Written in collaboration with Emily Jones
Everyone knows that Parisian girls are the standard of beauty and elegance. It is not about natural charm or expensive brands they may be wearing. They are like no one when it comes to creating their own utterly feminine look and combining style ideas, with their simple mannerisms that make them so beautiful in their own way. Some consider the French-woman style as this unachievable fantasy. However, the key to decoding a French girl’s dressing and attitude is more about what people cannot see. Fashion for Parisian women is probably the most important thing, and an aspect you notice almost immediately. Their way of life and clothes go hand in hand.
Language and Culture
Without a doubt, before you can even get to fashion, you must immerse yourself in the French language and culture. This could be very fun, think of all of the wine you should drink to really feel Parisian? Pinor Noir, Bordeux, so many options and of course not to mention, Rosé! Then you got the cheese…yes please! The French also eat a lot of meat and vegetables, but if you aren’t a big fan of meat, try a simple French Onion soup recipe!
The French language is arguably one of the most beautiful languages in the world, and one of the hardest to speak. It’s a stereotype that Parisians don’t like it when foreigners come to Paris and don’t speak English, but as a courtesy I highly recommend you learn a few phrases before going (when it’s safe to visit obviously). In order to truly get into the Parisian women culture, you need to learn French. With these days at home, grab a cup of tea and try your hand at online French courses from apps like Babbel, for example. In addition to lessons, it also helps a lot to watch movies in French or with subtitles, along with listening to French music or the news! If you spend an hour a day on French, it truly does help in the long run. Step 2 to be Parisian, almost complete!
Next up, Fashion
Stick with neutral tones
In Paris, you might see many women wearing grey, navy, or black, and with good reason – neutral colours tend to be flattering and slimming on most women. Consider adding the below pieces to your wardrobe:
• Skinny or slender-cut trousers in dark colours. The trousers can be full-length or cropped.
• Knee-length A-line or pencil skirts. Super-long skirts or miniskirts might not look as Parisian and are harder to pull off. Wear delicate floral prints or light colours in the summer, and consider dark colours in the winter.
• A little dress with a darker, slimming colour for formal occasions.
• Crisp blouses that do not sag around your waist and fit you well. Some neutral colours to consider are black, grey, navy, cream, beige, and white.
Stick with the basics
French-woman style is chic, simple, and stylish. So, to dress like them, you must keep your overall look clean and simple. Keep logos to a minimum and dress up casually.
French ladies dress for comfort, and they do not throw their sexuality in the face. They don’t show too much cleavage, butt, or legs at one time. Simply learn to be sexy through confidence and understatement.
Focus on the shoes
Wear stylish but sensible shoes. Pumps, thin sandals, riding boots, and flats are all appropriate French woman shoes. Avoid flip flops at all costs!
If your balance in heels is not great (or you are going to do a lot of walking), stick to boots or flats. Now in season, you can find Parisians rolling around in boots with a chunky heel for extra support, but not too high of course.
Shop less but high-quality pieces
A Parisian woman emphasizes the clothing quality over quantity. To curate a French closet, prefer quality fabrics like cashmere, wool, silk, and cotton as they will serve you for a long time.
Also, invest in versatile outfits that you can re-style and re-wear often.
Accessories minimally
Do not wear too much jewelry. Keep in mind that Parisians wear diamonds at night and pearls during the day. You can wear a cute headband, a sophisticated handbag, large sunglasses, or wear a scarf as well. Coco Chanel always said, before you leave the house, always take 1 thing off!
Have a style uniform and stick to it
If you want to look like a French woman, you do not have to follow fashion trends. Parisian women are more into timeless and classic pieces. French-girl style is all about finding clothes and the right style, which flatter your body type and stick to it. Adding one or three latest trends to update your wardrobe is also an excellent idea.
With the right attitude and a few key pieces, you will look like you walked right off the Champs-Élysées! Take note: Implement these changes gradually since attempting to tackle all at once might be overwhelming.
This post was written in collaboration with Emily Jones