L'Echarpe Rouge

Samdi 9 fevrier l'Escharpe Rouge

Everyone thinks they have to don a chloe bag or Jimmy Choo heels to make a hit in Paris and blend in, when in fact you simply need a red scarf/l'esharpe rouge. It's that simple.

I couldn't begin to shoot all the red scarves I saw in Paris...

And it's not just women wearing the classic red scarf. Men are evident everywhere wrapped in rouge.

I had no idea what a lucky thing it was when I picked up a red scarf for a mere 10 euros on rue Vavin - perhaps the best Paris fashion statement I own.

Really a touch of red some where on your person is nothing new. We have plenty of historic reference to prove it.

The French bearing a touch of red goes back quite a ways.

I love this tiny thumbnail sketch of 19th century plein aire artist, Eugene Boudin, who is responsible for getting Monet to paint outdoors. Note all the touches of red on these beach goers at Deauville.

Red boots on the bus with a black cuff = perfection.

Just a red beret will do you and not break the couture bank.

Wearing a touch of red underneath it all could do I suppose especially so close to Valentines Day

Accessorising yourself with a red-garbed pup is fine in Paris. It's all in the details as author Harriet Welty Rocheforte of Joie de Vivre notes. By the way you will not find Harriet without her signature tomato red scarf.

Eating a red petits fours by Sadaharu Aoki won't help your fashion rating or your hips in Paris but this special edition for Valentines Day looks worth it.

As a last gasp effort if there is no red in your wardrobe, grab a red lollypop or sucette. The French have an insane attachment to lollies I have yet to figure out. Age is of no consequence when it comes to eating a lolly and almost de rigeur. I've been doing research on this phenomenom but so far have come up empty. Please elucidate me if you have a clue.