For love, I relocated to Paris in 2013. I admit it; I’m a cliché. I gave up my work, moved out of my cozy apartment, said goodbye to my friends, and moved to a place where I didn’t know the language.
Since I arrived, a lot has changed, including—perhaps predictably—my personal style. I spent the latter years of my twenties living in Dalston, an area in east London that is known for its relaxed dress code. My clothing choices as a result reflected this more vibrant, outgoing, and adventurous perspective. Rue Rodier was the name of the first street I ever lived on, and it also became the name of the blog I established at the outset of this significant transformation, recording my own journeys and adventures but also my photography work and the inspiring stories of women I meet along the way.
When I was 29 years old, I found myself in Paris and realized that my beloved, frequently worn stone-washed high-waisted ’90s vintage jeans, paired with a vibrant vintage knit and Reebok high-tops (which, to be honest, made me look like my 8-year-old self on a trip to Disneyland without the bum bag), weren’t going to work in Europe’s chicest city. Fortunately, via a lot of trial and error over the years I’ve lived in Paris, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to dress more effortlessly French and have since embraced a more classic, mature style.
I’ve switched out my high-tops for heels and finally discovered a pair of jeans that enhances my best features and flatters my form. Discover the five most important lessons I’ve learned during my travels by reading on
The mythical image of a French woman pounding the Parisian pavements in her high heels, I’ve since learnt, is just that: a myth. In fact, French girls’ footwear choices err on the side of practical—think ballerina pumps, chunky-heeled boots and espadrilles. Thanks to Parisians, I can’t remember the last time I tottered precariously down the street, attempting to walk tall in skyscraper stilettos on an evening out.
