French Style!

[starface]

Absolutely. Read Entre Nous first, then Fatale. I also own Frederic Fekkai's A Year of Style, which is terrific. He's from Aix-en-Provence and gives some really interesting tips---on pretty much everything. The book is divided into 12 chapters (one for each month), each with an individual theme to do with style. He references Provence quite a bit and you get the feeling that he's got a really good feel for French style and that you can learn something from him. I've had the book for over two years, and I still read each chapter at the beginning of every month. It's as close to a step-by-step guide to French style as you're ever going to get. While the other books are informative on the topic, this is more instructional. Even if you're not fascinated by French style, this book has advice you can use. God, I sound like a advertisement. Anyway, as well as great style tips, I've gotten a few of my favorite recipes from A Year of Style.

SNAP!!!! I have them books too and they are quite good. Entre Nous i found ok, but a bit dated. The Fekkai book, as you said has some great tips (the hot choc is the best) Have u read Two Lipstics and a Lover by Helena Frith Powell? Thats like an investigation into French Women

 

[stilettogirl84]

What is interesting about this statement is that it goes both ways. I shudder when I see girls walking into class dolled up in heels, freshly straight-ironed hair, and caked makeup. I think it's ridiculous.

I admire people like that. (except the caked on makeup) Perhaps they just make you feel insecure or self concious (or liek you can't measure up?)

Frankly, I believe anyone who looks impeccable every minute of everyday has too much time on their hands.

I think the ideal is to find a way to look impeccable without spending a ton of time on it.

And I can't even imagine walking in heels on cobblestone streets? (how do the French do it?!)

I can do it (walk on tiptoe) but it's a huge pain in the you know what. If I know there's going to be cobblestone where I'm going, I try to wear wedges or possibly flats

 

[just_me]

haha, I do not feel self concious i just feel like.. does these girls never relax? I hate flat ironed hair, I can't think of anything less stylish. If I see girls around where I live, I just feel sorry for them in a way, it's so obvious that they dress to please guys, I get looks just from being natural and it makes me feel great.

But I appreciate real beauty over the made up look!

 

[Sylphide]

Yeah, I get where you're coming from. Looking "too done" is not very modern and can sometimes tip over into cheap territory if you know what I mean? It's just not realistic either. If you're afraid to breathe or talk or move in anway in case you ruin your makeup/outfit, then that's not style, that's victimhood! Clothes and style should enhance your life, not control it.

 

[Whitelinen]

I admire people who manage to look maintained every day. I don't think it looks appropriate to go out in sweats or dressed inappropriately. Keeping yourself well-maintained and appropriate for the occassion has nothing to do with cakey make-up or anything overdone. It is rare to see a person these days who looks well-maintained. If you are going out, do take the time to make sure you are appropriately maintained. It has nothing to do with clothes or looks controlling your life; it's a different thing to lace yourself with make-up for four hours. Looking overdone is not synonymous with looking well-maintained. Just my two cents

 

[HiHeels]

^^ Ita!

 

[stilettogirl84]

I admire people who manage to look maintained every day. I don't think it looks appropriate to go out in sweats or dressed inappropriately. Keeping yourself well-maintained and appropriate for the occassion has nothing to do with cakey make-up or anything overdone. It is rare to see a person these days who looks well-maintained. If you are going out, do take the time to make sure you are appropriately maintained. It has nothing to do with clothes or looks controlling your life; it's a different thing to lace yourself with make-up for four hours. Looking overdone is not synonymous with looking well-maintained. Just my two cents

thank you!

 

[maiden voyage]

i also agree! where i live (berkeley, ca) there is a large percentage of people who dress really, really badly (mostly upper-middle class people, who probably feel it's frivolous to spend too much money/time on clothes).

i overheard a woman telling a story about a friend who was in Paris, he was walking down a boulevard in his beat-up boots, Patagonia fleece jacket, etc, with a scruffy beard, and a very well-dressed Parisien was walking towards him, looking more and more disturbed as he came closer. When they passed each other, the French man just looked at him and said "Non!"

 

[Boluda]

^
meh, i prefer my men scruffy over the effeminate type i see here every day....

 

[just_me]

Wearing heels to uni. is imo to be too overdone.

I mean, I think it would look rediculous, a place where most people are to study.

I love a straight ironed white sh9irt with raw denim and repetto flats, that's imo enough, heels and make-up for everyday... I save that for the weekend.
But I might be spoilt because I get quite a lo0t of looks without those things, so I guess some girls need it.

 

[FashionGrrrrl]

^ IMO, wearing heels to university is also kind of impractical because a lot of students walk to school and have to run around all day between classes, sometimes on a very tight schedule and all the way across campus in various weather conditions...at least I know I couldn't survive a typical day at school in heels.

 

[Whitelinen]

I don't think wearing heels to wherever you study is overdone. It's just a matter of personal taste. What makes it overdone? Because not all other are wearing them?

I don't think I could personally go around in heels all day, but I do know there are women who can do it and feel great about it. They don't look overdone, but maintained.

I don't think you should be sloppy when you go to university. Just because you keep yourself well-maintained does not mean it is difficult. It's all matter of personal taste.

