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Style Inspiration: Parisian Chic

Introduction

Paris Fashion Week has officially ended; no more planting two kisses on the cheeks of strangers, no more being swarmed by street style photographers and no more collections from the European capital of cool. Until next season, our dose of va va voom is back in storage.

However, fear not. The end of show season doesn’t mark the end of your personal style and today we look towards our French counterparts for some much needed inspiration. We’ve previously covered Berlin grunge and Monaco elegance – now it’s all about Parisian chic.

Casual tailoring is paired with slacks, boots and overcoats for a laid-back yet polished look. The key is to keep things classic. Don’t ever overwork your look or go with novelty trends; they’re about as Parisian as my Doncaster-born aunt Margaret. Simply incorporate clean cut lines, concentrate on understated elegance and you’re halfway to sartorial victory…

Get The Look: Parisian Chic

Parisian Chic Lookbook

Before we start, let’s take a look at some recent campaign images and lookbooks that epitomise the type of aesthetic we are looking to create today:

The Overcoat

Whether it’s a Burberry-esque trench coat or a coloured blazer, Parisian style centres on the art of layering.

For spring/summer, I think we can all agree that the pea coat is just a little too thick; yes, British weather is temperamental but sweating is not chic in any capital city. Ever.

Pair muted tones with precision stitching, upturned collars or top buttons fastened. It’s all about crafting the perfect silhouette that subtly shows your style credentials. Parisian sartorialists always look crisp, well-turned out and full of confidence. Ensure sleeves are perfectly fitted, with just a peak of your bottom layer for extra points – it’s the small details that make any outfit.

• Topman Stone Trench Coat
• Topman Navy Poplin Single Breasted Mac
• Selected Trench Coat
• Reiss Southall Loose Mac Stone
• Jean.machine J.m-4 Slim-fit Overdyed-denim Jacket
• River Island Stone Triple Button Patch Pocket Blazer
• Reiss Fielding Merino Wool Blazer Navy
• Asos Slim Fit Tweed Blazer With Shooting Patch
• Uniqlo Men Linen Cotton Jacket
• Uniqlo Men Dry Light Weight Jacket+
• Easy Classic Harrington Jacket
• Rag & Bone Falmouth Textured Cotton And Linen-blend Jacket

The Shirt

Your base layer can speak volumes about your outfit choice (and subsequent style knowledge). For a combination that is incredibly simple yet effective, opt for a plain white shirt with a beige or navy over layer.

The white shirt (whether Oxford cloth, linen or cotton) is an absolute essential that belongs in every man’s wardrobe. Although this may seem like an obvious assumption to the regular FashionBeans reader, the amount of men who go without is incredibly surprising.

Pastel colours are alternative, summer-appropriate options that will inject a shot of life into any tired look. Mint, sky blue, lilac and even grey all pair incredibly well with a muted over layer and convey a real sense of subtle luxury. However, keep branding and labels to an absolute minimum – a huge Ralph Lauren logo is an immediate give away.

• Topman Vito Asune Shirt
• Uniqlo Men Extra Fine Cotton Broad Cloth Long Sleeve Shirt
• Maison Martin Margiela Washed-cotton Shirt
• Reiss Drive Small Collar Slim Fit Shirt Mint
• River Island Pale Blue Linen Long Sleeve Shirt
• American Apparel Washed Oxford Shirt
• Reiss Laurence Long Sleeve Jersey Shirt Ecru
• American Apparel Pinpoint Oxford Long Sleeve Button-down With Pocket
• Allsaints Redondo Shirt

Key Pattern: Breton Stripes

Is anything more French than a traditional Breton stripe? For years, this Parisian staple has permeated fashion worldwide and has become a classic in its own right.

Whether in t-shirt, jumper or shirted form, a Breton stripe is essential. A long-sleeved number (perhaps with a granddad collar if you’re a fan of the workerwear aesthetic) looks great with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of beige tailored shorts whilst a striped jumper works just as well over a plain shirt and dark denim.

The possibilities of the Breton stripe are endless, and their timeless and enduring appeal (see images of James Dean and Picasso below) will set you in good stead for many years to come.

