French Chic – How to master Parisian style no matter where you are from

You’re in the right place for my posts on French Chic style + Parisian fashion tips. Inspiration and stylist tips on how to wear the look.

> If you want MORE, please join my free newsletter and receive “Passport to French Chic” as my gift: https://focusonstyle.com/passport-to-french-chic/

How to Layer Necklaces- French chic style inspiration à la Ines de la Fressange

Ooooh la la, we are having a bout of baubles this week. First, we learned how to wear the new statement jewelry trend and now it's time for something classic. When it comes to piling on jewelry, the result can be heavy-handed or absolutely superb. Let's get some French Chic style inspiration on how to layer necklaces with Ines de la Fressange style ! The former model, muse and lifelong spokesperson for glorious French Chic shows you how to layer necklaces like a pro: If you're yearning for Chanel, try some timeless vintage pieces, like this charm bracelet at Shopbop Ines de la Fressange, one of her generation's most consistently well-dressed exemplars of quintessential French Chic wowed at Chanel for Paris Fashion

Read More »

This is how you wear mixed prints paired with classic à la Paris Fashion Week Street Style Trend

  I'll Have What She's Having:  The pizzaz to wear mixed prints with a classic balance like our lovely lady above, snapped at Paris Fashion Week. Yes, bold and OTT mixed messages have been big trends on many a runway, but what make's this woman's otherwise quirky prints look so elegant is that everything is quintessentially ladylike.  >> MORE: I'll Have What She's Having and Fashion Week Street Style From a structured lady bag to her foundational coat casually placed over her shoulders, the attitude of everything present is pitch perfect and fine tuned. >> RELATED: How to wear mixed prints and patterns She's got all the elements of refined daywear down pat, and that's how a purple bag, tropical printed pants, a floral

Read More »

Don’t Miss The TOP 6 Paris Fashion Week Trends + Street Style From Fall 2013 To Wear NOW

Prada Fall 2013 It's French Chic from the runway to the real way! This is your ULTIMATE  PARIS LOOK BOOK TREND REPORT:  Paris closed the season with an extension of key style notes best executed there than anywhere else. Rich, dense textures have been on many Fall runways, and so have big coats and the quiet decadence of the 40's & 50's. But in Paris, those ideas really came to light and pushed the envelope. Lots to take note of here folks.... >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS,  RUNWAY REVIEWS, and FASHION WEEK STREET STYLE Mid Century- Prada goes Mid-Century F/W 2013 Seen at: Rochas, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Prada >> LOOK SEE: Have you been following our Paris Fashion Week  street style reports on how

Read More »

This is how you Belt your coat à la Paris Fashion Week Street Style Trend

I'll Have What She's Having:  A fresh, late season update by way of you belt your coat, just so Let's face it, we are all getting a bit sick of winter. We probably already bought what we could from the sales yet still may be craving a late season picker-upper. Rethink! Yup, rethink what we wear a different way. Get creative and get more style fast. >>MORE:  Fashion Week Street Style Take a look at our lovely lady above snapped at Paris Fashion Week and notice how she added a simple ruff hewn luggage tan color belt to cinch in the waist of her otherwise unbuttoned coat. It looks fantastic and changed the line, in a great way, to her straight, slim coat.  >>

Read More »

Afraid to wear an animal print skirt to work? Think again, just add Paris Fashion Week Street Style for age-appropriate business chic

I'll Have What She's Having:  Paris Fashion Week street style proves to have zippy classic age-appropriate inspiration with business chic takes on animal print skirts. Animal prints can have a fabulously downtown cool edge, like our street style ladies and their leopard pants from London Fashion Week, yet too much fierceness may get out of hand for work. But not always, especially if you follow the super chic cues from these two sophisticated ladies, above, snapped at Paris Fashion Week. Either like the red Balenciaga print, left, or the more classic, big cheetah, pictured right, choose your style weapons and  work it!  >> MORE: I'll Have What She's Having and Fashion Week Street Style  When you want to wear a business chic & age-appropriate animal print skirt,

Read More »

This is how you wear Camel + Red + Volume à la Paris Fashion Week Street Style Trend

I'll Have What She's Having: Classic styling in yet difficult-to-wear pieces in this first in a series of Paris Fashion Week Street Style Trends Beautiful, volume-packed pieces that look oh so gorgeous on the hanger. Yet, when you put them, you may look like you were the last one sitting at the ribfest. But, when worn RIGHT, the result is MAGIC, like our lovely lady above snapped at Paris Fashion Week.  >> MORE: I'll Have What She's Having and Fashion Week Street Style The key to pulling off volume is to balance fuller pieces against slimmer fitting pieces, and show a little skin, like this cute crop top, doesn't hurt either. (Rewind: we highlighted camel crop top sweaters in our Milan Fashion Week

Read More »

Leather Weather: A Black Leather Jacket At Any Age To Suit Your Every Mood!

