Is Being French Still Considered Stylish?

Is Being French Still Considered Stylish?

      Eugénie Trochu serves as a Who What Wear editor in residence and is recognized for her impactful contributions at Vogue France, as well as her Substack newsletter where she shares insights on emerging trends and her straightforward views on fashion and style, alongside other reflections. She is also in the process of writing her debut book that delves into fashion as a realm of memory, projection, and reinvention.

      Hailing from Normandy, I grew up in a France that adhered to a very particular vision of the French woman: slim, extremely slim, free-spirited, somewhat enigmatic, embodying a blend of effortless elegance and casual indifference that captivated the world’s imagination. This woman was reminiscent of Jane Birkin, Caroline de Maigret, Jeanne Damas, and various (mostly Parisian) figures who encapsulated the striking yet somewhat rigid ideals of the “French woman” in her purported glory—a myth crafted from unbuttoned shirts, tousled hair, faded red lipstick, Levi’s 501s, and that perpetual notion of “I got dressed in two minutes,” which was occasionally truthful.

      Joining Vogue in 2011, I witnessed that myth starting to fracture from within. It was indeed beautiful but also confining. It professed freedom while subtly leaving out half the population. By the time I assumed control of Vogue France a decade later, my aim was to narrate a different tale: not just the French woman, but the French women. Those who fashion themselves in Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, and Paris; those whose bodies, skin tones, heights, hairstyles, and identities no longer conform to a singular norm.

      The question “Is being French still a style?” often follows me as it implies the existence of a unified model. However, we have evolved beyond that. French style has transitioned from a mere silhouette to a dialogue: a dynamic tension between tradition and contemporary trends, between classicism and daring. It is the liberty to embrace contradictions, to pair vintage attire with Balenciaga, jeans with heirloom accessories, to change one’s mind on a whim.

      True French style in 2025 is not defined by trench coats, striped tops, or red lipstick. Rather, it embodies an attitude: a refusal to be labeled. It dismisses the complete look, the rigid narrative, and the idealized image. It embraces the idea that fashion is not a performance but rather a form of expression—something that can be personal, political, joyous, relaxed, and occasionally all of those combined.

      Still, remnants of the myth persist. There remains a certain detachment in French culture and a rejection of excess. This “less is more” ethos is not minimalism but a subtle restraint that shapes expression without stifling it.

      Additionally, there exists authentic freedom—the freedom to appreciate the classics without reminiscence, to don a miniskirt at 40, to forgo makeup, or to wear an abundance of it. It is the freedom to blend the chic and the everyday, to throw a trench over a tracksuit, to pair family jewelry with a simple T-shirt.

      This encapsulates what French style represents today: a conversation between heritage and modernity, between formality and comfort. It is a balance that cannot be taught or replicated but is reinvigorated anew every morning.

      So, while being French is still a style, it is not in the traditional sense. It is more of an accent than a grammar, an energy rather than a set formula.

      **Shop Pieces That Better Define What French Style Is Today:**

      - Rotate Asymmetric High-Rise Straight Jeans

      - Massimo Dutti Striped Sweater With Bandana

      - Maison Margiela Tabi Leather Ballet Flats

      - Zadig&Voltaire Jack Suede Bag

      - ZARA Oversized Jacquard Blazer With Shoulder Pads

      - Rouje x Yasmine Eslami Jeanne Soft Bra Felindra

      - MANGO Metallic Beaded Pendant Collar

      - Catarzi Lisbona Baker Boy Cap

      - The Frankie Shop Gaia Double-Breasted Coat

      - Tricot Lightweight Cashmere Boat Neck

      - ALAÏA Le Teckel Leather-Trimmed Leopard-Print Calf Hair Clutch

      - Marc Jacobs The Unisex Shirt

      - Jacquemus The Gros Grain gloves

      - Tommy Hilfiger Sofia for Tommy Trench Coat

      - Edla Starlight Lace Tights

      - Coperni Sandbox Cycling Sunglasses

      - Sézane The Wide Leg Trousers

      - Saint Laurent Cassandre Silk Satin Scrunchie

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Is Being French Still Considered Stylish?

A contemplation on myth, legacy, and what persists of it in 2025.