Dressing Like a Parisian | A Sequinned Sailor Stripe Top & Midi Skirt

Styling a French style sequinned stripe sailor top
It seems that my trip to Paris as a La Redoute brand ambassador a couple of weeks ago has rubbed off on me: I’m all over Breton stripes right now. This fabulous sequinned sailor stripe top from Les Petites is the result of our shopping trip in the city, where we were given a tour of the boutiques and some spending money as part of the prize. I pooled all of mine into one statement piece – in fact I think it was love at first sight with this top! It’s sequinned all over: as you move it shimmers so much it looks like water (mermaid chic…?)! It’s absolutely beautiful and I think the fabric really lends itself to this cropped boxy shape that’s on trend right now.

I wore it with my lilac midi skirt from Asos () and hair was important: it had to be a bun. Somehow my hair down just didn’t look right with this outfit – I’m all for having a hairstyle that coordinates with my clothes. This was the day I went to see behind the scenes at a La Redoute/Grazia photo shoot as part of my ambassadorship: off to a pub in East London on a beautiful sunny day for some French-meets-British styling they were doing for a fashion feature spread in Grazia. (See more about the photo shoot on my Facebook page soon.) Later on that day I had a lady come up to me in the Tate Modern who told me how much she liked my outfit: how sweet was that? She said she’d noticed me from far off and complimented me when we found ourselves next to each other in the queue for the ladies. It goes to show that a statement piece works wonders for making you stand out in the crowd.

Have you ever had anyone in the street tell you they liked your outfit? If so, what were you wearing, and how did it make you feel? Let me know in the comments!

Styling a French style sequinned stripe sailor top
French style sequinned stripe sailor top
French style sequinned stripe sailor top

Catherine x

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Top: Les Petites (they have 30% off at the moment!), Skirt: , Bag: Karen Millen, Heels: Debenhams (old), Sunglasses: Lulus ()

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44 Comments

  1. 28 May 2014 / 2:47 pm

    You do the mermaid stripe really well! Pretty!

  2. 28 May 2014 / 9:26 am

    The most perfect top there ever was!! and a little bit of paris with you… how lovely.
    Love it with lilac, i am all over lilac lately, so so pretty. And loving your hair like this, it accentuates your beautiful face!XXX

  3. 28 May 2014 / 2:04 am

    I would have complimented you, too! It's perfect!
    Compliments from strangers are the best since they truly have no ulterior motives (in theory) for their nice comment. I try and compliment strangers when I see something I love!
    Visiting from the Trend Spin linkup!
    -Carylee | morepiecesofme.com

    • 9 June 2014 / 9:56 am

      That's so nice that you do that, Carylee! Thank you for stopping by x

  4. 28 May 2014 / 1:46 am

    Love this! The purple with the stripes is a perfect combo!

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

  5. 24 May 2014 / 10:58 am

    You look so cute in a bun! And absurdly young. As others have said, I'm not surprised you were complimented as that is a lovely outfit.

    I get compliments on my winter coat as it's an intense shade of dark fuschia. It kind of stands out in a sea of black, navy and grey coats but I like to add a bit of colour as I think winter is grey enough!

    • 9 June 2014 / 9:55 am

      Ohhh Eleanor that's a lovely compliment, thank you :))

  6. 24 May 2014 / 8:06 am

    Looking great, beautiful top. Well done. And what fun to get all these opportunities and prizes….!
    Yes I have been complimented in the street once. I was wearing a brown skirt with a slit. Not a pencil skirt but not an A-line either. And a sleeveless red/brown/white top and white/red high heeled sandals. It was a acquintance who said she was thinking to herself "that is a well-dressed woman" and then saw it was me. Of course this made me feel great. Even more so, as a quite attractive (English) man had been following me (scared me when I noticed it), stopped me in the street and asked whether I would like to have a cup of coffee with him. This had only happened to me once in my life. I could only stammer:".. but, but.. I am married". He replied:" then you hurband is a very lucky man". Man.. that made my day!! Actually.. my year haha.
    Greetje

    • 9 June 2014 / 9:54 am

      Oh Greetje that is so lovely!! How nice of him to actually stop and ask you :))

  7. 23 May 2014 / 3:11 pm

    Girl, those sunglasses are fantastic.

  8. 23 May 2014 / 9:46 am

    wonderful peaces.. love the midi skirt with the big pockets, the color is amazing, also love midi skirts and I am wearing them very often. the top is awesome!
    Love your sandals.. very nice 🙂

    have a nice week
    Dana
    http://danalovesfashionandmusic.blogspot.de/

  9. 23 May 2014 / 3:13 am

    When I worked at A&M University as I secretary, I had to walk across campus each day to post our mail. One day a man (professor maybe?) stopped me to tell me how nice I looked. It made my day. :o) I still remember the outfit, a Light Grey suit with an asymmetrical blouse underneath. The points of the blouse hem and sleeves hung out of the jacket in a fun way. :o)

    I am soooooo jealous of your blouse and those HUGE pockets!!!
    http://www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

    • 23 May 2014 / 8:55 am

      Funny isn't it how you remember the outfits you're complimented on by strangers really clearly, isn't it JJ?! And thank you hun!

