Here's my take: elegance is not about what you wear, but how you treat others. You can take all the tips presented here to be "elegant," but if you treat people like trash, no amount of accessories or clothes can save you. Wear what you want and treat others with respect and kindness...that's the definition of elegance.
So true. Regardless of how one looks, beautiful or maybe not so much so, neither of us can help how we look. Everybody is accountable for their actions.
To have class is different from looking elegant. You can look very elegant and be an abhorrent person. Depending on the circles, carrying yourself with a certain arrogance might even be considered elegant by your peers (not that I agree, but it's a fact).
I remember the late author Erma Bombeck said in her last book that she wished she had bought a pretty yellow coat instead of being practical and buying a black one. She wished she had been more free with fashion over the course of her life. I never forgot that and I strived to wear what I love, not be afraid of color, and be open to try different styles. My wardrobe now is becoming one that I am most proud of and whether it is considered high class or not I love it and feel confident in my clothing and my style.
Wear whatever makes you comfortable and yes new things attract us too there's no need to feel ashamed of buying and wearing thinking that wether you will look elegant or not... Remember life is too short for these shit... Just enjoy😊
That’s sad, but wonderful that she shared that wisdom and now you dress yourself as you wish. Life is too short. We should wear sustainable, cruelty-free adornments that are as wild or delicate or masculine as we want. I wear glitter on my cheeks and nose everyday. If no makeup, I, at least, must have my glitter. I decided a long time ago too to let some part of myself shine, even if I can’t in every way that I’d like. 💕
Agree with everything except the puffy coat. I used to be into layering, but it's so troublesome and my coat gets too tight. I bought a puffy coat, it's windproof and it's so nice and warm without all the drama. It brings me so much joy in the winter.
A puffy coat is a must in Scandinavia, I'm afraid. I live in Denmark, and for the better part of the year it's super windy and chilly here. I own a couple of nice wool and cashmere coats, but there are a lot of days when they simply don't cut it, layering or no layering.
Not a fan of puffer coats, but aside from the ecological consequences of the material , I live in the climate known as temperate rain forest. Pretty much as described. A sodden puffer coat can’t compete here with wool and layers of natural fibre. Warm even when wet.
@@Mrs_Beanbag yeah it's sad, and other countries probably think we are ugly or more politly "not an easy apparence", but i know they put so much mold in their beauty standards that very few people can be considered pretty there. Here, if you take care of yourself and are groomed and well-dressed, it's enough to get you compliments. I actually don't know any woman around me who do their makeup heavy. Most of them don't wear any, my mom just put mascara everyday and she's good to go (she would not be considered good looking in the US, but here she's a catch ngl). Botox, fillers and esthetic surgeries are even less common and very frown upon. Tbh, we don't always dress nice, but you know we are in a good mood when we do.
She is sharing insights of what elegance represents for the French because that is what she is. French. It’s a great opportunity to learn about cultural differences instead of being triggered. 😉
Totally. And, to tell the truth, majority of the takes she presented are already embedded in our heads - I don't consider Stanley cup as elegant. A lot of things that famous celebs do like countouring & the eyebrows definition also come as a bit trashy or sexy-trashy. Even when done well and on a beautiful girl. And the russian eye-lashes & fur coats - 100%. Am far from elegant but I can still imagine an elegant woman and its just like that - a rich princess to whom elegance comes effortlessly - not through botox or huge accessories. We already know what is elegant and its not Kim Kardasian, even if beautiful
I don't think the items she "X" are elegant looking in any culture, if I'm being completely honest. They might be fun and cute, but no, they're not elegant.
@@emarie107 am not French but they are pretty elegant to me. And the examples of the celebs were indeed more sexy rather than elegant - i think she is spot on. And that specific item - Stanley cup. It does look bulky and makes you think that one is easily influenced by the marketing rather than elegant.
I must not be an elegant lady. I refuse to let someone with a Mary Pickford circa 1925 hairdo tell me what doesn't look elegant. My Stanley cup is a necessity during 100+ degree humid summer days. As are my Scrunchies when the humidity gets a hold of my curly hair.
What you say makes sense. I will not however be giving up my puffer coat in a Canadian winter when it can sometimes be minus 35 Celsius with windchill. A wool coat with a little vest underneath won't be warm enough, and the down lined hood keeps me warm and dry in a blizzard. How cold does it get in Norway? Hate to say it I also wear dad shoes, so comfortable!
There is absolutely no obligation to change how you dress! My intention is to share a rulebook of elegant French fashion, but at the end of the day, fashion is an art, so it is impossible to go wrong. We had -20 (-4 F) this winter, but then I also wore a puffer coat ;) Under those temperatures, I don't think elegance is a priority 😂
Answer to that is wool! Best part is it's breathable so you can wear it comfortably from autumn to spring temperatures unlike puffers that are for specific temp ranges otherwise you'll be sweating your ass off. Also wool coats are a lot more durable. Touching something hot will not melt it like it does for plastic and tiny holes "heal" themselves while puffers (cheap ones especially) start bleeding stuffing fast. Mine is about 15 years old and looks brand new. That said wool is heavy and a lot stiffer than puffers. And can't wash it in your washing machine like other clothes. It needs to be looked after and you'll need to dry clean it which can be a pain in a world of fast fashion due to which dry cleaners are out of business and becoming harder and harder to find.
We are very lucky as Canadians: It can go down to -35 C or less, so we wear basically a sub zero sleeping bag with arms, scarf over face and the equivalent of insulated boxes with ice grips on feet, so not only are we unrecognizable, everyone has polar bear proportions no matter how slim. Haha
Hello Madam, I noticed you said elegant women won’t wear plastic, but suggested to wear vegan leather. I believe vegan leather is plastic. Companies now call it “vegan leather” to attract those who don’t know the difference.
The better vegan leathers are made from organic materials like apple peel, mushroom, pineapple which looks and last far better then the plastic version
Vegan leather is labeled as such because individuals who don't want to wear or carry animal flesh can quickly ID the products they are looking for when shopping.
@@3112isabel what a weird, childish and sarcastic response. Not at all what I meant. In the absence of your ability to comprehend, don’t burden me with your messed up nonsense.
Huh? This video is for people curious about classic fashion pieces. Of course authenticity matters. So does keeping hydrated. I don't see how these things are related.
100% agree with point number 10. In all my travels to France, I've always been amazed at how beautifully and gracefully the women age. They don't hide their wrinkles or laugh lines but rather embrace them. I've observed that the average woman doesn't use heavy makeup or contouring, etc. (Not talking of celebs or models or fashion rebels, etc) ... The joy in their face, the good skin, the slim physique, and the twinkle in the eye keep them looking young and graceful. These things are captivating enough for the viewer to forget everything else. ❤
I do agree it is a more desirable state of being - but you are wrong to believe French women don't get fat, or frumpy, and those who do not meet the standard pf elegance, or do not age gracefully, certainly can feel the absence of a warm regard from the world at large.
@karenkeith7558 lol, I never said that no one gets fat or overweight, etc! I was talking of the average ..... the french people I viewed on the streets, in the conference rooms, in cafes, in the theatre, my friends, my professional colleagues etc. I observed that French women, on average, were slender and seemed to take care of themselves... like they put in some effort to make themselves presentable and took good care of themselves in a more holistic way, rather than cosmetic/plastic surgery way. Such a wholesome approach is not often seen in many cultures or societies! Unfortunately, most societies today discriminate and marginalise overweight or unique looking people because of the new beauty standards commonly perpetuated by media..... in today's world, looking like either a beanpole or Jessica Rabbit is admired. It's the sad reality in many societies nowadays. Again, I never said that there were no fat people. And nor do I mean any disrespect to them. I was simply commenting about the majority of the ladies that I saw throughout my many travels in France as well as my interactions with international colleagues (some of who are French ladies).
Yes most of them look pulled together when they leave the house. As for obesity, many people in Europe walk or bike to destinations in their areas. Even using metro, they walk to station. Many other countries worldwide have also banned the use of many of the food additives that are in most things here in the states. There is sugar in everything here and/or GMO food. We also have growth hormone and antibiotics in most of the meat at store. There's a reason why many girls start their cycles as young as 9 now. 😡 Here in the states, we used to walk a lot more, be outside more. For the last 20 years, drive or Uber everywhere, glued to TV, phone or video games. I'm 58, and when I was growing up and into 20s, an obese kid or teen was a rarity. What we called baby fat in tweens was lost after puberty. While some adults were overweight, it wasn't an epidemic like it is now.
I live in Sweden and looks like almost every single girl has to wear orange foundation, tons of makeup, ultra filled in lips and horrible fake lashes. I think that the french elegance will always be the most iconic, simple and perfect. The ultimate bespoke elegance.
exactly, it's really funny when Europeans come for the first time and they need to spend winter in that climate Had a French guy come and he was talking shit about what people were wearing and I'll never forget the first day it got super cold and him trying to stay warm with what he was wearing. It was the funniest thing ever, especially his realization that this was not a battle that could be won. He looked infinitely worse with his scarf that he used to try to cover his head. More like he'd got wounded in a war zone and was all baded up, lol Come on, when in Rome Speaking of which, had a friend whose future wife moved to Montreal also but from Italy. She showed up with those thin leather gloves and Italian leather boots, ready to face the cold. Oh, how we laughed.
Notice all is "elegance" in FRANCE. Basically, her opinion on what is elegant. This life can be tough, make it happy however and whatever makes the wearer happy. 🌹
Yeah. What makes me smile is camp as heck outfit. I mean, I have an IKEA themed outfit with the IKEA bucket hat as a focus, if that gives an idea. And also ‘kawaii’ fashion and EGL fashion. I want to push my fashion as far as possible before it goes full costume.
I’m a Russian woman and I don’t have neither botox nor false lashes. I’d say that only 5% percent of women here do what you say we do. And I wish I could wear an elegant coat with a puffer vest underneath but it’s impossible with our winter. Yes, I wear a puffer coat, puffer pants, thick gloves and pull my thick hat over my ears so that you can hardly see my eyes.
@@lenab.1401 I think she’s speaking in stereotypes, which is wrong. Throughout the video, she kept implying that Russian women are tasteless while saying, ‘we French are elegant’ 🤦♀️ Honestly speaking, it’s very silly video
While elegance can change from country to country, and even woman to woman, it is almost like it comes down to balance and not being pretentious. (For me, wearing hair clips is like that… I get so many compliments every time I throw my hair up in one.) Ultimately, it is about being comfortable in one’s own skin. Really appreciated the last part where you spoke about enhancing what we do have vs trying to change our appearance entirely.
