A Solo Christmas in Paris
Happy Holidays Friends,
Since I’m working through the holidays, this Christmas I’m going solo. At first, I was a bit sad at the thought of not being able to go home for Christmas. In my family, the holidays means big potluck meals, my mom’s big gift wrapping station, walking through Candy Cane Lane, dad’s cooking, and of course lots of holiday DIYs. There are also long walks on the beach with the smell of the salty air, the familiarity of Trader Joe’s, and brunches with friends. Christmas in LA is idyllic but in the spirit of making a house a home, I decided to make the most out of my solo Christmas in Paris.
This year marks my third Christmas in Paris and although I have so many things to learn and master still, I feel like my life as an expat is one of the best gifts I could have ever given myself. The challenge of adapting to the French way of doing things is still rough at times and the struggle for visa security still continues but nevertheless, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The holidays season in Paris is magical. From animated window displays at the Grand Magasins to romantic strolls through Place Vendôme, to be sad or self-loathing during the holidays is like missing out on the sweetness of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. So many people, including myself, have dreamt of a European Christmas filled with joy and lights, so I feel really grateful to enjoy this holiday season in the city that I love most even if it means spending my time alone.
Some holiday activities for my solo Christmas includes:
DIY paper ornaments for my petite Christmas tree
DIY holiday cards to send to friends and family back home
Knitting: I really want to make a cute headscarf (think cottagecore chic)
New Year Mood Boarding: Still in my collage phase
Journaling, reflecting, and setting new goals for the New Year
Post-shower Pilates
Honey, avocado face mask
Closet organization: Out with the old and in with the new
On Fashion: Both Online and Offline
In general, I feel like I’ve been less active on social media these last few months and I’ve been really happy to be less online and more plugged in with my activities IRL. But even if I’m not posting about it, fashion is still at the core of my universe in so many ways. Dressing well, discovering a treasure at a thrift store, taking content, dreaming up a design, window shopping, helping my friends’ with their brands, and even doing a bit of modeling on the side this year brings me the greatest joy. The community and creativity that fashion stirs up is something that I can’t find in anything else. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to live in one of the most fashionable places in the world and I’m looking forward to new adventures as my career in fashion grows.
This year, I’m really grateful to work for a French fashion brand where I have the opportunity to make new friends, develop a deeper understanding of the retail landscape, and help bring joy to clients looking for the next perfect piece. Landing a job in Paris feels like trying to jump to the moon and I feel really lucky to be able to continue my residency in Paris for the coming months.
I’ll do a seperate blog post with a more comprehensive wrap up of the year with my favorite looks, what I wore, and where I went this year. Until then, I’d love to know what some of your favorite holiday traditions are and what’s on your gifting wishlist.
As always, if you got this far, thank you so much for reading and I wish you the most lovely holiday season wherever life happens to take you.
Much love from Paris & bonne fête,
Kiana