When packing for Paris Fashion Week this season, I considered how to balance my love for statement pieces with the classic style sensibility the French are famous for. I landed on a strategy grounded in accessories, letting them enhance and decorate my outfits that showed a tad bit more restraint than usual. And when I say a tad, I mean truly just a tiny bit—my American self couldn’t help but indulge in a little pattern clashing and wear some subtle neon, too (in the form of a trés Parisian tweed jacket, bien sûr).
Overall, I like to think I struck a solid balance between trend-driven and timeless pieces, and it turns out the Parisian women I encountered while visiting showrooms and attending runway shows thought so, too. Specifically, they seemed to approve of my accessory choices, and since at Who What Wear we are endlessly curious about everything French style, I thought I’d document which pieces earned the most compliments. I stayed at the Amastan Paris, my favorite boutique hotel in the chic 8th arrondissement, which, as it turns out, made the perfect backdrop for me to capture my most-loved accessories of the season. Set against Amastan’s quintessential Parisian balconies and charming, plant-filled courtyard, see which jewelry, bags, and shoes garnered French approval.
My choker is is from a vintage brand called Napier and is on permanent loan from my mother. There are tons of pieces from the bygone line on Etsy and eBay, or shop this affordable version from Mango.
Timeless Pearly is one of my favorite up-and-coming jewelry brands. I love a mismatched earring duo almost as much as it does.
Like a signet ring, but not. It's not surprising to me that this clever twist on a traditional style caught the eye of a few Parisian women.
Isn't it a beautiful thing when shoes are equally comfortable and stylish? These crochet kitten heels were put to the true fashion week test. After several miles of walking, not a blister in sight.
Foundrae has jewelry full of meaning; this charm is inspired by the seven types of love according to Plato and Aristotle.
While the charm looks perfectly lovely on a regular chain, I like to wear it on this affordable choker for cheeky high-low mix.
The brilliance of these boots comes through in a major ways in photos. They earned many a kind word, but I probably gave them more than a fair chance to earn compliments given I wore them with almost every outfit.
Paco Rabanne is a brand that has long held the attention of French icons like Françoise Hardy, so it's no surprise that a reissue of the designer's 1969 bag was popular during my recent trip to Paris.
The chunky gold jewelry trend isn't just for necklaces. Behold, my favorite new earrings that go with literally everything in my closet.
Checkerboard pattern is everywhere this season, often in graphic black and white. This rich leather-and-straw rendition feels like a sophisticated cousin of the trend.
A brown patent boot will always be in style, but the bent heel on this pair makes them feel especially current.
These not-quite-cat-eye, not-quite-oval sunglasses made me feel just a bit mysterious. Something that always helps me feel just a bit more Parisian.
Some nights at Amastan Paris were complimentary; editor's opinions are her own.
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