While I appreciate your sentiment, elegance doesn't change from country to country. It's considered timeless for a reason. There is no place on earth where the dress code is formal attire/elegant and one would come in sneakers or would wear a plastic hair clip. It's true that beauty ideals and trends differ in every country, but the concept of elegance doesn't change x
@@alexandraneag1229 And I beg to differ! You must never have been to Seattle's Opera House for one of their operas: Jeans and sneakers abound. It's quite depressing. And the many American weddings where young men show up in jeans and runners (absolutely no clue regarding the meaning of 'formal').
Yeah I will not be giving up all my adorable/dorky hair clips. Working as a nurse, you don't have a lot of ways to be creative with clothing and a cute clip that'll keep all your hair up is great!
@@andreaandrea6716 I believe you tbh! I live in North of England and the same applies unfortunately. But I guess my point is that even if they don't care about respecting the dress code and the occasion, they know nonetheless that the way they show up is not elegant. So no matter how you choose to show up, people still have the same elegance definition and expectations.
Love the French or basically European idea of beauty: Be you, well groomed, quietly confident. You dont need to shout to be heard as someone who has their life togethe, instead of an avatar that looks like one of four avatars ( mob wife, Fox News anchor woman, Kardashian, professional sex worker) As we age, our character shows more in our faces: Embrace it!
@@alrunella No :). I mean garish jewelery, far too much hairspray, false eyelashes, overwhelming perfume, lots of designer labels.., Basically, a billboard to loudly show off how much (criminally sourced) money someone spends on her to show his earning power trying desperately to tackily buy their way into the elite.
@@alrunella Wife of a crime boss, including oligarch level. She exists in order to show what he can afford, so she is covered in obvious and garish jewelry, designer labels, unnatural makeup and generally over dressed for the occasion. Desperate bid to buy their way into elite class.
I don’t mean to be rude but as a brown woman from South Asia, I think the French need to stop defining it for the women of the world what it means to look elegant or dress elegantly. The fact that she keeps using French style interchangeably with elegance is so unbelievably arrogant. Women of color wear all sorts of things. Things with inscriptions. Big massive ethnic jewelry. There is often a lot of maximalism in south Asian style. We need not be told by French women that’s not elegant. And that point about LV bags honestly just made me physically cringe. It felt like the subtext was that probably an underdog or an outsider wore it a certain way so to the “elegant” old money women and french women (who it seems have dibs on elegance) instantly became gauche or unsophisticated. 😅 damn. I might be wrong but that’s how it came across to me. Why gate keep elegance so hard? I think we need to open our minds to what elegance can be and how it changes with time. And how it’s influenced by so many different ethnic groups and cultures.
You're spot on re: the LV bags! In my opinion, the most elegant outfits are the Indian Saree, and the ensemble is most definitely not "less is more", but it is absolute elegance.
You do realize that she's talking about FRENCH style, not what should be style or elegance the world over, right?? This is common known timeless French style that's been talked about for years, especially around when that book French Women Don't Get Fat came out quite some time ago. You wanna dress/act like/be like a French woman, then this is what's typical of classic French style. THAT'S IT. There's no gatekeeping, there's no "you must only do this or you're trashy" type of stuff. Again, this is FRENCH style, IF you want it. I have no doubt many would be interested in what's considered timeless style/elegance from where you live. You wouldn't be gatekeeping elegance, it's just different country to country.
The lv bags means trashy in the western world because trash ppl like the ones used in the examples and all the rap, hiphop and similar things use real and pirated ones. So if you like that i have bad news for you, you can wear it but is not “elegant” at all now. Though i also don’t agree with her in some points.
As a white woman from Eastern Europe, I think people of color need to stop trying to find things to be insulted by or trying to misinterpret them so they can complain about..smt..
Perhaps not, but it helps to realize that the upper echelons of American society also strive for the same aesthetic. I am referencing the TRUE upper class - NOT just the wealthy. The true upper class are those who may have generational wealth; they are well educated and well mannered. And the very last thing they want is to present themselves as flashy, crass, excessive, etc. Good taste is about refinement rather than creating something out-of-the-norm, disproportionate, superficial or false. If one appears fake (as people who wear designer labels and with excessive cosmetic procedures often do) - then that reads as “trying too hard” - insecure, needy, unbalanced and (contra-intuitively) as lacking the status that one desperately seeks. If one is confident in oneself, one needn’t try and prop up one’s image with garish displays of makeup, nails, revealing too much skin, etc. If you think about it, all of the points presented in this video follow this same sensibility - which transcends nationality.
And who does? I am a multicultural and I'am curious to know your point of view. Apparently it is for a lot of American women as there are a lot of videos on this topic.
She's talking about the fact that it's not over done and visible. Less is more. My motto is, I'd rather look like I need it than look like I've had it. There is a fine line between the two. There is nothing quite so tacky and unappealing than looking over done.
I was in a bar once wearing a plastic hair clip in my hair, and this guy pointed to it and said "My mom has one exactly like that!". He seemed genuinely delighted, like he hadn't expected to walk into a rock bar and see something that makes him feel safe. 😂 I don't wear those outside of the house anymore, not because of him but because years later they sort of went out of style for me. But I do think of him (and his mother) fondly.
@@kathygreer2097 I think it's because people don't realize how massive the United States is. She mentioned France and Norway I think? Well, each one of those nations are the size of a state, so it makes sense we would have a zillion different beauty cultures. 😊
@@kathygreer2097 it0s the general idea that is viewed. In furnace not every woman is elegant. But generally they are. The same with the US. I'm sure there are elegant people there but they are not the rule and the US is definitely not a reference in elegance.
@@heathersteelythe differences between each country in Europe are actual different cultures. Different languages, different times for lunch. You never cant compare the states of USA, where everybody speaks the same language and know the same supermarkets, etc same coins, with the concept of different culture. Then cultures are determined in most part for languages. That is something which only the people of USA think.
I'm sure this has already been stated many times over, but there is an enviable freedom in a culture that allows a woman to age gracefully and look like a refined, polished version of herself at any age. Here in the United States, so many images from your "tacky", and "ungraceful" examples are common and exepected as symbols of wealth. It's almost as if the wealthier your are, the more manufactured you should look. As an American, however, I can also say that there will ALWAYS be a bit of irreverence in our popular style (branded jewelry, graphic shirts, general loudness) as we are a arrogant, young culture who like to be noticed for being "different". I so enjoyed this video, and the general encouragement to embrace womanhood and aging with grace and refinement. Thank you!
Why Always then? Do you think American culture will never age ?😂 I can say for example that old money Americans look much classier than the new money from other countries.
Just to say this piece was about looking *elegant*. She acknowledges that there are other ways to present, but this is how to project that certain vibe, which is understated and suggests wealth and refinement. You can look funky, fun, and maybe rich too - a common vibe in the US- but that is not elegance. I think in US English some think of elegance as somehow equalling being rich, but it is a real misunderstanding of the word.
Agree re how Americans dress more look at me. I drew the line when grocery shopping & an adult woman wore a saying on her shirt which included the f word. That is nasty & in your face!
@@g.flesch9731 I am an American millennial, and you are spot on. I do not wear t-shirts even though it is basically the accepted "mom uniform" and I have 4 little kids. They are the clothing version of a bumper sticker. There are so many better, simpler, more classic pieces available for a good price. It is more modest and respectful of those around you to not wear trash. I know a lot of people here are spun up and taking this video so personally (it's what's on the inside that counts) - well, when I have to look at your bum, your cleavage, your stomach, because you could not be bothered, that is not kind, respectful or considerate either. Right?
Now I understand why my inner self always resisted following those fleeting style trends. The woman within me has always known that I embody a timeless elegance, far beyond what society expects or dictates. Proudly, an Indian 😇💫
@@cinziaalbini3676 well, I guess my mom, from Bergamo, is “flashy”, and I like it. She wore more colorful clothes with larger jewelry pieces. I love Bulgari just as much as Cartier.
@@karlaschmid8757I believe it has to do with the warmer climate which asks for brighter colors. I also wear bright colors in summer and the rest of the year go mostly for muted tones.
Comfort should not demand a lack of culture. Additionally, it's much more comfortable to adopt the majority of the suggestions given in this video rather than trying to buy style, buy youth, buy beauty and wear clothes or shoes, which she pointed out are completely impractical by nature making you even walk poorly or slouch or worst of all self-conscious and/or in pain.
I really need to stop clicking on these "elegant ladies do/don't" videos because they are always just one person's opinion of what looks bad vs. good. I appreciate that this one takes into account what is popular in France so as to not curate opinions based solely on the creator's tastes, but it's still inelegant (in my opinion) to talk negatively about choices that others make that they might like. I agree with a lot of these, but they also vary by person. Some women look very chic and cool wearing graphic tees and puffy coats. Some women are more at home in a long wool coat and nude short nails... Neither is better than the other, but one might be better for one person over the other. We all just need to do what makes us feel confident and not worry about what French women think of us or anything along those lines. Confidence is better than this version of elegance any day of the week. Seconding what another commenter said, kindness and treating others respectfully is better than elegance any day of the week as well. I will now be making a renewed effort to not watch this kind of content.
Elegance is an esthetic. She didn't say that style was better than any other style. She said people in France who dress that esthetic do not wear x, y, z.
As an American living in San Francisco, I agree with you entirely! Of course, I am a Francophile and work to emulate the elegance of French women so perhaps I am biased but I don't think so. I just discovered your channel and will be watching. Thank you for a very informative and pleasant view of elegance.
What I think is great about this fashion mindset is that it’s not at all about impressing and dressing others. As an American - and a psychotherapist - I see SO many people, the majority of people, living and dressing to fit in with the trends. And even though many of they may genuinely enjoy the trends and the changing fashion, I think that if they were to really sit down and reflect, they’d find they are being swept away by our capitalism and living/finding happiness for things and not experiences. I’d like to think I’m pretty aware and I still find myself choosing possessions over experiences. I’m a boho girl who can’t pull off blazers. Yet everyone at my previous job wore them. So out I went to buy some. 3 years later and they haven’t been touched. Even if you don’t like the elegant style, the main bullet points of not dressing to impress but to feel good for you can be taken to any aesthetic. Buying quality materials so your clothes last longer and lay nicely. Especially since you won’t be buying the new trends or replacing fast fashion that is fraying, you’ll want the pieces you love to last as long as possible. With this mindset you’ll feel comfortable and content with your wardrobe and social status. With our capitalism and celebrity culture, you’ll never feel good enough.
You mean we fall pray to consumerism, not capitalism. Capitalism gives people the choice to wear a blazer or not. Consumerism is the urge to buy things that you don't want or need.
This was absolutely high-quality content. Thank you!!! I so much love French style; simple, yet special. Also, i got really proud of myself, so far, my style and preferences have been aligned with your suggestions. Another thing i learned when I was in France, was that clean and shiny hair are important aspect of the overall look. After my visit France, i started to like and embrace my natural hair more. And they look great!