  10. 23 May 2014 / 2:44 am

    Love this outfit – you really do look like you could be walking around in France and blending in with the locals. I think the bun really makes the outfit!

    Arielle from Tangled Musings

    • 23 May 2014 / 8:54 am

      Arielle that's such a great compliment – thanks so much x

  11. 22 May 2014 / 10:44 pm

    Love the mixture of colours – they work together so well. The sequinned top looks really nice. I don't think you can beat a bit of sparkle
    Paul

    • 23 May 2014 / 8:53 am

      Agree with you on the sparkle, Paul!! Thank you x

  12. 22 May 2014 / 8:59 pm

    So gorgeous! Love this pretty look on you. Very feminine and chic.

  13. 22 May 2014 / 5:10 pm

    Not at ALL surprised that you were complimented in this look, dear Catherine…so chic!! That striped and sequinned top was totally worth splurging all your spending money on; it's fab with your lilac skirt (and will be equally amazing with everything else you pair it with, I know!!) And yes, I do sometimes get compliments on my outfits when I'm out and about…it's a nice feeling, isn't it?! 😉

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com

  14. 22 May 2014 / 5:03 pm

    It's definitely too short to tuck in, Daryl – I do love this new silhouette!

  15. 22 May 2014 / 3:07 pm

    I love this outfit! Especially that midi skirt! Paris is a dream and I'm glad you had a great time 🙂
    Katelyn // Relatively Offbeat

  16. 22 May 2014 / 12:13 pm

    I absolutely love that top! I'm so tempted to buy it but I'm telling myself that I may go to France (Paris?) in September for my birthday so need to save my euros! I once had a lady stop me in the street in Greenwich and admire my black and white coat, which I had bought in one of our local Spanish shops. I think I wore it with black jeans, but can't really remember. I also overheard two ladies admiring the bag that I won in your competition – they were very impressed when I said it was part of my prize outfit

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:06 pm

      Hah that's brilliant, Sue!! I'm so glad for you!

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:05 pm

      I think it may just be the best one in the world anywhere, Lauren…! Thank you x

  17. 22 May 2014 / 8:14 am

    Aaaw, what a sweet lady! People here are quite asocial and awkward, they just stare and don't talk that much 😀
    You do look fabulous! So pretty and sophisticated! The bun is super cute!

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:05 pm

      Thank you Keit – you're always such a sweetheart!

  18. 21 May 2014 / 7:53 pm

    Love how the light plays on that top. And yes, I have had people stop me and tell me they like my clothes or my bag. Sometimes it's a woman at the grocery store, sometimes it's a homeless guy on the street. Unless someone is threatening, it always feels good:).

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:04 pm

      I haven't had a 'dodgy' one yet, Lisa – but you're right, it does feel nice!!

  19. 21 May 2014 / 7:46 pm

    Lovely breton!
    XO
    Jeanne
    http;//fashionmusingsdiary.blogspot.fr

  20. 21 May 2014 / 6:56 pm

    Killer! I love these pieces, separately and together. xox

  21. 21 May 2014 / 6:42 pm

    Hello Catherine ! what a stunning top you look gorgeous in this outfit !, with best wishes to you x.

  22. 21 May 2014 / 5:49 pm

    That top is to die for Catherine! So lovely, no wonder you got complimented. I literally had a compliment from a stranger an hour ago as I got off the train, she was admiring my red Clarks mary-janes. I do it all the time to other people as well, I stopped a girl once and asked where her shoes were from and 10 minutes later I'd been to the store and bought my own. That's impulse for you! Can't wait to hear and see more about gay Paris! x

  23. 21 May 2014 / 4:48 pm

    I have Breton top envy, love the way you have styled it with the skirt. It's lovely when you get a compliment from a complete stranger.
    Sue
    Bestfriendstyle

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:02 pm

      It's so nice, isn't it Susan – I love that people take the trouble to tell you! x

  24. 21 May 2014 / 4:29 pm

    Cute! I always shy away from sequined tops (thinking they are too dressy), but the top works well with your casual skirt.

    Monica, http://www.pear-shaped-gal.com

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:02 pm

      I did think that too about wearing sequins in the day, Monica – then I thought 'oh what the hell'…! Thank you my lovely 🙂

  25. 21 May 2014 / 3:35 pm

    That sequined top is perfect…I can see why you would pool all your money for that one piece, it's beautiful and I'm sure you will come up with all kinds of creative ways to wear it! I just got back from Paris too and I already want to go back! I splurged on a leather Longchamp bag and I'm super excited about it 🙂

    • 22 May 2014 / 5:01 pm

      I've seen so many bloggers in Paris over the last couple of weeks Jenny – hope you had an amazing time too!! Thank you for your lovely comment xx

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