French chic……..can you create it?

Joseanne

Casdon these were the sort of cardis I meant. A label called Pause Café.

You temptress! I'm now off to have a look!

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Here

Oh, was that you, Calli, standing next to MY superyacht?

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Casdon these were the sort of cardis I meant. A label called Pause Café.

Actually, I have a photo of me in shorts and t shirt, sandals, trying to look taller, slimmer and mysterious in sunglasses, standing by one of the large yachts in Puerto Banus.
It wasn't my yacht.

She was small like me, but did have well cut hair!

I have no chance of achieving taht look!

Milly47

Marydoll

A few years ago, in Puerto Banus, I spotted a lady of my age, wearing a plain white shirt, with bracelet length sleeves, slim, ankle length, carmel coloured chinos and flat pumps, finished off with a little jewellery. She looked so elegant, dressed in the simplest of outfits.

I'm still trying to achieve that look!

I imagine in addition to the style of her clothes, she was probably slim, possibly tall and with good posture and well cut hair?

Was it me?! ?

Marydoll

A few years ago, in Puerto Banus, I spotted a lady of my age, wearing a plain white shirt, with bracelet length sleeves, slim, ankle length, carmel coloured chinos and flat pumps, finished off with a little jewellery. She looked so elegant, dressed in the simplest of outfits.

I'm still trying to achieve that look!

I imagine in addition to the style of her clothes, she was probably slim, possibly tall and with good posture and well cut hair?

A few years ago, in Puerto Banus, I spotted a lady of my age, wearing a plain white shirt, with bracelet length sleeves, slim, ankle length, carmel coloured chinos and flat pumps, finished off with a little jewellery. She looked so elegant, dressed in the simplest of outfits.

I'm still trying to achieve that look!

I bought a zip up cardigan a couple of years ago but soon got fed up with it because the zip caused it to bulge when I sat down which was a very unflattering look.

My recipe for "chic" is clothes that fit properly, the right shoes. a good hair cut, make up that enhances rather than dominates and great posture. Once all that is in place, the ability to forget about it and just be relaxed and happy. It's not about nationality, it's about attitude. No, I don't always have it but just sometimes I feel I'm almost there!

Surely, if someone sets out to create a look then it isn't effortless, so defeats the purpose?

I have been a visitor of the South of France over 20 times, I class it as absolute favourite place on earth ( apart from where I live of course ) and it has ALWAYS held me in awe of how effortlessly chic the French woman are, astounding.

Joseanne

As a result of this thread I spent the morning scouring clothes shops over here and then did a bit of people watching from my table at lunchtime. What did I learn about French women's choice of clothes?

So, not many wear cardigans. If they do the younger women drape them off one shoulder, showing a strappy camisole underneath. More mature ladies clinch them in at the waist with a belt. I saw quite a lot of zip up cardigans, but very few with gaping buttons. Some jumpers had zips going diagonally which looked elegant.
Their trousers and jeans barely graze the ankles, they were all straight, not bootleg or wide.
Tweeds appears to be in the shops for the autumn and tartans too. Hang on a minute, didn't we, ie in Scotland, invent them?
The women had smaller busts than British women, and just to level up here the men had jackets, not fleeces, and wore smart shoes.

I quite enjoyed being an observer, and think I blended in ok with my blue jeans and Joules stripe top! The blonde hair and fair complexion gave me away though. ?? ??

Very interesting cardigan observation Joseanne, I’ve been looking for a zip up cardigan since I saw your post, but they seem to be as rare as hens teeth in the UK. I wonder why?

I never have intentionally set out to achieve French "Chic", and don't think the majority of them are very "chic",even in the cities I have visited. Certainly not in the country side.. Give me Italian style any day.

As a result of this thread I spent the morning scouring clothes shops over here and then did a bit of people watching from my table at lunchtime. What did I learn about French women's choice of clothes?

So, not many wear cardigans. If they do the younger women drape them off one shoulder, showing a strappy camisole underneath. More mature ladies clinch them in at the waist with a belt. I saw quite a lot of zip up cardigans, but very few with gaping buttons. Some jumpers had zips going diagonally which looked elegant.
Their trousers and jeans barely graze the ankles, they were all straight, not bootleg or wide.
Tweeds appears to be in the shops for the autumn and tartans too. Hang on a minute, didn't we, ie in Scotland, invent them?
The women had smaller busts than British women, and just to level up here the men had jackets, not fleeces, and wore smart shoes.

I quite enjoyed being an observer, and think I blended in ok with my blue jeans and Joules stripe top! The blonde hair and fair complexion gave me away though. ?? ??

There are chic people of all races and nationalities.

Mamie

I think most of us who actually live in France have agreed that this is probably about a small minority of rich Parisiennes and not representative of women in France. I have read this thread while watching the lunchtime news, with reports from around the country. I haven't spotted these elegant creatures so far....

Mamie I think we are talking 2 different 'chic' here. The rich women of Paris are like the rich women in any major city as are
the rural women who dress appropriately for their lifestyle.
However your average 'townie' in France looks mega better
in any season than your average in the UK. Somehow they seem to put style into clothes and I don't agree that its expensive clothing either, the French girl wearing a scarf is
the best example.

Dinahmo

vegansrock

When I’m in Italy or France I can always spot the British tourists - baggy long shorts, floral prints, football shirts, primark tops, clumpy sandals or crocs. Italians - black, navy , white, limited colours, well cut suits, sharp haircuts.

Hardly surprising really - the Brits were on holiday and the Italians or French weren't. I think that most people have different wardrobes for work and play.

I can honestly say I’ve never seen an Italian in baggy long shorts, floral prints etc. even when they are on holiday Dinamho. Long, fitted shorts in a dark colour, or camel, and a polo shirt with a collar, plain coloured strappy top or sundress is more their style. They don’t do scruffy.

One area where the Brits are better than the French is in interior decoration. You only have to look on the French estate agents websites to see many horrible interiors. There are often "mumsy" interiors on the agents' websites in England which are dated and boring.

French design magazines regularly feature British homes as well as designers -furtniture, textiles etc etc.

vegansrock

When I’m in Italy or France I can always spot the British tourists - baggy long shorts, floral prints, football shirts, primark tops, clumpy sandals or crocs. Italians - black, navy , white, limited colours, well cut suits, sharp haircuts.

Hardly surprising really - the Brits were on holiday and the Italians or French weren't. I think that most people have different wardrobes for work and play.

VB000 I have found LeClerc excellent for underwear, and if you look diligently, there are diamonds among the poorer quality wear. I bought a beautiful good quality dress there this year for DD's graduation and a denim jacket that has been much admired.

I think most of us who actually live in France have agreed that this is probably about a small minority of rich Parisiennes and not representative of women in France. I have read this thread while watching the lunchtime news, with reports from around the country. I haven't spotted these elegant creatures so far....

I'm way behind with reading Gransnet - thanks Sago I've enjoyed this post.

I lived about an hour from Poitiers for some years, returning to the UK 7 years ago... definitely not many chic ladies in rural France.

Most Brits who lived there seemed to find it was better and cheaper to shop at online Next, M&S etc and have it sent to France. My experience of French clothing stores then was either cheap and nasty, e.g. not surviving many washes, or really expensive, with very little in between!