Yep, vegan leather sneakers are vinyl ... Plastic!!! Looking extremely shiny and cheap, I have a pair that I only use for rainy days in town, when I don't wish to wear heavy wellies
I think she is just talking about the shoes that look obviously like cheap plastic, of which she showed examples. Shoes are your foundation - buy quality.
I have no relation to France whatsoever but somehow every time people would meet me for the first time they would assume I'm French. Now it makes so much sense because I'm always looking natural and this is exactly what French women do and on top of that it's either effortless or with a slight effort like the right jewellery, shoes or make up. Thank you for your content, I really enjoy watching your videos🫶
French manicure, 60-70 years ago, was clear polish, and a special white pencil underneath the tip of your natural nails. Once they started painting a hard white line on plastic nails, it became very inelegant.
Im Russian, and while I do not think we have any special “fashion tricks” as a culture, I personally found myself already following some of the “rules” you mentioned, as in: 1. I like Stanleys for their practicality, but I would never buy one, because the amount of craze associated with the brand is embarrassing. I wouldn’t want to be even remotely associated with it. 2. LV and other brands that love to display their logos everywhere on the piece, I would never buy, even when I would have a budget for it. Personally, the more discreet the logo the better, for me. Any luxury item you buy should speak for itself in how well-made they look, without the branding screaming “see, Im expensive”. P.S. you said it so much better “let people guess that you are wealthy, not put it into their face”. 3. Shoes is always kind if a sore spot for me, because I have a minor disability, that prevents me from being able to comfortably wear anything but sneakers. This is the only “sporty” item I wear in an outfit, ‘cause I don’t like the “sporty” vibe. 4. I like my ballerina-shaped short nails, I won’t change them for a world😂 5. I hate puffer jackets, and dream of obtaining a warm winter coat, but Russian winters are so hard on you without these monsters. They make you look like a donut, especially since Im petite😭. 6. As a MUA, I LOVE French philosophy on aging. When you study makeup/faces so closely, almost any filler, especially a lip filler, is always visible. Personally, I wouldn’t want to get any lip or cheek/face filler, other than, maaaybe a frown lines filler, cause I have a very active face. So, maaaybe when Im closer to 40s? But seeing 20s yo fill their faces being 22 myself is kind of crazy to me. 7. These “russian volume” (I didn’t know they are called that😂) lashes cheapens any face, for me. Stripper lashes. 8. As a MUA, I love a bright eye or a dark lip occasionally, and there is a way to make contouring look harmonious with your face. But I also love a very sheer coverage with pimples/anything like that still visible, so I do understand what you are talking about.
We don't call them Russian Lashes here in the UK, though I can understand why they can be called that. It's the New Money vibe rather than a Russian vibe really.
FYI you’d use Botox for frown/forehead lines 🙂 Unless you allow them to get so deep that the lined are permanent and you need to fill them. The goal of Botox is to prevent the very deep lines from showing. A little bit goes a very long way - especially when done by someone who knows what they’re doing. Kate Middleton, for example, has had quite a bit of Botox and filler in almost every area of her face, but you can’t tell.
Is this Stanley not very heavy and unhandy to carry? I have no idea. I’m from Europe and never see somebody with this in my country. I always have a small Bottle Evian Water with me.
Hello from NC! OMG, I just got my first one from Starbucks. They had a seasonal collaboration with Stanley so I used couple of gift cards some clients gave me. Otherwise, I would've purchased it, but it is super heavy and cumbersome esply when its full! It's so tall esply with the straw adding extra height. The handle juts out like it's a Spartan sheild grip..lowkey a hot mess😂. And the colors/designs or bland but yet bold like a neon juggernaut..😂! If you have time and strength to hold it, tryst me youre in a class of your own!
I love what you said about the French wanting to enhance their natural look. I think that's essentially how I was raised. My mother is from Central America and I am a middle-aged woman now. But she still loves simplicity and natural fibers and not pretending she is something she isn't. She is very beautiful, even at almost 80 years old. I learned a lot of classy concepts from her that I'm hearing in your video and I appreciate it. Unfortunately in the US many of the fashion faux pas you mention are commonplace. I really despise those poofy cloud shoes! Haha, one of my boys bought himself a pair and I told him he could never leave the house wearing them. Thank you for the tips and good to know about French manicure. I was taught not to paint my fingernails, but to keep them short and clean. Interesting.
I agree with you and as an American woman over 50, I started incorporating all of these points naturally and feel confident in my individual style and aesthetic. I wear minimal makeup and I op for clothes from natural fibers, I prioritize skin care over everything else and wear minimal makeup as I live in Florida and heavy makeup feels awful and makes me terribly uncomfortable. I wear jewelry that I love and usually holds some sort of story or sentimental value for me. For example, when my mother passed away it took me forever to go through her things with my sister but when we got to her jewelry box, I received the things she had picked out for me and unbeknownst to me my husband spotted an earring that was missing its mate so he asked my sister if he could have it and of course she said yes but neither said anything to me. He took that earring and had a necklace made for me and it is my absolute favorite piece of jewelry. It goes with everything and I wear it nearly everyday. It has special meaning to me and no one else on earth has a necklace like it. I am not a fan of looking like everyone else nor am I a fan of standing out for the wrong reasons. First impressions matter whether we like it or not! Be classy from the inside out! ❤
This is interesting. My mother grew up in a bi-lingual area (French/English) suburb in Canada (not an officially French speaking Province. The French speakers there and their descendants came straight France. So many of your recommendations have been passed down through several generations of our family even though (with the exception of my mother (and perhaps now me-I’m working on it) we were strictly Anglophone. It is that it is generational that surprises me a little. These ways stand the test of time, with very little deviation. I don’t always follow this rules but when I am being careful and I do, I get a very good reception everywhere and the one word I hear a lot is elegant. My mother is deceased so she is not here to remind me. Thank you for the refresher courses, during the lockdowns I became especially sloppy with the rules. I’m going to start practicing them again. ❤
All American young women who are stuffed with filler and Botox in their twenties and fake hair extensions and eye lashes need to see your page! Love It
I am a Certified nurses assistant. My idea of class and dignity is my daily outfit of "scrubs" and my hair in a ponytail, and taking care of the needs of the sick and terminal.
Loved this, especially the hot take at the end: enhancers such as Botox, fillers, over the top lashes. I live in America and here, it’s all you see. It’s refreshing to hear cultures out there appreciate natural beauty.
Love the last one - a more natural look and learning how to enhance your natural features. I feel like America leans more toward how you described Norway - the emphasis on injectables, surgery, fake lashes, etc etc is almost overwhelming.
As an American from the south, I totally agree about the fillers and Botox. Ladies here are starting way too young with all that. I’m 44 and I think I go more towards the French idea of makeup and skin care. My every day makeup consists of eye brow pencil, since mine are very light, neutral eye shadow, brown eye liner, a little mascara, and I like to use a tinted moisturizer or a good bb cream for foundation. I’ve got freckles, there is no way to hide them, and I don’t like having a heavy foundation, I don’t think it’s great for your skin. I totally agree about the shoes too and the labels. If it has a label I’d like it to be small, unnoticeable. I do not like walking around as an advertisement for some designer.
As an American from Nebraska, this video made me feel like a slob 😂 I enjoy watching videos like this. I’m not putting down the video at all ❤ everything she said is everything the women here do. 😅 Fashion is so different in other cultures. It is so interesting to me . I wish we were more like the French culture in a lot of ways. I hate all the Botox! It just makes people look fake. And it is pretty funny to watch people walk around with those big Stanley Cups 😂 I have a beautiful stainless steel water bottle 💦. I’m going to get that one out and start using it. ☺️
I am not French, but I can 100% relate to these rules and I have been following them forever. Plus another rule, my handbag and shoes always match in colour and style. Warm regards from a francophile Austrian woman ❤
Elegant for me. I think it’s not about you wear something fancy or not But you feel confident with yourself feel comfort feel happy, feel amazing and feel that’s me that from the elegant feeling not about brands not about expensive but about the feeling in the confident you are that’s all
I personally think elegance comes from the inside. A lot of people think they are elegant just because of them using “elegant” clothes. But in my opinion it is on the mannerisms. Maybe a lot of people disagree on that one but it is my personal opinion nonetheless.
Thank you very much for your support! Really appreciate it. I'm Russian, never had my nails done in a salon, no lash extensions, no botox. The reference to the video doesn't offend me a lot but still feels kind of unpleasant and not elegant
Agree! She talks about elegance and teaches women how to be elegant, but the way she speaks is neither elegant nor appropriate. It was a bit silly to mention Russian women in that way
I think she is referring to the style of lashes, they are called "Rusian lashes", I ignore the reason why; same for instance, with "French manicure", in her opinion it isn´t elegant, but it is how they call that style of manicure; I don't think it was a reference of nationality in a derogatory way.
thank you so much for including examples of different hair types and races in your video. seeing curly hair in the scrunchie/plastic hair clip section made me feel so great inside. made me happy. thank you
I clicked on this video out of curiosity like I’m sure some of you did and it’s interesting to see how many people watched just to comment in disagreement. She's just giving her opinion but really wants the point in watching style videos or what wear/ not wear videos if you’re just gonna disagree and say “elegance is wearing what you want” or “ elegant woman don’t care what others wear”. She may be giving the French perspective but some of the things she listed I think relate to class also. People in certain social circles and tax brackets aren’t going to wear certain things listed for the most part. Also I think graphic tees, yoga pants/leggings /sweatpants are just part of casual dressing down in the US. Not bashing it, it’s just what you will typically see. I agree about LV monogram bags. I think it’s been over consumed by the middle class to the point that it’s considered basic. I saw a meme that included the LV tote as part of the “baby mama starter kit” lol. Just my opinions.
Say it for the people in the back (USA) Stanley Cups are soooo cheap looking. And I'm American 🇺🇸. Those designer jewelry stacks look desperate. If you get a high-end down jacket, the puff is not out of control. I have one and need it for the long, cold New England winters. 😊
I think the big Stanley cups are great for long drives in the car. Or from and to yoga in a car. The US you sometimes have long distances in the car. Not for walking in the city or as i do to the gym on a bike in Amsterdam
Elegance means withdrawing yourself from the devaluing comments about other nations. “Botox Russian wifes” would show more consideration. The kindness of the mind - that’s the true elegance.
Recently found your channel and just subscribed. Such a breath of fresh air in the current world! I'm Spanish but been living in UK for many years. I wasn't sure if it was a UK thing or an age thing (I'm almost 50 and quite oblivious to certain fashion trends) but those orange faces with painfully obvious fake lashes and massive fake lips, it was never my thing. I think it makes everybody look (horribly) the same, and all personality is gone! Thank you for the tips!
