An “ode” to french fashion

After New York Fashion Week concludes, the buzz travels to Europe for Milan Fashion Week, and then Paris Fashion Week. The past week brands such as Balenciaga, Givenchy, Chanel, Miu Miu, and Saint Laurent held their shows in the City of Love. As I analyze photos from these shows and pick apart the streetwear trends, I feel nostalgic of my time spent in France while studying abroad. While it is said there is no city in the world quite like Paris, it can also be said that there is no style as classic and timeless as the French.

French style is incredibly different from American style. The French pride themselves on their classy and chic wardrobes. While in France, it seemed that most every woman on the street had carelessly stepped into her outfit that morning and yet somehow pulled off the simplest pieces in a perfectly luxe combination. I tried my hardest to fit in, to be stylish, to be chic, to appear French, but boy was it hard!

Americans have this tendency to keep reinventing. Each person wants to be different from the next; we want to stand out and look better today than we did yesterday. We want to be bold and loud; we want to experiment with our clothes. As an American, I find nothing wrong with this; it is really just a part of our culture. The French are different though. It might just be that every chic French woman is a wardrobe minimalist. Where we strive to be bold and different, the French strive to be timeless and sexy. And, they do just that.

With a focus on black and white, French girls do not tend to stray too far from a basic neutral color palette. After all, if less is more, sticking to the basics is the best way to strategically utilize your closet contents. If I had to imagine what the inside of a closet looked like for any typical French fashionista here are a few pieces I would imagine I’d see. Firstly, a white and black plain t-shirt for their ease in function and versatility. At least one pair of light, medium, or black wash jeans, again for their versatility and because jeans might be the most practical piece of clothing anyone can own. I would be shocked not to see a blazer or two in most any color, but especially black or tan. A simple pair of flats, or low heels (or low heeled boots), to take their simple outfits from casual to chic is sure to be there. Finally, I would expect to find a feminine dress as well, either plain or with a simple pattern, in easy colors.

Perhaps the French are more aware of their spending habits and focused on the sustainability of clothing than some are in America. I certainly cannot imagine most chic French girls raving over a Shein haul (although I could be wrong). Nonetheless, no matter where they source their clothes from, the French women know just how to style their pieces to make for classic and timeless outfits. As Yves Saint Laurent, the renowned French man, said himself, “fashion fades, style is eternal.” There is no better way to understand the epitome of French style. Here are some photos from Paris Fashion Week that prove my claim.