What To Pack For Winter in Paris

My sister and I had the best time visiting Paris this past week. The only drawback was that it was 20 degrees outside and as the wind whipped through the streets, we were freezing. No wonder flights were so inexpensive in January! Needless to say, our dreams of walking around the entire city like we have done in warmer months went out the window.

That said, we enjoyed every minute and were SO thankful to have brought cozy wool jackets with us that completely saved the day. These jackets, along with a TON of extra layers, helped us to stay outside as long as possible to see some of favorite parts of Paris.

Today, I’m sharing photos of our time at the Eiffel Tower, and I’m linking to the outfits we wore to stay warm while still looking as tres chic as possible.

What To Pack For A Winter Trip To Paris

Coat Recommendations

If you’re packing for a trip to Paris this winter (or to another similar city), we highly recommend bringing along a 100% wool jacket. They’re light enough to fold into your suitcase or wear on the plane but they’re also really warm and chic.

My sister and I also brought puffer jackets with us but we ended up living in the coats pictured here because they felt like they fit into the city so much better.

Layering Pieces

We’d also recommend bringing a ton of layering pieces with you: long underwear, t-shirts (my favorites are from Everlane), turtlenecks, sweaters/cardigans, hats, gloves, and wear them all together (a la Joey from Friends!). If you get warm, you can always peel layers off along the way.

My favorite sweaters I wore throughout the trip were all from Sezane. This cardi here is SO warm and cozy. It’s very versatile because it can be worn with the buttons in front or in the back for a totally different look. I also lived in this oversized blue sweater which is the softest knit I own.

Bottoms

I packed two pairs of jeans—one wide leg pair and a baggier pair. I also brought along a pair of classic black trousers. I rotated these bottoms throughout the trip and they worked out well. I also brought a pair of thermal stockings that were fun to pair to black shorts and boots. They were amazing because they kept my legs extra warm but looked like normal stockings otherwise.

Shoes

In terms of shoes, I lived in these adidas. They were great for walking around, even in the cold. They were chic as far as sneakers went and they paired well with all of my looks. I also brought a pair of classic pumps to wear out for dinner (pictured in these photos too).

I also brought loafers to wear with socks (but I only wore these once and could have left them behind). I also brought my running shoes. Our hotel had a gym and working out always helps me combat jet lag.

Suitcases & Purses

I initially planned to bring a small suitcase as my carry-on as well as an oversized backpack. That said, after flying to New York to link up with my sister for the Paris leg of our journey, I ended up adding a bigger suitcase into the mix. I decided it made more sense to check a bag so that I’d be able to fit all of my winter layers and essentials (and still have some room to spare in case I were to do any extra shopping!).

In terms of bags/purses, I wore my vintage Chanel bag around the city during the day and out for meals. For our day trip to Versailles, I added in a linen tote bag from Sezane so that we could pack some snacks and waters and this worked out well.

Overall, if you’re packing for a trip to Paris in the winter, layers are key. You definitely won’t want to skimp on packing warm items. You’ll be living in outerwear so that’s a smart place to splurge so that you have a great coat you’ll truly stay warm in. And remember to check a bag that has some extra room so that you can fit any pieces you may buy in one of the best cities for shopping in the world.

I hope these packing tips will help you as you plan your winter trip to Paris. If you are planning to travel in the spring or summer, you’re extra lucky because you won’t have to pack your heavy coats (and you’ll have more room for shopping!). For some more outfit ideas for winter in Paris, check out these recent posts here and here.

As always, please let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions. Thank you so much for stopping by!