Exactly! I also live in the UK. Those terrible eyelash extensions are so common among British women, so I don’t understand why she mentions Russians in this context. I don’t know a single Russian girl who wears eyelashes that badly. The author should have mentioned British girls, not Russians
It was interesting to hear your personal point of view how people concider beauty culture wise. This video makes me want to visit France :) I love the idea of enhancing our individual features and the principal „less is more”. I’m with you, I get it and I totally like it 😻 it is funny however to see how some people got irritated. Actually it means to me that they felt inelegant in some way. Lots of love to everyone regardless what they want to do with their outfit, just be your true and bold self. Because elegance to me is unfeigned.
I love this so much! My area has a trend of tons of tattoos, everyone is getting them even Grandma and Grandpa. I feel like everyone is copying everyone in that you have to have a tat on your body. It's really not unique, especially when you go out to eat and your server and everyone they work with are clearly going to the same tattoo artist. This is all refreshing! Thank you.
Loved this! This has always been my fashion taste (with a few exceptions like the scrunchie) and i love the fact that the french culture validates that. Trust me people ask me how i do that and i always reply them with “less is more”. You attract more people and turn more heads with these tips.
What you said about Norwegian beauty standards for women is so spot on! It's exactly the same in Sweden, and I'm a Swedish woman living in Paris since just a few years. I always had an awkward feeling I look like a s*utty Viking in comparison to all these elegant French women but couldn't quite put my finger on why... but thanks to your advice now I can AND I have the tools to change my ways! Merci mille fois!!
I'm English, we too have mastered the 'Slutty Viking' look. Since most of the SVs' here seem to be about 16, I'm hoping they'll grow out of it. I'm just glad the internet wasn't around when I was that age; we were all dressed like the group Bross.
I love that philosophy and totally agree with it; elegance, beauty, style is all about enhancing or even portraying what you want and how you want in your own unique way instead of walking around like a instagram filter
I agree, if you want to follow these French guidelines move to France. I guess only French women are elegant. Wear what you want and what suits the climate you live in.
Then why did you even watch a video about French style by a French women with a French channel name?? Oh right, had to get your two cents in regardless. Ah well, it boosts the algorithm in her favor for her channel either way. 😉
My Mom grew up in Los Angeles in the 1950s, and emulated the "Old Hollywood Glamour", much of which was similar to what you are talking about. Her family wasn't wealthy, but my Grandmother made her clothes out of good fabric, from patterns they chose for their tasteful and flattering looks. Natural fabrics, clean lines, classic color combinations, show style rather than 'fashion'. I grew up in the 1970s, so the more casual, natural look was popular. But the overdone botox, plastic surgery, fake lashes, etc. are everywhere now. I can't tell you how many times I've come across a young woman working working at a bank, a restaurant, or a store, who has those crazy butterfly eyelashes. They are so distracting, and I find it keeps me from taking her seriously, which when I was that age, was the one thing I wanted most. I hope more young women will see your videos and choose to dress with style and elegance.
Thank you! I love this kind of content, classic chic is so much more desireable than the "instagram style" nowadays. I'd love to learn more about the style of an elegant home and also how to behave in society, at the table, etc. Please let me know, how you keep your skin so beautifully white. As for me, I feel french women are extraordinary beautiful because the don't try to fit into that "ideal frame", but show their individualism. Like with hairstyle, wrinkles, etc. In a crowd of "instram beauties" you can spot the french women at once because the look "different" or distinctive.
6:44 the photo on the left is from Moscow Red Square. Winter in Russia is -25 degrees so it’s difficult not to put this huge piece on and still keep warm . Still thank you for the recommendations we can use them from April to September 😂
-25 is winter in Moscow maybe but winter in another part of Russia is around -40 and we wear real fur coat not just because we have this misconception of elegance but just because it’s the only way to stay warm and safe, with ethical fur coat you would be frozen already. I found this video very silly because obviously this girl doesn’t prepare properly the information, especially about Russian women, she was always mentioning them in a negative way. If she had ever been to the UK she would never connect Russians with eyelash extensions as the number of British women wearing vulgar eyelash extensions is horrifying but in Russia it’s very rare. In all countries you can find elegant people and opposite, so I think it’s quite stupid and not ethical to mention nationality in this context
I agree botox and fillers are a big no no for me. I wear eye liner, mascara, tinted lip balm and in the evening add lip liner to blend, blush. I don’t do the heavy multiple foundation, contouring etc. just simple make light make up so that I look more awake and refresh. My skin is very sensitive, hyperpigmentation so I’m careful of what I use and how much. Lots of sun screen and daily skin care routine is what’s more important to me.
Thank you for this video. I totally agree with the overall message - natural materials, natural look, embracing who you are instead of trying to fit in some impossible ideal of beauty, less is more, no fur. The underlying thing is that we should work on our inner self more than just concentrate on the exterior, because that will give us the confidence to be true to ourselves and be happy about not just how we look, but also how we feel about ourselves. Also, I think that in France all stages of life are appreciated, and women are not afraid of getting older and their age showing. Aging with dignity and elegance is an art in itself.
I loved your elegant coat advice. I know those, we call them Puffer coats here in Vancouver, look gigantic and almost comical…..but, everyone is wearing them. The high fashion streets of Vancouver are flooded with people wearing them. It’s late August and they’re already breaking them out. The thinner versions. We have varying weights of Puff depending on the season. Seriously the Puffer coats are considered an essential. And this is the warmest part of Canada in the wintertime.
omg y'all she says the entire time 'at least according to french elegance...' not like 'it must be this way!' i thought this was a beautiful and tactful video. relevant examples and not hateful. thank you! she says french women get botox etc. just not showy about it like USA. and a lot of the other stuff is TRENDY / cute, but not elegant. she is really clear and i think it's well done. brava.
Every time i watch a content on the topic of elegance, I realize that i am inherently elegant fashion-wise....😊 Many things that you mentioned are things that i would never dream of doing, like the dad shoes, or the infamous LV canvas bag... If it's too commonplace, them it definitely isn't for me.
2:40 It's not about what you are able to wear, but rather what making the material implies.... here it comes with cruelty, so someone who has the money for real (but horrible fur) and choose the fake one, should not be deemed unelegant, on the contrary! Wearing real fur also goes against your 1st argument of being simple and not too flashy...
As a woman with a disability, who lives in a cold country I think I will pass on parts of this. She is welcome to wear wool and heels with my injuries in -20 weather. Enjoy the pain, frostbite, etc. So tired of fashion influencers regulating women's feet.
She's not 'regulating' and you're free to do your own thing. Looking elegant matters sometimes and when it does, she gives good advice. I live in the country and most days practicality and dressing sporty is a better fit.
Women can wear anything they like or want…Regardless if they’re American, European, Asian, African or Mexican. Beauty and elegance exudes from the inside, how you treat others… Clothing and accessories are all material things. Wear whatever makes you comfortable, happy and satisfied!
girl those wool coats just are not gonna cut it in the winter. and i also feel like the scrunchies/hair clips is a bit far because it's such a small detail and genuinely look fine. agree with the rest though. also, let's remember elegance is not all about how you look!
I just discovered your channel tonight. Even though I'm Anerican, I truly believe the French have the right idea when it comes to beauty. The whole enhancement of what you have and be yourself approach is much more inclusive of all women instead of the cookie cutter beauty we find in media today. My 12 yr old daughter is just becoming interested in fashion and makeup. I am trying to teach and model for her that being unique and natural is far more interesting than being like everyone else. As far as nail shapes go, in my opinion, as a licensed nail tech, squoval or rounded off square shapes can be very elegant and pretty. The more square a nail is, the stronger it is because more nail is left for structure. The rounded corners make for a safer nail with less scratching and poking of yourself, your loved ones, and things. Also, many women have square nail beds. It is always a good idea to match the shape of your free edge to the shape of your cuticle. This makes for a more natural looking nail, which I feel embraces the idea of natural beauty the French do so well 😉
@@sarahjohnson3092 My origin is irrelevant here. Everyone knows that all stupid, ugly and trashy trends come from the US. One has to live under the rocks to not know it.
@@carlamata9617 not true. Every suburb in America has 2 dozen dermatologist that are BOOKED solid for fillers. Most women are just getting a pinch, not a full mL.
I think French Manicure is incredibly elegant, like you said, only if it’s not a big white line.. I believe, it’s clean, simple and looks natural and timeless. Other than that, I can understand everything else 😊
They look like a stanley cup on the tip of a finger to me. So plastic and so noticeable. I didn't always think that though, I wore them for a really long time but then one day, they just started to look weird. I'm specifically talking about acrylic nails which is what she showed in her video. If someone has nice natural nails, maybe it looks less clunky and fake.
What would you like to see next? 😊
I would love to see a video about french style makeup!
how about advice on hairstyle?! l have always been using the plastic hairclips and now😢?! Are there more elegant alternatives?
@@MademoiselleSpends How to select and apply perfume :)
Elegant and suitable for norwegian winter shoes, please.😂 I struggle to find.👠🥾👢🥿👟
Men fashion advice might be also very interesting 😊 I would gladly share your opinion with my partner.
Here's my take: elegance is not about what you wear, but how you treat others. You can take all the tips presented here to be "elegant," but if you treat people like trash, no amount of accessories or clothes can save you. Wear what you want and treat others with respect and kindness...that's the definition of elegance.
Exactly
That's what class Is about
So true. Regardless of how one looks, beautiful or maybe not so much so, neither of us can help how we look. Everybody is accountable for their actions.
To have class is different from looking elegant. You can look very elegant and be an abhorrent person. Depending on the circles, carrying yourself with a certain arrogance might even be considered elegant by your peers (not that I agree, but it's a fact).
yes, correct. But here we talk about the look, not the personality
💯 %
Ladies wear what makes you happy ❤❤❤❤
I remember the late author Erma Bombeck said in her last book that she wished she had bought a pretty yellow coat instead of being practical and buying a black one. She wished she had been more free with fashion over the course of her life. I never forgot that and I strived to wear what I love, not be afraid of color, and be open to try different styles. My wardrobe now is becoming one that I am most proud of and whether it is considered high class or not I love it and feel confident in my clothing and my style.
Wear whatever makes you comfortable and yes new things attract us too there's no need to feel ashamed of buying and wearing thinking that wether you will look elegant or not... Remember life is too short for these shit... Just enjoy😊
@@edwinacriear2630 I loved her!
That’s sad, but wonderful that she shared that wisdom and now you dress yourself as you wish. Life is too short. We should wear sustainable, cruelty-free adornments that are as wild or delicate or masculine as we want. I wear glitter on my cheeks and nose everyday. If no makeup, I, at least, must have my glitter. I decided a long time ago too to let some part of myself shine, even if I can’t in every way that I’d like. 💕
Erma Bombeck was great 😌
Excellent point to keep in mind!
Elegant doesn't always equal french...
