The Art of Looking Chic
The secret of French women is to dress up a little more during the day, and a little less for the evening.
In Paris, you will see women looking beautifully put together to go to work, meet a friend for lunch or simply run their daily errands. Yet when they go out for dinner or attend a special occasion, they rarely look overly dressed or as though they have tried too hard.
Their style changes from day to night, but it does not completely transform. It is simply elevated. To me, this is the true art of looking chic.
Chic begins during the day
French women do not necessarily save their beautiful clothes for special occasions. A lovely blouse, an elegant skirt, a good pair of trousers or a feminine dress can be part of an ordinary day.
The look is polished, but never too formal. A cotton blouse may be worn with relaxed jeans. Wide-leg trousers might be paired with a simple T-shirt and leather sandals. A shirt dress can be styled with flats and a crossbody bag.
The pieces are not complicated, but together they create a complete outfit.
This is perhaps one of the biggest differences I notice between French and Australian style. In Australia, we naturally dress more casually during the day. Our lifestyle and climate encourage it. But sometimes, looking more put together does not require dressing less comfortably, it simply means being a little more considered.
The French four-piece formula
There is a simple formula behind many chic French outfits:
Shoes + bottom + top + accessories.
Each part plays a role.
The shoes help establish the mood of the outfit. A pair of fisherman sandals, ballet flats, loafers or clean sneakers can make even a simple look feel intentional.
The bottom creates the silhouette. It could be well-cut jeans, wide-leg cotton trousers, a flowing midi skirt or tailored shorts.
The top brings personality. This may be a crisp shirt, a detailed cotton blouse, a striped T-shirt or a simple knit in a beautiful colour.
Finally, the accessories bring everything together. A leather bag, a bracelet, a necklace or a scarf can be the small finishing touch that makes the outfit feel complete.
None of these pieces needs to be extravagant. The chic effect comes from the way they work together.
Taking the look into the evening
When evening comes, French women rarely abandon their daytime style for a completely different look. Instead, they take the same idea one step further.
Flat sandals might be replaced with heels. A practical crossbody bag becomes a smaller shoulder bag. Simple jewellery makes way for a statement necklace, sculptural earrings or a beautiful cuff.
A cotton blouse worn with jeans during the day can become an evening look with heels, a belt and stronger jewellery. A midi skirt can move from lunch to dinner simply by changing the T-shirt for a more feminine top. A shirt dress needs little more than an elegant shoe, a beautiful bag and perhaps a touch of red lipstick.
The clothes remain comfortable and recognisable. It is the details that change the mood.
One statement is often enough
French evening style is rarely about wearing every special piece at once.
If the earrings make a statement, the necklace may stay at home. If the blouse has volume, embroidery or a striking collar, the rest of the outfit can remain simple. If the shoes are bold, they can become the focus.
As Coco Chanel famously said: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
This restraint is an important part of French style. There is always room for something beautiful, but also the confidence to know when the outfit is finished.
A more useful way to dress
I love this approach because it makes our wardrobes work harder.
Instead of dividing clothes into “everyday” and “special occasion,” we can choose pieces that move easily between the two. A beautiful blouse should not wait in the wardrobe for the right invitation. A fabulous pair of trousers can be worn with flats during the day and heels at night. A dress can feel relaxed for lunch and elegant for dinner.
That is what I wanted to capture in this new Volange collection: pieces that are easy to wear during the day, yet beautiful enough to take into the evening. Add the right shoes, a lovely bag and one statement accessory, and you are ready, without needing to become someone else.
I hope this will give you a little insight in how French look chic in all occasions,
Prune xx