This is such a great post! It sums up what I would really like to get my style to be, elegant without overly trying and modern classical.
I will fave your post for future reference.
I hope you are enjoying your trip.

Great observations! I'm so glad you took the time to write this down for us. I love reading about style in other places of the world.

Elizabeth, only a woman with great knees could say that so confidently. (Said by one whose knees are a sore point...thankfully, not literally, most of the time.)

What a great question, though -- i.e. how much of this feeling of "Parisienne" style is related to a critical mass of others dressed in a similar way or with a similar type of self-knowledge.

And, question for study -- if Parisienne style is eminently practical, how would it translate to Miami, New York, Tel Aviv, Toronto?

How can we be Parisienne in our own backyards? What does it mean to have that kind of style?

I know that level of practicality is a real goal of my own, but then, my life shares features with Paris life in that I walk most places, the general culture is one that frowns on overt ostentation, etc.

(Love Isabelle's point on that).

Hmm. This might be a new thread.

Bravo, Shevia, what a brilliant analysis, and so thought-provoking. I hope you'll write more of these pieces.

There is no question there is much to be learned from the Parisians about how to dress. They invented couture, after all, among other fabulous gifts to the world (their cuisine and wines, for example). Although as I admired their attire during my travels, I found myself missing that little bit of individualism that makes someone stand out in a crowd--but it sounds like that's exactly what they're trying to avoid. I guess it's the Yank in me! Oh well, vive le difference!

Great observations, Shevia! I really enjoyed reading this. Love Parisian style, and I agree that they generally make the whole business seem sort of effortless.

I also love how there are lots of neutrals, lots of black and tan, and motorcycle jackets. And how they don't get carried away with every new trend. We spend all this time agonizing about how to make things like cropped pants work, where they seem to know to leave it alone!

Does it seem effortless because they all dress similarly? I'm thinking of back in the '80s when women wore suits to work. It wasn't at all difficult for me to don the expected "uniform" because I already knew what the components were. Nowadays, dressing takes more effort, as I no longer wear suits and want to develop my own style.

Jaime, thanks for taking the time to write this on your holiday. You are fab in every way, and a talented writer to boot. I enjoyed every word, and the comments were fun too. It's all quite fascinating to me.

We lived in France before we moved to the US, and as aways, I love to soak up the cultural norms and diversity of wherever we live and travel. Style in Paris is generally neutral, tailored and modern classic. And it works like a charm!

Isabelle, HAH. I am one of the vulgar ones wearing loud brights wherever I live or travel. Even when we lived in France! (Although I wear a good amount of neutrals too - especially white because it's bright). My colourful wardrobe stands out almost everywhere but in the Netherlands. Bright colours are part of my style soul, and it would be inauthentic for me to dress otherwise. It's all good in my book.

very interesting thoughts, Jamie. The sneaker thing is interesting to me--I've been trying to walk more (around 4-5 miles on the weekdays, 5-10 miles on the weekends) and I've been relying more and more on fashion sneakers rather than ballet flats for the walking support.

Angie: I am with you on the vulgar train...it's one of the things I love about you, your love of color.

High five, crazy one. It's completely natural for us to wear bright colours. To do otherwise would be unnatural somehow.

Thanks for the writeup Shevia, it was fascinating. I am wearing a "Parisienne style" outfit today because of your post. Will post WIW later. What I realized though is that while it's fun to try this once in a while, I don't think I could dress like this all the time. I'd be bored out of my mind with neutrals, minimalism and understated chic. I'm sure my love of color, print, matchy matchy and whimsy would be frowned upon (or at least look very out of place) in France. Maybe it's kind of like the difference between the way people dress in New York City vs. LA or Miami. I am glad we have choices and don't have to all fit in the same generic mold. (I even like having a couple of different style personas and changing day to day). Vive le difference!

That's just it: choice

"I would say individuality was expressed less by looking different for the sake of difference, or being outrageous, or even unique, but rather by displaying an extraordinary degree of self knowledge that seem to allow each woman to know how to best present herself."

Loved that quote! I, like Angie, am a lover of color and drama, and no one would ever mistake me for a Parisienne! I reply, "Vive la difference!" However, we can all learn from one another, and I am always drawn to people who have quiet confidence and self-knowledge. Also, simple garments of good fit and quality as the backbone of a wardrobe would be a timeless and efficient way to dress!

Now that I've had a day to think about it, what sticks with me from the post is the comment about posture. I heard "Stand Up Straight" my whole life and rather didn't see the point. But I see it now, and I think it would be good for my body and soul. Graceful seems like an impossible task, but moving the stick a little more towards it is worth working towards.

