Ask Angie: (or anyone) What is Euro chic?

Isis

Veteran

Angie, I've heard this term, and I saw that you just labeled Sarah's fabulous outfit "euro chic".

What makes an outfit euro chic, and is it a look more common to Europe?

Thanks!

12 years ago

Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from HelenInCanada

Vildy

Veteran

Not sure who made up the term.
There's a definition of it according to Lucky, which uses it, here:
http://www.labelledamesansdice.....-chic.html

Quotes Diane Von Furstenberg as saying that it isn't what you wear, it''s what you
punctuate it with.

12 years ago

sarah

Veteran

Thanks for the shout out, Isis. I can't wait to hear what Angie has to say. I believe she often describes Scarlet's style as Euro chic.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah. Nice question, Isis.

It's a look that's: casual, simple, fashionable and practical in a dressy way - with a wee bit of drama thrown into the mix. Always good bag and shoes. Always good quality clothing. More Polished than RATE. Not too many accessories. Light make-up. A little trendy, and very urban. More neutral than colourful. Shoes are often flat or low heeled (most European people commute on foot on cobbled stones).

Forum members Inge and Scarlet come to mind. So did MN Sarah in that outfit!

Hope that makes sense. When you walk around Western Europe, you'll immediately notice this look.

12 years ago

Isis

Veteran

Thanks for the explanation Vildy, sarah, & Angie!

Angie, that makes a lot of sense! I loved the outfits I saw in Amsterdam, but couldn't put my finger on what it was, beyond the fabulous flat or low-heeled shoes and boots. But I think the outfits encompassed everything you said.

It actually was "small s" sarah's outfit that was eurochic, although MNSarah is also eurochic (if I understand the definition correctly!) Confusingly, both sarah's are from MN!

sarah's eurochic outfit is the fourth is the series:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....arget-midi

It's EXACTLY what you said, "casual, simple, fashionable and practical in a dressy way - with a wee bit of drama thrown into the mix "(those shoes!)....always good shoes" (those shoes!!!!)......

It's a great look to aspire to!

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Precisely, Isis! Most lasses in Amsterdam dress "Euro Chic". And they are on bikes - with kids and dogs on their bikes. The blokes look amazing too. I love that city and it's style

I think I had the right Sarah. The other is Sara (sans the H). We do have lots of Sarahs on YLF

12 years ago

Isis

Veteran

Yeah, the Amsterdam blokes were amazing! Most men here really don't like to pay attention to what they wear!

Glad you had the right Sarah! I don't know how you keep all of us straight; you are amazing!

12 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

Great mention of "urban", Angie. I could see it in my mind's eye but the obvious never hits me. I had a little book about Parisian? dressing by a mother and daughter. They owned a bauble shop. They had photos of their own clothes. They pointed out that they wore a lot of grey, and thought other Parisian women did, too, since the city and skies had a lot of grey. There's a little book called, maybe, The Colorist, in which he shows how certain cities have color palettes and that he thought people dressed to match or chime in with it.

12 years ago

sarah

Veteran

Isis - I know your'e a fellow bike rider - we can strive for that Eurochic vibe as we ride our bikes to teach our classes! I'm a bit tempted to get a commuter bike without the crossbar...

thanks to Angie for pointing me towards "those shoes"!!!

(Angie calls me MN Sarah, not to be confused with MNSara - some day hopefully the two of us will meet!)

12 years ago

Debora

Veteran

I loved Sarah's euro chic outfit! YLF sure has an abundance of Super-Stylish-Sarahs!

12 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Well I have to chime in here, seeing as how this is my kingdom and all. Well, it's actually my neighboring kingdom because technically I am Queen Casual Euro Chic, so throw in an extra dose of casual for me. It was actually really interesting to read Angie's description because that is EXACTLY what I strive for. But I could never have put it into words so well myself.

12 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

I love the "practical in a dressy way" part! That's definitely my wavelength.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

High five, Vidly

Glad you chimed in Queen Casual Euro Chic. We love your Kingdom.

