French Style!

[russh_kris_z]

I didn't feel it necessary to wear heels all the time as a tourist/student in Paris, but if I lived there I totally would. How could you not---they've got the most amazing shoe stores!

Don't parisians really love ballet flats too??

 

[Whitelinen]

What is so difficult in putting on trousers, a sweater and proper shoes every morning, how does it differ from pyjamas or sweatpants? I think it is as comfortable. I am today wearing a pair of black trousers, a grey sweater and loafers. It took me less than a minute to dress up. It wasn't hard at all, and all my clothes are very comfortable. Therefore I think the preferance to wear pyjamas etc isn't based on practicality or comfortability.

 

[Virginielle]

Don't parisians really love ballet flats too??

Absolutely. But ballet flats I've been able to find easily in the U.S.---when I was in Paris I was excited by how many heels I found I actually liked. Last summer wedges were big too.

 

[just_me]

i would never wear pyjamas or sweats to school. I'm all for classic cut and modernity.

And for the person that asked about glossed hair yu can get that done at the hairdresser, I live in Paris each summer and a tric I've learnt is to always have well groomed hair.

 

[scara]

so back to french style..

what kind of skirts do young french women wear??
i really love french style and I'm dressing more and more in a french way :-) but i have a really hard time finding the right skirt

 

[JunyaSchick]

referring to college casual look... i think you are talking about USA but in Europe is a bit different... and it also depends on what you are studying... the faculty you go, etc....and of course the city you live (Paris is different)

for example i study bussines... and some ppl sometimes is overdressed for the occasion... here evryone goes to college very "well-dressed": with heels, skirts, skinny jeans, make-up.... i mix heels with ballerinas, converses (more informal), etc but in general no problems to wear heels... depends on the day and on the mood

 

[SophieKawaii]

^ I agree with you.
To me it's normal to dress up even to school and i can't understand those students wearing pj or dress like a homeless at school.
School is our workplace, who goes to work in pj?

 

[lick1987]

I know this has been discussed earlier but is perfectly ironed glossy hair chic or is it trying too hard? Some people have said it looks trashy or that it makes one look like every other girl on the street, but Carine Roitfeld has perfectly ironed hair, so it can't be too unchic??

 

[laurette]

^Imo everything goes as long as it suits you

 

[JunyaSchick]

^personally i dont like too much that look: perfectly ironed hair... if it´s the way you hair naturally looks, it´s ok... but u know, carine has style to wear it

 

[in the miso soup]

alright, maybe i missed the point that people were making earlier, that americans were dressing as though they were still at college in america, when in fact they were in europe. i think that changes my perspective, of course. i understand the fact that in different cultures they have very different ideas about what's "dressing appropriately" and what's not. i don't necessarily believe that changing one's self completely just because you're in a different place, but i do think american college kids should make a bit more of an effort to dress appropraitely for class in france, because, you're right, it doesn't take a lot of effort to wear jeans and a blouse or whatever. it probably is seen as quite rude to parisians to dress in a such a way . . . and american college students aren't in their "home" where it's isolated and generally accepted to dress so casually, like i mentioned in my previous post.

on the other hand, though, not to be devil's advocate, but i think when college kids are dressing very casually at home in their own "environment" (isolated college campus where they live, study, eat, etc.), it shouldn't be such a surprise or appalling that kids are dressing this way . . . it's a different culture, one you may not understand, but it would be rather hypocritical to accept the way parisians dress and not american college kids. it's just part of "the culture." at least, that's the way i think of it.

 

[JunyaSchick]

^agree, it´s all about culture...

 

[luvmelots1983]

i would never wear pyjamas or sweats to school. I'm all for classic cut and modernity.

And for the person that asked about glossed hair yu can get that done at the hairdresser, I live in Paris each summer and a tric I've learnt is to always have well groomed hair.

Just me, I have a question about what you said... actually, I've got two. Is it really that popular in France/Paris to have very well groomed hair? Obviously, it needs to be clean, shiny, etc. but is it really the norm to have glossy, perfect hair? I ask this because a lot of the street style pictures I've seen of Paris and the articles I've read on how to acheive that Parisian "look" emphasizes that the women look like they spend very little time getting dressed and yet look wonderful. In fact, I remember reading somewhere that straight-ironed hair, etc. is out... usually (the younger ladies anyway) they have cleverly messy/wavy hair, that's reminiscent of bedhead (almost a more groomed version of Kate Moss). Anyway, point being: from what I've read and seen of the younger people in Paris, I thought that slightly messy hair was the fashion? Could you clarify as I'd really like to better understand the style, and who better that someone who actually spends time there!
And my second question: do you have any pictures of glossed hair, perhaps your own? I cant seem to find many and I'd like to see the look. Thanks!!!

