6 Things Parisians Are Wearing This Spring

live from the sidewalk runway - spring edition

Reporting live from the Parisian sidewalk this Spring! If you stepped out into Paris this month, you might wonder if you’re in a fever dream. There is a wild variety of outfits you’ll encounter on any given day. Half of Parisians are still bundled in their winter coats, some are in trenches or blazers and a few are already out in t-shirts. It feels like everyone’s navigating spring at their own pace — eagerly or otherwise.

If you missed it, I wrote about what Parisians were wearing in the winter a few months ago. Unsurprisingly, most looks have shifted dramatically with the rise in temperatures though a few still echo their January counterparts. Let’s see the footage!

Image via Pinterest

Trenches

Let’s start with the obvious and an essential for me this season: the beloved trench. I’ve seen a variety of silhouettes, colors, lengths — mostly on warmer and sunny days. They’re often paired with a t-shirt, denim, and either flats, loafers or tennis shoes. Beige is by far the most popular color, but I’m also seeing black, navy, off white and olive green. Lengths vary, but the most common are either long or cropped trenches.

cropped trench | images via Pinterest

Denim Jackets

Personally, I was thrilled to see that Parisians embrace the denim jacket. They are a guilty pleasure of mine (as seen here and here) that I’ve collected many of over the years. I’ve seen a range of washes, especially vintage blue, black and white. Some go with a full on Canadian tuxedo look, but most pair them with black denim or cargo-esque pants. Occasionally, a fun shoe choice makes an appearance like a cheetah print flats or patent red boots.

denim jacket | images via Pinterest

Blazers

We know and love her: the blazer. She’s slowly coming back into play with the warmer weather. They’re often paired with sweaters or a t-shirt on those bright and sunny days. Black and navy striped versions seem to be the most common on the sidewalk runway this Spring. PS — if you missed it, Parisians are still very much wearing stripes.

blazer (use code OFELIA15 for 15% off) | images via Pinterest

Leather Jackets & Suede

I nearly stopped in my tracks when I saw an older lady rolling her grocery cart while sporting the coolest mid-length suede car coat. I thought to myself, “I hope I’m that stylish at her age.”

While leather coats certainly made appearances in the winter sidewalk runway edition, I didn’t see them as often as their heavier counterpart — the wool coat. Leather and suede jackets have since popped off for the Spring — providing just enough warmth for those cooler mornings without being too much for the afternoon temperature spike. I mostly see cropped styles, but every so often you see longer leather beauties. Many appear to be vintage leather jackets with that lived in look we all love.

cropped leather jacket | images via Pinterest

Silk Scarves

Although silk scarves are worn year-round, I’m seeing them more front and center now that the chunky winter scarves have been put away. My French teachers wear one daily, draping them on themselves as they leave the classroom. On the street, they’re worn by all people of all ages in a variety of bold colors and soft prints — each adding flair to even the simplest look.

silk scarf | images via Pinterest

Long Skirts

I’ve seen more long skirts come out to play recently — they’re having their moment. Most are denim skirts but on a few occasions I’ve seen other fabrics like wool and cotton. They are most often a-line or relaxed pencil cuts.

denim skirt | images via Pinterest

One Off Moments

Every so often, I catch an outfit I only see once that leaves a lasting impression. While many associate Parisian style with minimalism and timeless neutrals — that doesn’t really reflect the full picture. Fashion here varies widely on arrondissement, lifestyle, socioeconomic status and more.

One standout: a woman wearing a dark caramel suit with dark brown flats and a white button down. She was carrying a white purse that I clocked to be from Demilier (I can’t recall if it was croc-embossed). She topped it off with a purple multi-color floral brooch pinned to her blazer’s lapel.

blazer | flat lay button down (the one I own) | flats (25% off here) | purse | image via Pinterest

Spring evenings in Paris are magical. Some people are dressed to the nines for dinner reservations and that’s when I most often see a small heel come out to play. I was mesmerized by one woman in particular wearing a silky, vintage dress. I was too slow to take a pic so I’ve recreated the look from memory below.

blazer | sunglasses | purse | dress | heels (25% off here)

As I was walking by Le Bon Marche, a woman floated by me in a purple duster. I was so mesmerized by it, that all I managed to see was the memorable Le Bon Marche paper bag she carried. The duster I saw in person was a deep purple, but this is the closest I was able to find to it!

coat

As I’ve mentioned before it’s important to remember that everything I report is influenced by many factors — location, time of day, weather, income levels and more. It’s easy to assume Parisian style fits a single mold, but in reality that image is shaped by a small, specific segment of the population.

You can find all featured pieces mentioned here. If you’re looking to add any of these to your spring rotation I’ve included options I already own or have been eyeing.

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Are you wearing any of these items this spring? Or have you spotted your own “sidewalk runway” moments in your city? As always, if you have Paris fashion questions, drop them below — I’m always on duty!

xx Ofelia

Disclaimer: some links are affiliate links, which means I may receive a very small percentage from a sale. As always, anything that is linked are things I either own, recommend or would purchase myself.

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