Isis, I truly think that the blokes in Amsterdam dress as well as the lasses. Great eye candy.

Debora, you are pretty Euro Chic yourself!

Sarah, look at what an inspiration you are

12 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

I always think of Angie's style as euro chic but that's just me.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I perceive it that way too, Mellllls. Although I can go crazy with bright colours. Thanks for chiming in. I wanted to use examples of other forum members instead of myself

12 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

i see your point angie, but you just seemed like such an obvious example and eurochic inspiration to me. also, i probably see more of your outfits than i see of others because i'm not on the forum as often.

12 years ago

Isis

Veteran

I like all the examples and the description of eurochic! I'm definitely someone who needs to see examples in order to understand something....I would like to learn to incorporate neutrals in my wardrobe....I gravitate toward pattern and color, but then have a harder time mixing.....So thank you to all the stylish members of YLF!

and Sarah, I'm with you on striving for eurochic as we ride our bicycles to teach our classes! I've also coveted a commuting bike without a crossbar, but can't justify an additional bike! Right now my bike works for everything except pencil skirts where I can't swing my leg out to get on the saddle....

12 years ago

sarah

Veteran

@Angie - *blushing*

@Isis - you're right. I already have 2 bikes. What am I thinking? I did just invest in a pannier for winter. I can even get my boots + lunch in there!

12 years ago

Lynne

Veteran

Scarlet, the outfit you wore to the Berlin meet-up seemed Euro Chic to me; it was elegant and practical. I saw Berlin style described as casual elegance in one of the hotel magazines, and you seem like the poster girl for it to me.

Thanks for starting this conversation, Isis, it's been great reading the responses. Re Dutch men; I swear I can spot them anywhere in Europe. Apart from generally being the tallest guys in the room, they are also the most fearless with wearing colour.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Okay. Maybe this describes how I want to be. Eurochic. It does have a nice ring to it!

12 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

Great responses, especially our lovely Angie's!

To me, Euro chic reflects a refined and polished, yet VERY stylish/fun vibe that always appears effortless. It was my good fortune to live and travel in Europe for 12 years, so I observed many men, women and children who rocked this very cool look.

Scarlet DEFINITELY has it.

The Dutch and the Danes also wear it well. But the Swiss, Germans and Austrians can work it too!

12 years ago

crazyone

Veteran

what would you call Eurochic, except with color? That's pretty much the look I aspire to, as well.

12 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

Eurochic with color describes Angie. Exactly.

The Dutch know how to rock color better than any Europeans I've ever seen.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lynn, you are 100% about the style of Dutch men. I can usually spot them too. It's a very distinctive style, isn't it?

Mellllls, thank you

Barbara, thanks for chiming in with your fab Euro insights.

In my mind, Euro Chic is NOT: overly edgy, arty, bohemian, preppy, classic and glitzy.

Lines are very clean. Outfits are strong yet minimal. Silhouettes are mostly tailored, but not always.

12 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting thread. I love euro-chic , especially the minimal neutral aspects.
I wonder if I am ever in that category? I feel as if it is a style that I wear sometimes.

Angie, I think Greg is probably a perfect example of a Euro Chic man or is he too edgy?

12 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

Eurochic does indeed have some edge, but it is ALWAYS subtle, never over the top.
And that is why the Eurochic clean and tailored style is very desirable and permanently "IN."

12 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Such an interesting read,

@ Jean. I think many of your evening looks are very eurochic

@ Angie, Barbara, which celebrities (I like google images) do you think rock the look.

12 years ago

Lynne

Veteran

Julie, I nominate Carla Bruni-Sarkorzy, and Catherine Denueve as Euro Chic gals.

Angie and Barbara, I have always wondered if economy influences this aesthetic; it is long-wearing and versatile and high quality, and also somewhat egalitarian, which makes a lot of sense when taxes are high and living and storage spaces smaller than in countries like the US, Canada, and Australia?

12 years ago