If I say 'parisienne' (which incidentally means a woman from Paris as opposed to 'parisien' which means a man), what image does it conjure up in your mind?
Eiffel tower, baguette, French music, perfect hair? ....
As hard as it may be to generalise, there are some stereotypes that work. As if the women in paris become the archetypes of la femme française. We live in the country, although only an hour from Paris, and it's always easy to spot a parisienne in a dinner here.
Physically the real Parisienne is neat, well dressed and beautifully presented. She likes to stay very slim, and is very careful with her diet. (no surprises there!)
She enjoys Paris, can't imagine life possible outside of the city! She likes to snob the country dwellers but is actually delighted to be invited out of the city at the weekend.
She wears a minimum of make up, often choosing to emphasise either eyes or lips, rather than both. Her hair isn't always perfectly blow dried, often simply caught up in a soft unruly chignon à la Bardot.
She likes to dress well, but that doesn't always mean designer labels. The Parisienne will often mix one really good piece, be it a LBD, a great bag or wonderful shoes, with other more ordinary items from her wardrobe.
She works hard and runs around Paris all day long. She knows the Metro off by heart and is happy to jump on a velib to gain time and get some extra exercise. If she has children, she must find a jeune fille to pick them up from school and help them with homework until maman gets back.
She shops at small stores in her quartier, and in the Parisian street markets for her food. For her clothes she'll have a couple of favourite addresses.
If she's really sporty she'll take part in the race that carries her name 'La Parisienne' a half marathon run every May in Paris.
She loves to meet with a girlfriend for lunch, sitting out on terrace, chatting over a salad and espresso coffee.... and some things just never change!
photos 1 and 4 from La parisienne by ines de la fressange; other photos google
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She leads a lovely life. Perhaps in another lifetime, I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteSam
One thing about the parisienne is that her style has not changed since my days ... my friends still sport the same style, great look but a little expected perhaps
ReplyDeleteFun post. It brought back some wonderful memories of trips to Paris.
ReplyDeleteAnd usually wearing the most fabulous shoes! I love watching women when I am on a buying trip to Paris.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post...I want to be Ines de la Fressange :)
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Oh yes! I love the elegance of the Parisienne women.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be a Parisienne for a year or so. Or maybe a 6-week crash course! I supposed it's too late to be an exchange student at my age!
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks in Paris and my family doesn't know what to do with me now. I have all the parts of the ensemble in the first photo. My husband was abashed at the symphony the other night when I said "baton" with the accent on the first syllable. He maintains I'm the only one; I maintain thousands of Parisiennes are the same. Jo @ Let's Face the Music
ReplyDeleteI am getting my hair cut and am considering the soft bob that many Parisienne femmes wear....
ReplyDeleteLove the mystique of French femmes.
I love this post. As a girl, knowing my ancestors were French I loved everything I could get my hands about the way of life. Now in my thirties, as life settles down a bit. I am re-discovering my love!
ReplyDeleteLoved this. I think there is a confidence of style and Ines de la Fessange definitely has it.... Love her!Maryanne xo
ReplyDeleteoneday maybe, oh ato dream. Lovely post, thank you.
ReplyDeleteT x
Oh, then I know :) A vacation in Paris is on my To Do-list.
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Anci
Parisiennes could be declared UNESCO Heritage sites just like French cuisine. They are that iconic!
ReplyDeleteMy son studied in Aix-en-Provence, then completed graduate school in Paris, and became a French citizen. He's lived in France/Europe half his life..isn't returning to the U.S., am looking forward to relocating there ASAP!
Ah, now we know!
ReplyDeleteI bet she wears great shoes too, heels way too tall for most of us.
What a great post! The only thing that I would wrangle with is that I don't know a SINGLE Parisienne that takes the Metro! She drives, she loves the velib, she walks and in a pinch, the bus. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd if we could see the bottom of that first photo, I would guess that she would be wearing Converse or a pair of Repetto's...?
Ah yes...the hair and the air of selfconfidence!!
ReplyDeleteThe grass is always greener, i think. Especially when one is a teenager. When i was 16, and taking high school French.. i longed to be une fille Parisienne! Alas. I thought it was boring to be an American back then. But of course, i outgrew that feeling when i grew up, thank goodness. And am proud to be an American woman. I still long for the Parisian life sometimes.. but maybe only in a vacation now and then! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds much like our lives don't you think?
ReplyDeleteWould you like to dejuner in Paris one of these days? We could dress up and pretend we are French, ever careful not to speak so as not to be exposed as impostors.
It was looking promising for a while..... I qualified for being Parisiennne .......but only on 3 accounts
ReplyDelete* minimum make up - just lipstick.
* not perfectly blow-dried hair (actually it's an "artistic" frizzy mop"
* usually walk everywhere locally or in the CBD
As for the other Parisiennne attributes.......they're sadly lacking.
Great post Sharon
This is the most wonderful post, thank you for sharing! I'll try to be my own Parisienne in Ohio...we'll see how it works! I hope you have a wonderful week and Happy Monday!!
ReplyDeleteToodles,
Twirling Clare
twirlingclare.blogspot.com
Absolutely loved reading this post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in London, there was a wonderful Parisienne, Katrine who ran a beautiful little restaurant called L'Aventure in St. John's Wood. She's lived and worked in London for 30 years, but she was every bit a Parisienne.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely blog. Thank you for visiting mine. Although still new at this, I look forward to making mine a place where others will find inspiration. This week it's off to the Atlanta market for lots of ideas.
ReplyDeleteHad a lovely time reading this. How I wish I was one!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post!!
ReplyDeleteI've observed 'La Parisienne' for a number of years.
She is hard to define apart from that certain 'je ne sais quoi'.
I think it's her grooming, the great haircut and classic fashion items plus a wonderful attitude that oozes confidence.
She is comfortable in her own skin and fads do not impress her!!!
She has "it" in volumes!!!
I love her!
hugs
Shane
Do you now a real Women like this ! :) :) Lovely Post!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. i will never forget my first trip to Paris, on my own, as my marriage was falling apart. Paris introduced me to me. Sometimes she did so via her women...
ReplyDeleteOK in my next life I want to be a parisienne but you forgot the part where she gets to indulge in a sweet croissant or a few macaroons in the afternoon with her afternoon coffee? A wonderful chic, elegant life......love it!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - a true parisienne has a style of her own. After working for a French company for many years, it always amazed me when the parisiennes visited. They always were so relaxed in their attire, yet so elegant and pulled together at the same time. We Canadians were wearing our power suits and perfect make-up to meetings and they would just stroll in in a pair of khakis and a fabulous shoe looking marvelous.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this post!
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