😂spot on
For sure
100% this 🙌 Exactly.. This video is too much 😂 Remember - No dad shoes!
Roasted 🤣
Thank you for saying this ❤
i rather be warm than freezing elegantly
Exactly!
I laugh to myself when I see someone dressed impeccably and Freezing. I have gone thru that myself....never again! I'm cozy in my parkas
😂😂..
You do realize that there are actually warm AND elegant clothes out there ...
@@garmtpug yeah, parkas
I am a 40 yo black American and I follow ALL these “elegant” rules. I’m also a minimalist and naturalist. Thanks for sharing 👏🏽
Agree with everything except the puffy coat. I used to be into layering, but it's so troublesome and my coat gets too tight. I bought a puffy coat, it's windproof and it's so nice and warm without all the drama. It brings me so much joy in the winter.
agree!!! don't mess with being warm and practicality :P (would try the vests thogh)
there are quality coats that are warm without the puffines. Surpisingly enough I got mine at sports shop but it doesn't look sporty at all.
A puffy coat is a must in Scandinavia, I'm afraid. I live in Denmark, and for the better part of the year it's super windy and chilly here. I own a couple of nice wool and cashmere coats, but there are a lot of days when they simply don't cut it, layering or no layering.
Not a fan of puffer coats, but aside from the ecological consequences of the material , I live in the climate known as temperate rain forest. Pretty much as described. A sodden puffer coat can’t compete here with wool and layers of natural fibre. Warm even when wet.
Wanted to say the same. Winter im Germany is a way too cold.😂
Love the French approach of enhance your beauty instead of looking "like everybody else"
It is originally not french, it was international common sense, but somehow it has been forgotten 🤷♀️
@@aya-chan4784 yeah well then I like about the french that they remember that 😂👍and its ironic that common sense is not that common (anymore)😅
@@Mrs_Beanbag yeah it's sad, and other countries probably think we are ugly or more politly "not an easy apparence", but i know they put so much mold in their beauty standards that very few people can be considered pretty there.
Here, if you take care of yourself and are groomed and well-dressed, it's enough to get you compliments. I actually don't know any woman around me who do their makeup heavy. Most of them don't wear any, my mom just put mascara everyday and she's good to go (she would not be considered good looking in the US, but here she's a catch ngl). Botox, fillers and esthetic surgeries are even less common and very frown upon.
Tbh, we don't always dress nice, but you know we are in a good mood when we do.
The main French rule in Styling Is one piece to stand out
Not overbearing and cluttering the appearance with many things
She should've mentioned that this video is specifically about french elegant women.
She is sharing insights of what elegance represents for the French because that is what she is. French. It’s a great opportunity to learn about cultural differences instead of being triggered. 😉
Reading these comments, I kept thinking the same thing. She is very educational.
Totally. And, to tell the truth, majority of the takes she presented are already embedded in our heads - I don't consider Stanley cup as elegant. A lot of things that famous celebs do like countouring & the eyebrows definition also come as a bit trashy or sexy-trashy. Even when done well and on a beautiful girl. And the russian eye-lashes & fur coats - 100%. Am far from elegant but I can still imagine an elegant woman and its just like that - a rich princess to whom elegance comes effortlessly - not through botox or huge accessories. We already know what is elegant and its not Kim Kardasian, even if beautiful
I don't think the items she "X" are elegant looking in any culture, if I'm being completely honest. They might be fun and cute, but no, they're not elegant.
@@emarie107 am not French but they are pretty elegant to me. And the examples of the celebs were indeed more sexy rather than elegant - i think she is spot on. And that specific item - Stanley cup. It does look bulky and makes you think that one is easily influenced by the marketing rather than elegant.
Blacks always get triggered
1) Stanley cups
2) Louis Vuitton monogram
3) branded jewelry stacks
4)cartoons or inscriptions on clothes
5) artificial fabrics or faux fur
6) plastic shoes - cloud shoes- bulky “dad” sneaker
7) scrunches or plastic hair clips
8) French manicure
9) waffle jackets
10) Botox, fillers, lash extensions a lot of makeup
I must not be an elegant lady. I refuse to let someone with a Mary Pickford circa 1925 hairdo tell me what doesn't look elegant. My Stanley cup is a necessity during 100+ degree humid summer days. As are my Scrunchies when the humidity gets a hold of my curly hair.
What a narrow minded non-elegant statement!😅
@@janettamcgee8124🎤 then you are free, to leave this 0-Dollar-Videocontent of this lady
Thanks!
I LOVE bulky "Dad" sweaters!
What you say makes sense. I will not however be giving up my puffer coat in a Canadian winter when it can sometimes be minus 35 Celsius with windchill. A wool coat with a little vest underneath won't be warm enough, and the down lined hood keeps me warm and dry in a blizzard. How cold does it get in Norway? Hate to say it I also wear dad shoes, so comfortable!
There is absolutely no obligation to change how you dress! My intention is to share a rulebook of elegant French fashion, but at the end of the day, fashion is an art, so it is impossible to go wrong.
We had -20 (-4 F) this winter, but then I also wore a puffer coat ;) Under those temperatures, I don't think elegance is a priority 😂
I agree with video, except for my Puffer coats, the older I get, the colder it is, LOL!
@@MademoiselleSpends survival first; elegance second! ♥☃ I will attempt a layered effect on warmer winter days though.
Answer to that is wool! Best part is it's breathable so you can wear it comfortably from autumn to spring temperatures unlike puffers that are for specific temp ranges otherwise you'll be sweating your ass off.
Also wool coats are a lot more durable. Touching something hot will not melt it like it does for plastic and tiny holes "heal" themselves while puffers (cheap ones especially) start bleeding stuffing fast. Mine is about 15 years old and looks brand new.
That said wool is heavy and a lot stiffer than puffers. And can't wash it in your washing machine like other clothes. It needs to be looked after and you'll need to dry clean it which can be a pain in a world of fast fashion due to which dry cleaners are out of business and becoming harder and harder to find.
We are very lucky as Canadians: It can go down to -35 C or less, so we wear basically a sub zero sleeping bag with arms, scarf over face and the equivalent of insulated boxes with ice grips on feet, so not only are we unrecognizable, everyone has polar bear proportions no matter how slim. Haha
Hello Madam, I noticed you said elegant women won’t wear plastic, but suggested to wear vegan leather. I believe vegan leather is plastic. Companies now call it “vegan leather” to attract those who don’t know the difference.
They are designed to look like leather, not see through str1pper shoes
@@Mindset_Mechanics haha
The better vegan leathers are made from organic materials like apple peel, mushroom, pineapple which looks and last far better then the plastic version
@@aimeegrant6039 oh, interesting
Vegan leather is labeled as such because individuals who don't want to wear or carry animal flesh can quickly ID the products they are looking for when shopping.
Authenticity is what matters.
Yes because being fashionable and elegant automatically means the person is authentic.🥴
@@3112isabel
what a weird, childish and sarcastic response.
Not at all what I meant.
In the absence of your ability to comprehend, don’t burden me with your messed up nonsense.
Huh? This video is for people curious about classic fashion pieces. Of course authenticity matters. So does keeping hydrated. I don't see how these things are related.
@@BeckBeckGo no you don't "get it." So don't burden me with your limited thinking and rudeness.
@@justathought274why are so mad at every response? if u dont care to learn about elagance and care for authenticity go for those videos then … smh
100% agree with point number 10. In all my travels to France, I've always been amazed at how beautifully and gracefully the women age. They don't hide their wrinkles or laugh lines but rather embrace them. I've observed that the average woman doesn't use heavy makeup or contouring, etc. (Not talking of celebs or models or fashion rebels, etc) ... The joy in their face, the good skin, the slim physique, and the twinkle in the eye keep them looking young and graceful. These things are captivating enough for the viewer to forget everything else. ❤
Very well said!!! Nothing like natural beauty!!! Greetings from U.S.A.
I do agree it is a more desirable state of being - but you are wrong to believe French women don't get fat, or frumpy, and those who do not meet the standard pf elegance, or do not age gracefully, certainly can feel the absence of a warm regard from the world at large.
@karenkeith7558 lol, I never said that no one gets fat or overweight, etc! I was talking of the average ..... the french people I viewed on the streets, in the conference rooms, in cafes, in the theatre, my friends, my professional colleagues etc. I observed that French women, on average, were slender and seemed to take care of themselves... like they put in some effort to make themselves presentable and took good care of themselves in a more holistic way, rather than cosmetic/plastic surgery way. Such a wholesome approach is not often seen in many cultures or societies! Unfortunately, most societies today discriminate and marginalise overweight or unique looking people because of the new beauty standards commonly perpetuated by media..... in today's world, looking like either a beanpole or Jessica Rabbit is admired. It's the sad reality in many societies nowadays. Again, I never said that there were no fat people. And nor do I mean any disrespect to them. I was simply commenting about the majority of the ladies that I saw throughout my many travels in France as well as my interactions with international colleagues (some of who are French ladies).
Yes most of them look pulled together when they leave the house.
As for obesity, many people in Europe walk or bike to destinations in their areas. Even using metro, they walk to station.
Many other countries worldwide have also banned the use of many of the food additives that are in most things here in the states. There is sugar in everything here and/or GMO food.
We also have growth hormone and antibiotics in most of the meat at store. There's a reason why many girls start their cycles as young as 9 now. 😡
Here in the states, we used to walk a lot more, be outside more. For the last 20 years, drive or Uber everywhere, glued to TV, phone or video games.
I'm 58, and when I was growing up and into 20s, an obese kid or teen was a rarity. What we called baby fat in tweens was lost after puberty. While some adults were overweight, it wasn't an epidemic like it is now.
I live in Sweden and looks like almost every single girl has to wear orange foundation, tons of makeup, ultra filled in lips and horrible fake lashes. I think that the french elegance will always be the most iconic, simple and perfect. The ultimate bespoke elegance.
I'm all for wearing what makes you feel good and happy. I'm all for bold colourful patterns but you are generally speaking my language overall.
6:16 When it's -40 in Montreal, elegance isn't an option! Lol.
There is no elegance on the ice pack, only survival.
that's exactly what I thought lmao :p
Or Alaska 😂
exactly, it's really funny when Europeans come for the first time and they need to spend winter in that climate
Had a French guy come and he was talking shit about what people were wearing and I'll never forget the first day it got super cold and him trying to stay warm with what he was wearing. It was the funniest thing ever, especially his realization that this was not a battle that could be won. He looked infinitely worse with his scarf that he used to try to cover his head. More like he'd got wounded in a war zone and was all baded up, lol Come on, when in Rome
Speaking of which, had a friend whose future wife moved to Montreal also but from Italy. She showed up with those thin leather gloves and Italian leather boots, ready to face the cold. Oh, how we laughed.
@@i.t.t. Lol. I know, right? Thin leather boots and gloves in the cold? I'd have paid to see that!
