French Style!

[Virginielle]

^That sounds like a caricature to me.

 

[Aby]

When i think of french women i think of a girl wearing a blue and black striped shirt, and the shirt has this slightly loose boat neck and the sleeves goes a little longer than the elbows. She's wearing black pants, skinny pants but they're not jeans and they're slightly rolled up at the end. Her hair is blonde and shorter than to the shoulders, it's soft and shiny. The blonde colour is more white than yellow but it's still sophisticated. The hair is covered with a red beret, the ones that doesn't have holes in them. The typical french one. She's wearing those shoes you typically see your grandmother in, but she makes them work. They're loafers, beautiful loafers. Her bag is a black, simple bag and in the bag there's cigarettes. Two packs of gitanes and a pack of Marlboro reds.

oh that kind of grew into a story, i just got carried away. hehe


Those kind of loafers.

I think your post hints to the reasons why some people might be disappointed when discovering French street-style in situ.

I understand that it's your idea of the French girl and you're aware that it's not reality.

But, if some people really expect to find only a type of woman with a certain type of look all-over the country and in Paris in particular, that's not going to happen. Maybe you could find one person that would fit your ideal image and chance is she's maybe not French!

It's like when I "read" Lucky mag and the journalists always talk about "French girl" this and "French style" that! It's so so funny.

It's as if the whole world changed, all the big cities became multi-cultural, fashion got globalised except in Paris, France. Like if Paris was under a bell since the 50's, ok maybe 70's!

 

[sill]

well ofc i wont see that girl in france.. i never have under my vacations there.
but that is how i dream it would be.. hehe

 

[Les_Sucettes]

I think your post hints to the reasons why some people might be disappointed when discovering French street-style in situ.

I understand that it's your idea of the French girl and you're aware that it's not reality.

But, if some people really expect to find only a type of woman with a certain type of look all-over the country and in Paris in particular, that's not going to happen. Maybe you could find one person that would fit your ideal image and chance is she's maybe not French!

It's like when I "read" Lucky mag and the journalists always talk about "French girl" this and "French style" that! It's so so funny.

It's as if the whole world changed, all the big cities became multi-cultural, fashion got globalised except in Paris, France. Like if Paris was under a bell since the 50's, ok maybe 70's!

Well i agree with everything, it's just a stereotype.
I sincerely do not see nothing different in Parisian style that everyone talks compared to other European countries particularly Spain and Portugal. Probably because they share most of the shops.

First time I went to Paris what really surprised me the most style wise, was the predominance of an urban style that i was not expecting, and no one talks about it, much more than this idealized gamines.


Last time I went to Paris, that I absolutely love, I was photographed outside Collette(probably the most overrated shop in the world), by a Japanese mag for their French street style. Well besides the fact that I'm not French I was wearing head to toe English clothes( I'm not English either) a mixture of Topshop and Vivienne Westwood, so much for French street style...

What I see and a lot, particularly here in London, is the magazine idea of this so called French style.

 

[jackieonassis]

yes, i agree.
My best friend lives in Djion and she has very eclectic style. She loves London and British style in particualar so I guess that her style is a mix. She always looks amazing though!

 

[aquamarine]

That's such a cliché and stereotyping!

I was in Paris in October and while I agree(I did encounter some of the most chic women there) I have to disagree with the image most people (outside europe?) have of French women.

The Parisian style(I've met people from other areas and to say the least, you wouldn't even call them well-dressed, let-alone stylish) can be accomplished by everyone - at least if you're willing to spend $$ on high quality pieces. I have seen Japanese tourists look better than French people. The key is simplicty and classic looks, not overdoing it, keeping it low. But of course, there are just as many young Parisians who dress quite funky and modern (I remember running into a young girl who looked just like bag-lady Mary-Kate Olsen of some years ago!).

Quite striking was the high rate of well-styled older ladies in Paris (you could see they were rich, but in a non-tacky way). There aren't as many of them here in Germany

 

[laurette]

Just stumbled across this article from stylebytes.blogspot.com and thought you might like it

The quintessential French woman: that lovely creature who prowls the streets of Paris in a beautiful understated outfit and exquisite makeup, baguette in one hand and a killer designer purse in the other.

