BTW everyone made extremely true and valid points here.
We all have a cultural idea to what we aspire to be like (and what is "perfection"), it´s confusing sometimes as if I go out all dressed up/dolled up in France, my friends will be "WTF ?". but if I go out all "French" and natural abroad, people almost take it as an insult and men won´t notice the "subtle" french sexiness, while french men will consider a neck showing as sexy....

Originally Posted by mellecyn

BTW everyone made extremely true and valid points here. We all have a cultural idea to what we aspire to be like (and what is "perfection"), it´s confusing sometimes as if I go out all dressed up/dolled up in France, my friends will be "WTF ?". but if I go out all "French" and natural abroad, people almost take it as an insult and men won´t notice the "subtle" french sexiness, while french men will consider a neck showing as sexy....

what is WTF?

Originally Posted by plilippé

what is WTF?

pm you

last night i had an interesting convo with bf about french style.

he said it's all about culture. for french...the style is them, part of their culture. they don't need to acquire. amercians on the other hand are major consumers, "land of plenty". he used a perfume as example. like some celeb created a perfume in her name...so it'll sell in the US but not that much in europe..or at least the market in terms of age would be different. that's why there are more purse collectors here in the US...and on the other hand ppl in the US may be have more money. it's all speculation.

Jw, do most french girls usually wear flats? The ones I know tend to wear heels at all times. Even just the ones with a tiny half inch heel on the bottom than makes noise. Its very attention getting, it makes you notice them immediately despite them being so short.

Originally Posted by mellecyn

I am a French woman living abroad and i have been travelling quite a fair bit to be able to reflect back on what internationals say about French style -I had NO idea before leaving my country that ppl admired the french style- I love this blog http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/...les-jeans.html She really has the real eye for what Parisians wear...yes jeans, boots, big bag, big scarf lol. I have always loved the Londonian Topshop look/Shoreditch creativity !!, I also love the scandinavian style and designers...but strangely no matter how much foreign style I borrow, people never seem to stop telling me how "French" I look...apparently demeanor (quite demure) So as general ideas, and if we forget about wearing Chanel, Hermes (like realistically0.02% of the french population can afford or wear these) we are always told simpler is better. My Grandma firstly told me to be ladylike....don´t talk and laugh too loud, whisper, you´d rather be dead than being seen drunk in the streets with your miniskirt up your belly, how to sit, how to walk....how to accessorize, how to wear perfume, how to own a few good basic pieces in a wardrobe you can always bring latest trendy pieces to it. Magazines taught me about the basic rule of contrast, natural, so you never look "too much" (as we say in French). "Too much" meaning accumulation of different trends all worn together: sequins + mini + platform -all sexy things worn together : cleavage + mini + high heels + smokey eye make up ..it´s always about keeping a minimum of "natural" ...the idea of "sexy" is in fact subtle more "sensual", showing only a bit of skin here and there, wearing a cashmere pullover with no bra (if small chest). ... french saying in beauty "the best make up is the one you don´t see" (meaning as discreet as possible) The French are scared of quickly being called "fashion victim", "too much", "dressed like a sl.t" Exemples of "contrast-keeping it low" : mini skirt worn with a XXL jumper, sexy/evening dress worn with "bedhead" hair, bright red lipstick...but no make up anywhere else. French are scared of colours, so it´s black & grey. (with sometimes navy and burgundy/bordeaux) and that doesn´t change much over the years. -I personally think they aren´t that stylish, they are just too conservative, so when you dare trying anything else they will give you the stare ! Not very "openminded"...and that´s what tires me about France in general, but that´s OT- French style : in short , jeans !! with flat riding boots for the winter, converse/chuck Taylor for spring, and flat sandals for summer. I don´t know how to explain but it´s easier to "wear" your clothes when they are simple, and mix and match yourself with accessories or low end-high end. otherwise all the latest trends will quickly overshadow your charisma/personality. The best example is Victoria Beckham, she wears all the right clothes, Hermes bag, etc...but she has no style or charisma....her clothes wear her, she could just be a window mannequin. Popular streetshops in France Le comptoir des cotonniers, Naf Naf, Zara, Kookai, Etam, Sandro, Maje. Handbags : Longchamp of course, or Sequoia.

