FRENCH STYLE: DON'T LOOK LIKE A TOURIST

As an American, I’ve always revered French fashion as the end all be all. So as a tourist, I often felt more overwhelmed than excited when it came to packing for my Parisian excursions. The last thing I wanted to be coined as was la grosse Americane. EW. Well after a bit of trial and error and collecting mental notes on my countless trips, I think I’ve got the cardinal rules to achieving the infamous je ne sais quoi…

Before I get started— some of these lines are becoming a bit blurry… With the rise of Instagram & all of the streaming services, it’s hard to keep the cultures separate. However, if you’re talking about CLASSIC french style, look no further.

First and foremost, we have to talk about the fundamental difference between American style and French style. Americans strive for the perfection. You need the perfect pair of pumps to rock with that perfect color combination between skirt and shirt. You have to achieve the perfect cat-eye eyeliner and perfect balance of contour and highlight. You finish off the look with that jewelry set that goes with the look perfectly. And BAM— you look perfect, and you’ve got the insta to prove it. The French woman rolls her eyes at this charade. The French woman’s goal is to look effortlessly chic, and just the mere fact that us Americans trying to replicate that is quite ironic… but regardless, here we are. So let’s dive in:

Sportswear is only for sports—

Except sneakers: I know it might be tempting to wear your Lululemon leggings touring around Paris. After all, you’re going to be walking A LOT… but you wouldn’t catch a French woman dead in sportswear on the street. If they go to the gym, and that’s a big IF, they’ll typically change there. The one exception is sneakers. The stan-smith Adidas sneakers are a staple in a young French woman’s wardrobe. They’re typically paired with jeans and a cool t-shirt, maybe even a scarf too.

Keep it neutral—

Now I’m not saying you have to look funeral-adjacent here, I’m just saying keep the Lily Pulitzer at home. Your best bet is to wear black, grays, and blues. But I’m not saying you have to be totally boring… if you do want to wear a color, pick ONE item and pair it with neutrals.

Less is more—

Have you ever heard the saying, once you’re all ready to go, take one accessory off before leaving the house? That’s a good rule of thumb here. Keep the accessories to a minimum. Like maybe two at the most.

All Natural Babyyy—

I know we live in the world of the Kardashians and beauty vloggers, but I don’t think France got the memo. Well they did, but they are just completely ignoring it. Leave your smokey eye palette and clip in extensions at home. Now just because I said you should look natural, doesn’t necessarily mean you will be natural… tinted moisturizer, mascara, and a bit of blush is the recipe. For night time? Add a pop of color on the lip— red is the go to here.

Keep the head high, and heels low—

It’s a rare sighting to see a French woman in stilettos. In their eyes, that means you’re trying way too hard. Remember— not perfect, effortless chic. They’re much more likely to be wearing the TK or Adidas sneakers. Now I’m not saying they NEVER wear heels, but just keep them at a reasonable height and only in the night.

Trends are trashy—

What are we wearing this year? Are chokers still in? Is animal print back and staying? These are questions that your average French woman would scoff at. The French keep it simple and keep it classy. You know what’s never going out of style? A nice tailored blazer. A well-fitted pair of jeans. etc. etc. So when packing for France, keep the trendy fashion items in your closet.

Quality over quantity—

The French believe that fashion is an investment. They’d splurge for the $400 black leather jacket before buying a variety of Forever 21 colored-bombers that you inevitably only get one year out of before it falls apart. They buy expensive classics, and wear them for years to come.

Okay now you know the rules. And now I give you permission to break them. I will never give up my Ugg boots in a cold bitter winter, and I love wearing elaborate eye-shadow. I’m all about a good trend, and if I need to walk to the grocery store I’m wearing my leggings. What I’m saying is, it’s okay to stand out! Feel free to cherry-pick these rules as you see fit. And maybe you’ll achieve in a new category of je ne sais quoi.