I Spent a Month Living In Paris, Watch as My Style Evolved Week by Week

There is something about the airport weight limit that can turn even the most exuberant dresser into a minimalist.

I spontaneously booked a month-long trip to Paris with little time to plan and given my packing restraints, I ended up centering my Parisian wardrobe around a capsule wardrobe like no other. Everything that I read and saw on social media told me that French style was all about wardrobe staples, cheeky cardigans, and quiet luxury. While I came into Paris with that expectation, reality struck me and a conversation with a Parisian friend revealed the truth.

He told me over drinks in Le Marais that French fashion isn’t exactly what Americans think it is. “It’s about breaking the rules. Paris girls will never wear a full look. They’ll put two things together that you would never expect. They’ll even mix Zara with Hermes—they don’t care.” Hearing this halfway into my trip totally change the approach I had to my personal style moving forward.

Although my style started out in the elevated basics category, I watched it evolve in ways that I didn’t expect. During every phase of my journey, I thought to myself, “wow, this is the new me,” only to transform again the following week. Below, discover the evolution of my wardrobe week by week—you’re guaranteed to be impressed.