Thank you for sharing your interesting observations on Parisienne fashion Shevia. I'm currently in Europe and along with the amazing sights and history, I'm enjoying soaking up the variety in style from country to country and even town to town.

Parisienne style did seem quite understated (and often a little boring to my eye) but from time to time a fabulous pair of heels or richly coloured coat or necklace would demand my attention and I wanted to know where the wearer had found it. What I did notice when I saw drama or rich colour, was that one item was the star of the show while everything else was the chorus. I loved that.

I had an amazing unforgettable experience in Paris one time which I'm going to share. I was travelling back to my rental apartment on the metro after speaking at a conference on the outskirts of the city. When I exited the metro a stylish older lady leaned over and said something to me in French. In my terrible version of French I replied ,Apologies, I'm Australian and can't speak French. Then she waved her arm dramatically from my feet to my head and exclaimed, "Splendid!"

Wow, can you imagine how I felt? What a highlight to my visit to Paris!
My outfit was a black retro printed shift dress with exaggerated bell sleeves, opaque tights and black MJ mouse flats with silver studs. It was a very 60s look but not what I would consider Parisienne style.

I've bored a lot of people with that story...lol.

Great thread. Very interesting observations on Parisienne style. Really like the "splendid" story.

I'm not entirely convinced by Parisienne style. Somehow it feels uptight. Whilst the women do look fantastic, I find other city European styles more convincing. But that said, I am envious of French women's understanding of their bodies and how to look their best.

The comments just keep getting better. Thank you all so much for responding.

I just wrote this on Suz's thread but it bears repeating - I am not suggesting we should all adopt Pariesienne style! I am just as thrilled and inspired looking around NYC, where I was yesterday, as I am Paris. And that goes for most anywhere.

Isabelle thank you for validating my sneaker observation. I am not a sneaker person myself, but found the French adoption interesting. I would love to do a folllow up on NY or Tel Aviv style. Florida style, in the part where I will be, might be a bit painful. Miami would be fabulous but we won't be there this trip.
BC absolutely! We can appreciate others without wanting to imitate them.
Elizabeth Well a French person plunked down in Israel, with a very different climate and light and culture, dresses differently but still retains some identifiable French look, at least from what I have seen.
Sara thanks! I love them too!
Suz you clever duck! (is that a thing?) Yes it is all about taking the spirit, or the part of it that appeals, and incorporating into our own actual lives. As I said on your thread, the one thing that would probably apply to everyone is to mind your posture!
Xtabay yes! As I wrote on Suz's thread, my day in downtown Manhattan completely energized me in a different way. I can appreciate and attempt to describe Paris without wanting to be her!
Aziraphale knowing what to leave alone is a key style achievement I think
BC I don't think women in Paris all dress alike to that extent. But I do think they borrow from the same tool box and have similar overarching goals. Still you can build a lot of different things with a few tools.
Crazyone nothing wrong with colors at all.
Natalie exactly! I think you would be fabulous in France actually.
Beth Ann thank you, that is just how I see it.
Barbara Diane yes! The posture and grace made the biggest impression on me also.
CocoCat Fantastic story! Of course it made your day.
Jane Understanding other cultures helps me understanding my own exactly by seeing where the similarities and differences lie.
Angie thank you! I am sure you were a stunning beacon of cheer and inspired others to follow your lead. I did see several men with bright red or orange pants by the way.

Great observations and the pics of you and Isabelle (other thread) together/apart were fantastic too, looked like such a gratifying and fun meet-up.
I'd never fit a Parisian aesthetic, I like color and sparkle and bits that do shout out, lol, but I certainly love their seemingly effortless cool girl minimalist chic!

Jen to thine own self be true!

This is rather helpful, Jaime.

I'm VERY fascinated with all things Parisienne. Though I can't explain why!

I've read ALOT about the 'Parisienne Style' and have to say - your write up really sums things up very nicely.

I think I could be Parisian! (Says she, feeling very happy that she picked only a black, white & blue travel capsule for a beach vacation....I LOVE neutrals)

Though Suz has a VERY good point here. If Parisian style is all about looking classy but being practical, I'm sure every city has its own *Parisian* style

I think the atypical French style comes a lot from necessity - in the big cities, they are typically public sector workers with fixed incomes and more formal expectations from a social standpoint (at least that's what I think). I do not think they have the excess funds to shop on a whim for the most part. The financially conservative nature of this is part of their upbringing - a "do the most with what you have" mentality. I think that translates to taking care to spend fashion money wisely and then to take care of what you own. It also translates to keeping clothing more neutral and classic so it can last a long time without being seen as out of style.

