Paris Fall Guide: Saint-Germain, Le Procope and What to Wear

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This Paris fall guide starts at Le Procope, where we ate in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. My menu photo is a small reminder of the pleasure of sitting down properly in Paris instead of racing from one reservation to the next. For an autumn visit, I would build the day around a slow neighborhood walk and a long meal, with a coat, a good shirt and dinner pieces that fit in the same suitcase.

The wardrobe is brown, navy and oatmeal, with burgundy in a scarf rather than a whole new outfit. Start with a belted brown wool coat, a striped cotton button-up shirt and navy pinstripe wide-leg trousers. I would pack these pieces for a day in Saint-Germain, then change the shoes and add earrings for dinner.

Paris Fall Guide: A Saint-Germain Morning

Leave some time between the morning coffee and lunch. Saint-Germain is a neighborhood to enjoy at walking pace, not a list of shop doors to tick off. Keep the route loose enough to browse, stop for a drink or head inside if the weather turns. A fall wardrobe should make those changes easy.

I would wear the striped cotton button-up shirt with the navy pinstripe wide-leg trousers and the saddle suede ballet flats. The Gracie is cotton, with a fine Carmel stripe that is softer than a stark white shirt. Tuck it in to show the trouser waist or leave it loose for a less formal line. The Favorite Pant has a full-length, wide leg; check the inseam before packing, particularly if you plan to wear flats. A hem that drags on the pavement is not a useful city detail.

The belted brown wool coat finishes the outfit without making it feel like office clothes. Jules is a brown brushed-wool coat with a low belt, so the shape is more relaxed than a sharply fitted coat. It is an outer layer for a cool day, not a raincoat. Bring your own weatherproof option if the forecast calls for it.

Le Procope: Lunch, Our Photos and What to Wear

Le Procope is at 13 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, in the sixth arrondissement. The restaurant describes a tucked-away terrace in Cour Saint-André and historic dining rooms inside. That gives you two different moods in one address. Ask about the seating when you reserve rather than assuming a terrace table will suit the weather.

My egg plate photo is from our meal here. The blue-and-white rim, glassware and white tablecloth are the details I like to keep in a travel guide: the actual table, not someone else’s idea of Paris. The current menu includes French onion soup, beef tartare, coq au vin and sole meunière, but menus change. Choose from the menu on the day rather than planning an order from a photograph.

For a long lunch, I would add the oatmeal cashmere cardigan over the shirt and carry the small black leather shoulder bag. The NAADAM cardigan is the easy oatmeal layer in this edit, with a boxy shape that can sit over a button-up without turning the outfit stiff. The Mini Candy is the small black bag for the essentials; it is not the one to choose if you need room for a day’s shopping.

A chocolate suede silver-buckle belt brings a more defined waist to the trouser outfit. The silver buckle and rings are enough hardware, so keep the rest simple. If you like a hat, the brown packable straw hat adds structure. Sherman is made from packable straw, with a leather band. Treat it as a style choice for a mild day, not a warming layer; check the head measurement before choosing a size.

Paris After Lunch: A Second Outfit for Dinner

My sole photo is another detail from the same meal, not a second restaurant stop. It is a good argument for keeping the afternoon open. I would walk a little more, return to the hotel and make one small change for dinner rather than building a separate wardrobe for every reservation.

The navy square-neck midi dress is the dinner base: a square neckline, wide straps and a pleated midi-length skirt in navy. For fall, wear it indoors with the oatmeal cardigan, then put the brown coat over everything outside. It is sleeveless, so it is not a complete cold-weather outfit on its own.

The brown suede ankle boots give the dress a stronger line. Chloe has a high block heel, so this is a dinner boot rather than my recommendation for hours of sightseeing. The saddle suede ballet flats are the lower option with either the dress or trousers. Both suede choices belong in a dry-weather plan; take familiar weather-ready shoes for wet days and longer walks.

Finish with the gold vermeil pearl drop earrings and the burgundy check cashmere scarf. The Lee earrings combine sculptural gold-vermeil hand motifs with freshwater pearl drops; they are the statement, so a second big necklace is unnecessary. The checked cashmere scarf adds burgundy to the navy dress and brown coat. It is the useful color change when you want the same pieces to feel different at night.

What to Pack for Paris in Fall

A shirt, trousers, cardigan, coat and one dinner dress are a better starting point than seven unrelated outfits. Repeat the small black leather shoulder bag for lunch and dinner. Wear the burgundy check cashmere scarf over the coat on a cooler morning, then leave it at the hotel if it warms up. The point is to have options without carrying them all day.

Check the forecast close to departure and bring shoes you already know you can walk in. A weatherproof layer and familiar shoes matter more than another dress if rain is in the forecast. Leave room for the practical pieces you use at home rather than buying an untested walking wardrobe for the trip.

Planning a Le Procope Visit

Where is Le Procope?

At 13 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The restaurant lists Odéon as its nearby Metro stop. Confirm the address on your reservation before setting off.

Do you need a reservation?

For a meal, use the restaurant’s booking option and ask about indoor or terrace seating. Its coffee lounge currently lists weekday afternoon service without reservations. Check the current schedule before planning around that narrower service.

What should you wear?

A cotton shirt, full-length trousers and a soft cardigan make an easy lunch outfit. A navy midi dress with a small bag is the dinner version. These are styling suggestions, not a claim that the restaurant requires a particular dress code.

What is the easiest way to keep the suitcase small?

Choose one connected palette. Brown outerwear, navy trousers and dress, an oatmeal knit and a checked scarf let the accessories repeat. Decide which pieces you already own before adding anything new.

For the current address, booking option and menu, see Le Procope and its current menus.

More Paris Packing Ideas

• Ultimate Packing and Styling Guide on What to Wear in Paris
• Your Ultimate Packing Guide for a Stylish Summer in Paris & Bordeaux

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• Striped cotton button-up shirt
• Belted brown wool coat
• Brown suede ankle boots
• Small black leather shoulder bag
• Navy pinstripe wide-leg trousers
• Oatmeal cashmere cardigan
• Navy square-neck midi dress
• Gold vermeil pearl drop earrings
• Chocolate suede silver-buckle belt
• Brown packable straw hat
• Burgundy check cashmere scarf
• Saddle suede ballet flats