I agree with those who said that reading these posts must be ridiculous for French women. European style (and of course French style) is as diverse as it is in other countries, as it is in the USA. One of my friends is French and she used to walk around in all black clothing, stompy boots and a fair bit of metal in her face. She lost some of the metal and and her biggest stompy boots in the meantime, but she is still as far away from the picture painted in those articles as I am and our styles are as different as day and night.
Also agree with those who said that this "French style" is mostly seen in certain parts of Paris, same as the "cool Berlin style" is concentrated in certain places. Otherwise, it's a mix of styles and looks and sizes and that's a good thing. In the end it's all about selling an image to sell products. I just think it's sad that this also means that some ideas seem to lose their (at least to me) positive meaning because they are appropriated, like the idea of minimalism or simple living.