I do like some of the idea of this - simplifying my wardrobe and focusing on quality - but I wouldn't be happy if I felt overly budgeted to the point of not feeling I could afford to splurge on new trends.

I feel that individuality is somewhat lost in the sea of classic neutral, "just so" style that often defines Paris chic. I may not wear a ton of bright colors myself, but I would sure miss seeing them if no one else wore them!

I don't think it's fair to say that bright colours = vulgar! Nonsense. All of India can't be vulgar, for example.

But it's true that -- for me at least -- whenever I hear the term "Parisienne chic" I picture a graceful girl looking effortlessly cool in neutrals. Colour is hot; black and neutrals are cool (not in the temperature sense).

Texstyle said something that made a small lightbulb go off in my head.

I think it's probably as much to do with space, as money. Closets in older European houses are SMALL, if they exist at all. So people are forced into smaller wardrobes, which also means (generally speaking) versatile neutrals. And then of course it becomes more natural to spend your budget on just a few items, rather than many, if you have very little space to start with.

Of course there are many other places in the world with small closets

My view and it's is truly just my opinion is that the French are much more reserved than we are in the states. They don't strike up a conversation with someone in passing. Two moms can sit on the same park bench (with their children running around) and not interact. You might get to know someone very slowly over time meeting at a cafe before they would ever come over to your home. So I think there is a sense of wanting to fit in visually. I am sure there are many clothing cues that are understood by those who live there. Fore example,I am sure the 16 year olds wearing the classic trench were broadcasting much more than I understood about being bourgeois/BCBG. Perhaps there is more emphasis on class and identifying someone's class, although I'm not sure about that at all. But I do get the sense that sartorically speaking they put their best foot forward everyday.

I've never lived in France, so this entire thread is interesting. I have two friends who are French, and they both have the same body type. What I've seen out of them is the typical French style that we read about online, though they seem to be wearing some clearly American (U.S.) styles now.

Shevia amen!

I was thinking, Paris has been a cosmopolitan city for a very long time. A place where you 'come up from the country to make it big,' for a very very long time. Paris is refinement. So much is established, attention can be turned to sublime details. It may even be the name of the game. I think the world goes to Paris for that, has gone to it for centuries for that. It's like a major export, lol. There is a question of whether we want to rival or just go there and go shopping...

Fabbers, I made my comment early on the commute to work, and I think it was a bit sharp, so apologies.

BrieN said:
Two moms can sit on the same park bench (with their children running around) and not interact. You might get to know someone very slowly over time meeting at a cafe before they would ever come over to your home.

Clearly, I was born in the wrong place. This sounds like heaven to me. I'm interested in how many Fabbers don't aspire to French style. Like Maneera, it absolutely appeals to me, so much so that it never really occurred to me that others might not feel it the same way. Of course, that makes sense now that I think about it. The style spectrum is wide, and that's a wonderful thing.

I'm late to this fascinating discussion - but here's my bit. So to me the French style always seemed to be perfectly suited to what I think of as a quintessential French style of feminine beauty: not tall, slim, small-boned, small head, straight dark hair, small features. This is one of the reasons why, for me, it's always been more of anthropological interest, as my looks are quite the opposite - so no amount of vertical stripes and berets will make a tall big-boned, big-headed blonde into a gamine

Manny I do think you have a certain Parisienne look to you - including your joie de vivre!
texstyle excellent points. Although I must say I saw a lot of subtle but meaningful distinctions. Nothing like the sheer visual feast of New York though.
Azipharale I am sure all of France would rebel if we told them they never wear color. But cool rather than warm is definitely the vibe.
Elizabeth I find the cultural factors that go into these things fascinating and I think you are right that the closet size is a factor.
Brie I am not sure that the French are more class oriented than, for example, the English. But it is absolutely true that someone within a culture will pick up many more signs than an outsider.
BC I did not mention, but the non-French stores such as Zara, H&M, COS, etc. were swamped with French people. Fashion is much more global these days without a doubt.
Jen that is the ultimate point, I see we agree!
Rachy equal parts insight and humor as is your custom!
Jane no worries from here
Jenn, thank you for saying what I was thinking. I am so much a long percolating friendship rather than a small talk on the bench person. I am a disaster on the bench.
Kookaburra Yes, I do think the physical characteristics of a person is part of the formula. It is really about knowing yourself in the end.