I Was Just in Paris—This Is the Capsule Wardrobe of the Cool Girls in the Marais

I recently came back from a fun trip to Paris, where I spent several days in the Marais district of the city. For those who haven't been, the Marais is a neighborhood bustling with a young, cool crowd. There are a ton of vintage shops, natural wine bars, and—you guessed it—lots of stylish women. As a fashion editor, I naturally kept an eye out for some of the recurrent dressing themes so I could report back stateside on what the cool girls in Paris are wearing right now. While there definitely is a smattering of trendy pieces (think: rosette neckties and sports sunglasses) in rotation, I was focused on identifying the core wardrobe workhorses that I imagine will remain in style for seasons to come. My resulting list can be considered the Parisian capsule wardrobe checklist. Scroll on to get the look, which I think would look chouette (cool) no matter which country you're in.

1. Oval Sunglasses

The French luxury heritage brand Celine is responsible for repopularizing oversize oval sunglasses. The look is inherently glamorous, and I think investing in a pair is a smart move.

See how they make this simple outfit special? I guarantee the cost per wear will be good.

2. Layered Crew-Neck Tee

I think Miu Miu, which shows its ready-to-wear collections in Paris, may have something to do with the resurgence of the white crew-neck tee. Sure, it's the kind of basic that's always in style, but since the brand featured the staple heavily in its fall show, it's felt especially relevant. 

Go for just a tee and breezy button-down in warm weather, and toss on a trench for any unseasonably chilly days.

3. Statement Ballet Flats

The resurgence of fancy ballet flats is making huge waves in Paris right now. If you happen to be a size 7, you can snag the exact Khaite shoes above.

The Alaïa flats pictured were recently declared by luxury fashion sourcer Gab Waller as the most requested flats of summer. Accordingly, they're hard to find online, but the Loeffler Randall pick below gives a similar effect.

4. Pretty White Button-Down Blouse

This top is a little bit pretty, a little bit schoolgirl. With ruffles or lace, you can't go wrong. The J.Crew top below looks even cuter in motion. Check out this try-on TikTok of the blouse for proof.

A short-sleeve version is *checks notes* perfect for summer.

5. Distressed Leather Jacket

Ladies in the Marais always have a cool-girl spin to their outfits, even if they're wearing mostly classic pieces. The distressed leather jacket, recently popularized by Prada, is the item of choice to add a bit of edge.

Lots of fashion people own the Source Unknown jacket pictured above. If you're looking for something more affordable, I also love the Topshop take on the trend below.

6. Vest as Top

Naturally, the Parisians are into an elevated, tailored look, so it's no surprise the vest-as-top look has taken off there.

If you have a slightly eclectic style, opt for an embroidered version.

7. Adidas Samba Sneakers

Nobody is safe from the rise of the Sambas, and that includes the Parisians. This outfit is a perfect example of the "wrong shoe theory" that's circulating on TikTok right now. 

Apologies in advance, but this color is hard to find except in larger sizes. If these are the Sambas of your dreams, make sure to set alerts for new drops.

Next up, check out the 5 things Brits would never wear.