What is Parisian Chic?

[AFrayedKnott]

Rather, what does it mean to you?

How can I achieve it?

Ooh! I love a Parisian chic thread.

I think the fantasy sartorial idea is probably far removed from the reality - but let's run with it.

Firstly, a capsule wardrobe made up of your basics in neutral tones in the best possible fabrics you can afford.

Lean silhouette on the bottom and slouchier tops - slouchy cashmere roll necks with cropped 7/8ths for example.

Shoes leather and mainly flats with heels for occasional use.

A mix of masculine and feminine in accessories and clothing.

Anyway here are some pics as to how I see it....

And....

Obsessive attention to skincare. Staying thin. Great and usually expensive capsule wardrobe.

Lovely loose shirts that are a bit androgynous but also very feminine. In floaty/soft-looking fabrics. With tailored trousers.

Lovely stuff, Squashit, thank you.

Thin
Loads of fags/coffee/ croissants/red wine
Only buying quality so no Primark tat
A less is more attitude, quality over quantity
A beautiful, but unfaithful boyfriend
And a certain 'je ne sais quoi'

HTH!

What do all the pear shaped Parisiennes do? Hide away and come out in the wee small hours to grab a baguette?

No food. Black coffee. Cigarettes. Black clothes. C'est tout

I used to want this look ..now I found it utterly boring.

I'm feeling a bit Parisian today - loose dark jeans, black tailored cotton shirt, v-neck cashmere sweater.

As I understand it, Parisian chic is elegant but should not look like too much time was spent. So hair is a bit messy, a casual cut, no hair that's rigid with product, makeup only lipstick and a little mascara.

I have a book by Ines de la Frassange called Parisian Chic, its got some good ideas. Also the sartorialist website - you can narrow the feed by city & he shoots a lot in Paris (though his Parisian shots are often too runway for me, he does much more every-woman type shots in other cities).

I don't understand the obsession it's all a bit dull and predictable.

The scarf is essential, as is being thin. I lived in Paris for four years and most Parisian women seem to survive on fags, black coffee, fat free fromage frais, and a small packet of seeds if they are a bit constipated. I used to work in the 16th and we used to see some spectacularly bad plastic surgery there. Lots of frozen faces and huge lips. Not a good look.

Boring, subtly groomed, safe, no discernable difference between age groups, "classics", "neutrals", nothing that may draw attention to anything other than your natural beauty, think clean healthy hair thats well cut but not styled, invisible make-up base, groomed brows, slick of lipstick OR eyeliner flick but not both, minimal understated but expensive jewellery, Lancaster carry all bag, well fitting jeans with tan chelsea boots and a white shirt or expensive T-shirt, the ubiquitous leather jacket.
It looks good but everyone essentially looks the same.

Squashit
Can I have you as my personal stylist
great advice & pics. Thank you

& I love A beautiful, but unfaithful boyfriend

Op; my thoughts on it.
I think it helps if you are actually French & live in Paris. Trying to achieve another countries 'look' never really works.

Skinny, subtle/ unadventurous clothes, egotistical, jolie-laide, unfaithful.

I always look flustered and unkempt. Never going to happen but I'd love to wear and feel good in a white shirt and jeans and perfect tan boots

Haven't been to Paris properly for yonks, but I noticed a certain fitted, neat, slimline silhouette. A dark coloured blazer and skinny dark jeans, or short skirt and black tights.

I now live in Franche-Comté where hefty women sport bowl haircuts and wear shell suits unironically.

I think it's very, very smart. Not at all messy or bed head. Very tailored.