What comes to your mind when you think of France? Paris, love, wine, cheese, and all those fine things in life, right? Well, you forgot one more important aspect of France – that is Fashion. Getting a chance to do a ramp walk in France is considered as one of the highest forms of success in a model’s life! ‘La haute couture’ – high fashion, ‘la mode’ – fashion, ‘en vogue’ – in fashion / trending, ‘chic’ – fashionable: Do these French words ring a bell? Yes, all these French words are used in English in the context of fashion and you may have come across them in all the national and international fashion magazines!
So, ladies are you all set to have a French-style wardrobe? “On y va’’! – Let’s go! The following clothes are a French lady’s essentials and are found in almost every French woman’s closet! I would also like to state a fact that the French fashion can tend to get androgynous and not always girly! Also keep your palette simple – French women are more into light or pastel colors like beige, grey, off white, baby pink, mauve etc. The French are a little more chic, very classic and don’t like too many colors and especially not flashy, bright colors. That’s right! They keep it simple and classy!
The little black dress – This is the most important dress and a must-have for any party and especially for one of those days when you have absolutely no clue as to what to wear for a random party you just get to know about! The black dress is also advisable for a funeral.
The classic shirt – A classic white collared shirt can be paired with a blazer too for that smart and chic look with straight black pants. A very formal and professional look which is effortless yet classy. Many French ladies also like the 70’s style bow-tied button up silk shirts as well that showcases a classy and vintage look at the same time!
La Marinière top (Blue & White Striped top) – Alright, so this might be very, very, very stereotypically French but many French ladies really do love these tops. The story goes like this, ‘Bretagne’ region of France (also called as Brittany in English) had this shirt that the sailors wore with what is called as the ‘Breton Stripe’. For over 150 years these stripes have been seen on board on the ships of the ‘Marine Nationale’ along the Brittany coast. Fresh, nautical and undeniably chic, the ladies love to wear these because they were first popularized from drawing inspiration from the local French sailors!
The Trench Coat – A light colored trench coat is a girl’s best friend during the gray days in Paris. The colors of the trench coat can vary of course but a classic beige trench coat is a must-have in your wardrobe.
A Blazer – An oversized masculine blazer is found in every French girl’s wardrobe to team it up with a plain, classic shirt or even on a dress. A jacket that looks like a blazer can certainly be an affordable version in the closet.
The Camel Coat – While the Scandinavians stick to black or dark colors for woolen clothes, the French prefer the warmer color tone of a camel or beige like I said above.
The oversized Sweater – An oversized pullover or sweater is the perfect for the fall season. It hangs loose on your body and gives a carefree yet trendy look and makes you feel warm and cozy. Not to forget the perfect accessory for this is that awesome cup of hot chocolate that is just inseparable during winter!
(The classic French hot chocolate by the way literally tastes like you are drinking melted chocolate!)
The Silk Scarf – Every French girl owns at least one vintage style silk scarf. This can come in many colors and bright patterns. This has been used a lot in the French culture. The silk scarf has been a symbol of elegance since the 1930’s.
The Tailored Pant – A straight, classic-cut, high-waited tailored pant yes somewhat like the 70’s is a favorite of the Parisian girls.
The Waist Coat – The classic black waist coat is worn on white shirts and is also an important clothing in a French girl’s wardrobe. It is common but still popular among the French ladies.
Boots of course are very important in France and you will find many types of boots as per the season, but apart from these French ladies like to have stylish yet decent flats as footwear for summer!
Let’s not forget that France had become the Fashion Capital of the World and till date many fashion designers take inspiration from the French fashion! So, if you are considering fashion as a career, make sure to learn a bit of French for that special motivational factor to boost your level of confidence in the fashion industry!
-Snehal Walia
Faculty in French