If you can believe it, we’ve now lived in San Francisco for 4 months. Hell, if I can believe it. It’s felt like a blink of an eye, and if I’m honest, we barely feel settled at this point. Sometimes, when heading home for the day in a Lyft (yes, we are so SF now), thoughts of our Brick Lane flat flash in my mind as ‘home.’ I’ll stop, catching myself, chiding myself that, as weird as it sounds, London is not home anymore.
And while some Californian ways of life are slowly starting to creep in — yes, I may have perused a Lulu Lemon recently, don’t judge — there are some things that will never budge in me, stalwartly European. My love of tea and espresso. My self-deprecation. Sarcasm. My appreciation for a good tram. And, apparently, my fashion sense.
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- I absolutely love this bag from beautiful British retailer Wood/Grey. I bought this last year in London, when the round basket bag was all the blogger & fashun rage. I’m still loving it for this year.
Yes, there is something about European fashion — particularly Parisian style, the creme-de-la-creme of all Fash Girl Style. I think, deep down, my life ambition has always been to be chic, successful Parisian woman. You know, in an awkward, mildly disappointing body. Effortless, classic, polished yet not too stuffy. And breton stripes. All the breton stripes.
I’ve talked before about how I cannot get over this ‘athleisure’ style that’s permeated San Francisco. And, it seems as though 8 years in London has instilled a forever change in my sense of dress and my personal style.
A trend, it seems, I am not alone with. One of my best blogger friends here in San Francisco — the lovely Ajda of Leap into Lovely — brought it up to me over wine one evening. “I dress in a European fashion sense,” she said to me. If I’m honest, before this moment, I hadn’t given the concept of Europen versus American (or, more specifically, San Franciscan) fashion much thought. “After years in America, it’s still something I hold on to.”
Well. If European fashion means beautifully cut jeans, chic flats, the perfect stripe top, and classic accessories to lift your outfit — then it’s something I’ll hold on to, too.
Outfit Details
STRIPED SWEATER | CLUB MONACO
JEANS | FRAME
BELT | VINTAGE
FLATS | J CREW
SUNGLASSES | NEUBAU (C/O)
NECKLACES | MADEWELL
BASKET BAG | WOOD/GREY
TRENCH COAT | BANANA REPUBLIC (SIMILAR)
Would you describe your style as more American or European? Do you know a difference? Does my outfit look like I’m dressing for Paris, or am I deluded (<– probably)?