40 Zara Items a New Yorker Would Buy to Look French in Paris

No amount of planning can fully prepare you for the reality of traveling to a new place for an extended period of time. At least, that’s been my experience as a newly arrived expat who’s swapped the bustling streets of New York for the cobbled sidewalks of Paris. Although I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to planning a travel capsule wardrobe, my first few weeks here have shown me how unprepared I was for this city’s changeable climate. we’ve all been there. You have a clear idea of ​​what you want to wear when traveling to (insert destination). Heck, you might even have the perfect PowerPoint, but then fate, a bad forecast, or what the French like to call “un temps de chien,” comes along to change your plans. The moment you open your suitcase and realize you’re missing Some? It’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on even my worst enemies.

While there’s nothing worse than paying extensive luggage fees only to realize you don’t have enough functional accessories, there’s an added benefit: having an excuse to visit Zara. Of course, I love shopping at a vintage pop-up store in the Le Marais district of Paris, but things went a little rough for me in those first few weeks. Not only did I manage to destroy my favorite Nordstrom tank in the washer (French laundry machines are complicated), but Paris’s constant rain and my plans to head south also made it clear that a Zara pilgrimage was required. To be honest, sifting through the racks at Les Halles reminded me just how perfectly it hits the spot. Simple staples? Trendy jacket? Attractive accessories. Oui, oui, oui. The selection of new arrivals was so good that I thought I’d share the items I left the store with as well as some I’m considering purchasing back. Whether you’re planning a trip to Paris or just want to indulge your inner Francophile, these 40 Zara finds will make you feel like a local, even if you’re not.