Paris is the city of love, light, fashion, food, and art. Its inhabitants exude elegance, culture, and confidence to near-goddess status. They eat carbs, take lovers, and embrace all their imperfections. What sets French women apart is that they are unapologetically confident. They never leave the house without looking elegant, they roll their eyes at mediocrity, and they believe in living a quality life, full of passion, sensory exploration, and style.
To live like a Parisian you must ooze chic, look perfectly imperfect, take pleasure in everything you do, kiss in public, slow down and enjoy yourself. Want to capture all that effortless glamour? Here are a few of the tips I’ve picked up during my visits to Paris:
Parisian Beauty
Parisians find beauty in their imperfections. A gap in her teeth is a sign of character and would never be closed with braces. The idea of the Parisian beauty routine is to have the “I woke up like this look,” meaning natural makeup and tousled hair. Makeup should look natural, except for the lips. French women generally steer clear of eyeliner, but the lips are usually a shade of red. Contouring is a no-no because it changes the shape of their face, instead, aiming for both natural and sensual, they catch light by using a highlighter on their cheeks, brow bones and Cupid’s bow of the lips.
Dress like a Parisian
Effortless elegance, tomboyish charm, crisp minimalism and sophisticated tailoring — these are the attributes of Parisian style in a nutshell. French women are deliberately simple, versatile and practical. To dress like a woman of Paris, spend your money on a few quality staples to mix and match. Wear neutral tones that include darks like navy, black and grey. Avoid cheery shades and patterns. Flats are a popular shoe choice, probably due to the uneven cobblestone streets of Paris. But it goes along with the less is more philosophy. Elegantly flattering sunglasses, a silk scarf and understated earrings are all essential Parisian accessories.
Dine Like a Parisian
It’s all about moderation when it comes to dining. Parisians eat proper lunches and buy fresh groceries each day. They love farm-to-table eating and spending time in cafes sipping dark espressos. The key to dining Parisian style is drinking water. If you do this, you can drink all the wine and eat all the dark chocolate, baguettes, croissants and cheese you desire (or, in my case, vegan cheese and pastries!). Avoid processed foods and opt for locally produced veggies, fruit, nuts, and olives.
Live like a Parisian
The best way to capture and bring home the Parisian aesthetic and way-of-life is to experience it yourself — like a local. So hop on a plane to Paris, and choose a luxury home rental over a hotel. Specifically, when in Paris choose to stay in a house in the city. We found the super-charming Pecquay Townhouse (Paris’ 4th oldest townhouse) through a vacation rental company called Luxury Travel Book. Staying in a real Parisian home is the best way to really live (and learn about) the Parisian lifestyle.
The Parisian Attitude
Speak loud, speak proud. Speak your mind … if you feel like it. You might call a Parisian arrogant, but it’s only because they have the “Je ne sais quoi” attitude that charms and delights those she encounters. Sulking is only appealing if you do it the French way — with good posture and a twinkle in your eye.
Home Décor, Paris-Style
Naturally, the sophisticated French style extends to interiors. The rules include:
- Don’t over-style. It’s undone but done. In other words, it shouldn’t look like you bought everything in one store.
- Incorporate touches of lavishness like silk drapes, complex wallpaper and an oversized mirror.
- Add sparkle with a vintage crystal chandelier.
- Integrate aromatic and aesthetically pleasing elements like seasonal/local flowers from the market and a wooden essential oil diffuser.
To truly live a Parisian lifestyle, you have to adopt the attitude of minimalist hedonism. If you’re not sure what that means, just remember that quality trumps quantity, old trumps new (in most cases), and classic trumps trendy. Simple, right?!
I can’t let this post pass onto my feed without me giving my comment. As a French girl living in New York, I believe I can speak for “us.” You know what, your article made me think, did you live in Paris to learn all these?! I mean how many days, months or years did you spend? You’ve seen Parisians “beyond the rudeness” that most non-Parisians think.
Anyway, yes, we love fashion but we are not slaves of short-lived fads. Super flashy outfits are no-no. For us, it’s always about the timeless, well-cut classic look: jeans, classic blazers or trench coat, cashmere sweaters.
Lastly, I’d like to share that we are obsessed over fabric too! It has to feel expensive even if it’s not.
Why do you always have wonderful photos?! Sooooo jealous!
For me, Parisians always have that distinct energy and personality and no matter what I do, it’s an effort to be and feel like them… Thanks for the tips! Definitely helpful!
You’ve just given me more reasons to consider moving to Paris! I’m seriously thinking of moving to Paris. Based on my research, Paris follows a more realistic circadian rhythm, they emphasize on working to live not living to work. I’d like a better work-life balance because my daughter is growing up.
Great! Now I’m prepared and I’m definitely going to enjoy my upcoming Paris tour 🙂 I always find Parisians elegant, less is more for them. They take simple cuts and mix ONLY a few colors per outfit.
Paris is one of the cities I’d love to visit. Informative article! From the bedroom picture you shared, I can conclude that Parisian interiors… mix of classic and contemporary.
Fantastic! I learned new, exciting things from this 🙂 I wonder, what’s the Parisian way of greeting friends? How do they greet people they just met? Americans shake hands, what about them?
They shake hands with them. 🙂
I mean, with strangers, but they kiss on the cheek with friends. 🙂
One thing I love about your articles is that you always add photos of yourself, making them very personal. I would agree, Parisian women dress simply yet they remain stylish, effortless yet chic.
I must confess, I was hesitant in checking out your post. I was thinking of rehashed tips. But then I was wrong. The more I read, the more I was impressed with your writing. Subtopics organization is perfect!
One question though, would you know if they really stick to one brand of perfume?
Wonderful photos! They look professional! Yeah, they speak loud and proud that’s why they are labeled as “RUDE.”
Whenever I’m in Paris, I maintain the “I woke up like this look.”
You nailed it, Hilary! Great tips! Parisians exude natural elegance and cool demeanor. On various trips to France, most of the French girls I met don’t wear “foundation,” just mascara and bright red lipstick.
BTW, I love your photos!