French chic……..can you create it?

I haven't read through the whole thread, but French women do have that certain something, they are not alone though, Italians are immensely stylish too. I remember waiting to go through passport control somewhere or other when the passengers from an Italian flight came in and lined up behind, couldn't take my eyes off their clothes.

I would also add Scandis to the list, a while ago I know, but look how they nailed the scarf as an accessory in Borgen. When I went to Copenhagen I was struck by how many stylish older
women there were there with silver and grey hair all looking great and natural in a casual less is more sort of way.

Joseanne

I went on a guided tour last week in a chic French resort and learnt that the bikini was "invented" in France! Did you know that they also introduced the first cotton polo shirt (Lacoste), the first mini skirt and the LBD.

The bikini was named after Bikini Atoll in the Pacific where a nuclear test had just been carried out by the US.

I went on a guided tour last week in a chic French resort and learnt that the bikini was "invented" in France! Did you know that they also introduced the first cotton polo shirt (Lacoste), the first mini skirt and the LBD.

halfpint1 that is true as they are just two people, who usually dress stylishly in any case.As for the majority of French people dressing with a certain style, I think that has been disputed on this thread, as some do, but many do not.
Am thinking that like anywhere else, in cities, or in wealthy parts of a city, people do dress more fashionably than in towns and villages.Is it not better to dress as one pleases though than to be worried about how you look to others?

Sarah74

But the Macrons dressed very stylishly and appropriately at the funeral itself ?

Nobody says they didn’t. {sigh}

But the Macrons dressed very stylishly and appropriately at the funeral itself ?

Prentice

MawtheMerrier

Equally unimpressed by Emmanuel whose trainers were similarly inappropriate for the occasion.
My point is that they were not queuing, but guests of HM government and the RF.
And I identified Brigitte as the thread is about “French chic” - not a word generally associated with male dressing.
No excuses.
Of course today is formal, but if you think back - those planning to queue to pay their respects were requested to dress appropriately - concessions being made of course for camping out or standing fir hours and hours, even overnight.
No, no excuses!

I think you are absolutely correct, and they were both dressed wrongly on this occasion.

The normally immaculate Macrons may have made a mistake in your opinion but that doesn't eliminate the French population from being , on the whole, dressing with a certain style attributed to them

?

I don't know anyone who smokes!
Will a sweet cigarette do?

Callistemon21

Today I'm wearing French navy trousers and a navy and cream striped top.

The effect is not so much French chic as Breton fisherwoman without the cap.

You need to complete this look with a roll up cigarette dangling from one side of your mouth.

MawtheMerrier

Equally unimpressed by Emmanuel whose trainers were similarly inappropriate for the occasion.
My point is that they were not queuing, but guests of HM government and the RF.
And I identified Brigitte as the thread is about “French chic” - not a word generally associated with male dressing.
No excuses.
Of course today is formal, but if you think back - those planning to queue to pay their respects were requested to dress appropriately - concessions being made of course for camping out or standing fir hours and hours, even overnight.
No, no excuses!

I think you are absolutely correct, and they were both dressed wrongly on this occasion.

The French are a lot slimmer on average than UK adults - 40% overweight, 10% obese compared with 62% overweight, 25% obese here. It’s interesting, the no smoking message got through to people in the UK, but obesity continues to rise.

Today I'm wearing French navy trousers and a navy and cream striped top.

The effect is not so much French chic as Breton fisherwoman without the cap.

I remember my DC getting very excited at the huge tubs of sugary Nesqik in French supermarkets. That was many years ago.

Sago

OPhere in another region of France now and I can honestly say I was the “chicest” in the supermarket just now!
I’m not showing off, the competition was not strong!

The thing is about French or Italian supermarkets, the ones I have been shopping in do have a lot of crisps and sweet foods, and the younger generation do buy and consume more what we would term fast foods generally than say their parents and grandparents generations.
I have heard that in Japan, where almost everybody was known to be slim owing to the diet, things are changing.There,
Chocolate, especially Cadbury products are much in demand as are all sorts of sugary cereals as the young want it for breakfast.

