How to Dress like a French Girl？
26 Jul 2024
No matter if you are a fan of this series or, on the contrary, did not appreciate its banal plot, you probably know the heroine of Emily in Paris, Lily Collins - Emily Cooper. Many were skeptical of her outfits in the series that she got such a far-fetched and exaggerated French chic, which has long since become a myth. In fact, the Parisians dress quite differently. But this did not prevent Emily from falling in love with millions of viewers around the world.
French women invariably delight in their elegance and charm. They are admired by the whole world, and their style is often described by the expression “je ne sais quoi”. Literally, it translates as “I don't know what it is”. It implies a kind of ephemeral flair, which gives the appearance of these girls something special. For any woman, the best compliment of all is to compare her manner of dress to that of a French woman.
The expression “Parisian chic” although it has hit a snag, has not lost its relevance to this day. Many people still associate Parisian girls with berets and baguettes. the real French style is much more functional, versatile, and non-banal. French girls look very natural, a little careless, and at the same time feminine.
Why do they manage to be the model of femininity all over the world for such a long time? How to recreate the French style in clothes? What rules should be followed to become like a true Parisian? Let's find out!
French women invariably delight in their elegance and charm. They are admired by the whole world, and their style is often described by the expression “je ne sais quoi”. Literally, it translates as “I don't know what it is”. It implies a kind of ephemeral flair, which gives the appearance of these girls something special. For any woman, the best compliment of all is to compare her manner of dress to that of a French woman.
The expression “Parisian chic” although it has hit a snag, has not lost its relevance to this day. Many people still associate Parisian girls with berets and baguettes. the real French style is much more functional, versatile, and non-banal. French girls look very natural, a little careless, and at the same time feminine.
Why do they manage to be the model of femininity all over the world for such a long time? How to recreate the French style in clothes? What rules should be followed to become like a true Parisian? Let's find out!
What Defines French Style？
Today France is one of the fashion trendsetters in the world. Paris is a globally recognized capital of the fashion industry, whose designers create new creations year after year, inspiring millions of fashionistas. But the country has not always occupied such a position in the fashion world.
The phenomenon of fashion in France dates back to the reign of Louis XIV. The period of his monarchy was famous for the extravagant and flashy outfits of the nobility. The court images of Paris delighted both its ordinary inhabitants and guests from other countries. Gradually, the Parisian manner of dress, social behavior, and communication began to be adopted by other nations.
In the XIX century, the first fashion house was opened in Paris. Its founder was an Englishman Charles Frederick Worth. It is from this moment that the country began a period of creating clothes of really high quality and unique design.
French fashion of Louis XIV made a huge contribution to the development of the industry, but, fortunately, remained in the past. Modern French style is no longer about extravagance, luxury, and maximizing standing out against the background of others. Today the fashion of this country has other canons and principles.
Parisian chic and French fashion, in general, is built on 6 features that define French style:
Comfort and sophistication. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Parisian chic is the fine line between comfortable clothes and the incredible beauty of the outfits. You will not see a Frenchwoman in a mini skirt with stilettos, but even in loafers or ballet flats combined with jeans she will look sexy and feminine;
Simplicity and functionality. French chic brings to the forefront the functionality of outfits. The style does not welcome a blind flow on the waves of trends. Most often, the closet of a Frenchwoman consists of basic things that are perfectly combined;
Exceptional quality. Perhaps one of the most striking differences between French images and the same bows of most CIS countries is the quality of things included in them. Surely even you bought a blouse made of horrible synthetics or other unpleasant fabric only because of its attractive appearance and fashionable style. Parisians will never do that. First of all, they choose a thing by quality. The material should be pleasant to the body, and safe, and the clothes themselves should fit comfortably.
Calm tones. The style does not welcome the use of acidic shades, neon, bright colors, and prints. In rare cases, color accents can be arranged, but they should accentuate the beauty of the image, and not take all the eyes on themselves. Colors are different - all variants of pastels, and muted tones, such as burgundy, dark green, and dark blue. Clothes are more often monochrome, but sometimes there are small calm floral patterns and stripes;
Minimalism in accessories. It is impossible to imagine a Parisian woman in a simple pastel outfit with a massive chain around her neck or earrings the size of a baseball. It is customary to complement the image with minimalistic accessories that decorate the outfit, but not make the girl a Christmas tree. So, for example, often used neckerchiefs, simple jewelry - pendants, bracelets, small earrings, as well as the previously mentioned headwear - hats and berets;
Neatness and tidiness. All things perfectly fit the figure, washed and ironed. The essence of French style is to always look like you just left the house after 3 hours of packing.