The secret to her style has been a significant topic in fashion for years. It would be impossible to even think about fashion without names like Coco Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy and Hermès springing to mind. More recent designers include Nicolas Ghesquière, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel and Christian Louboutin. And what would they be without their lovely French muses Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, Julie Delpy, Carine Roitfeld, Vanessa Paradis, Eva Green and Charlotte Gainsbourg?
Across the Atlantic, fashionistas are taking note. La créativité and sagacity lacking in the many young "Zoe-bots" of today are instead being found in a renewed and refreshing infatuation with the French woman. Books such as French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano and Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier have been hot items. So has the recent news that France's First Lady (and former model) Cecilia Sarkozy is divorcing French president Nicolas (oooh la la....).
French women are making headlines again. Their effervescent confidence, divine je-ne-sais-quoi attitude and delicious pastries have us all hooked. Something about the way she walks, the way she eats and the way she dresses.

Here are 5 tips to reinvent yourself this fall à la française...
1) Learn to love real leather

A solid pair of boots, a killer bag, and a dark bomber jacket are staples. Real leather lasts! These three pieces can take you anywhere and should transfer well from morning to night.

2) Invest in cashmere

There is nothing compared to soft cashmere against your skin. Sweaters, tights and socks made of soft wools keep you warm without being too bulky.
3) Rock the best pieces of your wardrobe

Variety is good, but only when you truly have a variety of stellar items to show for. French women have learned to abide by the classic fashion rule "if you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it!"

4) Snatch up quality over quantity

A few staple cotton t-shirts is better than holding on to a dozen synthetic shirts. Your clothes should fit properly, last more than a few washes, and make you feel and look spectacular.
5) Treat yourself like a queen... and not just on the things that count!

We've all heard about the basics- the trench coat, the jeans, the perfect flats and the bag. But the French woman also understands the importance of snatching up those one-of-a-kind pieces. Treat yourself to a glamorous cocktail ring, an exquisite vintage dress, or a pretty silk scarf. It's the special extras that give your black sweater a whole new look!

Embrace the French woman for a week... how do you feel?

Here's the link: http://stylebites.blogspot.com/2007/10/say-bonjour-to-new-you-this-winter.html

 

[lollicandy]

Some interesting views on 'French style'. However, I don't think that stereotypical beret wearing girl exists or ever existed, frankly, off of a MGM musical soundstage.

I can only speak about Paris, but I do like how relaxed and comfortable in their own clothing and skin they seem. I only hung out with students, but everyone had artfully messy hair that never looked bad. I wish I could have mastered that, save me some time and agony in the morning! Oh and dreadlocks, dreadlocks on girls was eye opening. I think its part of this rave going, bohemian thing they have in Europe. Hardly any nail polish on the young people. The older ladies were well coiffed etc. But honestly, I didnt know very many people that were wearing Miu Miu and Marant all the time like Melanie Huynh.

The 'French girl' look being touted by style mags like Lucky is really specific to a certain group of women who can do so. The actual girls who were French I saw and went to school with looked more quirky, and not so label conscious and polished in the same sense. I don't idolize a supposed idea, like 'French girl' or berets, but I really appreciate their attitude which goes a lot further in projecting the essence of being French. I don't get that American women are as knowledgeable about hair and makeup and designers and knowing how clothing should fit. Or being as comfortable in their clothing/bodies. And I don't mean some of the style mavens here on TFS but in general, the average American woman living in suburban middle america. In fact, sometimes I've met more people professing ignorance of any of the aforementioned subjects with glee at home in the States. And I notice more often women complaining about 'dressing up', which would probably be equivalent to taking off sweats. Maybe it has something do with not showing off, and not trying to out do someone else.

Plus, the style at least in Paris is really subtle; if you're expecting giant windmills and girls in can can dresses hitting you over the head with a baguette you're not going to notice it unless you're really familiar with cut and color and designers. And I think that's what most people who are tourists, the average American tourist, is expecting and they don't get it when they get there.

The articles on French style are interesting when they pick up on specific items or trends, but in general I don't really get how picking good quality clothes and leather (LOL) is something exclusive to the French; its just common sense.

(And as a form of disclosure, I totally understand there are people from 'middle america' that are stylish and whatever and I am generalizing, but they're my observations and I'm holding to them.)

 

[Aby]

^ well said!