 

[russh_kris_z]

There was this book written on the french style and I found them so vain and too jealous IMO..the jealous part was what annoyed me the most they would get jealous over another good looking girl. But I still am quite fond of them , fond of Parisians that is. I'd love their elegance and class

 

[misstarshine]

I would never wear heels to uni because of the amount of walking. I am a very casual dresser also, but would never wear sweat pants outside. I think personal grooming is really important. Like not going out with dirty hair.

 

[Sylwiasta]

I love simply love this efortless chic and style of Parisian girls:

Tousled hair, like they have just rolled out of bed, gathered it in a loose bun and that is usually it (that is why I am growing my hair out!) - mind you they all have great hair - mostly dark brown, thick and strong.
Very little makeup - and agian in most cases girls there have great skins, even though Paris is very polluted - just a bit of gloss and mascara - with perfect skin it is enough. And they have beautiful thick dark eyebrows which also make their faces "pulled together".
I like that they do not neglect little obvious things like manis and pedis - it perks up even a simple outfit into a sophistication level B)

Living there I have been trying to work out how they do it and I think it must be something about thinking about yourself only - in a healthy manner, without being selfish - now there is time just for me, just for my maintenance, my cafe and a clope and I am happy with myself and my looks .

No to mention clothes however with that amount of great shops in Paris + secret addresses where you can get designers things for a fraction of the price it is not such a problem. If you are living a city, where you have mostly H&M (un petit ami suedois as parisian gals call it ) it is a problem to wear something really stylish

Picture comes from a fantastic blog of a great Parisian: Garance
http://dans-paris.blogspot.com/
check out her other blog - I really love her and her drawings!

 

[HiHeels]

sylwiasta - what a great site. thank you for posting that.
you made a lot of great observations too.
i was wondering, has anyone mentioned the french appreciation of levis and converse? it's always interesting to see people in another country enjoy/appropriate something american and make it their own.

 

[sleepy]

I don't think that wearing heels makes you look as if you are trying too much. Nobody here is talking about 3-4" heels (at least I think so). Kitten heels are comfortable to walk in, or nice stylish wedges. Or if you go with flats, there are so many options that can make you look stylish. I think what somebody was talking about were people who go to classes (or for a walk) in their pj's and look as if they just stepped out of the bed. And I don't think it's French style only, in general I think it's unacceptable to go out and look as if you do not care about yourself. This does not necessarily include tons of makeup and high heels. Nice flats, jeans, cotton t-shirt with nice scarf, bracelet, glasses and bag can look amazing.

 

[Bella_Lass334]

I hate flat ironed hair, I can't think of anything less stylish.

What's wrong with flat ironed hair? Some of us aren't fortunate enough to be blessed with perfect hair, so we work with what we got. For a lot of people, that means using a flat iron. My hair is practically a war zone if I don't try to control it with a flat iron; if I didn't use one, it would come to life.

 

[just_me]

I love simply love this efortless chic and style of Parisian girls:

Tousled hair, like they have just rolled out of bed, gathered it in a loose bun and that is usually it (that is why I am growing my hair out!) - mind you they all have great hair - mostly dark brown, thick and strong.
Very little makeup - and agian in most cases girls there have great skins, even though Paris is very polluted - just a bit of gloss and mascara - with perfect skin it is enough. And they have beautiful thick dark eyebrows which also make their faces "pulled together".
I like that they do not neglect little obvious things like manis and pedis - it perks up even a simple outfit into a sophistication level B)

Living there I have been trying to work out how they do it and I think it must be something about thinking about yourself only - in a healthy manner, without being selfish - now there is time just for me, just for my maintenance, my cafe and a clope and I am happy with myself and my looks .

No to mention clothes however with that amount of great shops in Paris + secret addresses where you can get designers things for a fraction of the price it is not such a problem. If you are living a city, where you have mostly H&M (un petit ami suedois as parisian gals call it ) it is a problem to wear something really stylish

Picture comes from a fantastic blog of a great Parisian: Garance
http://dans-paris.blogspot.com/
check out her other blog - I really love her and her drawings!

Lovley post!

You describe exactly what I find stylish, I love easy-going hair and style, you know, just have a lot of treatments done, and a gloss, and yo don't need to maintain your hair alot.

I think a lot of posters here will change their mind when they start university, fashion usually (or should) take second place, I knmow it does for me, as I am payinmg a lot for my education.

On the weekends I love wearing heels, platforms but to uni. it's only flats, heels just don't belong there, bt that's my personal opinion.

 

[Sylwiasta]

I did an art school and in Paris I was attending a design school , expensive one so I presume my entourage was a bit fashion - privileged Girls were ALWAYS paying attention to what they were wearing - in Poland where I come from and in Paris where I came for a year to study.

However this american mostly style of total neglection amongst students (it is a bit childish to think:" I am intelligent so I can still bite my nails, wear dirty hair and stained sweatshirt, so what, it does not affect my brain!") is absolute no no for me I do have sometimes days when I have to work all day long (I work at home) so I am staying in my pyjamas bottom and an old jumper of my boyfriend, but I would NEVER go our like this into the street or generally meet people.
Just imagine my panic when a friend drops in without notice (we live in the center) on those days! Luckily I live in a third floor so before they are upstairs I have at least some time to change into someting more appropriate to meet them.

Well, the whole French Chic Thing summs simply up in these words: Make an effort! Have your nails done, well maintained hair and skin - it will make everything look batter. And always IRON YOUR CLOTHES!