Looking French doesn’t require much effort. You may even have to give up some of your beauty habits to achieve Frenchness. But first, let’s define what it is, or at least what I think it is…
While I was in New York, I often turned up to parties in jeans and Converse. At first, I would feel out of place but then people would tell me “You look sooo French! I wish I was French.” I didn’t know what they were talking about; I was wearing neither a beret nor onions after all. Whatever it was, it seemed to be desirable. I realised that the French had a special look and attitude when I came back to France and then again when I moved to Switzerland.
Charlotte Gainsbourg (actress and singer) and Guillaume Canet (actor and director) are good examples of raw Frenchness. They aren’t traditionally beautiful, but they both became icons thanks to their charm. They’re so cool we all want a bit of their swag. Let’s examine their looks:
Bed-head. Light make-up. Simple and comfortable, yet classy outfit. Nonchalant attitude. Smile. Looks like she’s thinking about something else.
Just got out of bed hairstyle, 3 day beard, messy collar, nonchalance, smile, sparkly eyes.
Négligé
The French mastery of the bed-head hairstyle doesn’t mean we never shower! Negligé isn’t dirty. Your hair and clothes need to be clean but it’ll look Frencher if you mess it all up a little before going out. French women sure use brushes, straighteners and irons. How many times did I straighten my hair and then mess it up a bit to avoid looking over done? Same with guys. They prefer to have a little beard showing that they don’t care rather than being freshly shaved. Their shirt will never be perfectly ironed. The French will manage to add a bit of negligé to their look, even in a suit.
Less is more
In all circumstances, we avoid looking “too much”, as we say in France. We’d rather be underdressed than overdressed, even at a fancy party. It means using less stuff: less hairgel and after-shave for men, less make-up and accessories for women, and less perfume for everyone. French women are great with make-up. I think it’s because we love it. We don’t treat it as a mere tool to conceal flaws and enhance beauty; we have fun with it. It means trying new things, but with measure. Checking that the colours match and that we don’t use everything we have at once (a bright red lipstick will call for sober eyes, for example.)
Since the French hate looking overdressed, they tame their style by mixing cheap basics with more charismatic pieces. Even if it means showing up underdressed at a party, it won’t matter- it’ll look cooler.
Insouciance
Insouciance means having no worries. To achieve this attitude, you have to act like you don’t care. The French are friendly with an easy smile but they tend to stay in their own mysterious world, thus keeping a distance. Unfortunately, some people misinterpret insouciance with rudeness or disdain. I’m always surprised when I hear that someone thought I was snooty when I really tried to be friendly. I guess you have to give up being liked by everyone in order to look French.
Details
The French look lies in the details:
– Layers
– Dresses for women in all types of weathers
– Scarves: yes, also for men
– Stripes: it’s a bit cliché but whenever I go to France, I notice that everyone wears more white shirts with colourful stripes than anywhere else.
– Few accessories but high quality ones: a nice watch, a leather purse…
– Never ever wear sneakers, especially white ones. Except to do sports, obviously. In France, we can spot tourists with their white sneakers. If you want to be comfy and look French at the same time, wear Converse or ballerinas for girls instead.
(More about French vs American look with Garance Doré.)
Did I forget anything? How would you describe the French look?
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I think I could like the French styles.
Ah Cecile! I love this little post! I have been told that I look like a French woman before, and I took it as quite a compliment. I hope New Zealand is treating you well so far!
I bought my first scarf when I was 18 in Paris at a Naf Naf. I still have it alongside the many I’ve since collected. With my naturally wavy hair it always looks tousled it’s something I’ve tried to tame, and much like myself, it’s just not possible so I live with it :) I believe if my motorcycle boots aren’t welcome…my interest wanes at the party invite. Fun post!
Naf Naf is a cool shop! There aren’t any of those in the US, right? Your curls look very pretty in your profile photo, is you hair naturally that way?
Thanks for your comment, Kristy :)
Hi Cecile. Never mind how I found you; I don’t remember either but no regrets getting into the vastness of your thoughts as in this post which is a bit hilarious but mostly interesting.
Your effortless English doesn’t make it look like your second language. It has been my most difficult second language but I’m learning it fast and forever learning it. And seriously, I wonder if you could write about the more popular French kiss too. Since then romance was never the same again.Thank you for this very interesting and thought provoking post.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Maxim. I just checked your blog and your English seems pretty good to me!
I’ll think about the French kiss… Maybe a good topic :)
Great post.
I lived in Paris for a year when I was 25 (long time ago) and it forever altered my style. I grew up in Canada and live in NY; I’ve been told a few times my look is more European, like choosing to wear brown, cream or navy blue instead of black whenever possible, lots of scarves. I think a few other French details that are really key are excellent tailoring and fit (my French jackets have a much narrower width in the upper arm and a much higher cut there, a totally different look) and the desire to personalize your look. American women seem to like cookie-cutter safety when the French women whose style I admired would change a shoelace or a belt and make the look their own. I also buy fewer pieces but better quality — very French and very NON American.
I like the French woman’s combination of confident nonchalance with a very clear sense of elegance.
Hey Caitlin, thanks for sharing your experience here. I could add a whole section to my post with your comment, except for the part about avoiding black- a lot of French women, especially in Paris, wear black all the time.
Au compliment le français il n’est pas nécessaire d’insulter des Américains.!
I agree! When I stayed with my French friends in France and London, I always strove to capture some of that ‘effortless style’. It’s when I first discovered spray dry shampoo! A little texture to your hair goes a long way and freshly washed and blow-dried hair can make that difficult. Great post!
