Yahoo Lifestyle Are French Women Truly As Effortless As We Think?
Street style star and French women Caroline de Maigret. Photo: Getty Images
Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Charlotte Gainsbourg… For centuries the world has been in thrall to the allure of the French woman. But how true is the stereotypical image of the cool, calm and collected Gallic girl, and should we even care about crafting our lives in the image of the French woman? We asked French journalist Marie Le Moel, author of The Truth About French Women (Random House, $32.99), out today, to debunk the myth of the effortless, elegant French female, once and for all.
MC: What is the truth about French women?
MLM: This idea of the French woman is not necessarily a false image but it is only a tiny part of French women. In fact, it’s often a Parisian woman. She’s very elegant, intellectual and open-minded. This is the kind of woman you might find in central Paris. But it’s hardly an indication of the wider French population.
'''MC: Why are we so fascinated by French women?
'''MLM: French fashion brands are one reason, for example Chanel and Dior. They’ve helped to fabricate the image of the elegant woman because it sells their products. There’s also all the how-to books that have been written about French women. [But] I don’t try to tell the world that they should be like the French women, because I don’t believe that they should.
MC: Is there a lot of pressure for French women to be perfect?
MLM: We have to have a job, have kids, be elegant, be slim… all at the same time. And yes, that is a lot to take on [laughs]. It’s true, we do have a very good social welfare system in France that helps women with childcare and getting back to work early, but there is a lot of pressure to ‘have it all’. It’s a weight on our shoulders.
MC: And are French women really as effortless as they seem?
MLM: That’s a big joke, isn’t it? Nobody can look that good without putting in effort, especially when you get a bit older. French women put a lot of effort to stay slim. Once, I didn’t want to celebrate New Year’s Eve, so I boycotted it. I woke up the morning after and went to the swimming pool. I couldn’t believe how many women were at the pool. At nine o’clock in the morning on New Year’s Day! So don’t tell me we don’t make an effort. The thing is, we’re not supposed to say it or to show it.
MC: Is the same true for fashion?
MLM: French fashion looks effortless but it’s not effortless. It’s expensive and a lot of thought goes into your appearance. For example, French women don’t want to have the perfect outfit, where the top matches the skirt or the bottoms. There is an element of making clothes your own and adapting them to your style. And think of a designer like Isabel Marant. If you look at her clothes, they are very simple, but it’s the fabrics and the shapes that make them fashionable. You need to be aware of these things to know how fashionable they are. It’s fashion for people who are in the know, and that requires a lot of effort.
MC: You used to live in Australia. Did our concept of the French woman adhere to the cliché?
MLM: Yes, when I met Australians I was immediately considered to be elegant, sexy and a good cook. But, also, many Australians don’t care about French women - and good on them, they shouldn’t.
The Truth About French Women by Marie Le Moel is out now.
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