The city of love, the city of lights… whatever you want to call it, Paris optimises European culture.
When you visit Paris for the first time, it’s almost like finding yourself on the set of a movie.
The cafés, pastries, clouds of cigarette smoke and famous landmarks are no longer behind a screen – they’re right there in front of you.
And even when you’re coughing on that cigarette smoke, there’s not many places you’d rather be.
But, for me, it’s the people that make this place what it is. And when I say people, I mean the women.
Parisian women have their s**t figured out.
Let me tell you some stuff I learnt from them.
1. Parisian Women Are Unapologetically Themselves
I have never seen a culture that is so self-assured, both in the way they present themselves and the way they go about their day.
Parisian women don’t care what you think of them.
They dress how they want, they blow smoke where they want, and you better believe they look damn good doing it.
Yes, like people everywhere, they do follow trends. But so many of them have their own unique style. A style of one.
They understand that conforming to societal norms or trends isn’t really a prerequisite for acceptance or success.
Instead, their confidence comes from knowing who they are and how they actually want to present themselves, regardless of what others will think.
It’s crazy that doing that takes courage, but in the modern world it truly does.
And man, if you’ve never seen Nike TNs on a 60-year-old woman wearing a dress, you’re missing out big time.
2. Parisian Women Don’t Overcomplicate Things
The power of minimalism lies in its ability to make a statement without saying a word or being overcomplicated.
“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”
Steve Jobs
That’s what makes Apple so great, and it’s what makes the women of Paris so great. They don’t try to overcomplicate things, their looks are almost effortless.
I’ve been on a long minimalism journey over the past five years, and I’ve learnt that it can make every aspect of your life better. This includes fashion.
Good style is timeless, and the women of Paris know that.
This goes hand-in-hand with not buying into trends, knowing your style and sticking to what makes you happy.
Less is more.
3. Parisian Women Embrace Joie de Vivre
Paris makes you feel alive.
Whether you’re smoking a cigarette, reading a book or sipping an espresso, the energy of the city engrosses you and makes the present moment so much more vivid.
The French have a phrase for this.
Joie de Vivre means a joy for living. More specifically, it’s about finding joy in the small, seemingly mundane parts of life.
You can tell there’s an importance put behind self-care in Paris, though it might not be the typical form of self-care you’re accustomed to.
I hate smoking, but I couldn’t help but be in awe of the women who seemed to be in their element with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth.
Honestly, I think Paris is the only city where people can look good smoking a cigarette. But I feel like there was more to it.
They weren’t ducking outside to the smoker’s area for five minutes to get their nicotine fix whilst scrolling on Instagram. Instead, they were savouring it, watching life go by and actually paying attention to their surroundings.
Doing the things that truly bring you joy, even if it’s a bit of a dirty habit, can really make you appreciate life more.
Finding that balance is hard, but it’s worth a shot.
And So What If You Have To Pay For The Toilets?
If you’re planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, you can’t leave Paris off your list.
I don’t know when I’ll be back, but the memories and energy of the place will always stick with me.
Yeah the coffee might be overpriced and the city may stink of p**s in more places than it should, but that’s all part of the fun.
And trust me, a whiff of p**s is worth it to see an elderly woman wearing Nike TNs.
Just remember to have a Euro on you at all times so you don’t have to add to the stench.
