Velvet Top Paris Chic French Fashion

Mode lovers across the globe have always envied the French for their minimalist and effortless sense of fashion. While there are many versions of French chichi, the one thing mutual to all looks is making an effort and putting a lot of thought into an outfit, but making sure it looks effortless.

The idea is to look good while also looking like y'all're not trying at all, in abrupt contrast to the over the top, American, Kim Kardashian-esque excess.

As demonstrated by Chanel muse and iconic fashion model, Inès de la Fressange, in her fashion guidebook, Parisian Chic, French style is all about nuts.

While many of these basics, similar leather jackets and trench coats, are not e'er relevant to Indian fashion, at that place are several manner lessons we tin can still acquire from the French.

The big picture is important.

The French will call up long and hard before buying something. They won't buy something because the private piece is great. The first thing on their mind is how to fit that individual slice into their already existing wardrobe, and if that goes with the vibe of their overall await.

It is essential that each chemical element of an outfit works to create a consummate outfit. This is a archetype way secret everyone with great sense of way has mastered. Great mode is non just virtually a great pair of Manolos, or an expensive Louis Vuitton bag, but about how one puts them all together.

If that pretty floral skirt you just saw online is likewise garish to go with annihilation you have, a French adult female would tell you lot not to purchase it. So equally much equally private details, the bigger picture of how an entire look comes together, is as important.

Matching is non the same every bit coordinating.

You will not see French women in head-to-toe leopard print. You volition besides non see them wear a red apparel with red shoes and red lipstick. French women practise not mix colours like navy and yellow. Parisian manner is virtually restraint and rest. Fifty-fifty when mixing unusual colours and prints, they exercise caution and stick to muted hues.

If something is already girly, offset it with a little androgyny. If something is already sporty, make it a little sexy with something feminine. If something is very formal, take it down a notch.

To those notwithstanding confused, the thought is to coordinate the outfit in a way that makes the look seem rough around the edges and somewhat undone.

Information technology's all about showing upwardly in something which looks like it was merely thrown together (but actually took a lot of thought and effort). Have a page out of Inès' volume, literally, to see what nosotros mean.

Get your colours right.

Your average Parisienne is an eclectic adult female who loves breaking fashion rules, but simply because she knows the rules. Colour is a very important office of this rulebook.

Picking a navy sweater instead of a noir turtleneck, a tan leather jacket instead of a jet black one, white jeans instead of the old blueish ones, are some little tweaks they make, after having tried the standard basics.

Having said that, stick to the nuts. So, ditch the cherry leather pants y'all wanted on a whim, and buy a pair of smart blackness slacks. Yous tin can experiment a lot more than with the latter.

Gender angle

The truth is that androgyny as we know it today, became cool but thanks to legendary French fashion icon Coco Chanel. A adult female who had enough of a market saturated with frills and flounces, Chanel wanted women to be able to wear wearing apparel which did not crave them to overemphasise their femininity. That is how the concept of indigestible silhouettes, straight lines, and elementary, clean, shapes usually seen in men'southward fashion back then, came to exist.

This, mind you, was washed keeping details like pearls, intact. Chanel was a true Parisian woman, who took an ordinary garment and fabricated information technology her ain with her personal touch. All this is nevertheless done past French women, who incorporate this while maintaining a residual and owning their femininity equally well.

The French idea, then, is to take a something masculine, like an oversized smoking jacket, and brand it feminine, by wearing nothing underneath it.

The thought is to reach a place of equilibrium, where the existence of gender isn't garishly obvious.

You should have every basic.

"The little black dress is not just an item of wear, it's a concept. It's abstract, it's universal — which means in that location'south one that's perfect for everyone ... Today the Parisian has several trivial blackness dresses, only as she has several pairs of jeans: each is a variation on a theme."

~ Inès de la Fressange

For some reason, people still don't realise the importance of wardrobe basics, in spite of every mode magazine listing out such staples a billion times. The French, notwithstanding, do; which is why they are e'er then well put-together. The idea here is not owning a lot of clothes, only owning those classic items which work with anything and tin can be paired with each other to create loads of looks.

These basics are the deviation between someone who always feels similar she has goose egg to wear, and someone who e'er has textile for a great but easy look. The lesson? Stocking upward on many versions of a basic to create a fresh, simply classic expect. And then, take a the concept of a white shirt, and brand information technology sexier by elevating it.

Remember of elements like colour, material, cutting when trying to switch it upwardly. For example, a cream-coloured, sleeveless, collared, v-neck silk blouse is an improved variation of a basic white shirt. Dark blue skinny denim pants are a variation of bones true blue straight cut jeans. Sequinned ballet flats are a variation of bones black ballet flats. The list is endless and open to interpretation.

The importance of basics exists because the French thought of manner is that life should not be about spending all your time around a wardrobe, trying to figure your clothes out, because fuck, a woman has bigger fish to fry. Even if you are someone who doesn't know or understand mode, you should exist able to throw a groovy outfit together. Investing in basics helps yous practise only that.

Never dress down, even when you clothes downwardly.

The French don't have off days, mode-wise, because they exercise not ain whatsoever items of clothing which are aimed at aiding the process of looking anything less than amazing. The point here, is, that the French don't commit simulated pas like donning matching 2004 American teen girl-style pink velvet sweatpants when they aren't in the mood to make an effort. They throw on their usual white shirt, beige pants, and ballet flats when they experience like shit.

This is because the French epitomise the concept of uplifting oneself through fashion, so dressing better is one pace closer to beingness better. Such advice is convenient because then you practise not have to invest in a divide, "ugly" wardrobe of ill-fitted casuals, which, allow'southward face up it, we all have for the days nosotros don't feel like trying. To a Parisienne, comfort is key, merely information technology is also possible to accomplish while looking good. At that place's no room for baggy sweatshirts in a world where blazers, jackets, and shirts are the norm.

The correct accessories

To put it simply, French fashion is about dressing like a grown-up who has no time to exist lax, and no free energy to deal with anyone's bullshit. Apart from the obvious perfume, call up chic silk scarves, oversized flick-star sunglasses. The great part virtually these mode rules for those living in India, is that sunglasses are almost a necessity in Bharat. Plus, silk scarves tin be styled in a thousand ways to conform tropical climates like ours.

As far as jewellery goes, the French try to avoid it. If they do get for it, at that place's no scope for silverish junk pieces which someone'south rebellious teen daughter could exist spotted wearing during a goth phase. So, it is best to stick to the mature beauty of gold-toned jewellery, which is all the rage at the moment.

Stylish, just comfy shoes are also a must. Pointed heels, flats, riding boots, sandals, and pumps are all appropriate for Parisian chichi style, but one should avert trainers, flip-flops, or heavy boots.

Own who you are.

The 'easy-chic' philosophy backside French fashion isn't all pretentiousness and no real-talk. The French despise the concept of counterfeit fashion which is central to the rising in the popularity of fake numberless, because their principle aesthetic goes confronting whatever desire to keep upwardly with the Jones'south.

The French are all about owning who they are, be information technology their bodies, their dark-circles, or their favourite simple straw bag which they dear because they have owned the fact that they can't afford an expensive Chanel. Beingness 18-carat and having a stiff sense of personal way is central to French mode, not just the luxury labels Paris is habitation to.

Thus, the French epitomise the idea that fashion is an fine art and, similar most art forms, the rules of archetype way must be learnt earlier they are aptitude for the purpose of self-expression. Keep watching this space for our guide on mastering French-manner dazzler.