When you see Parisians, they exude an air of “je ne sais
quoi” as they’re out and about. Dressed up or dressed down, they have this
nonchalant attitude paired with an effortless chic style which is envied by
most. Whenever you see the streetstyle photos outside the Paris shows, it’s
like WOW, how do they do it? Do they spend ages getting dressed, do they have
stylists dictating what to wear, how do they do it?
So, a little while ago, as I was browsing some fashion
related books online, I came across Parisian Chic, a book by long time model
and a former Chanel muse, Ines de la Fressange which is a guide to the ultra-chic
Parisian lifestyle (it came out in 2011, sadly I only recently discovered it). Of course without batting an eyelid, I clicked “add to cart”
on Flipkart and I am currently blogging about it.
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| my very own Parisian Chic |
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| the gorgeous Ines |
The Parisian culture isn’t simply about dressing up, it’s an
entire lifestyle and that’s what this guide is all about. From style &
beauty tips, to where to shop (luxury, vintage and everything in between), dine
and even how to decorate your home (Parisian style of course!) this book is
truly Parisian. Its not one of those boring books which simply go on and on
about what to wear with what and what not to wear which after a certain point
you’re so bored of you never want to see it again. This book on the other hand
is far from boring; chirpy language paired with fun pictures of her daughter and
Ines’s illustrations, it’s a fantastic guide for all those who want to attain
the Parisian style. Oh by the way, it
even has a little section for notes at the end of the book. Sigh, J’adore.
Here are some tips by the woman who is the epitome of Parisian
chic.
Logos and bling are despised by a true Parisian and they
never like to look rich( I wish people in Delhi would grasp this concept!). Choose
brands that provide good taste and quality.
The Parisian wardrobe is a mix of cheap and chic buys. So
the next time you decide to pair that Hermes scarf with a monogrammed designer
bag and in your face Louis Vuitton shoes and a belt, think. Think very long and
hard.
Try and discover new labels, there are plenty of new
designers around. In our case, check out Hauz Khas village as there are a lot
of funky new designers there.
Keep abreast of all the trends but don’t blindly follow
them. For example, colored jeans have been the rage here the last few seasons,
I’ve seen girls with thighs on the heavier side wear them and it doesn’t look
good.
You're better off buying a genuine straw bag than a fake designer bag. I couldn't agree more with this tip. It's okay if you can't splurge on a designer bag, there are so many non-branded stylish bags out there. NEVER buy counterfeit bags because trust me, because people can tell. And once you become "the girl with the fake bags" no one will believe you even if you have a real one! BTW, I know a few who parade around with their fake Louis Vuittons in Delhi thinking no one notices, too bad for them everyone knows everything they wear is 100% fake.
For an offbeat look:
Wear a diamond necklace with a denim shirt instead of a
black dress.
Pair a pearl necklace with a rock’n’roll t-shirt (I cant
wait to try this one out) and not a shift dress.
A chiffon print dress with biker boots.
Tuxedo jacket with sneakers (I recently saw a picture of
Leandra Medine wearing a similar combination, its DEADLY!)
An evening dress with a straw handbag and not a gold clutch
(trust me, in Delhi, people will LOOK, and then copy you).
For an effortless chic look:
Pair an old denim blazer with a silk shirt (I’ve done it and it’s FAB).
Wear two scarves, one on top of the other.
Wear a black velvet riding jacket a few sizes too small (just make sure you don’t rip the jacket whilst trying to put it on!)
One BOLD accessory with your ultra-simple silhouette.
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| power blogger Leandra Medine in a masculine jacket and converse shoes |
Ines’s magnificent 7 wardrobe essentials:
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| Add caption |
The blazer
The trenchcoat – DON’T buckle the belt, tie it in the front
or behind with the buckle hanging loose and also DON’T wear it with a long
skirt.
The navy sweater (in CASHMERE of course!). Pair with white
jeans, high heels and a leather jacket et voila.
The tank top – keep it simple, don’t go for prints or loud
colors, just black, gray, white, navy or khaki.
The little black dress
The perfect jeans – ill fitted jeans are just not a pleasant
sight, keep hunting for days, weeks, months till you find that perfect pair
even if you have to pay a little extra for them. Keep a pair of classic
straight cuts as they never go out of style and get 3 colors, black, blue and
white
The leather jacket – pair it with a chiffon dress or even
with a string of pearls for an offbeat look.
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| her stunning daughter Nine in a cashmere sweater |
Major fashion faux pas!
Bras with transparent plastic straps – I’ve see this happen
in Delhi a lot. Ladies, just go to Marks & Spencer and simply pick up a
well fitted strapless bra. Transparent straps are just plain ugly!
Never wear a necklace and earrings at the same time. The
worst is looking like an ornamental Christmas tree when people wear necklace,
earrings, watch, bracelet and numerous rings all at once. Owwww, my eyes, my
eyes!!!
Chipped nail polish – this one’s my personal tip. I’ve often
seen women neglect their nails and walk around comfortably with chipped nail
paint on their hands and feet and its not attractive. It takes all of two
minutes to take it off, so be a dear and do it please!
Hair scrunchies – choose a small almost invisible hair tie
to tie your hair.
Leopard -skin dresses with plunging necklines – I’ve seen
this at nightclubs here when leopard prints were the rage in Delhi.
Fishnet t-shirts – YUCK!
Shirts that are too tight .
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| Ines with a Roger Vivier bag and shoes |
These are only snippets of small yet powerful tips to incorporate into your daily style files that can go a long way. If you want to know more click
here to order it from Flipkart. They also have a Parisian Chic daily planner available. C'est vraiment chic!
