French Chic, it's easy, n'est-pas?

By: Isla Campbell
Submitted: 2008-10-07 18:08:43
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Carla Brunei has burst onto the scene in her new role as the French First Lady and has taken to the world’s centre stage as perhaps only an ex-supermodel could. After a visit to the UK, predictable comparisons were made in the UK’s media between her many and various stylish outfits versus those of our female politicians, and the inevitable debate about the Francophiles’ superior sense of style raised it’s (very chic) head once again.

There is no disputing there have been many celebrated French beauties over the ages and that Carla Brunei is just the latest in a long line of feted French women. Brigitte Bardot is perhaps the most famous name in recent history and was considered the French counterpart to America’s Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s and 60s.

Catherine Deneuve is another, celebrated as much for her beauty and style as for her considerable acting abilities. In the Seventies she modelled for Chanel No. 5 causing sales to rocket in the States and earning her the title of “Most Elegant Woman in the World” whilst a more recent star to earn acclaim not only in France but also across both the Channel and the Atlantic is Juliette Binoche.

Whilst there are many French stars that are undoubtedly chic and stylish, it is the seemingly natural sense of style of the “woman on the street” that begets many British women – just how does this nation of women have such effortless style? Perhaps it is just wishful thinking but potentially the answer is that in the main they don’t – in actual fact they work incredibly hard for their image.

Take diet, for example. For a nation which favours a rich diet full of diary products and pastries and with little cultural emphasis on dieting, French women seem remarkably svelte in comparison to other nations. Obesity figures in France are less than half of the UK’s and less than a third of the US.

Recent opinion has stated that this could be due to the relationship the French have with their food – they take time for three meals a day, sitting down together as a social gathering, and as a nation they still focus efforts on natural ingredients and cooking rather than the fast-food and snack cultures of other countries. However, others state that the French obsession with lingerie plays a role in keeping their women slim – with more lingerie boutiques than bakers in Paris, there are reminders on every street corner of the rewards of watching the calories or conversely the consequences of not doing so.

Think of a French woman and one may think of their ability to age well - seemingly relatively unaffected by the passage of time. Again, this is not coincidence or genetic one-upmanship; French women tend to have a beauty routine ingrained in them from a very tender age, using skincare brands such as Caudalie religiously, whilst also learning the make-up skills that subtly enhance their best assets.

And last but certainly not least, the innate and inimitable French dress sense is famous world over. There is no doubt that French women know how to create a silhouette, to emphasise their best assets and to accessorise perfectly. However, it could be argued that this style is so replicated across the nation that it almost constitutes a uniform – always smart and sophisticated, box jackets, chunky jewellery, pencil skirts and figure hugging trousers; the focus on black.

It might look good, but is it possible that it’s all a bit safe; dare we say it, a teensy bit boring? For all our faults, the British sense of style could be considered much more individual, fun and quirky and that too should be celebrated.

So British ladies everywhere take heart – if you want it badly enough, you too could emulate French chic, but don’t dismiss your own unique sense of style without a second thought.

Article source: Expert Articles