J52

Some women ( maybe some men) always look as if they stepped out of ‘the band box’. Their hair is always neat, their nails grow immaculately and they maintain weight effortlessly.
Not a description of me!
I do think having the knack of putting colours, textures and the style of clothes together is the key.

I would bet money on the fact that none of it is effortless.
Not a description of me either, I have long given up any ideas of being slim, svelte or immaculately turned out for others to admire.
Once a person has accepted that, they can be free to be themselves and to be relaxed and confident, which in my view is much more attractive.

I think French women's eating and shopping habits are different from ours, and this keeps them slim. Most of their supermarket aisles aren't crammed with crisps and snacks, biscuits, cakes or chocolates , and the choice of bad things is less. Instead they have lots of fresh fruit and veg, dairy and deli counters, and all types of fish. I'm sure they eat smaller quantities too, and no in-between snacking. Apparently eating slowly also prevents you becoming fat, so the lengthy French lunch (up to 2 hours) obviously works well.

Having spent a week in France in late August, I looked around at the French women to see if I could find any evidence of French chic. As on previous visits to France I noticed very little, if any evidence of it. It’s a total myth, yes maybe the odd woman, but usually the French women look little different than British women in their dress. However I did notice a very marked difference in body size. The majority of French women are not fat. Far more British women than French are fat.

As for being chic.....well I try. I do enjoy clothes. I know what suits me, no frills or flounces, nothing gimmicky or gaudy, no flower prints. I aim for "classic with a twist".

I have quite an extensive wardrobe, most of which is pre loved and even some vintage pieces. All lovingly collected from charity shops or eBay. Some items, such as coats are probably around 30 years old, but good fabrics will last a lifetime with proper care.

I stick to plain good quality basics and switch accessories to ring the changes or update my look.

You don't need to spend a fortune to look good and I do think it's worth making an effort.

Yammy

Maybe we shouldn't have been taking notice of what people looked like but thinking of the passing of the Queen.
Do clothes really show respect? I have seen some "sights at funerals and weddings, people seem to wear what they want these days and are often requested to wear something bright, an Irish lady I know of asked everyone to have a splash of green.

Maybe.
Are they mutually exclusive?
But on a thread about French Chic - how is it inappropriate to comment on French chic- or an absence of it?
Plenty of threads about the Queen and space to express one’s regrets elsewhere.
And I still think more disrespectful to the host nation for the wife of a head of state to rock up in skinny jeans and trainers.

Yammy. I think the days of head to toe black being compulsory for funerals are pretty much over. The Queens funeral was exceptional. It was a state funeral too, so there would have been strict protocols and dress codes.

When my husband died, everyone wore a touch of burgundy, his favourite colour, ties for the men, shawls scarves etc for the women. I myself wore a pale blue silk dress and jacket ensemble. Did it mean I mourned his loss any less because I wasn't in black. (My husband loathed me wearing black, so I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing it).

When a young man who was a keen rugby player I know died, most of his mates turned up at the funeral wearing rugby shirts. It was their way of honouring him. His parents were very touched.

I think funerals have become a lot more personalised these days, where people choose outfits, music etc that are more relevant to the deceased. I don't think it's one size fits all any more.

Joseanne

I think I'm probably 500 miles north of you Sago.
Everyone in this part of France has now swapped their summer wear for waterproofs. Even their navy macs look smart, compared with my Joules parka! But then they do have an affinity with the sea round here.

That looks a bit like my mac from Sainsbury's, Joseanne

I've never looked chic in my life - it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it! ?

Maybe we shouldn't have been taking notice of what people looked like but thinking of the passing of the Queen.
Do clothes really show respect? I have seen some "sights at funerals and weddings, people seem to wear what they want these days and are often requested to wear something bright, an Irish lady I know of asked everyone to have a splash of green.

. A lot in the Queue was (sic) certainly not dressed appropriately for the occasion but for the weather and comfort

But the Macrons we’re not in the queue, unlike David Beckham and other “celebrities” but in their official capacity as French President and wife.
Anyway, it’s all in the past now and I think we all agree we saw some very chic women of all nationalities in the Abbey on the day.

I am baffled: just why would anyone visit a Muckdonalds and order a green salad and a glass of red wine whether in Paris or anywhere else?