Beware of flip-flops

When incorporating French style into your wardrobe, be cautious about wearing flip-flops. I did see people wearing them, but only on certain occasions, if they were going to the beach for example. That's an important one, going to the beach. I remember when I put my flip-flops on the first sunny day in March, I got sideways glances from my French mom, and my sister proceeded to ask me if I was going to the beach. Later on that day, as the five of us sat around the lunch table with our toes exposed, we realized that every one of our French families had asked us the same question. But this didn't stop us from wearing flip-flops. It was kind of an act of rebellion after that. It didn't matter if it was 45 degrees as we walked to school and our toes were numb, the flip-flops had become an American identity for us. But now that I look back on it, as the weather becomes colder and I still wear my flip-flops, I realize that it is kind of an impractical habit. I have friends who wear flip-flops until December. I don't know why we do this in America. Maybe we should just save them for the beach?

Harem Pants

One fashion trend that I noticed mostly in Paris was the harem pant, which seems to be slowly filtering into America. I personally love this look, but I don't know if it will become popular in the States because it resembles MC Hammer a bit too closely. Since it is getting colder, I suggest to get pants that are longer and wear them with an ankle high, heeled boot. Then top it off with a blazer.

a little more Converse, a little less punk

So I just wanted to talk about converse sneakers a bit more. I feel like they're commonly perceived as grungy in America, or maybe a little off beat. For instance you would wear them with jeans and a vintage t-shirt or even a sweatshirt. Basically you wouldn't dress them up. But I'm posting right now in order to liberate this perception and say that YOU CAN dress up the converse! It doesn't have to be that sneaker that you paint the house in, or sip Starbucks in while reading "Best American Essays" as you casually kick your feet up, or wear to play practice because everyone else is. This sneaker is stylish. Wear it with a skinny jean and flowered blouse tucked in with a belt. Or try it with an argyle sweater and cuffed sleeves, a raincoat and a scarf. I wore my converses one day with a tucked in flowered blouse and I noticed that I was getting some weird looks. So I asked my boyfriend what he thought of my outfit and he said, "Well its confusing. You're dressy on top but then punk on the bottom." I said, "It's not confusing its European! God." So don't hold back and wear UGGs instead of converses one day because you think your outfit is too sophisticated for them. I ask you to try it. Experiment. Because its not confusing, its European.

Stockings are Your Ticket to Short Skirts.

Skin: French women don't show it. This is a very important rule to keep in mind. This subtle fashion concept didn't become fully apparent until I visited Dublin and saw women wearing micro outfits showing mega skin and figured it was their F-you to the Catholic Church. When I arrived back in France and noticed that women covered their legs and chest but still looked sexy, I was very intrigued. It was like an art form. In America we tend to think the more skin the better. I'd like to think that I dress more conservatively and have always followed Victoria Beckham's no. 1 rule: if you show leg don't show cleavage, if you show cleavage don't show leg. But the French women didn't show either, hmmph :( The secret? Why stockings of course. This little trick allows you to wear tiny skirts and heels but still look classy. C'est magnifique! And don't be afraid to go bold, aka multicolored stockings. As long as you're wearing a solid skirt you can sport patterns on your legs.

Scarves, the New Baret

Without a doubt, the most worn fashion accessory in France is the scarf. Take a walk down the streets of Paris, Lyon, or Grenoble and you will see scarves galore. Fall, winter, spring, summer, they wear something around their necks. Of course the scarf has moved away from its original purpose and become as much of an accent as a handbag or belt; and it's great because you can wear it as dressy or casually as you like. Decorative scarves are sold almost everywhere since the trend has taken hold in America, but I've found that Forever21 sells a nice variety at affordable prices. Also, the French appreciate things with a vintage flair, so don't be afraid to raid a second-hand store or an old closet. So next time you think of that typical French mademoiselle, remove the baret and replace it with a scarf.

The Skinny on French Thin

So we always hear about how skinny the French are, that they must have some type of eating disorder to be able to keep up their sleek appearance. But from my experience, I gathered that the French aren't necessarily stick thin, they just aren't fat; and living with a host family allowed me to quickly realize why that is. The French stick to three meals a day: light breakfast, heavier lunch, light dinner, and no snacking. But I think one of the main factors which contributes to such healthy physiques is their ability to eat smaller portions. It came as quite a shock on my first night, when dinner consisted of an endive salad, spoonful of diced potatoes, and a slice of ham. No seconds. They eat a lot of dairy which is higher in fat content, but again they don't "stuff" themselves. I had a friend who once said, "The French don't eat, they taste." By this he meant that they will sample a variety of foods at a meal, but never in large amounts. So I just wanted to dispel the common misconception that all French women are stickly size zeros, and establish that they are mostly healthy sizes, for good reason.

Leather Jackets: not just for Bikers

I found that leather jackets were the most common outerwear in France. This once again opened my eyes to new possibilities since I had placed leather into the category of rock stars or bikers. (I had a lot of preconceived notions to get over). The coolest thing about this look is that it gives off an air of sophistication, and when done right, is never trashy. You can pair a leather jacket with a long tee and scarf, flowered blouse and boots, or any knee-length dress. This look is so versatile because you can dress it up or down and still look great. I remember going to class one day sporting my cotton pants and Pitt sweatshirt because I wanted to be "comfy." Then my French teacher walked in with tights and a jean mini, red heels, white blouse, and navy blue leather jacket. Even her glasses and shade of lipstick matched the outfit. It was at this moment that I decided to stop perpetuating the American stereotype and step my fashion game up.