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We need a new phrase instead of Euro Chic

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I was pondering all these discussions at the gym this morning. And to be frank, a lot of the discussion with catch words and descriptors bored me.
All the descriptives bandied about seem to miss the essence of the style.
It is American Sportwear than has crossed back over the pond and have been re-interpreted. It revolutionized the way people dress.
It was ready-to-wear for real people. It was very different than French fashion. See Geoffrey Beene and more importantly Bill Blass, American designers that produced clothes that were not fussy.
Not that wikipedia is the best source, but here's summary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportswear_(fashion)

As I said in bettycrocker's thread. Want she and others are looking for seems to be a very specific idealized look, that in some ways is a fantasy. I'm using an American frame of reference because that's who I am. Americans have always been infatuated with Paris.
http://thoughtcatalog.com/cody.....ize-paris/

This a Parisian based blogger with amazing style that I've followed for a long time, when she only had a very basic blog in French only.
http://www.leblogdebigbeauty.com/
She definitely is Chic, but is it Euro Chic.

Another Parisian blogger:
http://www.lifeofboheme.com/
She wears a lot of Isabel Marant, who was a few years ago hailed as the designer all French girls wanted to where. And LOOK a brand identifier, Comme de Garcons Play
http://www.lifeofboheme.com/2014/12/paris.html

I'm sure if I did some more digging I could find others.

Now I've only been to Europe twice, and last time was over 10 years ago. But what I remember is that Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Munich, Paris were all different in their respective styles. In Italy Rome is very different than Milan. No one area holds the key to chic. But throughout Europe you see the same chains, Zara, H&M, Bennetton, Mango etc, not exactly classic.
And to use a Rachylou-ism, it honestly boils down to your local tribes. Your view is filtered through whats around you. And even then in my experience how many people are going truly notice. But you need to find your bliss, what makes you happy. And if constructing labels, descriptors etc does...then do it.

19 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

kkards

Veteran

Well said. You've expressed what I've often felt in a way I never could. Thank you

Anonymous

I agree we need another phrase. That said, I am not after a fantasy look. Far from it! I found the article, and posted it because most of the items featured are items I already own.

If you've followed any of my recent posts, you'll know I'm not good with descriptors. When I started the Euro Chic thread, I incorrectly thought (due to ignorance and no research on my part) that the article was talking about authentic Euro Chic style.

At this point, I honestly don't care if my wardrobe is Euro Chic. I just want a way to describe my style. That is all. And I've been seeking help with this. Thanks so much for understanding. I just wanted to set the record straight about what exactly I'm trying to accomplish. I thought I could use the article as a springboard to coming up with a more personalized style for myself.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love "Life of Boheme"'s blog! Thanks for the introduction Anna.

Not really sure about the term Euro Chic either, it is so broad. But if it helps someone along on their style journey, I'm not opposed with it as a starting point.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, when I think "European"--forget chic, because what you see online =/= what you see in real life--I think sensible shoes made for walking, i.e. no stilettos, but no running shoes, either; slim fit trousers, shirts, particularly for men; short skirts and opaque tights for women in Paris, trousers/denim for Germans; scarves, especially for Germans; muted colours. These are tendencies for the average person, what you can wear without ever looking unfashionable, not hard and fast rules.

I have not traveled much in Europe, really, but from the little I have seen in several countries and from what I've seen from my many European friends make me view fashion/street style blogs as but a small piece of an otherwise very diverse pie.

I wouldn't bother trying to replace "European chic" with something even as seemingly specific as "Parisian" because it won't help you find your style here, unless you can clearly identify what attracts you to specific aesthetics.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Another way to put it would to define American Style as from NYC done by The Sartorialist. When it reality it's more Humans of New York. But then NYC is not the United States.

Helena

Veteran

A very wise and insightful post. I often wondered whether European style was truly that, or just an idealized notion ... I also struggle with the implication that European = somehow superior, harmless enough in fashion I guess, but it still can speak to an old order that I'm not nostalgic for!

Gaylene

Veteran

I think ALL labels suffer from that same idealized generality. What, exactly, is "preppie", or "bohemian", or, that old chestnut , "classic"? If ten people went into a store and were told to create outfits using those labels, you'd likely get 10 different versions for each label. There might be some common threads, but I wouldn't bet on it.

And, it's funny how popular "euro chic" has become in the last decade, along with "urban". I wonder why these labels have struck such a chord for so many people?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

"Euro" = shorthand for some kind of "effortless" style and sophistication.