 

[Les_Sucettes]

Some interesting views on 'French style'. However, I don't think that stereotypical beret wearing girl exists or ever existed, frankly, off of a MGM musical soundstage.

I can only speak about Paris, but I do like how relaxed and comfortable in their own clothing and skin they seem. I only hung out with students, but everyone had artfully messy hair that never looked bad. I wish I could have mastered that, save me some time and agony in the morning! Oh and dreadlocks, dreadlocks on girls was eye opening. I think its part of this rave going, bohemian thing they have in Europe. Hardly any nail polish on the young people. The older ladies were well coiffed etc. But honestly, I didnt know very many people that were wearing Miu Miu and Marant all the time like Melanie Huynh.

I so agree with you, I wonder why no one mentioned the dreadlocks, they are everywhere, I guess they do not fit this beret stripy thing idea.

 

[mermaidsandcats]

Parisian Style

Photo by patrice panfill.​

Much is made of the allegedly superior style of French women — Parisians especially. There was a point a couple of years ago where books on how to live, dress, eat & act like a French woman were being churned out at an alarming rate. That’s slightly de mode now, but when I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago, I made a point of observing the style of the women around me. (I always do, I can’t help it, but this time I made a concerted effort because I was interested in what might have sparked all those previous authors.) Obviously it’s impossible to typify an entire city full of women & the way they dress, but I noticed that French women — or at least Parisian women — do have a very definite aesthetic, despite their individual stylistic differences.

I started making some notes, & they have evolved into the piece below. I hope you enjoy it & of course if you are a French woman, or have lots of experience with them, please feel free to say your bit & share your thoughts!

♥Parisian women know the importance of good basics (& don’t scrimp on them)
One of the first things I noticed was that even though the temperature had only just started to drop, all the women I saw (honestly, pretty much without exception) were totally kitted out. By this I mean that I didn’t see any of them huddling & looking cold in the Métro. They all had great coats, scarves & good winter boots.

I don’t know how often French women shop, so whether the coats were brand new or not is a mystery to me. The point is that everyone had them. They were good quality coats, clean & smart-looking. This is not to say that they were expensive necessarily, but they were definitely well-made & stylish.

Parisian women seem to grasp the concept that a coat, scarf & boots are going to be their major sartorial staples for at least a few months, & so they buy with this in mind. If you think about it, during winter, all anyone really sees are your coat & shoes, so it makes total sense to get the best you can.

For more tips, see How To Buy A Winter Coat!

♥Parisian women work from a consistent colour palate
There was not a lot of colour to be seen in Paris, at least when it came to clothing — not on the people or in the shops — but one thing I learned from a few women I spoke to is that they tend to shop with a limited colour palate in mind. This means that they have probably determined ahead of time what works for them & their skin-tone, & they stick to it.

One problem a lot of women have is that they get carried away with excitement & end up buying a raspberry beret (!), a lime green waistcoat or a pair of pink cowboy boots… & then don’t know how to work them into their wardrobe. Obviously if your closet is extensive & well-stocked, this might not be so much of a problem, but most women don’t have that luxury. & so that colourful poncho languishes at the back of the cupboard, because you just cannot work out what to put it with.

If you make a decision to work from a few colours — maybe black, beige, white, royal blue & red, for example — it makes your entire sartorial experience about a billion times more simple & cohesive. While this might sound boring (& it’s certainly not a rule I adhere to — I am totally prone to flights of fancy where I buy turquoise cardigans), if you feel like your style’s a bit of a mess & you don’t know where to begin fixing it, paring the colours down is a great place to start.

♥Parisian women don’t want to look “perfect”
The major difference between the look of Parisian women & American women that I can see is that Americans want to look absolutely perfect, with not a hair out of place. It’s very pageant style, very shiny teeth. Parisian women don’t want to look that way, & while they may spend just as much time getting ready in the morning, it’s not so that you could blast their head with a leaf-blower & have no effect. Parisian women often wear their hair loose & down, tucked into their scarf or coat if the weather is horrible, or pulled back in a messy chignon. This is one of those things that helps add to that tousled, sex kitten look that so many women are crazy about trying to achieve. You won’t look like that if your hair is pulled back so severely it doubles as an amateur face-lift!

Okay, so let me make a disclaimer & say that this is not to say that you can leave the house with soup stains on your skirt & safety-pins holding your sleeve together. It’s about looking effortless, not being effortless!

