FashionHap: July-Aug '16 - Maria, Le Parisien

Paris is known by many names: The City of Light, The City of Love..and, most appropriately for our purposes, a city of FASHION! Maria took a lengthy holiday there, along with husband Mike Bennett, and kindly catalogued her daily wardrobe for us, giving us a primer not merely on style, but on how to pack for an extended adventure! Are you reaaddaaaaay? Fabulous, darling. Then, buckle up..and be sure to have some champagne at hand ;); we have a plethora of Parisian fashion to explore.
Maria’s first Parisian look is a classic black dress, but in what looks to be the oh-so-trendy shirt-dress style. I love how easy and comfortable this silhouette is! It’s a casual dress that takes no time at all to throw on and look fab in, but which is also polished and can be elevated with the right accessories. Her cranberry lips add a touch of trend-goth, while her red animal-face purse creates a hint of whimsy which makes me smile; it’s so cute and fun! Chunky-strap black sandals complete the look. You could also finish this with (easy-to-pack!) ballet flats or loafers as well.
Day 2’s look is a dramatic rendition of  a high-low tee paired with high-waisted blue denim, which Maria emphasizes via a half-tuck. I’ve always loved the classic pairing of a white tee with blue jeans, and the silhouette of this tee gives some extra va-voom and interest to this iconic combo. Maria finishes the look with a hint of metallic: on-trend, 90’s referencing Birkenstocks, which are totally hot right now but which, I must confess, make me cringe :). To prevent you from having to read multiple accounts of my cringing, I refrain from mentioning it further, but you’re free to envision me curling up in a twitching, crinkle-faced ball every time I have to type the word “Birkenstocks”. I may just resort to calling them “those” :) If you happen to be sitting beside me on the #NeverBirkies wagon, consider loafers (do it Maria’s way and choose metallic; they would work with the shirt dress above just as well as black #PackingConsiderations). Sneakers would make a comfy-for-exploring-in option.
Maria’s next look is a lighthearted combination of playfulness and glam. She paired a boxy white cat-face graphic tee with a blush peach pailette skirt (or possibly dress?). Something about the unexpectedness of this pairing makes it feel more Parisian in spirit than her previous two outfits. That’s accentuated by the white, black and blush palette ..and the multi-layered pearl necklace ;) There’s always something deeply chic and connected to the heart’s blood of fashion about pearls! White platform pumps round off this fancy ensemble.
Day 4 brings us a complete about-face: an athleisure-inspired black-on-black outfit, consisting of a classy tank and leather-look leggings. Underarmour flat slides enhance the sporty vibe..but they give me the same vibe as “those” shoes. I’d be tempted to finish this look with loafers (seeing a pattern here? ;)), sneakers or pointy-toe pumps. I could even go for the camel flats Maria debuts in her next look. I’m a massive fan of her super-high bun! I LOVE how it adds interest, refinement and edge to this laid-back pairing.
Maria’s next outfit is unquestionably my #1, top, ultimate favorite of all her ensembles! This black-and-white photo crop top paired with a striped A-line skirt is something I would wear in a heartbeat! I’m thrilled by the touch of red from the scarf tied at her waist, which is echoed by her cherry lip shade. It brings a blast of fire to the clean, crisp black+white. Her camel pumps add a further touch of warmth. The whole impression created here is of a cataclysm of classic chic with modernity and it is everything.
From there, she moves on to a boldly printed plum and white mini dress. She defines the waist of this shift and creates a blouson silhouette by adding a wide belt. I love how the use of a single accessory can completely alter the look of a piece! In this case, it takes the vibe from 60’s to 80’s. I second her choice of camel pumps for this outfit; they mirror the bold polish of the rest of the look and illustrate the right way to utilize the ultra-limited choices required by travel.

Close behind the striped-skirt outfit in the running for my favorite look is this black tank+blue denim pairing, topped with an emerald suede jacket (from Zara, but sadly out of stock). Again, this is a combo I would wear in a heartbeat! I’ve previously raved about my love for jackets in general and statement jackets in particular and will doubtless rave about both again …and again :). The casual moto styling is a stellar match for her jeans and this amazing color makes a massive impact, as well as looking utterly gorgeous on her! Her distinctive necklace adds just the right touch of shine and extra attitude.
It’s no surprise that the dramatic flair of scarves would appeal to Maria and that she describes herself as a scarf lover. She incorporates them twice on her Parisian swing; the first of them is this magnificent lavender-on-lilac floral print, which I love simply everything about. The color is standout and looks amazing, adding volumes to this subtle pairing of neutrals: a stone tank with light-colored shorts. I, too, love scarves and the oblong shape is, without doubt, my favorite shape for it’s versatility and presence.
Maria’s next offering has an it-girl ready-to-party vibe. She pairs a bodycon dress – in that oh so fabulous shade of bright Kelly green- with her platform slides. The pop of silver from her on-trend pendant enhances the outfit, which could easily transition to fall with ankle booties or OTK boots and a cropped jacket. Maria made a comment about her “crazy hair” when she wears it this way, but I absolutely adore her long, beachy waves. If they’re “crazy”, it’s ‘cuz they’re crazy gorgeous!
From that sleek, contoured silhouette, Maria moved on to a second shift dress, which she again belted. This one featured short, slightly gathered sleeves and a folkloric feel, due to the stylized floral print and ember-esque shades of red, orange and brown. This piece wholeheartedly embraces the artisanal 60’s vibe and I’m completely on board for that, especially because it represents such a departure from the other genres Maria has explored. Her barefoot-girl styling fits with the free-spirited feel, but for those moments when shoes are required, her pointy-toe camel pumps would do nicely here.
Near the end of her trip, Maria gives us a look at scarf #2, a red, printed piece that she pairs with a strawberry strappy camisole and her skinny blue jeans (her leather-look leggings would be an alternate possibility). The scarf elevates this look, as scarves tend to do, taking it from sexy basics to casual chic. While Maria went with her chunky-strap slides to finish this look, her camel pumps would have been equally appropriate. Her loose bun complements the easy refinement of this look perfectly.
One of Maria’s last outifts was among her dressier ones: a black lattice-work cropped top, paired with a beautiful deep red printed maxi skirt. While I advocate a mid-thigh-or-say-goodbye approach, the super-high slit on this piece is madly on-trend and adds a hint of daring and danger to this otherwise classic printed skirt. Maria plays that up – and enhances the sexy vibe – through her crop top. She completed he look with her Birkenstocks (which I won’t comment further on ;) and a wonderful wide gold cuff bracelet (which I will comment further on ;)): the warmth of the gold is super-pretty against the dark mystery of the black and ruby combination. I would be totally on board for a gold choker or slim gold lariat added as well. I also loooove the way she pinned her for this look: all the wavy beauty + none of the in-your-face aggravation = definitely a keeper!.