Shut In Style | Stealing That French Girl Magic

I’ve written a lot in the past about the concept of ‘French girl chic’. That idea of a simple, classic style that manages to combine timelessness with something just a tiny bit edgy and ‘je ne sais quois’. 

Judging from the many millions of search results, books and articles out there on ‘how to get french girl style’ it's a subject that holds enduring fascination for many of us. 

So when, in between the patches of stricter lockdown, we were able to escape for a very rare weekend away in Cheshire and The Mere Hotel to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary, I brought my French girl A-game when it came to finding the perfect outfit.

Black lace panel lightweight sweater | Whistles

Black leather trimmed blazer | Mulberry

Raw-hem straight cut jeans | Topshop

Leopard print ankle boots | Dune

Acrylic tortoiseshell and gold link necklace | Oliver Bonas

Wallet On Chain bag | Chanel

‘Libre’ sunglasses in ‘Black Smoke’ | Quay Australia

Okay, okay, so technically the only thing really French about this outfit is the bag...but it’s all about that ‘esprit de Parisienne’, surely? 

Taking inspiration from my major fashion icons - most of whom happen to be Gallic - I pulled together an outfit that played on some of the best traditions of French girl style. (My family are originally French on my maternal side, so I’m claiming that tenuous link and running with it…).

The classic, heavy-denim straight cut jean is definitely a style staple much beloved of icons like Camille Charriere and Jeanne Damas. Weaning myself off skinny jeans has definitely been a process but actually this style is far more elegant. 

The raw cut hems on this pair keep it edgy and allow prime ankle space to display a pair of killer ankle boots - such as these show-stopping beauties from Dune. I call them my ‘man repelling boots’, because my husband loathes them with a passion but that just makes me and my inner Bet Lynch love them more!

I chose to keep things very sober on the top half with some classic black. I wear black a lot, but one of the ways you can avoid it being boring is by making sure there’s texture involved. 

In this case, the lovely lightweight sweater has delicate lace panels at the front to add a bit of interest to a basic staple. On the same track, this beautifully tailored blazer is the kind of piece you have forevermore, but the leather touches on the collar and shoulders add an extra dimension, design-wise.

All it look to finish the look off was my Wallet On Chain - a perennially chic small bag perfect for day or night, and I also added a chunky necklace with links of tortoiseshell acrylic and gold, and of course, a pair of shades.

Voila! C’est la magie des filles françaises, non?