How to dress like Alice in Paris
Alice’s Blue Polka Dot dress with straw hat and red sandals
I’ve recently become addicted to the scripted streaming series Alice in Paris, a delightful short-form show in which a young Parisian woman wanders the streets of her city, sharing her adventures in food, her favorite hideaways, and more. Each episode is only a couple of minutes, so only a day after I’d discovered it, I’d already watched 23 episodes. The series is free on Amazon with your prime membership.
While the episodes center on Alice’s adventures in food, her bright, fun outfits are a delight. I decided to recreate Alice in Paris outfits using (mostly)budget-friendly options. So, here you have it: How to dress like Alice in Paris.
We’ll start with an item that might not make your list of staples, but is such a perfect base layer that I can see how it might become one. In fact, I bought a navy blue dress with white polka dots for a book launch last summer, and I ended up wearing it through the fall and have now revived it for spring. It goes with pretty much anything–leather jacket, suede booties, red heels, sneakers, trench coat. Polka dots might even be considered a “neutral pattern,” if such a thing exists, because as long as they’re worn in the proper scale, they don’t overwhelm.
Season 1, Episode 18
Blue dress with white polka dots, paired with straw hat, sandals, and neutral shoulder bag
Alice loves polka dots! She wears some combination of polka dots in many episodes. Here she is in the blue polka-dot dress from Season 1, Episode 18. She pairs it with red sandals and a straw hat with black trim.
And here are my budget-friendly alternatives to help you dress like a Parisian, ranging from $29 to $190:
Subtle polka dots: Boden blue dress with scattered dots, $78
This ruffly polka dot dress is relaxed, subtle, and ultra feminine, perfect for the office or a picnic.
J Crew Tiered Midi Dress with dots, $79.99
I love the square neckline and comfy link of this blue polka dot dress J.Crew. Great for strolling around the city or a lunch date.
And to top it off…a straw hat.
Straw hat from J.Crew
Red sandals
Don’t forget the sandals, or, if the weather isn’t quite right for sandals, a classic pair of flats! I love Boden shoes, which are always high-quality and fun. Red sandals add a pop of color to a neutral outfit and are a great way to try red without overwhelming your outfit. I’ve included a thong sandal, a strappy red patent leather sandal, and a super walkable slide.
Red strappy sandals from Boden
strappy red sandals
Boden red penny loafers
And I would be remiss not to mention red ballet flats, a French style staple to wear with jeans or a summer dress. J.Crew makes beautiful, high-quality ballet flats that will last many seasons.
And finally, the handbag.
Alice pairs her blue polka dots with a blush pink shoulderbag. I love how fresh the look is, and I happen to have a wonderful old pale pink Kate Spade bag that looks a lot like hers, but here’s a cute version, big enough for a wallet and book, small enough to look French.
Little pink shoulder bag from Kate Spade, $107
If you want something more versatile, you can never go wrong with a quality tan bucket bag. I love this one from Boden.
Tan Bucket Bag from Boden
Finally, Alice often tops her dresses and T-shirts with lightweight cardigans. Here is the perfect red cashmere cardigan, once again from J.Crew (can you tell I’m a fan?)
Last but not least, the perfect top to go with a pencil skirt or jeans, a black square-neck top with puff sleeves.
And finally, here I am in my favorite (and only) blue polka dot dress, which I wore for the book launch of The Marriage Pact in San Francisco last summer. As you might have guessed, it’s from Boden! (Sorry, this one is sold out, but The Marriage Pact is available in English and French, and 28 other languages!)