The phenomenon of fashion in France dates back to the reign of Louis XIV. The period of his monarchy was famous for the extravagant and flashy outfits of the nobility. The court images of Paris delighted both its ordinary inhabitants and guests from other countries. Gradually, the Parisian manner of dress, social behavior, and communication began to be adopted by other nations.
In the XIX century, the first fashion house was opened in Paris. Its founder was an Englishman Charles Frederick Worth. It is from this moment that the country began a period of creating clothes of really high quality and unique design.
French fashion of Louis XIV made a huge contribution to the development of the industry, but, fortunately, remained in the past. Modern French style is no longer about extravagance, luxury, and maximizing standing out against the background of others. Today the fashion of this country has other canons and principles.
Parisian chic and French fashion, in general, is built on 6 features that define French style:
Comfort and sophistication. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Parisian chic is the fine line between comfortable clothes and the incredible beauty of the outfits. You will not see a Frenchwoman in a mini skirt with stilettos, but even in loafers or ballet flats combined with jeans she will look sexy and feminine;
Simplicity and functionality. French chic brings to the forefront the functionality of outfits. The style does not welcome a blind flow on the waves of trends. Most often, the closet of a Frenchwoman consists of basic things that are perfectly combined;
Exceptional quality. Perhaps one of the most striking differences between French images and the same bows of most CIS countries is the quality of things included in them. Surely even you bought a blouse made of horrible synthetics or other unpleasant fabric only because of its attractive appearance and fashionable style. Parisians will never do that. First of all, they choose a thing by quality. The material should be pleasant to the body, and safe, and the clothes themselves should fit comfortably.
Calm tones. The style does not welcome the use of acidic shades, neon, bright colors, and prints. In rare cases, color accents can be arranged, but they should accentuate the beauty of the image, and not take all the eyes on themselves. Colors are different - all variants of pastels, and muted tones, such as burgundy, dark green, and dark blue. Clothes are more often monochrome, but sometimes there are small calm floral patterns and stripes;
Minimalism in accessories. It is impossible to imagine a Parisian woman in a simple pastel outfit with a massive chain around her neck or earrings the size of a baseball. It is customary to complement the image with minimalistic accessories that decorate the outfit, but not make the girl a Christmas tree. So, for example, often used neckerchiefs, simple jewelry - pendants, bracelets, small earrings, as well as the previously mentioned headwear - hats and berets;
Neatness and tidiness. All things perfectly fit the figure, washed and ironed. The essence of French style is to always look like you just left the house after 3 hours of packing.
How to Master French Girl Style？
Get a basic closet
Basic items are the bare minimum for any closet. And no matter how boring the concept of “base” may look from the outside, it is the “right” jeans, the aforementioned white T-shirt made of quality material, a black jacket, boat shoes, ballet flats without decorations, white sneakers, a universal cocktail dress and a good classic shirt that will save you in any situation. Besides, basic pieces allow you to play with them however you want, always serving them in different ways.
No logos
Huge logos are long gone, along with the “glamorous noughties”. The love for obviously branded items that scream their cost and what you “can afford” only communicates to those around you the substitution of taste and style with expensive items.
Being expensive does not mean stylish
This point “follows” from the previous one, but we decided to put it separately - French women do not tend to buy things exclusively in expensive stores. Some of them like vintage, clothes “with history”, and most of them prefer brands in the middle-price category. What can be better than a quality thing at a reasonable price?
Men's fashion piece
French women adore masculine style and are not afraid to wear “unfeminine” things. They know very well: that a girl looks much sexier in a man's white shirt than in a tight transparent cropped top combined with low-slung jeans. Of course, things should not be too big and as if stolen by you from your dad's closet under the cover of night. It is equally important to mix them with contrastingly feminine clothes.
Don't be afraid of using black
If you don't know what to wear, wear black and that's what most French women think. Of course, we do not urge you to play goth every day and buy exclusively black things despite the desire to add color, but you should not avoid the total black look.
Basic items are the bare minimum for any closet. And no matter how boring the concept of “base” may look from the outside, it is the “right” jeans, the aforementioned white T-shirt made of quality material, a black jacket, boat shoes, ballet flats without decorations, white sneakers, a universal cocktail dress and a good classic shirt that will save you in any situation. Besides, basic pieces allow you to play with them however you want, always serving them in different ways.
