As I sit here in the coolest and hippest cafe in the city of Dornbirn (Cafesito), whose Pumpkin Chai Latte makes you question the existence of Starbucks… Wait, let me explain. Firstly, I’m not saying I don’t like Starbucks, and secondly, I normally enjoy the blackest of black coffee, but it’s like shopping; if it’s only for a limited time you can’t let it slip away right? Anyway, I digress. I sit here and ask myself how I’ve been in Europe for almost two years and still haven’t been to Paris. There are still a myriad of places that I haven’t been, but Paris is obviously an intriguing destination for me because of its notoriety as a fashion mecca. Although Paris is the capital, fashion roots are deep in France, and French style, specifically for women, is one of the most classic, emulated, and sought after styles to achieve for women all over the world. “Who What Wear” even addresses the French as “The World’s Chicest Women.” I enjoy this French-girl style as well, because the roots lay in using minimal and versatile basics to create powerful and elegant statements in the most nonchalant way. As discussed in STEP 4 of Creating Your Perfect Wardrobe: Indulge In Creativity, in order to create your own personal and unique style, it is important to gather and reinterpret ideas from the others around you and the world itself. Given this context, we can adapt French-girl style for use ourselves, and it provides a wonderful example of how we can take our own style game up a notch through relishing the ideas and styles of other cultures and the world around us.

There are some relevant items in French-girl style we most likely have already. These include tailored sport coats/jackets (black and/or navy), white button down shirts, and tailored or straight leg jeans and pants (cuff to show some ankle).  For starters, pairing these items can give you the simplest version of interpreted French-girl style without having to step foot out of the house to spend. Combining these articles with Chucks (black or a bright color, to serve as our casual version ballet flats) or a low top, plain leather sneaker, can begin to give you more of the desired French-girl style effect.

In order to accentuate the nuances, you’ll need to collect items such as the Brenton striped shirt (good for a classic nautical look as well), a pair of loafers (to serve as our elegant version of ballet flats) and even a black leather jacket. French-girl style also generally consists of a bold designer handbag, so you might want to open up and dabble in some different bag styles and colors. I know as men we don’t tend to carry “handbags,” but purchasing a unique book bag/backpack or messenger bag can serve the purpose as well. So go for bold looks, clean lines, elegant styles and bright colors.

*The Hershel book bag/backpack below has been my steady companion bag the last few years, specifically for traveling and running errands around town. The grey messenger bag I spotted in Budapest, Hungary by NUBU, has been one of my favorite finds of the year; and the red, vintage bag I found in Porto, Portugal last year still haunts me, as it’s not a part of my closet. These all present great options as separation pieces, and add some life and flavor to your outfits; something the French women do incredibly well.

Even a shiny, luminescent watch can do the trick here if you’re not a “bag guy,” to give you a little POP of elegance, and something else to catch the eye of the passer-by. You can even take it a step further by throwing on your trench coat, or opting to wear a scarf with one of your dark-colored, tailored blazers. These timeless items won’t clutter your wardrobe due to the versatility they possess, and they will add some more elegance and thoughtfulness to your look.

Unlike the Pumpkin Chai Latte, French-girl style isn’t going anywhere; and it’s classic and casual elegance should provide excellent inspiration for years to come. Now it’s your turn to go out and explore the world around you. Use it to create a new look or style, add new elements to your wardrobe, or to expand and stimulate your mind regarding your personal outfit creation. Comment below if you would like to share your thoughts on the looks, or have any questions about interpreting other styles for yourself.

If you would like to learn more about French-girl style, and how you can interpret it for yourself, check out where I garnered my inspiration!

http://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/how-to-five-piece-french-wardrobe

https://www.glamour.com/story/french-girl-style-fashion-essay

http://www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast32/

 

Featured Brands:

French Connection

DL Denim

Converse

Jack Jones

Zara

Scotch & Soda

NUBU

Hershel Supply Co.

Gutteridge