I can’t hide…my colors are too bright, my hair is blonde, and my taste in jewelry is sometimes bigger and bolder. So what makes the French stand out as being French? It’s a je ne sais quoi!
The Men
It’s true. Heterosexual French men wear skinny pants, pink shirts, and pointy dress shoes. Skinny belts, man bags (i.e. purses, usually cross body), and in summertime, almost always very cool sunglasses. When it’s hot outside, younger men wear ‘American-style’ shorts – not as baggy, but length around the knees. (No Martha’s Vineyard / Georgetown prepsters here!) Although honestly, you’ll see more skinny jeans and snug pants than shorts. And short sleeved collared shirts, as well as cotton ‘t-shirts,’ a la Eddie Bauer or J. Crew, similar to your normal American male closet.
However, you’ll almost never see men’s shirts with logos! MAYBE the local rugby team (like the ASM) or a national soccer team, but that’s it. Generally tight, too – the French girls like them that way. No college teams, no shirts with the national flag, no Eiffel Tower graphics, no camouflage, no Bassnectar symbols, no personal statements (Keep calm and speak French…). Black, white, navy, gray… it’s a well defined dress color code.
And the women – where to begin?
There are a million articles about French style. I can only tell you what I see!
The French look is don’t-look-like-you’ve-tried-too-hard. It’s polished and frequently black. It’s elegant, even when it’s not. Again, “je ne sais quoi.” It’s why a plain black t-shirt, jeans and sneakers or heels can look so effortless on them – and boring on others. French women wear clean lines and streamlined silhouettes. French women ‘[got] it’ but don’t ‘flaunt it.’ They are sexy in a classy way – nothing overt. Sexy underwear – yes. Cleavage – not usually.
And THEY RARELY WEAR SHORTS, even in the heat. They just don’t! The exception is the under 21s, and even then, only one in 10. They wear dresses and skirts and pants, even when it’s very hot outside. I counted yesterday – of the first 30 women I saw on the street, there were 21 dresses, 7 pants, and 2 shorts (with both shorts being on girls under 20 years old). It’s part of the French allure, very feminine and smooth – rarely fussy designs, loud prints, or pink.
All black is France’s specialty: French women are masters with texture and tone on tone, while American women tend to pick a bright focal color or statement accessory when wearing black.
And although French women can be very casual, they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing athletic/gym clothes to shop, to the grocery store, while getting gas, or on the street…they consider it a matter of personal self-respect.
They DO wear sneakers and ballet flats, because hard walking and cobblestones demand it. Fashion sneakers, preferably white, in public = great. True running shoes (unless you are running) = horrors! (Sure sign of a tourist!) Maybe there are a pair of heels in their big designer bags, which of course they have, because ladies, it is ALL about the bag…
If you see a woman on the street in France with bright colors (Hello! That’s usually me!), she’s American. Or possibly Irish! (They are fun, too!) Or Indian – they are beautiful in their hot colors. If she is completely non-descriptive in clothing color, she’s English. (True, in my experience.)
If they are chic, they ARE French. If they are wearing big ruffles, brightly matching beads, chunky costume or statement necklaces, or large bulky earrings, they are NOT French. If they are smiling at strangers, they are NOT French. If they are talking in a medium or loud voice in a restaurant, they are DEFINITELY NOT French. If they are drinking a ‘regular’-sized cup of coffee, they are NOT French. If their nail polish or lipstick is a color other than red, they are NOT French. If they obviously look you over, they ARE French.
Lots of telltale signs!
Coco Chanel – the legend of elegance and high fashion (a Nazi sympathizer – true – but I love Chanel No. 5 and Gabrielle perfume) – had a wonderful quote.
“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life.” ~ Coco Chanel
Here’s to the quest for being irresistible!
Bisous,
Mindy
IT’S “BLACK” FOR ME FROM NOW ON!!!!! YOU SOLD ME!!! YEAH! xox MOM