Outfit Diary: Paris & Provence

Including my detailed itinerary plus things I bought and loved.

This outfit diary is super overdue — life totally hijacked me the moment I got back from my trip. But honestly? The timing couldn’t be more perfect because I’ve been dying to relive every magical moment from France. I love recapping trips a few weeks later because you get to experience all those beautiful details again. It was one of those last-minute jaunts (as in ~3 weeks of planning) that just clicked into place beautifully — the perfect mix of thoughtful planning and “let’s see where this takes us” energy.

Packing for fickle spring weather and two different destination vibes proved to be an unexpectedly fun, creative challenge. Personal style really is like a muscle that needs regular workouts. Mine was basically in hibernation and desperately needed some serious training.

Separately, this past weekend was absolutely heartbreaking. Because of a donation/dry cleaning mix-up (ugh, still can’t believe it happened), I lost some of my most treasured, most-loved wardrobe staples. I wore so many of them on this trip, completely oblivious that it would be our final adventures together :(

So yeah, this whole recap has become something more. Like a love letter to those beautiful pieces that brought me so much joy. I really hope they find someone who’ll appreciate them just as much as I did.

Paris, day 1

LouLou de Saison leather car coat (pre-loved via Poshmark), Chava twill shirt similar, Khaite Abigail jeans, The Row loafers, Vintage Bottega hobo (via TRR), Matteau silk pareo worn as a scarf, Saint Laurent sunglasses

The odds worked in my favor, and I scored an early check-in at my hotel. There really is no better feeling than a hot shower after a transatlantic flight.

No sleep? No problem. I threw on my foolproof outfit formula — an oversized button-up, jeans, leather loafers (the 10K+ steps approved type), a great jacket, and some interesting accessories. Out the door in record time, racing against the jet lag that was slowly creeping in.

Little did I know this would be the last time I’d get to wear that perfect Chava oversized shirt — a heartbreaking casualty of the donation mishap.

The day’s adventure: Walked from my hotel straight to the Tuileries and spent a few blissful hours at my absolute favorite, Musee de L’Orangerie. Meandered through the 1st arrondissement and somehow ended up at The Row (lol). Honestly though, I was way more captivated by the art inside the store than the actual clothes (for the record, the clothes are stunning). Got gently scolded for snapping a pic, but it was worth it.

The illicit pic at The Row. This gorgeous tapestry caught my eye immediately — after chatting with a store associate for a solid 20 minutes about it, I learned it’s inspired by the Fall of Icarus and created by a French artist known for her elemental and oriental-influenced work. I was completely mesmerized by every detail, particularly the 3D butterflies, each handmade and carefully placed.

After my visit to the mothership, I made my way to the 6th to check out the Dries Van Noten store at Quai Malaquais. Closed, naturally — it was Easter Monday, and apparently lots of shops take Mondays off too.

Buly was right around the corner, complete with a line snaking down the street. Ugh, thanks TikTok. Things were moving along great until it started raining. Of course I didn’t have an umbrella, so I improvised with my trusty Matteau silk pareo as makeshift coverage. I finally got in and walked away with a gorgeous Mexican Tuberose soap and a monogrammed lip balm that made the wait totally worth it.

Afterward, I settled into a nearby bistro with a glass of Sancerre. Perfect for people-watching while I waited for Relais de L’Entrecôte to open for dinner. It rained again while I waited in line, but I didn’t lose my cool (despite running on zero sleep). I told myself, the rain is part of that Parisian charm.

It’s probably the most touristy thing you could possibly do for dinner in Paris, but I absolutely love it and try to go on every trip. After an elite meal of walnut salad drowning in that delicious mustard-y horseradish dressing that completely clears your sinuses, perfectly-cooked steak with the famous sauce, the crispiest fries, and a glass of red, I made my way back to my hotel. Completely crashed.

Paris, day 2