Tips please to help me look effortlessly chic French style...

[FanjolinaJolie]

I hope to create a capsule wardbode...

Other than navy and white striped Henley tops..

Scarf, yes or no. And what colour?? Large slouchy bag??

Any tips most gratefully appreciated.

Beret
Trench coat
String of onions

Emaciation
Fag
Sneer

Garlic breath

I believe Dexter and Jessi have covered everything

Ha ha!! I do actually have garlic breath today as it so happens

I am thinking more what colours to go for. I like grey/charcoal/navy/black anyway but thinking what brighter colours to go for.

I have a weakness for white stuff scarves but not sure they are helping me get closer to this kind of look

The problem is that you need to have some sort of magic french thing for french style. I lived on France for a while and found the women manage to make anything stylish. My french friends seem to be able to where jogging bottoms and a t-shirt, add a scarf and a bag and look stylish. When I tried it, I just looked like a slob who had come out in her pyjamas.

The French ladies I know are all thin, which helps in looking stylish, I think. A bit depressing, as I sit here eating my way through a hangover...

Yes I reckon it helps if you're slim.

Simple shapes, neutral colours, good haircut, simple classic jewellery, good skin.

No pattern or embellishments or cutsyness so I'd steer clear of white stuff altogether.

Oh, and nothing is tight. So any lumps and bumps are not as noticeable.

My views are just of the French ladies I know in London.

Insouciance

Look effortless and disinterested but in reality have facials every 3 week, blow drys twice a week, haircuts every six weeks, colour every 8 weeks, weekly manis/pedis

I think you are looking for effortlessly chic Parisian style. It has certainly not reached where I live (rural France). But yes, you need to be 1. slim 2. spend a regular fortune on you hair and face 3. never smile (helps with point 2.). The rest should just fall into place after that.

Ah. The never smile thing. That's it.
And what's the word for the 'nothing is ever good enough look'?

Lots of navy.

Clean glossy hair, doesn't need to be particularly styled. Good mani, again, not necessarily a colour required, just short neat nails that are well looked after. 'No make up' make up .

Classic, quality jewellery, the best you can afford.

Ditto shoes - loafers or brogues good.

Cashmere sweater over a shirt always seems a very French look to me.

No patterns? Cripes, that is about 90% of my wardrobe.

Are not stripes tres chic?

I have a lovely French friend and she buys really simple things. V necks. Pumps. Vintage Burberry mac. Her hair is quite thin so she never grows it past her shoulders. Another French woman I know manages to look obviously French and yet absolutely ridiculous at the same time, which I couldn't have imagined before I met her. so not all French women keep it simple!

I never wear patterns either. Is that a French thing?

Thin, good haircut, expensive simple slim fitting clothes.

Why do you want to look French, OP? I'm not trying to be goady, but why don't you aim for your own unique style?

If you like White Stuff scarves, I have to say it sounds like your taste is more typically British - colourful, casual, approachable...

I went on holiday to France recently and French people kept thinking that I was French, and then being surprised when I said I was English, so I must have a slightly French look about me! I am half German, so maybe I just have a bit of a European look.

Clothes wise, whilst away I wore a lot of simple summer dresses; just short patterned ones, with flat sandals. On other days I wore denim shorts with plain vest tops. Maybe occasionally a bracelet or necklace too.

Spent 2 weeks in France including Paris this summer, didn't see one example of the famous French Chic. Dh was surprised too as he had recalled seeing very chic woman when he visited in his student years. We both felt woman in London dress a lot better. However, the men in Paris were particularly outstanding in their dress sense, much less conservative than London.

Be thin. Keep it simple (i.e. not patterned white stuff scarves) Have tanned/olive skin and dark eyes that look good with minimal make up. Sounds like you've got the colours right - can't imagine the look working with bright colours, except maybe a classic red accent here and there? Even red might be too gaudy.

It's news to me that French women don't do patterns & I'm related to a few.

They definitely go in less for fad fashions, and stick to classics that won't date.

And yeah, they are thinner.

When I lived in France for a summer, 99% of my friends/acquaintances existed on coffee and fags. They had that fear of being fat. They also looked down on 99% of other people's style and clothes while not being particularly stylish themselves. It's more of an attitude I think, and not one I ever wanted to emulate.

parisians do wear color and patterns,but they keep it very minimal.i did see a lot of subtle neon hints with dark colors,
one thing the french are obsessed with is ankle length trousers and jeans, they pay great attention to details,

and not all parisians spend a fortune on clothes,they buy lots of high street brands and just one or two classic investment pieces,