Here's a post from while I was interning at Sheerluxe in London... Enjoy!
Being a complete Francophile, I've been taking notes from Debra Ollivier's informative guide, Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl to make my life that bit more chic. Even though for most of us a Saturday shopping trip will involve trawling Oxford Street rather than Saint Michel, we can all add a spot of Parisian sophistication to our wardrobes.
The first thing to keep in mind when attempting a Parisian look is to remember how the French approach all things in life: quality vs. quantity. Walk into a French girl’s wardrobe and you may be shocked to find that it could easily fit into a quarter of the space that your clothes demand.
Look a little closer and you might just spot Chanel, Hermes, YSL... this girl knows her couture. She shops for classic pieces with longevity, rather than trendy pieces that lose relevance with each season, shopping for her life and not for a trend.
Take note, and next time, when you find yourself in a panic about a £12 neon printed dress from Primark, instead put that money towards a great vintage scarf with long-term appeal.
Even though the French lovely is a firm fan of great basics, she’s not one to shy away from quirky fashions, Sonia Rykiel being a perfect example.
On a recent trip to the city, I was completely taken aback by how many Rykiel boutiques could be spied along the Seine, but was less surprised once I witnessed the way the designer gives traditional designs an original twist. This blouse for example has a perfectly neutral colour, but its details make it specifically Sonia, and completely French.
Another thing I love about Parisian fashion is its androgynous vibe. Dressing like a bloke whilst still remaining femininely attractive is definitely no easy task. The French girl knows this, as well as the value of a good tailored blouse, like this one from APC. Paired with delicate ballet flats and cigarette trousers, this ensemble would fool even the likes of Audrey Tatou into thinking your flat was beside the Champs-Élysées, rather than the Circle Line.
To avoid making the boyish look the consequence of a laundry day that forced you into your boyfriend’s wardrobe, be sure to leave the bedhead at home, because the Parisian local is nothing if not well groomed.
The French girl wears whatever she wants and isn’t afraid to take chances, making her outfits deliberate and marked with self-assurance. So even if the androgynous idea isn’t your thing, and quirk is something you look for in the cinema rather than your closet, the confidence of the Parisian set is something that is definitely universally alluring.
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