All nice tips for those whose goal is to look like that. Life is too short not to wear what makes you smile when reflected back.
💯👍🏿
Notice all is "elegance" in FRANCE. Basically, her opinion on what is elegant. This life can be tough, make it happy however and whatever makes the wearer happy. 🌹
Yeah. What makes me smile is camp as heck outfit. I mean, I have an IKEA themed outfit with the IKEA bucket hat as a focus, if that gives an idea. And also ‘kawaii’ fashion and EGL fashion. I want to push my fashion as far as possible before it goes full costume.
Totally agree! Her: 'Just be beige'!
TOTALLY AGREE...Boring...so 1950's
I’m a Russian woman and I don’t have neither botox nor false lashes. I’d say that only 5% percent of women here do what you say we do.
And I wish I could wear an elegant coat with a puffer vest underneath but it’s impossible with our winter. Yes, I wear a puffer coat, puffer pants, thick gloves and pull my thick hat over my ears so that you can hardly see my eyes.
You'd freeze otherwise. Lol. I see some Russian ladies in NYC dressed the way described in this video, but not too much. Very small percentage.
I think she was talking more about "rich Russian wives" living in France ;) I'm also Russian and I also don't have those)
@@lenab.1401 I think she’s speaking in stereotypes, which is wrong. Throughout the video, she kept implying that Russian women are tasteless while saying, ‘we French are elegant’ 🤦♀️ Honestly speaking, it’s very silly video
Well , maybe its about moscow or near parts of state. There rusian bottox wifes are 90% of women
You are right- Elegant people don’t speak in stereotypes. This is unfortunate.
While elegance can change from country to country, and even woman to woman, it is almost like it comes down to balance and not being pretentious. (For me, wearing hair clips is like that… I get so many compliments every time I throw my hair up in one.) Ultimately, it is about being comfortable in one’s own skin. Really appreciated the last part where you spoke about enhancing what we do have vs trying to change our appearance entirely.
Yes! I love when women put their hair up! I find it very elegant (done well).
While I appreciate your sentiment, elegance doesn't change from country to country. It's considered timeless for a reason. There is no place on earth where the dress code is formal attire/elegant and one would come in sneakers or would wear a plastic hair clip.
It's true that beauty ideals and trends differ in every country, but the concept of elegance doesn't change x
@@alexandraneag1229 And I beg to differ! You must never have been to Seattle's Opera House for one of their operas: Jeans and sneakers abound. It's quite depressing. And the many American weddings where young men show up in jeans and runners (absolutely no clue regarding the meaning of 'formal').
Yeah I will not be giving up all my adorable/dorky hair clips. Working as a nurse, you don't have a lot of ways to be creative with clothing and a cute clip that'll keep all your hair up is great!
@@andreaandrea6716 I believe you tbh! I live in North of England and the same applies unfortunately. But I guess my point is that even if they don't care about respecting the dress code and the occasion, they know nonetheless that the way they show up is not elegant. So no matter how you choose to show up, people still have the same elegance definition and expectations.
Love the French or basically European idea of beauty: Be you, well groomed, quietly confident. You dont need to shout to be heard as someone who has their life togethe, instead of an avatar that looks like one of four avatars ( mob wife, Fox News anchor woman, Kardashian, professional sex worker) As we age, our character shows more in our faces: Embrace it!
Brilliant 🎉: avatar descriptions 😂 so true
@@adriennebrown3778 Spot on, right?
By mob wife, you mean "angry mob" tight? Pitchforks, torches... ? ^^
@@alrunella No :). I mean garish jewelery, far too much hairspray, false eyelashes, overwhelming perfume, lots of designer labels.., Basically, a billboard to loudly show off how much (criminally sourced) money someone spends on her to show his earning power trying desperately to tackily buy their way into the elite.
@@alrunella Wife of a crime boss, including oligarch level. She exists in order to show what he can afford, so she is covered in obvious and garish jewelry, designer labels, unnatural makeup and generally over dressed for the occasion. Desperate bid to buy their way into elite class.
I don’t mean to be rude but as a brown woman from South Asia, I think the French need to stop defining it for the women of the world what it means to look elegant or dress elegantly. The fact that she keeps using French style interchangeably with elegance is so unbelievably arrogant. Women of color wear all sorts of things. Things with inscriptions. Big massive ethnic jewelry. There is often a lot of maximalism in south Asian style. We need not be told by French women that’s not elegant. And that point about LV bags honestly just made me physically cringe. It felt like the subtext was that probably an underdog or an outsider wore it a certain way so to the “elegant” old money women and french women (who it seems have dibs on elegance) instantly became gauche or unsophisticated. 😅 damn. I might be wrong but that’s how it came across to me.
Why gate keep elegance so hard? I think we need to open our minds to what elegance can be and how it changes with time. And how it’s influenced by so many different ethnic groups and cultures.
You're spot on re: the LV bags!
In my opinion, the most elegant outfits are the Indian Saree, and the ensemble is most definitely not "less is more", but it is absolute elegance.
You do realize that she's talking about FRENCH style, not what should be style or elegance the world over, right?? This is common known timeless French style that's been talked about for years, especially around when that book French Women Don't Get Fat came out quite some time ago. You wanna dress/act like/be like a French woman, then this is what's typical of classic French style. THAT'S IT.
There's no gatekeeping, there's no "you must only do this or you're trashy" type of stuff. Again, this is FRENCH style, IF you want it. I have no doubt many would be interested in what's considered timeless style/elegance from where you live. You wouldn't be gatekeeping elegance, it's just different country to country.
The lv bags means trashy in the western world because trash ppl like the ones used in the examples and all the rap, hiphop and similar things use real and pirated ones. So if you like that i have bad news for you, you can wear it but is not “elegant” at all now. Though i also don’t agree with her in some points.
@@Bun777normalize not defining human beings as "trash"
As a white woman from Eastern Europe, I think people of color need to stop trying to find things to be insulted by or trying to misinterpret them so they can complain about..smt..
French women don't define elegance for me.
Sadly many opt for bling with tassels! It's sad that the basics need to be pointed out.
Perhaps not, but it helps to realize that the upper echelons of American society also strive for the same aesthetic.
I am referencing the TRUE upper class - NOT just the wealthy. The true upper class are those who may have generational wealth; they are well educated and well mannered. And the very last thing they want is to present themselves as flashy, crass, excessive, etc.
Good taste is about refinement rather than creating something out-of-the-norm, disproportionate, superficial or false. If one appears fake (as people who wear designer labels and with excessive cosmetic procedures often do) - then that reads as “trying too hard” - insecure, needy, unbalanced and (contra-intuitively) as lacking the status that one desperately seeks.
If one is confident in oneself, one needn’t try and prop up one’s image with garish displays of makeup, nails, revealing too much skin, etc.
If you think about it, all of the points presented in this video follow this same sensibility - which transcends nationality.
And who does? I am a multicultural and I'am curious to know your point of view.
Apparently it is for a lot of American women as there are a lot of videos on this topic.
Good for you?
What do you.... I'm sorry, what's your point?
Sorry, that was confusing. Let me rephrase. Why do we care what defines elegance FOR YOU? Who are you?
French women DO use fillers and botox, what are you talking about? They just don´t talk about it but its a FACT
She's talking about the fact that it's not over done and visible. Less is more. My motto is, I'd rather look like I need it than look like I've had it. There is a fine line between the two. There is nothing quite so tacky and unappealing than looking over done.
@@elfin1358 Oh! I absolutely agree on than. Hate the overdone results, lack of naturality
but they never look like botox russian wife.
@@ivanafikackova4302 What is that, please? Too much botox, you mean?
@@pichichipichi yes and other things as they look extremely artificial - like they are made from plastic and not living humans.
I was in a bar once wearing a plastic hair clip in my hair, and this guy pointed to it and said "My mom has one exactly like that!". He seemed genuinely delighted, like he hadn't expected to walk into a rock bar and see something that makes him feel safe. 😂 I don't wear those outside of the house anymore, not because of him but because years later they sort of went out of style for me. But I do think of him (and his mother) fondly.
what do you use instead of clip claws? i'm looking for something different than them
The US is hard to say, because it's such a huge country, every few hundred miles you find a different beauty culture.
Thank you! So tired of people lumping us all together.
@@kathygreer2097 I think it's because people don't realize how massive the United States is. She mentioned France and Norway I think? Well, each one of those nations are the size of a state, so it makes sense we would have a zillion different beauty cultures. 😊
@@heathersteely Yes! Funny, I was just talking about that very thing today with two of my grands. 😊
@@kathygreer2097 it0s the general idea that is viewed. In furnace not every woman is elegant. But generally they are. The same with the US. I'm sure there are elegant people there but they are not the rule and the US is definitely not a reference in elegance.
@@heathersteelythe differences between each country in Europe are actual different cultures. Different languages, different times for lunch. You never cant compare the states of USA, where everybody speaks the same language and know the same supermarkets, etc same coins, with the concept of different culture. Then cultures are determined in most part for languages. That is something which only the people of USA think.
I'm sure this has already been stated many times over, but there is an enviable freedom in a culture that allows a woman to age gracefully and look like a refined, polished version of herself at any age. Here in the United States, so many images from your "tacky", and "ungraceful" examples are common and exepected as symbols of wealth. It's almost as if the wealthier your are, the more manufactured you should look. As an American, however, I can also say that there will ALWAYS be a bit of irreverence in our popular style (branded jewelry, graphic shirts, general loudness) as we are a arrogant, young culture who like to be noticed for being "different". I so enjoyed this video, and the general encouragement to embrace womanhood and aging with grace and refinement. Thank you!
Why Always then? Do you think American culture will never age ?😂 I can say for example that old money Americans look much classier than the new money from other countries.
Just to say this piece was about looking *elegant*. She acknowledges that there are other ways to present, but this is how to project that certain vibe, which is understated and suggests wealth and refinement. You can look funky, fun, and maybe rich too - a common vibe in the US- but that is not elegance. I think in US English some think of elegance as somehow equalling being rich, but it is a real misunderstanding of the word.
I totally agree
Agree re how Americans dress more look at me. I drew the line when grocery shopping & an adult woman wore a saying on her shirt which included the f word. That is nasty & in your face!
@@g.flesch9731 I am an American millennial, and you are spot on. I do not wear t-shirts even though it is basically the accepted "mom uniform" and I have 4 little kids. They are the clothing version of a bumper sticker. There are so many better, simpler, more classic pieces available for a good price. It is more modest and respectful of those around you to not wear trash. I know a lot of people here are spun up and taking this video so personally (it's what's on the inside that counts) - well, when I have to look at your bum, your cleavage, your stomach, because you could not be bothered, that is not kind, respectful or considerate either. Right?
