Want to know the secret to dressing your best every day? Take a hint from the French. It seems like every woman in Paris is so effortlessly elegant, even if her outfit is nothing special. Why is that? Well, it’s because there are a few unwritten style rules when it comes to dressing in France. Don’t worry, you don’t need to hop on a plane to learn them. We’re going to cover the nine cardinal French style rules with you in this article today!
French Style Rules
Follow these style rules and you will be golden when it comes to building a wardrobe you love and getting dressed every day! No matter where you live, these style rules apply.
1. Be Effortlessly Chic
The most cardinal of all French style rules is to appear effortlessly chic. You should never look like you’ve spent more than 30 minutes in front of a mirror and that goes for both your outfit and your make-up! You may think that being effortlessly chic is easier said than done. These style rules will help you discover exactly what that means according to French women! Soon you’ll discover that the perfect red lipstick and a good mascara are all it takes to look beautiful.
2. Start with the Basics
When it comes to dressing, the French go back to basics. Classic French style clothing includes lots of simple designs and neutral colors. Start by developing a closet of basics like t-shirts, button-ups, and simple pants. Stick to neutral colors like black, white and nude. Gray is my least favorite neutral color (it’s very Scandinavian in my opinion) but you can definitely go for it if you prefer!
3. Invest in Quality over Quantity
French girls always invest in a few pieces of quality clothing over a large wardrobe filled with low-cost items. Start by purging any low-quality or deteriorating items of clothing you own. Replace them with high-quality French fashion investment pieces you know will last longer than one season. Opt for a few unique statement pieces that may cost you a lot upfront, but are timeless in design.
4. One Statement Piece Per Outfit
Once you have a good closet of basics and carefully curated statement pieces, you can easily put together many different outfits. Pick one statement piece per outfit to add some personality to your look. A statement piece could be: a tweed jacket, a colorful handbag, a nice pair of shoes, or a printed top. Anything that “stands out” is considered a statement piece!
5. Pay Attention to the Fit
French girls know what fits them best and stay away from ill-fitting clothing and cheap brands. On the other hand, just because it’s designer doesn’t mean it’s right for your body. Take the time to try on different sizes of clothing and learn what cuts and shapes flatter your body. Don’t buy something just because you saw it on someone else and it looked good. If you are in doubt, oversized is always better than too tight when it comes to fit. You’ll rarely see a French woman in a skin-tight dress à la Kim Kardashian!
6. Avoid Trends
As the saying goes, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” Yves Saint Laurent spoke to women everywhere when he uttered those words in the 1970s and the mentality lives on today. French girls rarely follow trends they know will fade with time. Instead, they develop a signature style that carries them through the decades.
7. Be Comfortable
You’ll rarely see a French girl walking around in sky-high heels. She’s constantly on the move, and a mid-to-low heel or ballet flat are perfect for walking – something she’s definitely not afraid to do. Don’t buy clothing or shoes that make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy. It will negatively affect your mood for the rest of the day!
8. Never Show Off a Logo or Label
This rule might be surprising but French women rarely wear clothing or handbags with logo prints all over them. It’s considered very tacky to show off your wealth in France, and so French girls opt for a minimal design that appears labelless. Even those LV print Louis Vuitton handbags are almost never purchased by French women – only foreigners!
9. Don’t be Fake
From push-up bras to plastic surgery, French girls never try to be something or someone they’re not. If you have small boobs, find a French celebrity like Charlotte Gainsbourg or Clémence Poésy and emulate their looks. Accentuate your positive features and find a way to be confident about your flaws. Be yourself and your style will follow suit!
16 comments
calling a small bust a “flaw”… no thank you.
Hey Ashley, I didn’t write that small boobs are a flaw. Those are two separate sentences. Sorry it came across that way!
I did not see it that way
They were separated. People see what they want to see. Wonderful article. I like having smaller boobs.
Agreed! …and same here!
I agree. No indication that small boobs are a flaw. Actually, no flaws were specified.
Also, if small boobs are a flaw, maybe those two beautiful French women referenced aren’t as beautiful as everyone thinks they are?
I didn’t interpret that to be a “flaw” I’m small too or I should say proportioned to my body. But I think French women will actually go about without a bra if they their small chested and be very sensual, and still look so Feminine.
Exactly! 🙂
I had a reduction…a large chest as one ages is like a cow and no clothes look elegant
How about rules for French women over the age of 65. I’m 81 and still want to be French Chic!
Hi Maya, I’m French and 55. I can definitely tell you that these rules (that are perfectly true by the way) apply to every period of your life.
Hi I’m 65 1 7m tall with big breasts D cup. I’m lucky enough to have decent shaped long legs. How should I dress?
[email protected] end reply how to dress like french. Age 76
Great advice for personal style… you can even use this advice for decor too.
I love it, I love it, I love it all!!!
I’m reading that red lipstick is what a lot of french women wear. I am 66yrs, should I wear red lipstick? My lips are smooth and not wrinkly.
I actually have been purposely staying away from red, thinking I should stick with pinks and orange tones or more neutral. To this day in the last decade or so, I have not found a lipstick that I am in love with or even really like.
Some years ago, I bought a beautiful shade of orange lipstick from fashion fair and it looked good on me, it really stood out, but I don’t think they sell it anymore, plus I don’t know the name of the lipstick.
So what do you think, red or not?
I would definitely go with a good red! You can go for a subtle one if you’re weary! Red is a universally beautiful color for the lips!