The truth about Parisiennes

MANILA, Philippines - You have to live the true Parisienne way to understand the true nature of the Parisian love of life.’’

The Parisienne woman is renowned for her mastery of l’art de vivre (lifestyle) and for her much-envied joie de vivre (exhilaration). These women inspire countless books and films that enjoy cult status not just among Francophiles; they have also captured the heart of the general public.

As a first-hand observer of this phenomenon (I moved to France in 2006), let me help uncover the finer points of the Parisienne’s way of life.

• Because they live in a city whose beauty has been preserved through the centuries, a city with endless in-your-face cultural offers, the physical environment of Parisiennes has greatly affected their psyche. You will see this in the way they dress, their confident ability in tossing together an interesting mix of shapes, colors and textures, all worn with a calm nonchalance. You also see this in their strong sense of aesthetics because in Paris, art is everywhere — from the Métro stations to the gardens and building façades. It’s almost impossible to ignore their patrimony, their long rich history. 

• When the Parisienne dresses well, in her mind, she adds to the overall beauty of her environment. It is her own small contribution to the aesthetics surrounding her. She can execute bold ideas, juxtaposing high-end with affordable — prints on stripes, florals on stripes, combining contrasting elements with a harmonious result but a strong point of view.

• Parisiennes look more natural out-of-bed than their Italian and American counterparts. They are averse to “wedding hair” — their hair is always tousled and slightly messy. They’ve mastered this look. Think of Serge Gainsbourg, Lou Doillon, Ines de la Fressange, Emmanuelle Alt — they never look too made-up, but rather, just casually pulled together.

• They are averse to plastic surgery and Botox and prefer women who age gracefully such as Catherine Deneuve and Charlotte Rampling. You’ll hardly see French women who are expressionless and Botoxed-out. They wear their wrinkles and gray hair very well. The French term is bien dans sa peau, which means the best-looking women are those who look “comfortable in their own skin.”

• It is a myth that Parisiennes are arrogant. It is not in their culture to smile. For them smiling for no reason means sarcasm, naiveté or trying to pick up a man. If you look at French advertising, no one is smiling. If you are in Paris and you see people smiling, they are probably Italian or American.

• French women are a paradox, full of complex contrasts. Many luxury brands were born in France. However, the French detest anything with too many logos. For a French woman logos are vulgar. They prefer to keep the price of their possessions discreet.

• Mealtimes are sacred in France. I could not do a piece on La Parisienne without touching on the massive influence of French gastronomy in their lives. It is the only cuisine currently protected under UNESCO World Heritage. Everyone sits down for a proper two-hour lunch and two-hour dinner and you’ll never catch a Parisienne woman eating while driving, scarfing down a quick lunch at her work desk, or eating only as an afterthought. They take their time. They use real utensils, real silver. Starbucks has been in Paris for over seven years but doesn’t enjoy the success it does in other countries because French people prefer slow food, porcelain coffee cups, and small, family-owned cafés.

• My main observation about Parisiennes is their preference for quality over quantity. They’d rather own only one Chanel jacket for 10 years than have a closetful of disposable fast fashion. This affects the way they shop.

• They choose brands with a long heritage, or with artisan/ handmade elements over more generic, factory-produced garments. This is the reason why I was happy to learn that a sneaker brand from Paris is coming to Manila. They really embody the true nature of being Parisian. I love Bensimon because the philosophy of the founders is exactly what the true Parisian is about.

Not all of us can just pack our bags and permanently relocate to Paris, but we can live in the Parisienne spirit by internalizing this same passion for the art of living, adapting it to our own lifestyle choices and to our own environment. Is Paris your spiritual home? Let’s fantasize together about the many ways we can include small elements of French life into our wardrobe and home, and enjoy the results together!