French chic……..can you create it?

My late mother could do it, always well turned out and chic, me? Scrub up okay ish when necessary, but am a jeans and tee shirt gal, oh and don't forget the wellies and trainers!!!?

People who have it look good in a dustbin bag, I think.

I'm less chic, more chicken shaped really. ?

Talking of which, how is Wiggy?

Thanks MissAdventure. Strangely, i was just telling a neighbor, Wiggy doesn't seem too well. She's very quiet this last few days. And off her food a bit. She hasn't laid any eggs this year, so I think she's having a bird menopause..

Great post. I follow a few blogs regarding this subject and I think they all say the same - quality and cut of clothing, look less "made up", a little jewellery and use colour sparingly. One of the articles I remember was, funnily enough, from a British women who went to live in Paris with her husband - she said that despite having a fairly expensive wardrobe, she could never pull off the Paris Chic. The one thing she mentioned, and which she found was her starter for ten, was that French Ladies do not wear unmatched underwear (I am sure someone will tell me this is untrue ) She said that, unlike our beloved M&S and other such like stores, you very rarely buy packs of knickers, for example - they usually buy underwear in matching sets and have many of them in their wardrobe. It got me thinking about my own underwear - I had definitely got into the habit of 'comfy' underwear - big knickers in skin colour only, (my buckets I call them), t-shirt bras in white and also skin colour and that's about it. I then started to look for 'sets' of underwear and was shocked at how hard it is to find them - you can find a lovely bra and then have to search for the panties on another page. I ended up in a well know lingerie shop and spent a fortune on underwear, the theory being that if you start with the basics then work outwards, you whole demeanour changes and I think that is right. I am now obsessed with my undies matching (ha ha I know - just in case I get run over , but I do find I make a little more effort with my outwear and makeup if underneath is of a good quality and it makes me feel good about myself. The surprise is that they are just as comfortable to wear as my 'comfy' but boring underwear. Crazy I know but it works for me. I also don't wear much colour and have never been able to get away with big chunky jewellery (think Bet Lynch) so have always been minimal in that respect. Not sure if this helps anyone at all, but a different perspective from just not being able to pull of Paris Chic (and I'm not sure if I have yet) - but perhaps we need to make a little more effort and then we can Happy Days

Oh, I know they can be very hormonal, but I didn't know about the menopausal bit!
Send her my best wishes, please.

I observed as an exchange student in 70s that french women are ,one the whole, less beautiful and somewhat , shall I say erring on the side of quirky looking in comparison to Brits. I also noticed how they were/are extremely comfortable with their "look" or appearance whatever it is, no self consciousness and frankly no snide comments from others either, specially men! In France women are celebrated for being women!all shapes sizes colouring etc all beautiful in the eyes of the French male. I conclude that our lack of confidence brought on by unfounded criticisms from birth as to what we SHOULD look like has destroyed any natural celebration of womanhood in Britain. Consequently the trend to look younger/thinner/fashionable (whether it's appropriate or not) is endemic. I look at most women of all ages as I go about in UK and see untidy , unsuitable, completely inept examples of appearance everywhere! In Britain more is more, from the idea of dressing etc for an event involves wearing as much badly applied makeup we can to squeezing in awful cheap (looking) outfits that I'd cheerfully chuck in a skip! If I get any comments on my appearance it's either " you look done up , going somewhere special?" If I look remotely coordinated/ or " blimey , who's died?" If I dress discreetly in dark colours! We suffer from an inverted snobbery around " classy" appearance. And rude insulting critiques from frankly those who need to gaze into their own mirrors! French have it naturally? They do - appreciation of women that is!

Kandinsky

I prefer the Brighton hippy look, or ageing rock chick - easier to achieve ?

Me too, I’m too messy, I mean Bohemian, for understated elegance. It’s not something I’m going to be able to achieve now. ?

I think they are born with it...sighs. I prefer my bohemian Italian linen style. You have to dress to suit your personality I think.