 

[Whitelinen]

Well, you of course have to also take in count that most European colleges don't have dorms/campus. Therefore people don't just cross the street to go to school. It's a cultural difference

What I find odd is that in America nakedness and looking natural is a taboo, but dressing sloppily (in sweats, pyjamas) in public isn't --- I think it is vice versa over here. But now I am crossing the line to off-topic discussion.

As for what young French wear... I have a French teen girl living with me at the moment. She dresses like all the other teens (hooded shirts, t-shirt, distressed jeans, sneakers, headbands) and shops at H&M for her clothes. She does, however, pay attention to what size of clothes she buys (not too small) and takes good care of her skin, although she has no skin problems like acne.

Are there still girls/young women in France who dress classically French? Or is it just something that existed decades ago?

 

[just_me]

Just me, I have a question about what you said... actually, I've got two. Is it really that popular in France/Paris to have very well groomed hair? Obviously, it needs to be clean, shiny, etc. but is it really the norm to have glossy, perfect hair? I ask this because a lot of the street style pictures I've seen of Paris and the articles I've read on how to acheive that Parisian "look" emphasizes that the women look like they spend very little time getting dressed and yet look wonderful. In fact, I remember reading somewhere that straight-ironed hair, etc. is out... usually (the younger ladies anyway) they have cleverly messy/wavy hair, that's reminiscent of bedhead (almost a more groomed version of Kate Moss). Anyway, point being: from what I've read and seen of the younger people in Paris, I thought that slightly messy hair was the fashion? Could you clarify as I'd really like to better understand the style, and who better that someone who actually spends time there!
And my second question: do you have any pictures of glossed hair, perhaps your own? I cant seem to find many and I'd like to see the look. Thanks!!!

Hello luvmelots.. I don't really look after what teenagers dress like.. I look more to the style for those in their 20's.. yes it's ALL about the natural look, but those with money spend lot of time and grooming on their hair, yes, like you said a more well groomed Kate moss!

They spend their money on treatments, but highlights and hair that looks 'done' is a no-no.. when I think of some of my Parisian friend I think of their HAIR, that's how you know someone has good hair, when you really picture them and their hair, plus nice hair looks magnificent with black!

But I hate flat-ironed hair, as imo it's not natural and therefore comes out as forced!

The hair it's perfect.. but not.. the point is to seem effortless even though, I know my friends spend a lot on time on getting the best out of what nature gave them. Does that make sense?

 

[lick1987]

yes that does kind of. Thanks a lot! I live in L.A. but I'm a college ( or university as they call it) student in England, and people here are definitely more casual. I used to think the Brits had good style but most people seem to be into hair ironed to death, and fake tans. I feel out of place if I don't have straightened hair especially on a night out. I love the unkempt/casual hair of the French but I feel soo ungroomed just because everyone else has straight hair.

Sorry, that was slightly off topic.

 

[just_me]

Aww.. lick, you should embrace your natural hair! I think it depends on where you are in England.. WAG'S style is unfortunately still very popular so many teenagers are still into FLAT hair and bleached to death!

I personally hate that look. They dress for guys, not for themselves, that's something French women do, they dress for women not for boys! You have to find your inner French girl, seek what's natural beautiful.. not 'sexy and in your face.'

French style for me is all about understatement. Unexpected details. <3 Can't wait to be there for two months in summer!

 

[laurette]

^I hope you won't be disappointed, France itself isn't great (stylewise seen).
Today I saw a bunch of people 50m away from me wearing shabby clothes (holes in jeans, way too big icky-looking tops), distressed chucks and extremly dirty hair, a lot of them had them braided (very tiny braids all over the hair) and I thought: oh, they look french. When I came closer they actually talked French
imo Paris is the only real fashionable city in France

 

[chloegirl]

. . . it's a different culture, one you may not understand, but it would be rather hypocritical to accept the way parisians dress and not american college kids. it's just part of "the culture." at least, that's the way i think of it.

^^ excellent point, totally agree

 

[Bel]

I was just in Paris. I wouldn't say the women are any more stylish than coastal US women. But the men and children dress FAR better. Little girls in nice boots and wool coats all over the place, it made me so happy.