Packing for Paris: Part Two

Now that I've got my kicks figured out, I've got to figure out what I'm going to wear to cover my bee-hind. Being that I'll be in Paris and London in early Fall, I'm planning on wearing pants and jeans most days. Although I don't mind skirts or dresses, I typically only wear them for work or church. And since I definitely won't be doing the former and will unlikely be attending the latter, pants will suffice.  I may throw in a dress or skirt just in case I venture out for a little nighttime fun -- which I hope to do at least once (or deux).

For most of the time, though, pants it will be. And by pants, I mean jeans and khakis (or what other people might refer to as chinos or basically cotton pants). What's great is that there are plenty of options to chose from, although it seems most of the world is currently having a love affair with skinny jeans. (I've even seen advertisements for skinny skinny jeans, which leads me to wonder: How much skinnier can jeans get before we just start painting them on ourselves? I mean, come on, unless you have sticks for legs, skinny jeans just become a veritable self-esteem ass kicker.)

Thankfully designers still offer the standard fair of pant shapes -- straight, bootcut, flare, etc. -- and so as to maintain some level of fashionable style, I've decided that the straight and slightly skinny pant that skims the ankles will be my go-to chic pant style for across the pond. I've already got a couple pairs of jeans that fit the bill (although one pair might cause internal damage if I wear them for too long) and at least one pair of khakis that will look great with almost anything I wear. But I'm on the prowl for more! So, here are some recent styles I found while perusing my usual fav stores.

 1. Chino Trousers, Land's End, $59; 2. Houndstooth Trousers, Zara, $79.90; 3. Slim Ankle Pant, Banana Republic, $89.50; 4. Straight Leg Jeans, LOFT, $69.50; 5. 1969 Real Straight Jeans, Gap, $69.95.

Tomboy Chic

As this photo can attest, I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. Although I didn’t mind wearing dresses and could rock a mean jean skirt with rainbow suspenders, I also enjoyed boy-inspired attire – most notably replicating my Dad’s knee-high socks and trucker hat look. That kind of mix and match of masculine and feminine has stayed with me today. And while I may enjoy getting all dolled up in a pretty dress or sophisticated ensemble, I am just as comfortable – if not more so – in a t-shirt and shorts. I don’t wear a lot of makeup or jewelry, and I don’t care about how well my nails are manicured or if I should bother with the latest skincare treatments. I do love though to dazzle people with fancy footwear and stylish duds every now and then.  And for me that combination between tomboy and chic girl is what epitomizes my style.  It isn’t so much an homage to masculine/feminine wear, but a melding of casual and chic, unfussy elegance, and a little rugged individualism with a dash of bourgeois refinement.

It’s pretty easy to replicate this style. Quite a few retail stores offer pieces that play on the masculine/feminine dynamic. Gap, J.Crew, Madewell, and Club Monaco are just a few of them. Basically, it is all about the mixing of casual with elegance and simplicity with a dash of edgy fashionista.  Here’s a sampling of what I would call my Tomboy Chic style…

 Pink dot top and skinny jeans, Gap; White button-down top and polka dot skimmer pants, JCrew Factory; Polka dot boy shirt, pencil skirt and bow tie, JCrew; Striped sweater, navy print shirt and jeans, Madewell; Parka, sweater and cropped print pants, Club Monaco; Terry moto jacket, Gap.