Viva turns its head to those European women we admire so much to try to steal a few style points
French women don't get fat, they always eat incredible food, they love life and they dress better than you. Who knows if all of that is actually true, but if you read self-help books, fashion magazines or any blog on the internet then I wouldn't be surprised if you immediately agreed with that statement. Us women love to envy what we are not, and the French seem to inspire an intense kind of jealousy - especially when it comes to their style.
While striped breton tops, repetto flats, the beret, silk scarf and artfully tousled hair are all stereotypical sartorial symbols of French chic, this is not the only way to dress French. There are many French inspirations to look for: the rock 'n' roll style epitomised by the French Vogue team; the childlike innocence of the ye-ye girls in the 1960s, the quirkier, urban looks of modern Parisian girls like the graffit artist Fafi, Sarah Lerfel of legendary Paris store Colette, and singers Uffie and Yelle with their electro vibe; and the casual, nonchalant look of the likes of Charlotte Gainsbourg, sister Lou Doillon and actress Clemence Posey.
Stepping back in time, Jean Luc Godard's women may not be French, but they, too, are a source of chic sartorial inspiration. Jean Seberg's pixie crop is very French, as is her simple but effective wardrobe in Breathless (A bout de souffle) of striped dress, simple tee, cropped black pants, striped top. And Anna Karina may have been Danish, but her style has long been held up as a pinnacle of French chic; watch any Godard film featuring Karina and prepare to be inspired.
The quietly beautiful Francoise Hardy, with her signature motorcycle jackets, roll-neck sweaters, T-shirts, trench coats and eye-grazing fringe, has long influenced fashion and challenged ideas of what is traditionally considered to be sexy.
MTV host Alex Chung recently wrote of Hardy, "[she] managed to project an image that was beyond sexy without ever being pictured on all fours daubed in fake tan; she was hardly ever seen out of a roll-neck jumper".
Of course these women are older icons, but modern-day French women still have this similar sense of style. The terrifyingly chic Carine Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue, talks about the secret to Parisian style in the latest issue of Acne Paper. "The Parisian girl knows how to take care of herself and take advantage of what she has...
"With French women, first you see the women and then you see the clothes. In France, you cannot see what labels we are wearing. It's very snobby."
Thank you Roitfeld for telling us the secret to French chic: subtlety. None of this getting your boobs out, flashing designer logos and wearing a colour because it's trendy at that moment nonsense. The most stylish of French girls don't care if yellow is the new black or if wedge heels are back "in" - they don't dress to the trends and focus on classic pieces that last. They have a carefully selected wardrobe of key pieces, a few high quality items rather than a lot of nasty, cheap pieces that will make them want to cringe in a few months time. Less is more.
But don't mistake this discreetness for complete nonchalance: French girls may look casual but they care deeply about looking good. Perhaps this is another secret to French style - they are unapologetic about their pursuit of beauty. They simply like beautiful things; good food, good art, good architecture and of course, good fashion. It is this appreciation of the good things in life that influences their style, or that special sense of joie de vivre - or joy of living.
Cheat Sheet
Some easy and quick waysto bring some French chic into your life
FANCY PANTS
It's somewhat perplexing when glossy fashion magazines start espousing the benefits of buying good (i.e. expensive) lingerie, when you know the only reason they're saying it is to please their advertisers. Buy plain cotton knickers from The Warehouse for all we care! But if you are truly hoping to channel your inner French girl, nice knickers are simply a must. They don't have to be expensive, just lovely to touch and lovely to look at.
VISIT GARANCE DORE
Originally a place for Garance Dore to showcase her illustrations, this website has quickly evolved into one of the internet's best street style sites. Dore, who happens to date top street style photographer Scott Schulman of The Sartorialist, mainly photographs stylish girls at fashion weeks around the world, with quirky and passionate entries about fashion and life. As well as her gorgeous illustrations and photos, expect random style tidbits from Dore, like, "Style is like life: if there isn't a solution, it's just that there isn't a problem!" Dore's eye is focused on all things effortless and simple; it's all very chic, it's all very French and it's all very inspiring. www.garancedore.fr
MIX TAPE
OK, so it's not fashion per se but listening to some French music will still make you feel exotic and chic. Older Francoise Hardy tracks are the obvious place to start, as is anything featuring Serge Gainsbourg. Songs from the other ye-ye girls of the 60s - France Gall, Sylvie Vartan - should also be on your iPod. Also download: Vanessa Paradis, The Teenagers, Yelle, Uffie, The Plasticines and the lush piano numbers of Coeur de Pirate (she's French Canadian but that still counts).
BE SUBTLE
Avoid any over-the-top flashy designer nonsense; true French chic is far more no-fuss and pared down. Channel your inner French girl with younger, cooler French brands - A.P.C. Sessun and Andrea Crews may not be high fashion or couture, but they sum up that special kind of subtle sexiness, or Left Bank chic, that the French do so well (and most of us desperately want to bring into our wardrobes). If you're wanting something more designer and high-end, look out for labels like Alexis Mabille, Sonia Rykiel, Anne Valerie Hash or Isabel Marant.
SMELL IT
French girls love sensual things that make their lives better - like good knickers and fragrance. Buy a French scent, or fill your home with lovely scented candles. We like the limited edition range of candles from French clothing label/record company Kitsune, available in Auckland at Children of Vision, that smell like gingerbread icecream and black sesame icecream. Yum.
READ THE CHERRY BLOSSOM GIRL
Visiting the lovely blog of Parisian based stylist/designer Alix Bancourt, The Cherry Blossom girl, is almost like disappearing into a whimsical dream world where girls sit in flower fields wearing pretty white dresses eating sweet treats from Laduree. Bancourt uploads beautiful photos of her own girlish outfits (she has a seemingly endless array of to-die-for Chloe shoes), as well as random things from her life, from jaunts around Paris to photo shoots to lovely food. She also has a great insider's guide to Paris, perfect for those who want to visit something a bit more than the usual tourist spots.
