I Just Stayed in Paris for a Month—These Are the 5 Items I'm Buying to Look Like a Local
The only trends you need to look elegant this winter.
Paris is my favorite city in the world besides NYC. It’s so effortlessly chic, and everywhere I turn, there is beauty to witness, from the buildings to the art to the fashionable people. I visited Paris for the first time last year and decided I should go on a longer trip to cosplay as a local. I sublet an apartment in the 18th arrondissement and felt like I was the main character in a coming-of-age film.
As I took the train into the city each day, closer to Le Marais, I noticed the outfits of everyone around me. I perused galleries and vintage stores, and it became apparent that there were five main trends the Parisians always wore, no matter where they were going. Those five trends have stayed with me since coming back to NYC. They were all winter-friendly and easy to integrate into an existing wardrobe.
If you’re trying to look as chic as a Parisian local this season, keep scrolling to learn the trends I discovered and shop them.
Fur Coats
Now, fur coats aren't a particularly new trend, but the Parisians wear them as a staple. These fashion-forward people I would pass on the street looked incredibly chic. They usually styled these fur coats with simple jeans or wool pants.
Shop Fur Coats
Collarless Jackets
I have never been one to wear a collarless jacket, but the Parisians have convinced me to give them a try. As soon as I saw a woman wearing one in a café and then again on the street throughout my time in Paris, I knew I had to shop for the perfect one to add to my closet.
Shop Collarless Jackets
Tailored Wool Coats
Now, everyone everywhere should have a good tailored wool coat for winter. Maybe it's my romanticization of the city, but the Parisians made the plain tailored wool coat look so stylish. You can never go wrong with a classic staple, especially for winter.
Shop Tailored Wool Coats
Classic Cashmere Sweaters
Who doesn't love an ultra-soft and universally chic sweater? Parisians sure do. I'm already a fan of the cold-weather trend, but in Paris, it was a major go-to for these fashionable people. They wore them with pants, skirts, and jeans often.
Shop Classic Cashmere Sweaters
Leather Midi Skirts
Last but not least, in the slightest, is the leather midi skirt. Luckily, I thrifted a vintage Gap 100% leather midi skirt from a flea market two years ago to wear on my trip, so I fit right in. This trend was my favorite to see throughout my visit because people would style them in different ways, whether paired with a simple sweater or T-shirt and boots or flats, the combinations were so stylish, I would take mental photos of these looks to try with my own skirt.
Shop Leather Midi Skirts
Kerane Marcellus is a New York-based writer. She joined theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing team in 2025 after writing for Essence Magazine and freelancing for a number of other arts and culture publications. Fashion is a form of expression that she encourages everyone to take part in. There is no right or wrong in getting dressed! When she's not writing, she's reading in the park or gallery hopping in the city.