VERY insightful, Mellecyn, thank you! Based on what I've noticed about my French women friends (living in the US), everything you say is spot on! I have 3 close girlfriends who are French and although their personalities are very different, they do share a common thread, and that is, "less is more." Simple outfits such as jeans, flats, a turtleneck, a little mascara, and a cashmere wrap somehow looks SO chic on them. But if I wear that outfit, I just look....well, blah. LOL! It's something about the way they carry themselves -- graceful posture and confident in their natural beauty. I would say that only one of them is "conventionally" beautiful, but all 3 of them are head-turners and very sophisticated-looking. And like you said -- they're all mothers but none of them look like they've ever given birth!!! Not fair! LOL.

I went to dinner at one of these ladies' homes recently, and she served a very simple meal: cheese, bread, french onion soup, salad, grilled oysters, and chocolate mousse....everything homemade and delicious. I noticed that we all ate only a little bit of everything because each item was individually very rich. I left that meal having not eaten as much volume as I normally do, but I felt satiated ...I thought, hmm yeah, THAT'S how the French stay so thin! Little nibbles of fine food that are savored slowly.

Originally Posted by plr16

The ones I see daily tend to always wear heels. Either skirts/dresses or insanely tight pants. They don't look trashy in the tight pants, it looks "sexy" instead. They wear opaque tights a lot, and lots of long sweaters. I feel like one difference is that they have very slight builds so the clothes just fit snugly. While the most attractive American girls are tend to be the ones with slender builds but a big chest/butt (at least the chest. thank you media...) If you're built like Kim Kardashian (regardless of your opinion of her, just think of her body type) you can't wear those clothes and pull them off the same way. To our resident French ladies who can answer questions--- is it that we wear clothes to show off our bodies and you girls show off your clothes?

I had ballet lessons as a little girl - which I think helps quite a lot with good posture. Now started yoga classes which are also good I believe. You can do quite a lot with clothes, but whats underneath - 'the hanger' so to speak makes a big difference. Thats why Kate Moss always looks superb

Another thread about the French. I just posted in Chanel thread. Everything stated here is mostly true. Simplicity with a couple of interesting pieces is the key. Having a very minimal wardrobe is absolutely the key and it all has to show off your body, no matter if you are short and fat or tall and large. Be happy with who and what you are and show that off, not the clothes.

I agree with the observations of others - it is an attitude that pervades many aspects of life in France, not just dressing/accessorizing. There is an appreciation of the subtle, the understated and simplicity that is true elegance. I've been fortunate in that while I grew up in Australia (a very Americanised, consumer-driven culture) my grandparents and my mother encouraged a quite French attitude towards life - quality is everything, good food, good wine, good clothes, good accessories, a little of everything and not too much of anything.

I was in Paris in June and I agree with Parisian women with style, they were everywhere.
One interesting point though was I could not get over the amount of women that smoke, seriously everyone smoked!

^hum.....Guilty ! and I get that comment all the time....I tried to stop though.

I've got it!! Maybe, hahahaha. Now, I am not french, but over the past... four days, I have learned everything I can about french fashion, style, additude, and all over life. What many people notice is the additude, n'est-ce pas? Well, what is exactly gives you that french je ne sais quoi? I think it is the ability to have a perfectly proper, prim, perfect outfit, and say you are a bit froid.. well, take that slightly over-sized black cardigan you picked up from a pile, and through it on. Being able to "mess up" an outfit, but in a confident way as if it belongs, to me, is French.

Originally Posted by mellecyn

BTW everyone made extremely true and valid points here. We all have a cultural idea to what we aspire to be like (and what is "perfection"), it´s confusing sometimes as if I go out all dressed up/dolled up in France, my friends will be "WTF ?". but if I go out all "French" and natural abroad, people almost take it as an insult and men won´t notice the "subtle" french sexiness, while french men will consider a neck showing as sexy....

Do French women still accessorize with a lot of scarves? What about accessories and jewelry, what and how much is worn?

I think the best way to accessorize is a 'less is more' approach. If I wear a really good scarf, ( which I often do.) my earrings are tiny and all the other accessories are quite basic, so there is a focal point. If I wear a bold cuff, or broche, then less of other things. A good rule my mum had is 'take the last thing off' if that make sense....

^I agree. Either good few basic and classic jewelry, or 1 "statement" piece like a massive ring or a massive necklace.
Plilippé: when in doubt if you´ve overloaded...my mother told me the exact same thing !!