“Always be fuckable: when standing in line at the bakery on a Sunday morning, buying champagne in the middle of the night, or even picking the kids up from school. You never know.” from How to be Parisian Wherever You Are
French Girl is a fashion aesthetic that revolves around the stereotypical dress of French (particularly Parisian) women and girls. It originated in the 1950s. It was revived around 2014 and remains popular in mainstream media.
Contents
History
The first wave of the French Girl aesthetic began around 1957 with the popularity of the Left Bank "Beat" style worn by artists and poets, and lasted to the 1970s.
A second wave of the French Girl aesthetic began around 2014 with Vogue magazine producing tons of articles on the habits, food, makeup, and clothes loved by French Girls. The articles went beyond images and brand names and many offered "secret tips." Emphasis was placed on the effortlessness of French Girl style, in contrast to the more American obsession with perfection achieved through layers of makeup, complicated diets, and extensive workout routines.
Visuals
- berets
- cobblestone streets
- crisp white shirts
- fresh flowers
- fresh bread
Fashion
Clothes
- berets
- silk scarves
- black bras
- black tights
- striped t-shirts
- vintage or vintage inspired graphic t-shirts
- white button down shirts
- satin slip dresses
- floral print cotton dresses - usually red with white flowers
- leather jackets
- leather skirts
- skinny jeans
- matchstick pants
- loafers
- ballet flats
- ankle boots
- white sneakers
Taylor Lashae's iconic bob hairstyle
Makeup and Hair
- red lipstick
- bob haircut
- shoulder length hair with bangs (the key to French Girl hair is that it looks slightly wind-ruffled)
- natural makeup or no makeup at all
Stores
- Alexandre Vauthier
- AMI Paris
- A.P.C.
- Atelier Camille
- Balzac Paris
- Ba&sh
- CELINE
- Chloé
- Claudie Pierlot
- Comptoir Des Cotonniers
- Éric Bompard
- Ernest Leoty
- Gaâla
- IRO
- Isabel Marant
- Jacquemus
- Keur Paris
- Lanvin
- Lemaire
- Loulou Studio
- Maison Michel
- MaisonCléo
- Maje
- Marie Marot
- Monoprix
- Musier Paris
- Pierre Hardy
- Princess Tam Tam
- Repetto
- Roseanna
- Rouje
- Sandro
- Saint James
- Sézane
- The Kooples
- Veja
- Zadig & Voltaire
Food and drinks
- baguettes
- croissants
- dark chocolate
- hot chocolate
- grapes
- café crème
- wine
- champagne
- black tea
- fresh squeezed orange juice
- omelette
- oysters
- ceviche
- carpaccio
- Brie cheese
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- grilled salmon
- roasted chicken
- crêpes
Media
Movies
- Amelie (2001)
- Betty Blue (1986)
- Funny Face (1957)
TV Shows
- Emily in Paris (2020-)
- Killing Eve (2018-2022)
Music
- Edith Piaf
- Carla Bruni
- MIKA
- Françoise Hardy
- Celine Dion
- Melody's Echo Chamber
- Yé-yé and Chanson
Activities
Exercise
Traditionally, the French Girl is famous for being thin despite not utilizing intense workouts, although it is extremely important to note that all bodies are welcome in the French Girl aesthetic! French Girls participate in light, fun activities to stay healthy, such as:
- walking
- riding a bicycle
- yoga
- swimming
Leisure Activities
- visiting museums and galleries
- hosting dinner parties
- reading/writing poetry
- photography
- shopping in vintage stores
- painting or sketching from life
Notable Figures
1920s
- Coco Chanel
1950s
- Audrey Hepburn
1960s
- Brigitte Bardot
- Françoise Hardy
1970s
- Jane Birkin
1980s
- Inès de La Fressange
- Vanessa Paradis
2000s
- Audrey Tautou
2010s
- Clémence Poésy
- Léa Seydoux
2020s
- Taylor Lashae
- Léna Situations
- Violette_fr
Fictional Characters
- Camille in Emily in Paris (2020)
- Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) in Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2021)
Gallery
Resources
Blogs
Books
- How to be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest
- Parsian Charm School by Jamie Cat Callan