Allow yourself to get a little disheveled. If you don’t know how to make that happen, get dressed, then have sex, then leave the house. Simple, non?!

♥Parisian women don’t wear a lot of make-up
One thing I heard years ago was that French women aren’t wild about make-up, but they are crazy for treatments, potions & powders. Apparently the average French woman’s medicine cabinet is a veritable apothecary, the likes of which would make a mad scientist beam with pride.

Regardless of their penchant for slathering strange creams on themselves, Parisian women really don’t wear a lot of make-up. I barely saw a lipsticked mouth the whole time I was there. Most of them seemed pretty content with a bit of foundation, rouge, eye-liner & mascara. I always thought of stereotypical sexy French rock & roll style as being a girl with long messy hair & slightly unkempt eye make-up, but I didn’t see any of those girls. Maybe they only exist in my imagination…

♥Parisian women take their time
This is not to say that they dawdle or plod around, because they certainly don’t. But the French, generally, understand that time is precious, & they make the most of it. Yes, they work hard, but they also make time to relax & look after themselves — unlike most Americans or English, who seem intent on working themselves into an early grave!

They make time to have a bath, go for walks & spend time with their friends. They’re not constantly running around with dangerously high blood pressure. They understand that life is about balance. Life doesn’t have to be perfectly structured & pulled tight in order to be satisfying. They’re okay with letting go of the reins.

♥Parisian women keep it simple
Parisian women seem to manage to avoid the temptation to load on accessories & gee-gaws. Maybe they all subscribe to Coco Chanel’s old adage of “take one thing off before you leave the house”, or maybe the overdone look just doesn’t appeal as much. Regardless of the reason, it’s much easier to look chic & polished if you have fewer elements fighting for attention.

♥Parisian women wear heels — a lot
Before you rush out & rack up a hideous credit card bill at ChristianLouboutin.fr (I know you & your quick-draw Visa!), stop! Yes, very high heels are sexy. But only some of them are comfortable, & spending a lot of money on a pair of kicks unfortunately doesn’t make them cozy. (You would think they would pass some kind of law stipulating that if a pair of shoes retails for over $500, you should be able to stand up in them without feelings of intense agony, but hey!)

So the most important thing to realise is that yes, a lot of Parisian women wear heels a lot of the time, but they wear heels they can walk in! & stand in! & actually feel alright in! Sometimes this means a little kitten heel, & sometimes it means something higher, but you really won’t know until you try something on. My point is, Parisian women make the effort with their footwear but they don’t murder themselves in the process.

Be good to your tootsies, they’re the only ones you’ve got! (Unless you have some kind of strange affliction… In which case, sorry. But go nuts on the shoes!)

Extra For Experts:
♥JAK & JIL BLOG has lots of French model style for your perusal. (It happens to be one of my new favourite blogs, too.)
♥The Sartorialist shoots in Paris regularly, though unfortunately his “Women in Paris” tag doesn’t seem to be working. Just scroll!

[...]

source - galadarling.com

 

[JunyaSchick]

^well, it´s interesting and everything written here is true but anyway, they dont reveal the secret (if there´s any) to look like a parisian women...(the rest of France is a bit different, though)

however I must disagree in one point!!! Young parisian girls (around twenty-something) wear a lot of make-up!!!!!

 

[ChloeFrancoise]

If these actually applied to everyone who falls under being American or Parisian without exceptions, I'd definitely belong in Paris instead of here.

I love the boots in post # 587.

 

[Style-Addict]

I really like that last article, thanks for posting it!

 

[floodette]

thanks for the article

 

[Vivian4479]

Simplicity and classic understated elegance are the best way to go. Thanks for sharing, mermaidsandcats. B)

 

[eternitygoddess]

So to sum it up: black and simple.

 

[silvi]

I really like the french brands (comptoir des cotonniers and sandro). They are always close to my style. Simple but chic. Nothing overdone.
I don't buy it, their prices are expensive i think. (Execpt in the sales last year, I bought 3 skirts from cdc)

pics from me

 

[StellaMare]

french eBay is a goldmine for classic french clothing and labels, many sellers will ship outside of France even though they don't specify it: just ask. I've made some great finds on there.

 

[cheiby11]

^ great tip, thank you Stella