Thanks L! I never tried dry shampoo but many friends told me it gave great texture to their hair… it seems you found a way to achieve the bed-head hairstyle ;-)
Especially for bangs!
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Great, next time I’m there visiting, I hope I blend in a little more!! hahaha, or maybe I should just go for all-the-wrong-things to wear and stick out as a typical tourist! hahaha
:) Lily
I have a feeling you have to be fundamentally hot too…I’d say I’ve mastered the somewhat scruffy look, but I just look…a tad scruffy. The French are just born with an aura, it’s not fair!
What a great post… I think I am spiritually French, while shackled by my English-ness: I hate looking over-dressed, have never worn much make-up, and often get accused of looking aloof (alright, “fed up” is what they actually say, but I prefer aloof). I have just bought some Converse, so I’m getting there. However, I find as I get older, I compensate by wearing more make up and a more ‘done’ hairstyle — I wonder, how do French women cope with aging?
Thanks Jo!
“Aloof” is alright I guess, it has a certain coolness attached to it. It’s better than snooty anyway ;-)
Of course French women hate the aging process as much as the others. The ones I know also starting worrying more about their make-up and hair with age… So you’re definitely spiritually French!
P.S. AND scarves .. I’ve seen really interesting ones!
Bonjour Cécile, I love this post! I’ve been living in France for almost a year, but my French fashion influence started when I met my French boyfriend (in the US), actually (including changing my hair color)! I’m quite thankful for that, because I felt I already had a bit of an understanding on what to wear here before we moved here together! I do stick to basics and wear much less make-up; and have healthier, messier hair. I actually feel like it’s more “me” and more womanly; I’ve grown out of the pixie bleach-blonde, fake-tan, fake-nails, way-too-much(borderline Jersey Shore mixed with hippie) adolescent look (that was especially me 15 years ago) and more into a mature yet youthful ‘femme’ look. :) It’s always good to play around though, incorporate funkier pieces.. the French do this too, in a nonchalant way, and I am trying to figure it out. It’s good to have some fun and show bits of your personality too :).. I see this done here often with shoes. Ooouh, shoes…
It’s be interesting to see ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of your French transformation ;-) I must admit that I simplified the French look a lot for my blog. A lot of French women are much more sophisticated than Charlotte Gainsbourg! Especially in Nice where I am from, dyed hair, fake nails and a lot of make up are very popular as well… Maybe it is something from the south?
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As a French expat that have lived in multiple countries, I’ve really enjoyed reading this post. Thank you
:-) Cool to share stories with fellow expats and that I’m not the only one having weird thoughts on the world!
In the book I am reading at the moment one of the characters has a “baisenville en skaï”. I’d say that definetly makes his style very french. I suppose it’s just another example of a high quality accessory.
Thanks for stopping by Martin :-) It can’t be a high quality accessory cause skaï means fake leather… What’s this book you’re reading?
Next time you come for a friday night drink I’ll tell you ;-)
I love the tips! My sister’s trying to pull of the Parisian look. I’ll make sure she sees this one! :)
Thanks Patsy! I’d love to see your sister’s Parisienne look :)
hahaha your blog is hilarious!
I think this is kind of my style because I can’t be bothered to American it up all the time. I have been known to rock fake eyelashes, hair extensions, and fake tan when I was younger though ;-)
Hehehe I like the expression “to American it up”! I was quite impressed by American girls while I was in the US though, some really turn up to parties with perfect hair, make-up and outfits that I would never dare to wear :-)
You should see my pre pregnancy clothes! They are what got me pregnant in the first place. Also, in the South we do big hair. Lots of hairspray.
Oh yeah, and I made up the expression to American it up. I make my own vocabularly quite often.
Haha – love this!! I think you have absolutely nailed it! It is definitely something difficult to explain to my American friends who come to visit…I tell them, you don’t need anything fancy even for a nice restaurant. We definitely tend to dress up more in the US – it’s been a shift in my style to try to be “relaxed cool”. hah!
Thanks! I would love to read something from you on the topic :)
Hmmm…yes, maybe I will use that as inspiration for this week’s post!! :) If so, is it okay if I link back to yours?
Of course! Looking forward to reading your post ;-)
“Never ever wear sneakers, especially the white sneakers.” — I was thinking that I should dump my sneakers. And now I will. Once I get myself a pair of Converse.
Keep them for sports! I should mention other options than Converse, will think about it. Funny how an American brand became part of a French look :-)
I would love to hear more about more options. I really dislike sneakers for daily wear (especially since I rarely wear shorts or anything “sporty”) but I’m at a loss for other options. Plain brown/black shoes are classy but get boring after a while.
These are great tips! I am already really good at the messy hair routine! :)
Thanks Susie, I’m sure your hair looks very French :)
That would be very cool!
When I think of “stereotypically French girls” they usually have dark hair. Is it a French thing to not bother with highlights or dyeing their hair blonde?
Hum, a lot of french girls do highlights and stuff but the main trend is to look natural so maybe we do it less than in the US for example…
Most of all, they use much less product in their hair. Having lived in both countries, I can tell you that the market for hair product is much smaller in France. That’s also what makes it look more natural, I think.
Super :-) Mais n’as-tu pas l’impression que la différence est moins marquée en Suisse, ou plus généralement en Europe, par rapport aux Etats-Unis?
Merci! Je trouve la différence entre les suisses et les francais (femmes et hommes) assez marquée en fait. Niveau look, attitude, etc… Bon après effectivement c’est encore plus marqué entre francais et américains mais suisses et francais ne se ressemblent pas ;-)