French Style!

[Izreal]

Oh and how could i forget...the short trench coat with designer sunglasses, an essential combination to your "parisian look" !!

 

[Jadee]

You want to know how girls get so skinny here? well a recent article presented 80% of girls in their twenties had eating disorders (ie anorexia) !!

80% ? Do you have serious sources to back this up please ?

 

[Izreal]

Yes....my own eyes !!

 

[Jadee]

Yes....my own eyes !!

My eyes beg to differ.

It's a pity because it's the only weak point in your post actually.

 

[susie_bubble]

Izreal - a very detailed description and I do agree with your area style breakdown. That's exactly what I observe everytime I'm in Paris. I definitley like the style in Marais more than areas like the the touristy Champs Elysee.

I do admire the emphasis on quality over quantity and that they don't feel the need to follow trends. But in a city where some of the most innovative fashion designers show, it's interesting that more people aren't more adventurous (by adventurous, I don't mean trend-led, just ppl who push the fashion boat out a little more), with their dress sense.

 

[Izreal]

I couldn't agree with you more Susie... i definitely wish people were a bit more adventurous, it just seems a general consensus to keep it toned down. i even find myself holding back sometimes from a particular article, as i'll fear being stared down upon for being a little bit too "out there". quite sad i know..


Jadee, well nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree! But i maintain my point of view that parisians (guys and girls) are extremely thin (myself included). Wether or not it is a voluntaree thing remains to be proven, but a lot of my girlfriends admit to having eating disorders at some point.. i know i eat a lot so it's not an absolute truth, but the fact remains: young people here are rail thin.

 

[susie_bubble]

^It does seem like they are all genetically thinner than others......*she says jealously*

That's why I slightly prefer the attitude towards dressing in London. I wouldn't want to be constantly given the once-over by people. In Paris, I do get a few odd looks but some girls actually came up and said they thought it was cool and asked me about my outfit so maybe people aren't that judgemental at all.

It's the worse when I go back to HK - I get funny looks all the time!

 

[helena]

I dunno when I go to Paris I see a lot more people trying different things there....older women tend to be very stylish whereas older women in the UK tend not to bother too much (and, yes, I know I am generalising). In Paris people tend to wear avant garde clothes more than here....and you don't seem to get neds - which can only be a good thing.

 

[Whitelinen]

Ok, i haven't read this whole thread, but as a real parisian (20+ years in the city) here is the deal. Parisian fashion is definitely on the elegant conservative side as compared to lets say london or scandinavian capitols. There isn't too much emphasis on bright colors, it's rather black / white, beige, military green, indigo blue for jeans, you know neutral colors. Obviously the cut is very important, women and guys like it slim, skinny actually. You want to know how girls get so skinny here? well a recent article presented 80% of girls in their twenties had eating disorders (ie anorexia) !!
Jackets and shoes is where most of the budget will go. Accessories is where your personality will shine, scarves, pins, bags... Handbags must be unique, any logo / monogram bag is an ABSOLUTE no and will trigger the tourist alarm. Hair, well several options here, but i'd say the fringe (la frange) is still probably what would define la parisienne. Generally the first impression is very subtle, but in reality hours are spent to insure every little thing falls in the right place..

These are just general pointers, but any real parisian will be able to tell from what neighbourhood (quartier) you are, from your look. So there really isn't just one parisian look obviously. The main areas would be:

- the marais. in the dead center, originally the gay hood. it's crawling with young fashion / interior designers. the most outspoken parisian style.

- the east side (bastille / oberkampf). very left wing / punk / goth. but now becoming trendy again around the canal st. martin, so kind of grunge chic.

- rive gauche (saint germain). the intellectual, university area. this is where the "parisienne" look all started. style could be described as parisian modern classic. labels to look out for: Vanessa Bruno, Isabel Marant, Zadig & Voltaire... and check out Bon Marche, paris's most elegant department store.

- the west side (champs elysee). besides the tourists, it's mostly business people and the wealthy that reside here. Also the elitist night spots such as Buddha Bar, VIP, L'etoile... think LV / Armani by day, Dior / Prada by night..

It's seems that I would love the Parisian style you've described here...except for the anorexic-thing, though I don't think 80% of the French have eating disorders. I think it is the lifestyle/way of eating rather than anorexia or genes.

 

[mundodabolsa]

- the west side (champs elysee). besides the tourists, it's mostly business people and the wealthy that reside here. Also the elitist night spots such as Buddha Bar, VIP, L'etoile... think LV / Armani by day, Dior / Prada by night..

I lived in the 16eme for about 4 years and it's what you say, very upper-class, business-like, but also very family centered. Lots of incredibly chic and hip mothers taking their little kids to school. The bus I took to school everyday was filled with creativly dressed teenagers. Yes, it's very elegant, but there are tons of people with really unique style and twists on fancy chic, not just plain rich people. It's quite a mix!