• River Island Navy Stripe T-shirt
• Allsaints Mirach 3/4 Sleeve T-shirt
• Merc Shirt With Breton Stripe
• Etro Striped Cashmere Vest
• A.p.c. Striped Wool Sweater
• Topman Navy Breton Stripe Sweatshirt
• Allsaints Mirach Vest
• Denim & Supply By Ralph Lauren Breton Jumper
• Ben Sherman Breton Stripe Knitted Polo
• Saint Laurent Breton Stripe Sweater 163006
• French Connection Breton Polo Shirt
• Todd Snyder Striped Cotton-jersey Henley T-shirt

The Bottom Half

Decisions, decisions. If you’re a slave to denim, keep it straight or slim leg (not skinny fit) with the aim of crafting clean lines. Parisian chic is about streamlined shapes and good fit, and a drainpipe leg will automatically warp and unbalance your entire look.

Alternatively, there are always straight leg canvas chinos, which look great in classic shades of navy, brown and beige. Roll up the hems a couple of times and you’ll look like a direct import from the Champs-Elysees? what more could you ask for?

Shirts, jumpers and tees should all be loosely tucked in if you’re on the slimmer side and fastened up with a brown (not black) leather belt. Don’t be afraid to flash your ankles either; as we approach summer we are seeing more and more men go sockless in order to fully embrace the warm weather:

• A.p.c. New Cure Slim-fit Dry Denim Jeans
• Reiss Freeport Raw Selvedge Denim Indigo
• Jean Shop Rocker Raw Selvedge Denim Straight-fit Jeans
• Asos Slim Chino
• He By Mango Slim-fit Cotton Chino Trousers
• Uniqlo Men Slim Fit Chino Flat Front Pants
• Allsaints Pipe Chino
• He By Mango Cotton Slim-fit Chino
• Cheap Monday Slim Chinos

The Shoes

Brogues or Derbies are, without a doubt, your best choice when crafting your own version of Parisian chic.

Rounded toes and plenty of leather detailing will be a foot in the right style direction, and there’s guaranteed to be something out there to suit every single budget.

Suede versions provide a more casual approach whilst polished brown leather is undoubtedly classic? it’s all about your own personal preference.

Boots play on the rugged, masculine appeal that timeless ensembles often exude, with Chelsea, brogue and desert boots being the silhouettes you should gravitate towards. Leather versions are hard-wearing and practical, allowing them to be worn all year round, whilst suede helps soften the aesthetic slightly and are lightweight and comfortable for spring/summer.

Although the temptation for a sneaker or deck shoe may seem hard to resist, they’ll only detract from an otherwise strong look – your entire outfit should hit that tricky ‘smart-casual’ dress code, and these two silhouettes will only bring the outfit down a notch.

• Asos Derby Shoes With Leather Sole
• Topman Morris Suede Shoes
• Mark Mcnairy Suede Derby Shoes
• River Island Brown Lace Up Brogues
• He By Mango Brogueing Leather Blucher
• Grenson Angus Leather Wingtip Brogues
• Allsaints Cabot Boot
• Grenson Declan Suede Chelsea Boots
• Paul Smith Shoes & Accessories Parka Suede Desert Boots

Accessories

If you’re wearing a shirt, a collar pin, a simple pair of cuff links (if required) or perhaps an onyx gold ring could provide the perfect finishing touch – but don’t get too carried away. Blocks of muted, neutral colours and timeless pieces provide all the style credentials you could ever need and hordes of accessories will only water them down.

Try bold socks for a flash of colour or a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses but zut alors, make sure you invest in these key pieces; I can’t even begin to explain how much low quality, high street pieces will cheapen your look? you would be better off going without.

• Ray-ban Wayfarer Sunglasses
• Cutler And Gross D-frame Acetate Sunglasses
• Garrett Leight California Optical Ashland Round-frame Polarised Sunglasses
• River Island Spike Collar Pin
• Together Bonded Silver & 9ct Gold Mens Onyx Ring
• Lanvin Engraved Rhodium-plated Cufflinks
• Yuvi Sterling Silver Diamond And Woven Cord Bracelet
• Pantone Pink Crew Socks
• Asos Waffle Socks

Parisian Street Style

Who on earth would pull this look off better than Parisian men? Courtesy of FashionBeans’ collective, we have collated a selection of street style photography taken on the streets of Paris, which just goes to show how good this timeless, effortless look can be:

Final Word

Yes, there’s something extraordinary about the way our Parisian cousins dress. Whether it’s the floppy hair, the seemingly entrenched nonchalance or their crisp, clean cut threads, it’s a notion that everyone wants to embody.

Forget the Glastonbury ‘festival lad’ wardrobe? this season is all about the sartorialists from across the channel.

Murray Clark