My relationship with stripes has come along way in recent years. I used to avoid the pattern altogether—no matter the direction of the stripes. People would say, “Don’t wear horizontal stripes, they will widen your body,” or “Try vertical stripes to elongate your figure.” No one was ever like, “Wear the stripes how you want them.” Pretty quickly, stripes got the reputation that they were only good for one thing, and I had to be very cautious of how I chose to wear them. However, since I have abandoned the word “flattering” from my vocabulary, it’s really opened me up to the different styles, patterns, textures, and silhouettes that I had previously closed off—and stripes being one of those things! In fact, I have become known for loving stripes among family and friends. My best friend will throw out the words “Classic,” and sometimes “Beetlejuice,” when I even I look in the direction of something striped. But hey, a girl likes what she likes!

So when I recently took a trip to Paris, I knew that I wanted to visit the Les Deux Plateaux (also known as the Colonnes de Buren) in Palais Royal. If you aren’t familiar with Les Deux Plateaux, it’s set of striped, cylindrical sculptures located inside the Domaine National du Palais-Royal. To me, the installation speaks “perception.” And at the risk of over embracing stripes while attending the exhibit, I decided to wear these beautiful Black and White Striped Pants from Mareé Pour Toi, paired with a Red Washed Silk Charmeuse Tank and Open Sleeve Blazer. One thing that I learned about Parisian style is that it is incredibly chic, yet very understated. I rarely saw bright hues of colors or bold stripes, but something about this outfit felt very right to wear in Paris…and so I did. During my second day in Paris, I wore these pants, paired with a black crop top to a cheese making class and a trip to the Champs-Élysée. Last week, Europe underwent an extreme heat wave, and while I was not prepared at all, I really relied on the lightness and flowiness of these pants to keep me looking chic, but also keep me feeling cool. Aside from the pants, the tank top and blazer will be main staples in my work wardrobe. The blazer is so thick, very chic, and it’s also a super cool look for the office. I really could wear it with anything. And while I could also wear the tank top under a cardigan, jacket, or blazer at work, I plan to knot it or tuck it into pants and skirts to give even the most casual summer look an elegant touch.

If you missed my first Paris look, check it out here: BONJOUR!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 18 in the Black and White Striped Pants,  Red Washed Silk Charmeuse Tank, and Open Sleeve Blazer, which is my usual size, and everything fits perfectly! You all know how much I love the fit at Mareé Pour Toi! 

Paris is really the only place I’ve ever wanted to go. Sure, I’ve seen much of the U.S., and I have been to Mexico twice, but none of my trips anywhere ever really felt that exciting. But when my Paris trip finally came to fruition, I found myself asking, “Why was Paris always my top destination?” No, I didn’t want to go hit the art museums. Yeah the architecture was beautiful, but did I know any of the history behind it? No. Sure, it’s the most romantic city in the world, but was I going with my boyfriend. Not this time. I felt frustrated as people asked me about the itinerary I had planned. “IDK… walk around, eat, see the Eiffel Tower,” I’d tell them. People always looked underwhelmed as if Paris was much more than what I wanted to experience. I really only had a couple of things planned: see the Eiffel Tower at night, take pictures for my blog, and eat good food.

My first day in Paris was amazing. I woke up at 5 am to take blog photos, and I made my way from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre to Palais Royal in two hours. I found my way around the Metro, and eventually, I made my way up to the top of Montmartre. And that night, I trekked out to Trocadéro to watch the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle as the sunset. It may have been the talented vocalist singing Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part” while playing the guitar right next to me, or it could have been the long trip and exciting day paired with 3 hours of sleep, but my eyes started to water as I stood in front of the Eiffel Tower. The lights slowly started to creep up the tower as the sun set, and the hundreds of people who were also at Trocadéro started to buzz with excitement. The Tower began to sparkle for five captivating minutes. And finally, it hit me. I always knew I’d make it to Paris one day, but I also knew that it would take time. I wouldn’t travel to Paris with my family for summer vacation, and I wouldn’t be tagging along with my friends on one of their Euro-trips over the summer. When I eventually made it to Paris, I knew that it would be something to be so proud of.

In my favorite movie of all time, “View From The Top,” Donna Jensen—played by Gwenth Paltrow—goes from small town girl to flight attendant, and her dream is to work in first class on international flights based in Paris. While some adversities stood in her way, she eventually made it to Paris. And as I watched this movie as a young girl, I wanted that same feeling of finally “making it” to where I was supposed to be / go in life. And Paris always represented that to me.

While Paris may represent art, history, wine, or architecture to some, to me it represents reaching a next level. Sure, I was able to experience all of the things that make Paris great like history and art, but I was also able to discover just what the city meant to me.

When I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I wanted to see it from a unique perspective. I actually never walked up to or under the Tower and I didn’t go up to the top either. So my first stop was this little street to the side of the Eiffel Tower. It was such a cool experience to stand in front of something you’ve seen everywhere, but not yet in person.

I was wearing this Make Scene Jumpsuit from Chic Soul, which I originally thought would be “too much” for the city that’s fashion sense is incredibly chic, but somewhat understated. However, the jumpsuit fit in perfectly! I spotted leopard all throughout the city in different ways, whether it be a tank top tucked into jeans or a pleated skirt, or wide leg leopard pants with a black crop top. I paired mine with a leather jacket because it was a little chilly the morning I went to visit the Eiffel Tower!

Stay tuned for more looks that I wore in Paris!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Make Scene Jumpsuit, which is my usual size, and I think the jumpsuit fits a little large. It is supposed to be oversized in the legs, but I think I would prefer the legs to be a little less loose. If you like an oversized look, then I would order your true size!