Shh! Style Secrets of French Women

May 12, 2015 posted by Vicki in Style

The French definitely know fashion. The big luxury labels Dior, Chanel, Givenchy and Celine started from somewhere and that somewhere was a French woman. Ah, to be born with a French woman’s chic, but oh so sensible style. How do they look like they literally rolled out of bed looking amazing? This is the fervent wish of women all over the world – to have a sophisticated yet effortless style when it comes to fashion and beauty. French women practically invented the term, “I woke up like this” – they throw on their clothes without a fuss and appear as if they just stepped out of the pages of a magazine. They just have that je ne sais quoi.

A survey by wwd.com revealed that when looking for inspiration, 48% of French women refer to regular people, while only 20% are influenced by the Internet and 16% by TV and magazines. But more than looking for influences, 75% believe in themselves to make the right fashion choices when buying new clothes and don’t feel need to shop much, less than once a month in fact.  Furthermore, they are hardly swayed by celebrities, designers or luxury brands. We’d like to share with you a few French brands that are ultra affordable yet offer chic French sensibility through these fashion secrets of French women.

Secret 1

Love and keep key pieces.

A French woman owns key pieces that complement other fashion items in her closet. She doesn’t give in to trends and she develops a signature look and sticks with it- which is why they look so cool and easy.  French style basics include the little black dress, skinny jeans, a blazer, jacket or a trench coat, styled in the indefinable way. In an interview, Ines de la Fressange said that on most days of the week, she can be found wearing “cotton shirts, jeans and blazers.”

As for the LBD (little black dress), this has been attributed to the singular French fashion icon, Coco Chanel. The German-born but French-trained Karl Lagerfeld—another revered European fashion designer and reference at the helm of Chanel— has been known to have said: “One is never over-dressed or under-dressed with a Little Black Dress.” Jennyfer offers cool and sexy fashion for young women who want to be irreverent and unique.

Secret 2

Good shoes are a must.

Stylish, comfortable shoes – the French woman owns these and wears them well. They are always on the go and walk everywhere. Who knows what kind of material they will end up walking on? You will never see a French woman curse at the cobblestones because she wore the wrong shoes. Minelli offers stylish shoes that give you comfort the whole day.

Jennyfer embodies a cool and sexy vibe for young women; French women swear by their Minelli shoes for comfort the whole day

Secret 3

For true beauty, less is more.

“Elegance comes from being as beautiful inside as outside.” ― Coco Chanel

A French woman knows that when it comes to beauty, less is definitely more. Foundations do not sell as much in France as they do in Asia or America- if it is obvious that a woman is wearing foundation, it looks wrong. They know that good skin is the foundation of any beauty regimen. This includes drinking a lot of water to hydrate and using good skin care products for their face before they even begin thinking of putting on make-up. As for make-up, all they do is use a gel to brush their brows, curl their lashes and put a bit of mascara, apply a little concealer and do either the eyes or the lips, never both. And of course, a French woman always has a signature scent. Yves Rocher offers beauty that cares for women’s skin as well as the planet, with its botanical beauty products in eco-friendly packaging and business practices.

Secret 4

What lies underneath matters.

A French woman knows that what’s under your clothes matter. French women spend 20% of their annual clothing allowance on lingerie! So, if you want to know what lies beneath that chic nonchalance, it’s what’s inside their lingerie drawer. A French woman knows that wearing beautiful lingerie gives her a special secret and she exudes an aura of confidence and that subtle sexiness. More than about pleasing a man, French girls wear nice lingerie to make themselves feel good! Etam France has lingerie, sleepwear and swimwear in a wide variety of colors and styles to suit every woman’s taste.

Yves Rocher is the No 1 cosmetics brand in France; Etam France offers sweet and sexy lingerie, swimwear and sleepwear

Secret 5

Dress for yourself.

“I want everyone to wear what they want and mix it in their own way. That, to me, is what is modern.” ― Karl Lagerfeld

A French woman knows to dress for herself. At an early age, a French woman decodes her style personality—glamorous, bohemian, classic, romantic, edgy, chic or sexy—and she builds her wardrobe on this aesthetic. In the wwd.com study, 51% of French women believe that being fashionable simply means to be you. Ines de la Fressange was asked what the biggest misconception is about French women’s style: “That French women only wear luxurious and well-known brands, and they follow a lot of fashion trends. This isn’t true; they mainly buy things to feel nice, rather than to show off.” Promod has wearable mix-and-match pieces reflect the modern French woman; Wear what makes you happy, wear it your own way and you are on your way to embodying true French style!

Promod offers easy pieces that you can dress up or dress down yet remain the epitome of French style

Vogue Concepts, Inc. distributes these French brands in the Philippines. To find out more about them, visit their website here.