14 fashion 'faux pas' that Americans make that French women don't

paris fashion

French women all have their own unique sense of style—but there are some American trends they probably wouldn't follow.
Jan Zahradka/Shutterstock

At that place's something about " French-girl style" that is endlessly intriguing to anyone who is not from France. Many Americans, in item, seem to fawn over the wardrobe choices of stylish French women like Marion Cotillard, Clémence Poésy, and Carine Roitfeld. There are countless magazine manufactures and books on how to "clothes like a French daughter" and smash that seemingly effortless look even while living in the The states.

When it comes down to it, of course, French women are like anyone else — they each have their own unique sense of style. That said, there are certain things that many French women seem to exercise when getting dressed that are seemingly unique. If you want to put a French spin on your ain outfits, you can practice that by fugitive some of the fashion "mistakes" Americans often make.

Of form, at the end of the day, you should be wearing what feels good on you and what makes you happy. These mistakes could work for some people, and in that location's naught wrong with that. Still, if y'all want to infuse some Parisian chicness into your ain wardrobe, you may want to avert the following mistakes.

Americans wear super flashy logos.

In France, the name of the brand is on the tag, not your torso.
Flickr/ham_phtgrphy

One of the things that makes French style stand out is how information technology is more of a quiet luxury than a "Hey, wait how expensive my shirt was!" type of luxury.

Blogger Tokyobanhbao of The World of Tokyobanhbao told Who What Wear : "I would avoid wearing wearing apparel or accessories with the proper name of the make shown very distinctly. I call back luxury is the mode y'all wear your clothes, not by showing the name of the brand."

French fashion editor Carine Roitfeld echoed the same sentiment when speaking to Acne Paper .

"[French style is] more the way you mix the clothes and how you move, how you open your bag, how yous cross your legs — merely piffling things that make a deviation," she said. "With French women, you first see the woman and so you run across the clothes. In France, you cannot encounter what labels nosotros are wearing. Information technology is very snobby."

Americans expect too "perfect" and put-together.

In America, it'south all most perfection.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

In America, many women put a lot of attempt into looking extremely put-together and done-up. French mode is less about appearing perfect and more than almost appearing effortless.

French actress Léa Seydoux told Into The Gloss : "It's true that the French are not very sophisticated in the sense that they don't dress up for dinners. They are not like Americans where they are e'er perfect — the girls are not very sporty; they don't accept care of themselves every bit much as Americans, who always have very white teeth, and are and then fit. The French are a little more chic, very classic. I think information technology tin exist boring too, because they don't have any risks. They don't wear too many colors."

Americans wear super trendy items.

Some trends go out of style pretty chop-chop.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Many Americans bask following trends, which is why fast fashion is so large. French women are oftentimes more into classic pieces. French model Julia Roitfeld told Vogue : "Please don't ask me about trends. I'thou into buying dress that make me feel pretty, that flatter me, but I have never cared about having the latest matter."

French fashion star Anélle Coetzee told The Local something similar: "French women are non way slaves simply rather style followers. They will carefully review the new season's trends and select one or two items to update their look, giving solid nuts a new twist." It seems to be more about a basic wardrobe than a wardrobe full of flashy items.

Americans vesture items that don't fit properly.

A good tailor is cardinal.
Michael Loccisano / Getty

I matter French women practice that many American women practise non exercise is that they pay careful attention to the manner apparel fit. They get items tailored if they don't fit correctly rather than just going with it — or they won't article of clothing the item at all. Designer Sophie Theallet told Oprah.com  that "French women wear dress that flatter their bodies, regardless of trends."

Americans habiliment all casual items or all dressed up items.

Mixing them upward is a swell idea.
Cozy Dwelling house/Shutterstock

Although French women like to make their await appear depression-maintenance, they also like to look a lilliputian bit more chic on a regular ground. Parisian women like to mix coincidental and dressed upwardly pieces rather than doing, say, all casual pieces at once. French model Julia Roitfeld told Vogue , "If a French adult female wears jeans, it's never with flats, always heels."

French mode blogger Louise told Marie Claire something similar: "Recall trench coats over girly outfits, flat shoes with flirty dresses, 3/4 jeans with ruffle blouses, red lipstick with a simple white shirt, and of course elegant accessories like black berets, men's watches, bags that are more timeless than fashionable."

Americans wear a lot of brilliant colors at once.

The French love a good neutral.
Andrew Milligan/Pool/Getty Images

Americans are known for beingness bold with their way choices. French women tend to stick to a more neutral palette when it comes to getting dressed.

Nicolas Hobbs, a fashion photographer in Paris, told The Local , "When done well, simplicity is all you demand, plus a few blues and whites."

Model Julia Roitfeld told Vogue , "Even on the ruddy carpet, French celebrities proceed it minimal. Think of Charlotte Gainsbourg — the expect tin can exist quite undone. Continue your palette simple: French women are into neutrals — a lot of beige, grayness, navy, black, and white."