No logos
Huge logos are long gone, along with the “glamorous noughties”. The love for obviously branded items that scream their cost and what you “can afford” only communicates to those around you the substitution of taste and style with expensive items.
Being expensive does not mean stylish
This point “follows” from the previous one, but we decided to put it separately - French women do not tend to buy things exclusively in expensive stores. Some of them like vintage, clothes “with history”, and most of them prefer brands in the middle-price category. What can be better than a quality thing at a reasonable price?
Men's fashion piece
French women adore masculine style and are not afraid to wear “unfeminine” things. They know very well: that a girl looks much sexier in a man's white shirt than in a tight transparent cropped top combined with low-slung jeans. Of course, things should not be too big and as if stolen by you from your dad's closet under the cover of night. It is equally important to mix them with contrastingly feminine clothes.
Don't be afraid of using black
If you don't know what to wear, wear black and that's what most French women think. Of course, we do not urge you to play goth every day and buy exclusively black things despite the desire to add color, but you should not avoid the total black look.
Timeless Items French Women Have in Their Capsule Wardrobes
Parisians are known for their refined taste. To look like a real femme fatale in Paris, you don't have to wear a little black dress, tie a scarf around your neck, and smoke languidly while gracefully holding a Proust volume. If you know the main principles, you will be able to replicate Parisian chic. Here are a couple of basic pieces that you need to create Parisian chic no matter where you are.
✅You can't do without dresses
The favorite clothes of French women are, of course, all kinds of dresses and skirts. Not for nothing the first association that this style evokes is femininity. And the options can be very diverse, as you can see in the photo. These are both classic case dresses and original layered dresses. Their main feature - these models will never be ultra mini or maxi. French length - up to the knee, a little above or below it. But such dresses are comfortable, it is easy to move around in them and there is no need to make sure that the hem does not rise too high. This is one of the secrets of Parisian women, which allows them to feel confident in any situation.
The silhouette can be straight or fitted, and the sleeves - any length. The same applies to the collar, although a lapel collar with rounded edges is particularly in style. Overly frank necklines will be inappropriate. But you can emphasize the waist with a belt - this will add expressiveness to the figure. But then other accessories may be superfluous. Except, of course, the bag - without it it is difficult to imagine a complete image. By the way, French women are quite practical, so they give preference to moderately voluminous bags.
✅Skinny and flared jeans
While the whole world is chasing the new fashionable fit of jeans, Parisians continue to wear only two models: skinnies (or slim fit) and flats. They choose simple silhouettes that emphasize the slim legs, so you're unlikely to see mom jeans or boyfriend jeans in the French capital.
Note that slim and skinny jeans must be dark (black is better): jeans should visually elongate the legs, not emphasize all the flaws thanks to light or bright colors. To be honest, I have never seen ugly legs in Paris, and I think that the secret here is not in the fact that Parisians are all very lucky with their figure, but in the local know-how of choosing the right model of jeans and the right length of dresses and skirts.
✅Black jacket
One of the main fashion trends “Parisian chic” is a jacket made of suit fabric with a straight or relaxed silhouette. This garment can take the main role in the image, even if you put on ordinary jeans and a white T-shirt. The ideal French jacket will never encircle the figure, because its loose cut creates the effect of careless luxury, which is so characteristic of Parisian women. In addition, such a jacket emphasizes the femininity and fragility of the figure.
✅Basic top
In the closet of every Parisian woman has a whole set of basic long sleeves and turtlenecks, simple T-shirts of calm colors, solid-colored sweaters, and most importantly, white blouses and shirts. In addition, you can often see “basic” prints on Parisians: striped, polka-dotted, or colorful. The main rule when choosing a basic top is the quality of the material (exclusively natural fabrics). When choosing a sweater and sweater look only at noble materials - primarily cashmere, wool, and angora (definitely not acrylic).
✅Trench coat
You probably know that trench coats are an integral part of the British uniform, but French women have breathed new life into this strict closet item. It's easy to throw over your shoulders, which means you can get ready on the run, and it's also so versatile that it won't take a second to figure out what to wear it with. French women love lightness and spontaneity in everything.
✅Corset top
Coco Chanel gave Parisians freedom by canceling corsets, but in the XXI century, they returned to the catwalks. Corsets are no longer designed to restrain women, but, on the contrary, liberate them. This element of the closet helps to feel sexy and confident. And we are not talking about screaming sexuality on display, but about the inner sense of self - this is the most important.
