Living in Clips

I have never seen myself as being particularly Parisian in my attitude nor in my style. Many friends back home in Scotland have said so since I moved to Paris seven years ago. It’s not really a sentiment I particularly agreed with or enjoyed hearing, to be honest. Perhaps because I am so proud to be Scottish I’ve always wanted to represent that in my attitude and in my sense of style.

But, now, that begs the question: what is Scottish style and attitude? I’d like to think we are extroverts, we are bold and not afraid to try daring new things … but wait a minute, that’s not the style I am trying to cultivate and live by. I am trying to refine a wardrobe full of those timeless classics, sober tones, great quality fabrics and all beautifully manufactured.

My style is simple and hardly ever daring. Sure I like those oversize pieces and accessories best but that’s usually as bold as I go … Have I been cultivating a Parisian style all this time ? So seven years on and after reading How to be Parisian Wherever You Are I believe my friends had have a point. Something I am now feeling relatively proud of, actually. As for my nonchalant Parisian attitude, well, I’m still working on that.

There is a lot of great style advice and tips in this book and I noted quite a few. The Parisian woman teaches us that ultimately less is more — and I couldn’t agree more. She teaches us to be confident with what we’ve got, to love our body, to love the skin we are in and if there is something we don’t love about ourselves she teaches us ways in which we can accept even our not-so-favorable assets.

“In short, you’re not a slave to the cult of the perfect body — so  learn to make the best of what nature gave you.”

Now I have read more than quite a few bad reviews about this book from Parisian women themselves and believe me I understand where they are coming from. But if you look past chapters like “how to make him think you have a lover” (unless you like playing games with men — I know I certainly don’t) and look at it from a style perspective, there are so many things you can take away from this book and live by. These Parisian women know what the most important wardrobe essentials are and what you most certainly won’t find in her closet, and they aren’t afraid to share it.

However, if I can’t quite convince you to read How to be Parisian Wherever You Are then I hope instead you will come back to the blog as I found so many style tips in its pages that I will continue to use it as a fashion talking and reference point for future articles here on Living In Clips.

Below is a short clip for you to watch with Caroline de Maigret (one of the book’s authors) discussing her Parisian style.

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 Book – How to be Parisian Wherever You Are