Kate Moss, Isabelle Hupert, Sarah Jessica Parker in black leather jackets
I'll Have What She's Having: A modern & global spin on a classic black leather jacket as an age-appropriate celebrity favorite Baby, it's leather weather! Not too hot, not too cold (yet) and just right for some hard core downtown motorcycle style done right, may it be city, casual, or dressy. From London, New York, to Cannes, we've got Kate Moss, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Isabelle Huppert sporting a black leather jacket in three ageless ways that will surely suit YOUR wardrobe. >>MORE: Leather Style When it comes to rocking it out whist still being both age-appropriate and ageless, please note that these ladies are in their LATE 30s, 40s, and 50s. Style doesn't have an expiration date when it looks right. Kate Moss in

Read More »

Stylist Advice: Should I Revamp My Wardrobe From The Ground Up For French Chic Style?

French actress and model Clémence Poésy
Talk Thursday continues... don't forget to send your fashion questions for a bit of stylist advice!    Hey Sharon, I went from a polished mod style and attending MBFW as an invite because of my fashion sketches, to literally digressing into a wardrobe of almost exclusively leggings and shapeless tunics. I obtained a full-time job in graphic design where the bar is very, VERY low. Think: free t-shirts and Crocs on my co-workers-- I will never stoop that low. For me, the realization that I've gotten lazy is now a bit too much-- it almost feels like I am uninspired on a daily basis. I don't want to go back to the mod look. I have been researching basic pieces for implementing a

Read More »

Notes from Paris- Parisian Milliner Marie Mercié

Milliner Marie Mercié, Paris
Retail Remedy: From our resident Parisian contributor Richard Nahem comes a visit to milliner Marie Mercié's charming boutique Stephen Sondheim famously begged the question "Does anyone still wear a hat? " in the song "Here's to the Ladies who Lunch " from the musical "Company". If he walked by Marie Mercié's eponymous shop near St. Sulpice, the answer would an emphatic yes! >>MORE: Because you don't need to travel for French-Chic-Style discover our French Style Section Mercié's shop is a wonderland outfitted with ultra-chic feminine hats to feast your eyes on. For her summer 2012 collection (she designs two collections a year)she used straw and raffia and color is king. Vibrant shouts of fuchsia, purple, orange, sunshine yellow, and tomato

Read More »

Stylist Advice: You can do this! Audrey Tautou’s easy fitting pants and a girly blouse for French chic élan

Loooove the mix of an otherwise girly ruffled blouse with man-tailored pants. It's the unexpected hit of French chic that you can add to your wardrobe.
I'll Have What She's Having: A lively masculine/feminine French chic mix that hits smart notes by way of a soft blouse and tailored, easy fitting pants We should really call this post, "mix this DON'T match that" as  it's the unexpected combination that works so well. Love the mix of an otherwise girly ruffled blouse with man-tailored pants spotted on French actress Audrey Tautou. It's the unexpected hit of French chic élan that you can add to your wardrobe. Pairing something frilly with something sweet can get a bit too saccharine, while mixing too many man tailored pieces together can get a bit butch. French actress Audrey Tautou poses during the photocall of "Therese Desqueyroux" presented out of competition at the 65th Cannes film

Read More »

FRENCH CHIC SHIRT LESSON 101: A classic white shirt balances a vivid print a la Leïla Bekhti

I’ll Have What She’s Having:  What to wear with a bold print skirt? A white shirt, of course, is oh soooo French Chic! Leïla Bekhti, the French actress, knows that the best compliment to something bold and bright is palette cleansing clean, classic, and crisp starkness by way of a perfect shirt. >> MORE from the French Riviera: Cannes Do Chic Let's review the styling finesse of the bold "Renaissance painting" print Carven skater skirt  from last fall that she wore  at Cannes the other day. French actress Leïla Bekhti poses during a photocall of the Un Certain Regard jury at the 65th Cannes film festival Take a vivid print-- whether it be  as bright as a Lilly Pulitzer or as fashion statement-making as this Carven--

Read More »

Sleek, French Chic In Yves Saint Laurent- Celebrity Style at The Met Opera

METROPOLITAN OPERA Season V – PREMIERE OF MASSENET’S MANON Looking back at last week's opening of the Metropolitan Opera's new season with a slew of celebrity attendees decked out in Yves Saint Laurent, one can't help but take note of the accessible, inspirational takes on French Chic each guest radiated in their own way. Model Dree Hemingway in a relaxed ivory suit brought to mind an ultra glamorous twist to Bianca Jagger's infamous 70's era white bridal suit, with its languid fabrication signaling today's need for low-key understated glamor. In ivory, it gives off a boudoir sensuality, yet in basic black, it could take you from work to after dinner drinks in no time. >>Just Can't Get Enough French Style Inspiration

Read More »

French Chic at a Certain Age: A well-cut trench coat a la Patricia Kaas

Patricia Kaas
Let's be frank: There comes a time when fussy becomes unfashionably fatiguing and plain is boringly aging. >> Day Two of the three-part FoS series Age-Approriate French Chic At A Certain Age But, pairing a well-cut trench coat and sultry smokey lined eyes, is a time-tested fashion recipe that never spoils! Take, for instance, French actress and chanteuse Patricia Kaas who understands the understated elegance of a lightweight, well-cut trench coat- a hallmark in dressing with French chic style. It's not any ordinary trench, but one that wraps in a way that always creates a sexy silhouette without being vulgar or tricked up. It's flow is more dressed up than the basic double-breasted trench coat, yet it's not overwhelming on her frame. The

Read More »

Scroll to Top