BY: STEFANIE SHULTZ
Caroline de Maigret and her chic Parisian counterparts Sophie Mas, Audrey Diwan and Anne Berest reveal their secrets in How To Be Parisian: Wherever You Are.
How To Be Parisian acts as both a style guide and a lesson in life, etiquette and relationships in which the women craft an honest and humorous read from start to finish.
Here are Caroline de Maigret’s 7 pieces of style advice to live by:
# 1 – What you will find in a woman’s closet is just as important as the things you won’t:
Three inch heels, logos of any kind, man-made fabrics like nylon and viscose, sweatpants, embroided jeans, ugg boots, skimpy clothes and fake designer handbags have no place in a chic woman’s wardrobe.
# 2 – Less is always more:
Whether it is jewellery, make up, colour or hair styling, less is always more. Just a hint of sensuality in an outfit, an all black ensemble and bed head are some of de Maigret’s favourite things.
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# 3 – The thirteen wardrobe essentials you need to own:
- Quality jeans
- A pair of men’s shoes
- A bag that can contain your life
- A little black blazer
- A pair of ballet flats
- A small silk scarf
- A white shirt
- A long trench
- A thick scarf
- An oversized sweater that slips off your shoulder
- Basic oversized sunglasses
- An oversized shirt
- A very simple but very expensive t-shirt
# 4 – On miniskirts:
“When wearing a mini skirt never wear is with any hint of décolletage or vulgarity, keep heels low and make up invisible.”
# 5 – On wearing black:
“Black is comfortable and all-purpose. It sharpens contours and compensates poor taste.”
# 6 – On Accessorising:
Almost always wear very little jewellery, the smarter the outfit the less jewellery you need. A watch, a fine chain, a simple ring, a family heirloom, each piece should tell a story, the value lies in its sentiment, not its price.
# 7 – Be Yourself!
“Swimming against the current gets you nowhere, you must go with the flow.” Be yourself and age gracefully, after all, the face you have now is the one you will wish for in 10 years time!
What are some of your own style rules? Share the ones you swear by in the comments below!
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3 Comments
I like most of this advice – maybe not about needing men’s shoes, though.
identify your own style – don’t blindly follow!
Exactly – couldn’t agree more!