American women oft dress to brand an impression or to expect a specific way to fit order's standards.

Habiliment what makes you feel adept.
A. C. Fowler/INSIDER

American women oftentimes dress to make an impression or to look a specific style to fit order's standards. Of class, some French women practise this also, but overall, they have a unlike attitude about way.

In the book "How To Be Parisian Wherever Yous Are," author Caroline de Maigret wrote . "The idea is to observe the existent you, and to not be a product of what gild wants you to be."

Onetime French model Iné de la Fressange told The Guardian : "You lot should dress to feel good, not show off. It takes life to larn that."

Americans use fashion as a sole course of expression.

It'due south all about how you wear something.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

It seems that while many Americans use their sense of style to prove off who they are, French women utilize it to complement who they are. In an essay for Glamour , one young woman who lived in Paris for eleven years explained what she learned nigh French style, writing: "In that location may non be a rulebook, I saw this play out with anybody from my female parent-in-law to my immature, hip GP and my former dominate. I interpreted all of this to mean that a Parisian adult female does not see way equally the ultimate expression of herself but rather as complementary to her listen, her talents, her opinions, and therefore it doesn't need to be outlandish. What is compelling is how the pieces are worn and the ways they're lived in."

Similarly, Charlotte Gainsbourg told the Wall Street Periodical that her clothes are supposed to suit her life, not be her life: "Way for me is a casual way of putting something on. Information technology's not thought out but needs to suit your fashion of life. Now I like wearing the same sweater over and over once again, then taking it off when information technology's smelly."

One of the biggest differences between French and American fashion is the attitude that goes along with the clothing.

Information technology's all about the attitude.
Pexels/Burst

One of the biggest differences betwixt French and American style is the attitude that goes along with the wearable. French manner designer Isabel Marant told Glamour , "When people ask me what the [style] difference is between French girls and American girls, it's mainly that French girls pass a lot of time pretending like they're not paying attending, while they're doing just that. It's more a question of mental attitude."

Americans avoid what they want to wear out of fright of breaking mode rules.

Rules were made to be broken.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Similarly, French women are more than focused on what they desire to wear rather than what they're supposed to exist wearing.

French model Lou Doillon told Faddy : "French style has got to exercise with a sure class of arrogance, which I beloved. French girls have a tremendous respect for themselves in a mode, so they accept what they want to article of clothing, and what they won't wear — even if every magazine cover is saying, 'This is what you should be wearing.' French girls are funny similar that. They accept their own thing going."

Americans let anybody know about the endeavour they put into their outfit.

It's all nearly looking effortless.
Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Barneys New York

French mode may appear effortless, but that's probably just considering they don't talk about the effort they put into their look. Americans, on the other hand, have no problem explaining how much time they put into finding the perfect outfit.

Parisian stylist Camille Seydoux told InStyle : "I think French girls pretend to exist lazy when it comes to style. She's not going to acknowledge that she spends 50 minutes getting ready. She needs to look effortless, like 'oh my hair is naturally like this,' when in fact, she uses hair product and styling tools. She'll wait as though she merely kissed her boyfriend, but really, she dabbed her lipstick on with a finger. We love to look like everything is completely natural."

In that location's nothing wrong with wearing a sexy, tight, or "revealing" outfit — unless you want to look more French, that is.

The French try to remainder fitted and loose clothing.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

French women generally don't wear over-the-top sexy clothes and prefer to mix up fit (slouchy pants with a depression-cut shirt rather than a low-cut shirt and short skirt, for example).

Julia Roitfeld told Faddy : "The French like to play the intellectual bill of fare; they don't like to be over-sexy. The sexiness comes from the way they walk and hold themselves." French manner blogger Marta, from Life of Boheme, told Marie Claire: "Never wearing a tight bottom with a tight top, always mix and match."

Americans over-accessorize every outfit.

More isn't always ameliorate.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Once again, French women tend to go along things a little more simple than American women. Model Lou Doillon told Vogue : "It'due south knowing nearly when to cease. I was in Fifty.A. for a couple of weeks and I was like, 'Whoa, yous should have stopped before,' because there is the hair, the shoes, the nails, the bag, and the earrings and the makeup — it'due south so much bloody information that y'all've lost the girl!"

Americans wearable gym apparel outside of the gym.

Athleisure isn't a thing in France.
Jason Koerner/Getty

Even when it comes to athleisure, French women are more than probable to mix coincidental apparel, similar leggings or sneakers, with something more dressed up, like heels or a dress. Alois Guinut, a French personal stylist, told The Local , "Nosotros exercise non vesture yoga pants as real pants!"

French mode blogger Kenza, from the blog La Revue de Kenza, told Marie Claire : "About leggings: wearing them every bit an outfit is like wearing pajamas. It's not actually elegant… simply we habiliment it every day to go to the gym."

Sign up here to get INSIDER'due south favorite stories directly to your inbox.

Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning commodities.

Keep reading