would love to copy the woman on the left in the last photo.
So where do you stay when you go to Paris? Do you go to different areas or stay with what you know?
I see the blocks across the people’s faces and think perhaps that is the solution to not asking permission to take photos.
I did neither last year when we were in Prague, but think I’ll do the block thing in future.
http://shelleyshouse.blogspot.com/2008/11/watching-women.html
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures!
Shelley – this last time we stayed in an apartment on the western end of the Marais district, very near the Pompidou museum. Before we’ve stayed in hotels in the 8th and 6th but were trying to save some money this time, and thought an apartment would be convenient for making some meals in (as well as being cheaper right off the bat that a hotel.)
I decided to anonymize (is that a word?) my subjects because I didn’t ask their permission, and wouldn’t want someone to have any grounds to ask me to pull their picture.
A note to whomever mentioned the “couple” in the middle of the bottom picture…they actually weren’t together, I think. It’s just the angle and the position they were in when I snapped that may look that way.
OMG Style Spy, good call.