What to wear for a trip to Paris

I watched Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris yesterday. It's lovely and sweet and its subtle message to make your happiness right here right now is a satisfying one for these times and this holiday season. From a fashion point of view I was delighted to see loads of shirtdresses on screen. Rachel McAdams' character wears a cotton shirtdress in the opening scene, and goes on to wear another one for a trip to Versailles, and a thinner voile version belted over jeans and a black silk one in the evening. One of her friends wears a lilac cotton shirtdress on an excursion and pretty French girl Gabrielle wears a floral version with short sleeves in the final scene.

It's always hard to dress for a trip to another city. No one likes to stand out immediately like a tourist with a fanny pack and sneakers, unless you are hoping to get ripped off or receive bad service. I have always loved a shirtdress, hence the start of JDCamicetta, based initially on Jane's and my annoyance at the lack of good shirtdresses in the shops. Since a shirtdress is never trendy it suits any city and it is polished enough to take you into posh shops and restaurants. It's also the easiest thing to pack - no worries about what to wear with it. Flat sandals and a belt for day, a heel and a pretty purse for evening.

Read here about The Telegraph's fashion writer Lisa Armstrong's day in a shirtdress http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8943897/What-Im-Wearing-a-shirtdress.html.