There she was, two burgundy wine-red velvet slippers with three dainty straps clipped tight with three sparkling diamontee clasps. The redness of the lush velvet was deepened by its contrast with the silky, bright white soaks she wore to her knees. They didn’t quite meet the thick floaty hem of her olive green skirt, which met a small white cloud of puffiness at the top. Over her shoulders draped a caramel cape. She was oblivious of my attention as her nose, with perfectly perched tortoise shell glasses, was deep into a thick tome of a Descartes and her elfin face with a haughty high pony, was focused and concentrated on the philosophy she found in her book.
Where was this perfect example of Parisian cool and Gen Z style? Not on a runway, or in a cafe, but on the Paris Metro. Even more surprising, when I looked around the carriage, I realized she was one of many. Parisians, in perfectly put together looks that, I suspect, reflected their personalities, without a stray strand of viscose or polyester in sight, noses deep in printed books. The ones in the dark clothes and black puffer jackets, doom scrolling on their phones, seem out of place, remnants of a dull, techy era where all semblance of style and self-expression had been sacrificed on the altars of comfort, warmth, ease, and convenience.
But not here, not in Paris. My eyes were open now, and everywhere I looked, I saw people ages 9 to 90, xxxs to not-so-small, in beautiful outfits that fit them perfectly, made from natural fibers in timeless silhouettes. There wasn’t a trace of fashion slop in sight. It was as if what was old was new again. Shoes and boots in leather instead of tennis shoes and Crocs. Coats and jackets instead of duvets disguised as puffer jackets. Hats and scarves on men, women, and children, in wool and silk, completing the outfit as a perfect accessory. The citizens of the City of Light had never looked so stylish, so cool, so modern.
It wasn’t just the clothes. The restaurants closed between lunch and dinner. The baguettes were sold out by noon, and I didn’t see one single protein bar being munched on the street or the metro. If you were really hungry between mealtimes, you could pick up a perfectly round macaroon in a gorgeous hue of your choosing and be done with it.
I couldn’t stop wondering how the young of Paris had escaped the Brandy-ification of their generation, which had turned their peers in New York and London into clones of each other. Indistinguishable in baggy jeans and sweatpants, their body-con tops worn under oversized sweatshirts. What had saved them? I had no idea, but I was happy, drinking in all the looks of the “put-togethers.”
And then came hope. In front of Sezanne’s multi-colored wall of sweaters, I heard one of the “put-togethers” say, “Oh no, we are from Ohio.” Ohio? I looked them up and down. They were flawless. You didn’t have to be from Paris, or even French, to be stylish. What had I been thinking? I was living in the land of Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan, for goodness’ sake. Style is a choice, not a nationality.
After much scouring of sources, I have put together a list of some of the most stylish Spring season pieces that can be found right here in New York and which any Parisian would be lucky to be seen in, now or in 20 years’ time.
Please note, this was a solo trip to Paris, which Mr. Style had to miss due to, you guessed, work commitment. He will return in a future edit.
Must Have Spring Wardrobe
The Cotton Trench
It’s unfathomable why the most perfect spring garment, the cotton trench, has been in the shadows for so long. It is light, a complete cover-up, rain-resistant, and offers a layer of warmth when a chill appears. But now for the anarchy, while Burberry has and always will offer the iconic trench, there are other styles I have found equally irresistible. Wander into APC surplus in Brooklyn, and you too might find yourself straying from the mighty British brand.
The Low Rise Jean
There, I said it. High-rise jeans, be gone. Low rise, welcome back, lovely. Buy one pair now, and it might be your best fashion decision you’ve ever made. The pair to wear — the Cool Jean in Classic Blue — is at Still Here.
The Silk Scarf
The pièce de résistance this spring is the silk scarf. Tied around your neck, your waist, your hips, or your bag, it will transform you from basic to put-together.
Scour vintage stores for beautiful prints, try to pin down one of the limited-edition Hamptons oversized bandanas at J. Crew, or pop into Mixology in Westhampton for a range of skinny, triangle, bandana, and full-size silks.
Ballet Flats
If you already have a pair, dig them out and polish them up. They are the shoe you can’t live without this spring.
Try a pair from Repetto. You can’t beat the cut, the leather, the comfort. They are the OG. Go perennial black patent, the color du jour – burgundy, or the color du tous jours ballet slipper pink. Find them at the only store in the US in Tribeca.
The White Shirt
The perfect white shirt is in many ways the search for the Holy Grail. A lifelong quest for something we don’t even know exists. Committed as we are to style, however, we stay constant in its pursuit. Particularly for Spring 2026, when everyone is offering one from Prada and The Row to Land’s End and The Gap. The surprising thing is that it is very hard to distinguish among them, which means that the right one for you depends not on its label but on your eye and its cut. Mine rests with aptly named “The Perfect Button Up” from Mixology or the $20 option from The Gap.