ack in the very early blogging days I used to follow a beautiful blog called Inner French Girl. It no longer exists (like Style Bytes… SOB! Does anyone remember her?) but it was basically about the blogger’s journey trying to be like the quintessential French girls she always admired. I actually recently read an article debunking the myth of the perfect French girl (the author was French and the gist of the piece was that French girls fart. Awesome.) but for some reason I can’t shake that wannabe French-ness. I love the minimalism, the embracing of natural beauty and the unapologetic preference of quality over quantity.
And of course the stripes. I’ve always avoided horizontal stripes because some fashion expert loser in the 80s said on Oprah that stripes make big girls look bigger so I was like ‘YAS QUEEN!’ and promptly banned those nasty fattifying stripes from my life. In the past few years I’ve decided stripes are very awesome, very French and very much a thing I like to wear.
Wearing
Dress from FCUK – I bought it on sale for like $30 at an outlet mall up the road from Hair Romance. Bargain right?
Shoes from Toms
Sunglasses from Randolph – I shouted myself a new pair of these over the holidays and they are bliss. Nothing like a fresh pair of sunnies to start the summer.
Tips for dressing French…
– Chanel said you should always take off one accessory before leaving the house. If you want to channel the French vibe, try wearing zero accessories
– Give stripes a go. There’s something effortlessly chic about them don’t you think?
– Let your hair do its thing. If it’s curly, let it be curly. If it’s straight, let it be straight. It’s rather un-French to spend 2 hours every morning torturing your hair to do something it’s resisting.
This outfit was worn for a manic morning of learning how to strap my bestie into her epic gown for her wedding this weekend, followed by an afternoon of slamming through my work so I can take the day off her hen’s on Friday afternoon. We’re doing ladies afternoon at the bowls club. I can’t wait!
Have you ever tried to ‘dress French’? Is it even a thing? It’s a thing right?
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22 Comments
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I would love to look french. Slim-cut ankle length pants with flats and a stripy top usually put me in the mode – I think so anyway! Add a croissant and I’ll call it done!
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Yes definitely! If only I looked good in pants… and I do not.
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I love ‘French girl’ dressing. Stripes are definitely the easiest way to do it. I loved people watching when I was in France, the women there are so effortlessly beautiful and chic. Minimal makeup, no fussing over hair and beautiful but practical shoes and clothes. Such a winner.
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That’s totally it! I had the same thing when I was in France about ten years ago. The women are so effortless and fuss free. Love it.
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Love the dress!! I’m French and still trying to figure out how to ‘dress French’ too, ha. Whenever I go home I people watch, in an extra intense way, to crack their secret and I’m still working on it. I do own a bucketload of stripey tops though and colleagues always say I look especially French when I wear them!
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It must be so weird actually being French and hearing all this talk about how cool being French is! I think having an accent would help too with making anyone ‘look’ more French!
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Ahh, the elusive style of a French woman – slightly structured, chic, elegant and NEVER sloppy. Maybe it’s also more about confidence and attitude. Plenty of stripes in my wardrobe too, love them. Xx
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I think never sloppy is the defining factor there. Diana Vreeland said that French women wear clothes that fit and I think it’s a wonderful thing to keep in mind. You always clothes that fit you easily.
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Red lippy, mascara and minimal other makeup. I agree with the stripes- love them
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Yes totally! Although my version of that is hot pink lippy!
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You look fantastic and yes you pull off the French vibe perfectly, the Dress is lovely and really looks good on you.
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Thank you so much! That’s so lovely of you!
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I love stripes and yes I do sometimes think of it as French stripes especially if they are navy stripes on whites. I remember that horizontal stripe advice-such a crock but yes for years I avoided them too!
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Isn’t it awful how things like that just stay with you? And totally – navy and white stripes are far superior to any other kind of stripes.
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As someone who is incapable of spending more than 10 minutes getting ready (i swear the more time, the worse the end result) I have taken a one time compliment of “oh you dress so French” and applied it as an excellent excuse for 5-6 years now! Always glad to have my “basic” style reaffirmed as classy and chic, thanks!
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Oh that’s brilliant! Take it and run!
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You look gorgeous in that stripy dress! And it is a bargain. All the good things. I have recently been inspired by the simplicity of Japanese fashion too. Although curly hair being curly does not seem to be on the menu there…..
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Oh totally! I always drive for that neat minimalist look but it’s kind hard to achieve when you have what looks like a dead cat on your head. 🙂
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Love the brenton stripes. I am looking forward to winter so that I can dress like my inner French girl too…or a mime…is dressing mime a thing? I am planning on making it happen.
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You poor thing living in Brisbane – I would die! Cannot handle the heat at all.
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Yes the french definitely know style!
I’m a sucker for a breton stripe any day!!!And you look gorgeous! Really suits you!
x Luciana
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Thank you! You are lovely!
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