There ya go! Interpreting "elegance" as dressed up to the nines!! It's not, choosing to be very casual doesn't mean dirty , unkempt or damaged clothing! If something needs mending , mend it or chuck it! Washed out scruffy has no mitigation cheap clothing can be well maintained and hair washed and shiny, costs nil. Being slovenly seems to be achieved and well accepted in UK! And the comments aimed at french woman not eating and being a slave to diets sounds like a form of jealousy? It's not true but is bandied about like a defensive insult why?

I think you're right Joseanne there are at least two things which we Brits do rather well - beach huts and custard.

When in Brittany many years ago DH and I very much admired the window display in a lovely shop which sold home accessories. We looked at the sign for future reference and it was called, Le Style Anglais which surprised us - so we've got something right.

I think it is a myth... but then I'm French

I think it helps that many French ladies are short and petite. It is hard to be tall and large and look chic.

The last time I stayed in a French (Paris) hotel for work, dinner was lamb and three vegetables. All three veg were potatoes, nothing green whatsoever. Posh hotel too.

My daughter said that French women look in the mirror before they go out and remove one piece of jewellry...hence the understated but chic look which many have mentioned.

One of my sisters in law is Frenc, one thing she said abou the British is that women wear hats at weddings or other occasions, and French women do not
Wonder if there are any other odd little things like that
She doesn't exude chic BTW, and doesn't cook either

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esky

My daughter said that French women look in the mirror before they go out and remove one piece of jewellry...hence the understated but chic look which many have mentioned.

The French lady in blue with glasses has been made first woman CEO of Eurostar yesterday. I think she is 55 ish.
The English lady with the cream jacket hopes to be PM. I think she is 47 ish.

Politics aside, I think they are pretty neck and neck in the businesswoman fashion stakes? Apart from the earrings?

I have just come back from rural Normandy. The people shopping and in the towns were certainly not chic ! Most of the women were wearing awful vest t shirts and leggings and were definitely not svelte . I agree that it’s mainly in the cities . I have a French friend who lives near Paris , she is neither slim or rich but she always looks very chic . She lived in the UK for a few years and loved buying clothes here ,buying similar clothes to me, it was the way she co ordinated with other items that made the difference I think it’s called style !

Sago

We had dinner in a fabulous restaurant in Pau yesterday evening, there were many ladies of 50+ dining.
The vast majority of them looked effortlessly chic, it’s an incredible look, very little make up, understated but well cut clothes and classic hairstyling and jewellery.
Is this something that can be achieved or are these lucky French ladies born with it?

Oh Sago, just had a vision of you at the restaurant in a frumpy flowery dress eating dessert!!!
Really it's all about having the basics, classic clothes that never go out of style. Wearing good quality clothes that make you feel good. If you are a large lady, Size 14 or over than it's going to be hard to achieve that look. Most people have too many clothes so still achievable on a budget, just choose quality over quantity.

Ouch!

Granmarderby10

Well if to acquire French Chic a light tan is required then there is no hope for me with my natural skin tone being “day old corpse” and the summer “me” is pretty much the same with a few 3D freckles added. Perhaps it is my distant Irish Heritage Chic?

Exactly skin colour and bone structure, not an English rose but darker, however some English ladies have the bones, maybe a throwback of the French refugees.
My second DD has it «the Mediterranean colour» mixed from 100s of years ago and bones from her grandmother from the south of France. She looks great in a potato sack.

I think that it has a lot to do with confidence, and grooming.
Personally, I rock bag lady chic.

Ha! I live 45 minutes from Pau and there's very little French chic in evidence here. Also the myth about French women not getting fat is just that, a myth - certainly in the rural south west. This won't apply to the big cities and the well-off areas such as Provence, but it is hard to find nice clothes to buy here. As I think someone has already said, poor fitting, unpleasant fabrics and gaudy patterns abound. I've been here for nearly 7 years and buy my clothes online from British or international retailers because I still haven't found anywhere to buy them here.

Sago

We had dinner in a fabulous restaurant in Pau yesterday evening, there were many ladies of 50+ dining.
The vast majority of them looked effortlessly chic, it’s an incredible look, very little make up, understated but well cut clothes and classic hairstyling and jewellery.
Is this something that can be achieved or are these lucky French ladies born with it?

Sago, I live 45 minutes from Pau - would love to know the name of the restaurant.