Paris is a city full of high fashion trendsetters. If you are travelling to Paris in winter, your wardrobe choices will help you blend in as a Parisian woman of today and not make you look like someone who doesn’t belong there, you know, like a tourist.

We asked travel blogger Rathina Sankari about the highlights of her recent trip to Paris and here’s what she had to say, “The trip to Paris was an official one for my husband and me being the explorer, piggybacked on to this golden opportunity. He spent his days in the clubby hole of his office while I spent two beautiful weeks exploring the beautiful and romantic streets of Paris. Paris is the (bold) city where Love is always in the air and is the most romantic place on earth that I have visited. The best part of this trip was I got to meet the locals, visited a few of the attractions in Paris in their company and also was invited for dinner at their home.”

Getting the right look for you is what’s essential when travelling through the streets of Paris. You should wear your signature look, a unique style that should be noticeable enough to make you look good, but not too unique in the sense that you will look out of place. There are equally fashionable winter options for men and women in Paris.

Dressing in the Parisian Way

Most Parisian women do not care about current trends. This is because Paris is the place where trends are set and this why Paris is the centre of the fashion world.

You just need to get something out of your wardrobe that suits your body well, definitely not something too flashy, but attire that you feel comfortable to be in. Remember that being stylish in winter is a blend of reinventing yourself and still hiding under enough layers. No excessive efforts are needed to get the perfect Parisian look. Just experiment to find yourself the most stylish look, and who knows – you may become one of the trendsetters.

“Paris being the fashion capital is all about being well dressed and being comfortable in it”, says Rathina “The sun sets quite late during the summers hence light attires like a knee-length dress, a calf-length skirt paired with a top or trousers with lacy tops/ T-shirt are good options. In the winters you need to dress up in layers, hence carry a jacket, sweater, gloves and mufflers. Stockings could be worn underneath to beat the chill. Wearing scarves to co-ordinate with your dress is also a good accessory. Boots could help in the cold condition. Do not forget to carry an umbrella and drink loads of water.”

Kosha Winter Fashion Essentials for Her:

Black and white with a pop of red: The right colour combination would be fantastic if it suits your skin tone and the cold weather on the roads of Paris. The classic black and white combination would be more amazing if a pop of red could stand out with the whole get-up. This red part of your look can be anything, from a scarf, a hat, your shoes or a stylish purse.

Classic Black Trench Coat: Women of Paris love their trench coats. You may find a trench coat on every woman on the Parisian streets, as the air gets a little colder in winter months. They are there because they enhance the look of any of your attire; may it be a simple sweater with the jeans or a classic cocktail dress. Wear your trench coat anywhere and anytime as it will keep you company until you are indoors.

Warm Woollen Scarf: As the chilling air travels through the Parisian streets, you would find a simple woollen scarf pleasantly comforting. As useful it is, a woollen scarf has been a staple of the typical Parisian look, among both, men and women. A little subtle colour that won’t stand out too much on your dress should perfectly complement your overall appearance.

Hat or Beanie: A headwear, such as a hat or a simple beanie should definitely be an essential item of your wardrobe, when in Paris. You could go crazy with colours and styles with your hat, but the muted colours are always classy. A beanie, on the other hand, would be much more protective and if you could find the right colour, it’s pretty stylish in its own sense.

Stylish Boots and Co-ordinated Tote: As many do claim, no woman wears sneakers on the streets of Paris. A great pair of designer shoes is there to highlight every bit of your personality.

An essential accessory, by all means, a tote bag is also an inseparable part of Parisian woman’s outfit. Pick the right colour that would match with your clothes and if done wisely, should provide you with a gorgeous look.

Exploring prints from the latest fashion releases should give you an idea on how to get your unique look. Among many, a red Trench Coat and muted accessories is a classic bold look that would help you stand out in the colder winter nights of Paris.

Tips to follow

Must-Do

One should walk on the streets of Paris close to the Seine River and spend time getting into its skin. It is a mesmerizing and a magical stroll if taken in the evening when Paris is studded with lights

Go for wine tasting in the beautiful vineyards in the outskirts of the city

Explore the absolutely tasty and divine desserts of the French

The streets of Paris showcase the art culture of this vibrant city with artists doing live sketches of the visitors. Check out the cobbled streets of Montmartre for one such experience

Live like the local and take the trains, cycles or segways to move around the city

It is good to learn some basic French words that would be used on a day to day basis as many locals cannot converse in English

Must Avoid

Do not forget to book the tickets to visit the Eiffel tower online to avoid the long queue at the ticket counter

Do not forget the local customs. Ensure you have a smile on your face, look into the eyes of the locals and greet them, else the Parisians consider it rude

Dress as per the occasion and do not wear casuals like shorts unless it demands

The Louvre could be time-consuming with the small picture of Mona Lisa literally invisible due to the large crowd. Do not stay put there and instead focus on the other areas of your interest

Rathina Sankari is a travel blogger who blogs at http://rathinasviewspace.com/ and you can follow her on Twitter @RathinaSankari.