"Urban" = shorthand for "cool", "edgy" and/or black.

Anonymous

These days, the French Vogue Editor look seems to have overtaken any other version of Euro chic.

Anonymous

I don't think my wardrobe would be described as urban. Maybe suburban, lol.
I agree with Gaylene that all style labels are broad generalizations. One way of thinking of it might be "variations on a theme."

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Suz, I was trying to counter your definition of Euro Chic
"Neutrals, simple classic pieces, clean-lined, without a lot of embellishment, practical shoes, scarves (sometimes), solid but un-flashy jewellery, low heeled footwear, handsome bags."

And also trying expand outward the ongoing conversations about personal style and give a different frame of reference.

Gigi

Veteran

Interesting discussion. I had always assumed that Euro Chic was simply shorthand for the "effortless" sophisticated style that Suz mentioned in her comment. I am in gauche's camp that I have begun to think of Euro Chic as being the French Vogue fashion editor look. So I don't know that I ever assumed it was really reflective of European dressing as a whole.

I know that people oftentimes pick style personas in addition to style descriptors to help them on their style journey. I think that the persona choices in particular are very grounded in the person's own imagination and life experience (or your "tribe," as you pointed out). So a person could have for a style persona "French gal on the street" or something and have it be very useful to her in picking out outfits, even if that persona is nebulous to other people. I do think that analyzing further and supplementing a persona with style descriptors is helpful, though.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anna, I understand (I think). And I appreciate the context. I think it's helpful to understand the roots of a style. I believe you're right, too -- "Euro-chic" is actually (ironically) a version of Europeans' idealized American style!!

And now Americans are in turn idealizing their own idealized reflection. Pretty funny when you think about it!

But here's the thing:

A label is never going to be an accurate representation, either of how the regular people of any region dress, or of how fashionistas and bloggers dress within that region. (Not saying that bloggers are not people! Just saying their style is rarely representative or typical of the people around them.)

So, if you're saying that people dress differently in different regions of Europe -- sure! That seems incontrovertible. They'd have to -- climate alone would ensure that.

And even though it's mirrors within mirrors, I do think there are subtle differences in the ways that Europeans have interpreted the American sportswear look over the past 3 or 4 decades, as compared to the ways that Americans sometimes interpret that look. I do think you see less bright colour and more neutrals in most cities in Europe vs. some N. American cities (not New York, maybe not Boston, not Toronto -- which all skew dark neutrals as the fallback... I don't know Seattle well enough to say.)

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Looking at Life of Boheme, love it, but how do bloggers fund their fashion? Financial sector jobs on the side?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Life of Boheme I think, she said she's the manager of band or some sort of music group.
Le Blog de Big Beauty used to work in theater, but she was always doing tie-ins with European based plus sized lines. I think she's fantastic as she truly shows that style can happen at any size, and given the perception that all French women are skinny.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I really loved that Big Beauty one. That is a fabulous example of style at any size.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Great points Anna. I do remember specifically from a trip through Italy a few years ago how very different Rome style is from Venice and again from Florence. And that is just one country (although you get a pretty good taste of a lot of Europe in Venice).

AM

Veteran

"Life of boeheme" blog is a nice visual reference. Thanks for going deep in your research/reflection.

rachylou

Veteran

You know, I have never stopped and thought about the term "Euro Chic." I tried just now to look up the etymology / lexicography... zilch, although the first noted use of "chic" appears to be 1865 and it's French. In the '80s I remember people saying things were "chic" without any qualifiers, which I don't think people really do anymore. French couture was still it then, although taking its last gasps as fashion dictator if you ask me.

On the other hand, I feel like the term must have been in use because I feel I remember traveling in Europe during that decade contemplating what Euro Chic was. Could be my imagination tho. I may have been just trying to figure out why the same stuff looked so different. For example, your basic windbreaker, jeans, and sneakers.

The more I try to think about it, the more my grasp of what it is slips away. Right now I have vague remnant ideas about darker navy blues, black skirts, and black pumps. Silk scarves may or may not fit into this picture. I'm not sure if the French sailor shirts are or were ever quote-unquote Euro Chic.

And here is something else to chew on: I have never once considered anything "Viking" to be part of the Euro Chic look. It's almost strictly French and Italian for me. German design, Scandinavian design, the Swiss, the English... all these things are differentiated from "Euro" to me. No Spain and no Belgium either.