Fashion trends dictate us to wear corsets over t-shirts, turtlenecks, and shirts, but in this version, the image will turn out to be too flashy, although stylish. A street-style star from New York could dress like this, while a Parisian woman would prefer to combine a corset with the same jacket or a cozy wool cardigan.
✅Vintage jewelry
Parisians love vintage, and the easiest way to start mastering it is with jewelry: they almost do not need to be adapted to modern fashion. Large gold earrings, cameos, and pearl necklaces will add bohemianism to any image. It is not necessary to wear them exclusively with dresses for going out: vintage accessories will look no less cool with jeans and sweaters.
✅You can't do without dresses
The favorite clothes of French women are, of course, all kinds of dresses and skirts. Not for nothing the first association that this style evokes is femininity. And the options can be very diverse, as you can see in the photo. These are both classic case dresses and original layered dresses. Their main feature - these models will never be ultra mini or maxi. French length - up to the knee, a little above or below it. But such dresses are comfortable, it is easy to move around in them and there is no need to make sure that the hem does not rise too high. This is one of the secrets of Parisian women, which allows them to feel confident in any situation.
The silhouette can be straight or fitted, and the sleeves - any length. The same applies to the collar, although a lapel collar with rounded edges is particularly in style. Overly frank necklines will be inappropriate. But you can emphasize the waist with a belt - this will add expressiveness to the figure. But then other accessories may be superfluous. Except, of course, the bag - without it it is difficult to imagine a complete image. By the way, French women are quite practical, so they give preference to moderately voluminous bags.
✅Skinny and flared jeans
While the whole world is chasing the new fashionable fit of jeans, Parisians continue to wear only two models: skinnies (or slim fit) and flats. They choose simple silhouettes that emphasize the slim legs, so you're unlikely to see mom jeans or boyfriend jeans in the French capital.
Note that slim and skinny jeans must be dark (black is better): jeans should visually elongate the legs, not emphasize all the flaws thanks to light or bright colors. To be honest, I have never seen ugly legs in Paris, and I think that the secret here is not in the fact that Parisians are all very lucky with their figure, but in the local know-how of choosing the right model of jeans and the right length of dresses and skirts.
✅Black jacket
One of the main fashion trends “Parisian chic” is a jacket made of suit fabric with a straight or relaxed silhouette. This garment can take the main role in the image, even if you put on ordinary jeans and a white T-shirt. The ideal French jacket will never encircle the figure, because its loose cut creates the effect of careless luxury, which is so characteristic of Parisian women. In addition, such a jacket emphasizes the femininity and fragility of the figure.
✅Basic top
In the closet of every Parisian woman has a whole set of basic long sleeves and turtlenecks, simple T-shirts of calm colors, solid-colored sweaters, and most importantly, white blouses and shirts. In addition, you can often see “basic” prints on Parisians: striped, polka-dotted, or colorful. The main rule when choosing a basic top is the quality of the material (exclusively natural fabrics). When choosing a sweater and sweater look only at noble materials - primarily cashmere, wool, and angora (definitely not acrylic).
✅Trench coat
You probably know that trench coats are an integral part of the British uniform, but French women have breathed new life into this strict closet item. It's easy to throw over your shoulders, which means you can get ready on the run, and it's also so versatile that it won't take a second to figure out what to wear it with. French women love lightness and spontaneity in everything.
✅Corset top
Coco Chanel gave Parisians freedom by canceling corsets, but in the XXI century, they returned to the catwalks. Corsets are no longer designed to restrain women, but, on the contrary, liberate them. This element of the closet helps to feel sexy and confident. And we are not talking about screaming sexuality on display, but about the inner sense of self - this is the most important.
Fashion trends dictate us to wear corsets over t-shirts, turtlenecks, and shirts, but in this version, the image will turn out to be too flashy, although stylish. A street-style star from New York could dress like this, while a Parisian woman would prefer to combine a corset with the same jacket or a cozy wool cardigan.
✅Vintage jewelry
Parisians love vintage, and the easiest way to start mastering it is with jewelry: they almost do not need to be adapted to modern fashion. Large gold earrings, cameos, and pearl necklaces will add bohemianism to any image. It is not necessary to wear them exclusively with dresses for going out: vintage accessories will look no less cool with jeans and sweaters.
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