'Je ne sais pas' (Part 2)

Welcome back to Part Two. So more on the effortless style of the stylish french women who seem to be renowned for their abilities to make the smallest / plainest details look amazing and for getting more out of their capsule wardrobe with less. 

As an advocate of sustainable fashion, I don't encourage my clients buying fast fashion (or buying more for that matter). I tend to look out for investment buys albeit a little bit more expensive and accessorising is a big part of the game. A piece of jewellery, a scarf, a hat, a bag and beautiful shoes can literally transform an outfit which otherwise look bland. 

I am pretty sedentary and being sportive is probably inappropriate for my style but Parisian women tend to look great in sportswear, when mixed with scarves to add colour to a basic top / dress, fill in the neckline of a classic trench, or simply for the casual denim weekend look. 

For a 'je ne sais quoi' look, don't worry about getting everything 'perfect' or overdone. Just add some subtle touches to the classic looks, buy and wear accessories in multiple ways for different effects. Instead of buying 10 bags from a chain store (especially if they are on sales), have just one or two classic and timeless ones which go with just about everything you own. 

Standing out doesn't mean wearing loads of different colours like a clown. As long as you have identified your neutral colours, just add a splash of accent with your accessories would do the trick. Do you know of a french woman who hasn't had a scarf of some kinds? How about sunglasses and belts that make a bold statement without being overly trendy?

I am a big spender on accessories myself as I believe they work hard to represent me and not the trend. I don't care what the 'must-buy' items are in magazines or on mannequins if they don't represent who I am and what I like. 

Here are some suggestions you might like to try out for yourself:

• swap your beanie for a beret
• swap a glittering dress for a plain LBD with a statement necklace
• swap a mini for leg lengthening trousers
• swap a sexy low cut party dress for a white blouse and get a balayage
• swap a high / low light for your natural hair colour (or simply grow grey!)
• swap your bomber jacket for a single breasted trench or a blazer with waist shaping
• swap your full make-up for a light, natural looking one
• swap quantity for quality

And last but not the least, make sure you have the following basic items in your closet:

• a blazer (jacket) which is versatile enough for multiple looks
• a trench coat
• v-neck sweater of high quality
• jersey tops
• jeans in a darker shade
• a simple LBD (not necessarily black but a neutral colour for your skin tone)

Are you having fun emulating the french way of dressing?