Now I understand why my inner self always resisted following those fleeting style trends. The woman within me has always known that I embody a timeless elegance, far beyond what society expects or dictates. Proudly, an Indian 😇💫
Love the simplicity and quiet elegance of French style, but I also adore the understated drama and elegance of Italian style.
Drama? Where I live, the style is like the one described in the video. Nothing more, if you don't want to be too flashy
@@cinziaalbini3676 well, I guess my mom, from Bergamo, is “flashy”, and I like it. She wore more colorful clothes with larger jewelry pieces. I love Bulgari just as much as Cartier.
it's originally English, Alain Delon normalised English or WASP fashions in France, that's why it's quite masculine like Burberry trenchcoats
@@karlaschmid8757I believe it has to do with the warmer climate which asks for brighter colors. I also wear bright colors in summer and the rest of the year go mostly for muted tones.
I couldn’t imagine life without my Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, all 26 pair bought for me by my late husband.
Sometimes you must rather think about comfort,and not elegance. Not all French are elegant,it's an illusion.
Thank you!
Amen
Comfort should not demand a lack of culture. Additionally, it's much more comfortable to adopt the majority of the suggestions given in this video rather than trying to buy style, buy youth, buy beauty and wear clothes or shoes, which she pointed out are completely impractical by nature making you even walk poorly or slouch or worst of all self-conscious and/or in pain.
Yes!!!
Yes true actually they aren’t it’s the wealthy and business class that are
I love hearing you speak, it’s so calming. And I love hearing about these French natural beauty standards
I really need to stop clicking on these "elegant ladies do/don't" videos because they are always just one person's opinion of what looks bad vs. good. I appreciate that this one takes into account what is popular in France so as to not curate opinions based solely on the creator's tastes, but it's still inelegant (in my opinion) to talk negatively about choices that others make that they might like. I agree with a lot of these, but they also vary by person. Some women look very chic and cool wearing graphic tees and puffy coats. Some women are more at home in a long wool coat and nude short nails... Neither is better than the other, but one might be better for one person over the other. We all just need to do what makes us feel confident and not worry about what French women think of us or anything along those lines. Confidence is better than this version of elegance any day of the week. Seconding what another commenter said, kindness and treating others respectfully is better than elegance any day of the week as well. I will now be making a renewed effort to not watch this kind of content.
I agree because take the nail shapes, for instance, I hated every "acceptable" shape. lol
I love how people think Style theory is "an opinion."
Yeah it's giving "we think we're better than you" and lacking any personality or color 💀
You are right, RESPECT, IS the ultimate ELEGANCE!
Elegance is an esthetic. She didn't say that style was better than any other style. She said people in France who dress that esthetic do not wear x, y, z.
I love that you showed examples of coily-haired women. Thank you for being inclusive!
True. Elegance transcends race.
Inclusive = disgusting 🤮🤮🤮🤮
As an American living in San Francisco, I agree with you entirely! Of course, I am a Francophile and work to emulate the elegance of French women so perhaps I am biased but I don't think so. I just discovered your channel and will be watching. Thank you for a very informative and pleasant view of elegance.
The Coco Chanel rule: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” Less is more...elegant
Advice that I always stick to.
Coco Chanel was a Nazi collaborator. Let's not quote her.
I've found this to be good advice. It lets one piece be in the spotlight, instead of fighting with all the other shiny things
I only wear 1 as a rule.
I try to always add something instead. Just to spite Chanel, who was a Nazi collaborator
What I think is great about this fashion mindset is that it’s not at all about impressing and dressing others. As an American - and a psychotherapist - I see SO many people, the majority of people, living and dressing to fit in with the trends. And even though many of they may genuinely enjoy the trends and the changing fashion, I think that if they were to really sit down and reflect, they’d find they are being swept away by our capitalism and living/finding happiness for things and not experiences. I’d like to think I’m pretty aware and I still find myself choosing possessions over experiences. I’m a boho girl who can’t pull off blazers. Yet everyone at my previous job wore them. So out I went to buy some. 3 years later and they haven’t been touched. Even if you don’t like the elegant style, the main bullet points of not dressing to impress but to feel good for you can be taken to any aesthetic. Buying quality materials so your clothes last longer and lay nicely. Especially since you won’t be buying the new trends or replacing fast fashion that is fraying, you’ll want the pieces you love to last as long as possible. With this mindset you’ll feel comfortable and content with your wardrobe and social status. With our capitalism and celebrity culture, you’ll never feel good enough.
I think you mean they are swept away by consumerisn not capitalism!
You mean we fall pray to consumerism, not capitalism. Capitalism gives people the choice to wear a blazer or not. Consumerism is the urge to buy things that you don't want or need.
@@LysippeLee you are talking the same things mate
Best comment. You are so right
This was absolutely high-quality content. Thank you!!!
I so much love French style; simple, yet special. Also, i got really proud of myself, so far, my style and preferences have been aligned with your suggestions. Another thing i learned when I was in France, was that clean and shiny hair are important aspect of the overall look. After my visit France, i started to like and embrace my natural hair more. And they look great!
I will never quit "waffle jackets", not only are they practical and warm, they look cool to me!
If you’ve lived in a place with cold winters then you can absolutely relate to this comment 😂 👏🏽
Uhhh vegan leather is plastic 🤷🏻♀️
Exactly! Back to leather, silk , cashmere, etc.natural materials ! Red nails is classic !
Most of the time yes, but there are more and more leather-like materials made from cactus, cork, mushroom, pineapple, and other plants.
Yep, vegan leather sneakers are vinyl ... Plastic!!! Looking extremely shiny and
cheap, I have a pair that I only use for rainy days in town, when I don't wish to wear heavy wellies
I think she is just talking about the shoes that look obviously like cheap plastic, of which she showed examples. Shoes are your foundation - buy quality.
I have no relation to France whatsoever but somehow every time people would meet me for the first time they would assume I'm French. Now it makes so much sense because I'm always looking natural and this is exactly what French women do and on top of that it's either effortless or with a slight effort like the right jewellery, shoes or make up. Thank you for your content, I really enjoy watching your videos🫶
French manicure, 60-70 years ago, was clear polish, and a special white pencil underneath the tip of your natural nails. Once they started painting a hard white line on plastic nails, it became very inelegant.
A little pale pink powder on each nail and gently buffed with a manicure chamois.
Yes, the original french manicures are great. My mom taught me and i still have a pencil
@@AliciaGuitarI remember my mom's white pencil..and we were in the US Midwest! This was late 50s
An elegant French lady will not laugh at other people’s style as it literally none of their business 🙂
She's from Norway 😊
@@amelialee7157 bro her accent is quite literally French
She's French living in norway @amelialee7157
❤️❤️❤️
@@amelialee7157nooooo. She’s French living in Norway
Thanks for the Elegant suggestions. I will definitely employ the ones that serve me best in my wardrobe ❤
Im Russian, and while I do not think we have any special “fashion tricks” as a culture, I personally found myself already following some of the “rules” you mentioned, as in:
1. I like Stanleys for their practicality, but I would never buy one, because the amount of craze associated with the brand is embarrassing. I wouldn’t want to be even remotely associated with it.
2. LV and other brands that love to display their logos everywhere on the piece, I would never buy, even when I would have a budget for it. Personally, the more discreet the logo the better, for me. Any luxury item you buy should speak for itself in how well-made they look, without the branding screaming “see, Im expensive”.
P.S. you said it so much better “let people guess that you are wealthy, not put it into their face”.
3. Shoes is always kind if a sore spot for me, because I have a minor disability, that prevents me from being able to comfortably wear anything but sneakers. This is the only “sporty” item I wear in an outfit, ‘cause I don’t like the “sporty” vibe.
4. I like my ballerina-shaped short nails, I won’t change them for a world😂
5. I hate puffer jackets, and dream of obtaining a warm winter coat, but Russian winters are so hard on you without these monsters. They make you look like a donut, especially since Im petite😭.
6. As a MUA, I LOVE French philosophy on aging. When you study makeup/faces so closely, almost any filler, especially a lip filler, is always visible. Personally, I wouldn’t want to get any lip or cheek/face filler, other than, maaaybe a frown lines filler, cause I have a very active face. So, maaaybe when Im closer to 40s? But seeing 20s yo fill their faces being 22 myself is kind of crazy to me.
7. These “russian volume” (I didn’t know they are called that😂) lashes cheapens any face, for me. Stripper lashes.
8. As a MUA, I love a bright eye or a dark lip occasionally, and there is a way to make contouring look harmonious with your face. But I also love a very sheer coverage with pimples/anything like that still visible, so I do understand what you are talking about.
Вот ведь блин, Ваш английский капец как хорош, завидую 🙏❤️
@@daylighteater спасибо❤️. Я все еще над ним работаю, не смотря на то, что использую его ежедневно уже на протяжении лет 5(?)😂❤️❤️❤️❤️
We don't call them Russian Lashes here in the UK, though I can understand why they can be called that. It's the New Money vibe rather than a Russian vibe really.
@@r.brooks5287 “new money” make sense, too. Curious❤️
FYI you’d use Botox for frown/forehead lines 🙂 Unless you allow them to get so deep that the lined are permanent and you need to fill them. The goal of Botox is to prevent the very deep lines from showing. A little bit goes a very long way - especially when done by someone who knows what they’re doing. Kate Middleton, for example, has had quite a bit of Botox and filler in almost every area of her face, but you can’t tell.
I’m thrilled to hear about the Stanley …it’s a ridiculous trend anyway !
Is this Stanley not very heavy and unhandy to carry? I have no idea. I’m from Europe and never see somebody with this in my country. I always have a small Bottle Evian Water with me.
Hello from NC! OMG, I just got my first one from Starbucks. They had a seasonal collaboration with Stanley so I used couple of gift cards some clients gave me. Otherwise, I would've purchased it, but it is super heavy and cumbersome esply when its full! It's so tall esply with the straw adding extra height. The handle juts out like it's a Spartan sheild grip..lowkey a hot mess😂. And the colors/designs or bland but yet bold like a neon juggernaut..😂! If you have time and strength to hold it, tryst me youre in a class of your own!
@@jaytaylor2090 😂😂😂😂
@@Twiggs2562 🤗
It’s just a cup I drink water constantly for my bad kidney so I couldn’t care less what she thinks
I love what you said about the French wanting to enhance their natural look. I think that's essentially how I was raised. My mother is from Central America and I am a middle-aged woman now. But she still loves simplicity and natural fibers and not pretending she is something she isn't. She is very beautiful, even at almost 80 years old. I learned a lot of classy concepts from her that I'm hearing in your video and I appreciate it. Unfortunately in the US many of the fashion faux pas you mention are commonplace. I really despise those poofy cloud shoes! Haha, one of my boys bought himself a pair and I told him he could never leave the house wearing them. Thank you for the tips and good to know about French manicure. I was taught not to paint my fingernails, but to keep them short and clean. Interesting.