 

[Izreal]

well, i actually live in the 16eme, so i wasn't really dissing it, although i'm located there mostly for its proximity to work!!

but its true, the moms and grannies are hipsters, even more so than the youth sometimes...but as night comes, the area is deserted. If i were to chose anywhere to live here it would probably be marais, although i love saint germain but it is being polluted by tourists not to mention the current student uprise..

 

[Paris XVI]

I actually live in "le XVIème" too. I wouldn't say that 80% of the teenagers have eating disorders.
The rest of your description is pretty accurate.

 

[mundodabolsa]

well, i actually live in the 16eme, so i wasn't really dissing it, although i'm located there mostly for its proximity to work!!

but its true, the moms and grannies are hipsters, even more so than the youth sometimes...but as night comes, the area is deserted. If i were to chose anywhere to live here it would probably be marais, although i love saint germain but it is being polluted by tourists not to mention the current student uprise..

dont' worry, I didn't think you were dissing it, i was just giving another perspective

 

[venetiangoddess]

Hi! This is my first post on tfs so I'm very excited I was just wondering what the 16eme is like to live in (since there are obviously people in this forum who live there)... I will be in Paris in June studying and have the oprion to live in the 16eme, 15eme ou 14eme... Thank you so much!!

 

[Izreal]

out of those three (14,15,16th) i would pick the 16th of course. but beware, it is the biggest district of Paris, there is 16th North and 16th South. i'd recommend north, as it is more central and has more going on, although south could be nice if youre a nature person, since it's close to the Bois de Boulogne..

On an architectural level, it is the nicest district, which explains it's bourgeois appeal. You can expect a lot of preppiness, but the area has much appeal with the Arc of Triumph, Trocadero and Statue of Liberty along la Seine. Passy is very charming, almost like a village inside the city. There are also some very nice museums, including my favorite, the Palais de Tokyo, the contemporary arts center, which houses quite a unique eating facility that extends into a club atmosphere during summer nights... i could go on and on, but i think you get the picture, so don't hesitate, who knows we might end up being neighbours

 

[helena]

my friend lives in the 16e - Rue Lalo just off avenue Foche. Its very nice & quiet

 

[Sylwiasta]

I find that small original of the Liberty's Statue by the Seine very charming!

I have been attending a design school situated in rue du Dragon, which is just by blv St Germain - therefore it is my favourite district.

Btw - If you want to read a good book about the city itself and different difficulties of famous people who lived there I would recommend "A Literary Companion to Paris" by Ian Littlewood (Ed. Penguin Travel).

Unfortunately I do not live in Paris anymore but I try to visit as often as possible with as much as possible amount of money and I shop frantically and try to breathe in the special atmosphere (not traffic fumes! ) that this city definitely has.
Love to walk along the streets, observe women and then try to find simmilar items in the shops in rue de Rennes and close to St Sulpice (not in YSL, though!).

Speaking about Parisian Chic and that certain "je ne sais quoi" - I have to mention one image that sticked in my head forever : once, in St Sulpice, having coffee with a friend, I saw a girl in an advanced preagnancy passing by, wearing little black mini dress, big bag, beautiful silver sandals on perfectly manicured feet and a sweet ponytail.
I have been admiring her like a little beautiful cake as she was so feminine and gorgeous. Near the school, in a boutique I have met Isabelle Huppert - who I had spotted just because I have noticed a lady in a long bulky coat but in a great wool hat on her had. I spotted the hat first and that it is being worn by my favourite actress Of course did not do anything, just pretended I did not recognize her - she was glowing, with her amazing freckles and without any makeup.

To me Paris will always be the most fashionable city in the world, no mater what disadvantages of this oppinion people are still finding.
I was just depressed and sad in London, with its expensive shops and in my oppinion - lack of taste and blind trend following...

 

[Izreal]

yea quiet is probably the key word here, at night it is outright silent, which is in my opinion the major drawback...for me personally at least, since i love Djing and playing music for my guests on my 300w Bose system and people in this district have a very low tolerance for sound ("could you stop playing that noise with the bass sound" said the 65yr old lady three floors below last saturday evening)

 

[kissmesweet]

French are said to be the most fashionable. As most designer either comes from France, or Italy.
But nowadays, there are many uber-famous designers from US too. Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs anyone?

However, also. The trendsetters nowadays, are famous Hollywood stars. They're the one who everyone copies and follows. Because, let's face it. Who doesn't love Hollywood?

I personally think France and Italy are always going to be the most fashion-forward places in the world. The designs, styles are genuine and reflect on the their culture. Chic. Fun. Crazy. That's what fashion is all about. It's about exploring. Trying new things.

On target market research, its true that most US designers follow the Italian and the French, because they basically grew up with fashion. Experimented with it.

 

[J'aime_la_mode]

I know this is slightly off topic but does anyone know any beauty schools located i Paris?