I agree with you and as an American woman over 50, I started incorporating all of these points naturally and feel confident in my individual style and aesthetic. I wear minimal makeup and I op for clothes from natural fibers, I prioritize skin care over everything else and wear minimal makeup as I live in Florida and heavy makeup feels awful and makes me terribly uncomfortable. I wear jewelry that I love and usually holds some sort of story or sentimental value for me. For example, when my mother passed away it took me forever to go through her things with my sister but when we got to her jewelry box, I received the things she had picked out for me and unbeknownst to me my husband spotted an earring that was missing its mate so he asked my sister if he could have it and of course she said yes but neither said anything to me. He took that earring and had a necklace made for me and it is my absolute favorite piece of jewelry. It goes with everything and I wear it nearly everyday. It has special meaning to me and no one else on earth has a necklace like it. I am not a fan of looking like everyone else nor am I a fan of standing out for the wrong reasons. First impressions matter whether we like it or not! Be classy from the inside out! ❤
What a lovely gift. Thanks for sharing 😊
Omg this elegance expert. 😄😄🤦♀️
This is interesting. My mother grew up in a bi-lingual area (French/English) suburb in Canada (not an officially French speaking Province. The French speakers there and their descendants came straight France. So many of your recommendations have been passed down through several generations of our family even though (with the exception of my mother (and perhaps now me-I’m working on it) we were strictly Anglophone. It is that it is generational that surprises me a little. These ways stand the test of time, with very little deviation.
I don’t always follow this rules but when I am being careful and I do, I get a very good reception everywhere and the one word I hear a lot is elegant.
My mother is deceased so she is not here to remind me.
Thank you for the refresher courses, during the lockdowns I became especially sloppy with the rules.
I’m going to start practicing them again. ❤
All American young women who are stuffed with filler and Botox in their twenties and fake hair extensions and eye lashes need to see your page! Love It
Not just American women, unfortunately, sporting the ultra fake look.
Not just American women
Why…. You assume they want to appease your demographic lol.
Plenty like that in the UK too. They look like clones. I wonder what they’ll look like in thirty or 40 years?
I am a Certified nurses assistant. My idea of class and dignity is my daily outfit of "scrubs" and my hair in a ponytail, and taking care of the needs of the sick and terminal.
Caregiving is always elegant ❤
Not RN, a CNA. Both a blessing to the world.@@bathemeinchampagne
@@bathemeinchampagneyou sound triggered 😂
Exactly!
You re atvwoek. Off course you need scrubs ...
Loved this, especially the hot take at the end: enhancers such as Botox, fillers, over the top lashes. I live in America and here, it’s all you see. It’s refreshing to hear cultures out there appreciate natural beauty.
Love the last one - a more natural look and learning how to enhance your natural features. I feel like America leans more toward how you described Norway - the emphasis on injectables, surgery, fake lashes, etc etc is almost overwhelming.
I’m not wealthy, but according to this I’m elegant🎉
The variety of textures in the *amzaccs* : pack is impressive. From smooth leather to textured suede, there's something for everyone.
As an American from the south, I totally agree about the fillers and Botox. Ladies here are starting way too young with all that. I’m 44 and I think I go more towards the French idea of makeup and skin care. My every day makeup consists of eye brow pencil, since mine are very light, neutral eye shadow, brown eye liner, a little mascara, and I like to use a tinted moisturizer or a good bb cream for foundation. I’ve got freckles, there is no way to hide them, and I don’t like having a heavy foundation, I don’t think it’s great for your skin. I totally agree about the shoes too and the labels. If it has a label I’d like it to be small, unnoticeable. I do not like walking around as an advertisement for some designer.
As an American from Nebraska, this video made me feel like a slob 😂
I enjoy watching videos like this. I’m not putting down the video at all ❤
everything she said is everything the women here do. 😅
Fashion is so different in other cultures. It is so interesting to me . I wish we were more like the French culture in a lot of ways. I hate all the Botox! It just makes people look fake.
And it is pretty funny to watch people walk around with those big Stanley Cups 😂
I have a beautiful stainless steel water bottle 💦. I’m going to get that one out and start using it. ☺️
I am not French, but I can 100% relate to these rules and I have been following them forever. Plus another rule, my handbag and shoes always match in colour and style.
Warm regards from a francophile Austrian woman ❤
Matching bag and shoes is a style taboo among contemporary women nowadays. It is very old-fashioned and dated.
That made me laugh hard 😂 - I AM a contemporary woman 😂😂
@@FemEngATwho wears shoes and a bag matching colour. And who looked old-fashioned and dated.
@@pt3085 Either you do have style and elegance - or you don't ... 😉
Elegant for me.
I think it’s not about you wear something fancy or not But you feel confident with yourself feel comfort feel happy, feel amazing and feel that’s me that from the elegant feeling not about brands not about expensive but about the feeling in the confident you are that’s all
Thanks god I’m not the only one who think that all those overly pumped up lips and angry bird brows and the Botox all over aren’t pretty or elegant.
I love the French’s natural approach to beauty and not the use of fillers etc 👏 enhancing natural beauty. Loving your videos!
Merci!!
Simply perfect. French never disappoints :-)
I personally think elegance comes from the inside. A lot of people think they are elegant just because of them using “elegant” clothes. But in my opinion it is on the mannerisms. Maybe a lot of people disagree on that one but it is my personal opinion nonetheless.
Yes. True elegance has at its base, humility.
Please stop referring to Russians in derogatory way. It is distasteful. BTW, am not Russian- for the conspiracy theorists out there…
I came to the comment section to write the same thing (but I'm Russian).
Thank you very much for your support! Really appreciate it. I'm Russian, never had my nails done in a salon, no lash extensions, no botox. The reference to the video doesn't offend me a lot but still feels kind of unpleasant and not elegant
Agree! She talks about elegance and teaches women how to be elegant, but the way she speaks is neither elegant nor appropriate. It was a bit silly to mention Russian women in that way
I think she is referring to the style of lashes, they are called "Rusian lashes", I ignore the reason why; same for instance, with "French manicure", in her opinion it isn´t elegant, but it is how they call that style of manicure; I don't think it was a reference of nationality in a derogatory way.
@@xamapola she mentioned not only Russian lashes, but also "botox Russian wives", not elegant at all
thank you so much for including examples of different hair types and races in your video. seeing curly hair in the scrunchie/plastic hair clip section made me feel so great inside. made me happy. thank you
Simple. Just be yourself, not flashy or like the box. Love it!
6:49 I see your point about the coat, but I don't think a tapered warm coast would do the job in Scandinavia. Perhaps you're cold-resistant.
I'm not giving up my pouffy long coat, I'm too cold otherwise 😅
@@labradoritefeldspath4445 no hate, just respect for this lovely lady, I'm just too cold in the winter, I tried everything.
I agree with everything mentioned. Obvious, too much make-up and those puffy coats are the worst. Stick with the classics and be comfortable 😊
I clicked on this video out of curiosity like I’m sure some of you did and it’s interesting to see how many people watched just to comment in disagreement. She's just giving her opinion but really wants the point in watching style videos or what wear/ not wear videos if you’re just gonna disagree and say “elegance is wearing what you want” or “ elegant woman don’t care what others wear”. She may be giving the French perspective but some of the things she listed I think relate to class also. People in certain social circles and tax brackets aren’t going to wear certain things listed for the most part. Also I think graphic tees, yoga pants/leggings /sweatpants are just part of casual dressing down in the US. Not bashing it, it’s just what you will typically see. I agree about LV monogram bags. I think it’s been over consumed by the middle class to the point that it’s considered basic. I saw a meme that included the LV tote as part of the “baby mama starter kit” lol. Just my opinions.
Say it for the people in the back (USA) Stanley Cups are soooo cheap looking. And I'm American 🇺🇸. Those designer jewelry stacks look desperate. If you get a high-end down jacket, the puff is not out of control. I have one and need it for the long, cold New England winters. 😊
Love this!
I have one also. its so thin and light everyone assumes its not warm!! I really dont care about others judgements, I am very warm and cosy!! LOL.
@@MademoiselleSpendsThank you! I cannot STAND STANLEY cups!
I think the big Stanley cups are great for long drives in the car. Or from and to yoga in a car. The US you sometimes have long distances in the car. Not for walking in the city or as i do to the gym on a bike in Amsterdam
It’s a cup. Not meant to look expensive how silly.
Is true that elegance is not only what you wear, but is important as well to be simple and elegant. I appreciate your tips and advise. Thank you 🙏
Elegance means withdrawing yourself from the devaluing comments about other nations. “Botox Russian wifes” would show more consideration. The kindness of the mind - that’s the true elegance.
Yea i totally agree, russian wifes russian lashes and all she said 🫤
She said CLICHÉ Botox Russian wifes, big difference
@@Koteczek-t6k also „Russian lashes“ is literally the name for a specific technique for lash extensions
@@steffiunderno difference at all
@@Koteczek-t6k
But she said absolutely true about Russian women 😅
Recently found your channel and just subscribed. Such a breath of fresh air in the current world! I'm Spanish but been living in UK for many years. I wasn't sure if it was a UK thing or an age thing (I'm almost 50 and quite oblivious to certain fashion trends) but those orange faces with painfully obvious fake lashes and massive fake lips, it was never my thing. I think it makes everybody look (horribly) the same, and all personality is gone! Thank you for the tips!
Exactly! I also live in the UK. Those terrible eyelash extensions are so common among British women, so I don’t understand why she mentions Russians in this context. I don’t know a single Russian girl who wears eyelashes that badly. The author should have mentioned British girls, not Russians
It was interesting to hear your personal point of view how people concider beauty culture wise. This video makes me want to visit France :) I love the idea of enhancing our individual features and the principal „less is more”. I’m with you, I get it and I totally like it 😻 it is funny however to see how some people got irritated. Actually it means to me that they felt inelegant in some way. Lots of love to everyone regardless what they want to do with their outfit, just be your true and bold self. Because elegance to me is unfeigned.
I love this so much! My area has a trend of tons of tattoos, everyone is getting them even Grandma and Grandpa. I feel like everyone is copying everyone in that you have to have a tat on your body. It's really not unique, especially when you go out to eat and your server and everyone they work with are clearly going to the same tattoo artist. This is all refreshing! Thank you.
There is no such thing as a
" unique tattoo " .
You are unique without a tattoo .
.
@@ritahorvath8207 Yes, well said!
Fake nails, hair extensions, false eyelashes, fillers, gym wear all the time, in my opinion very common and not elegant ❤
Agreed
all those things bagged jeff bezos so clearly it doesnt matter
I love gym wear and athleisure wear. Not only is it comfy and shows off my curves but I’m ready for the gym any time.
Loved this! This has always been my fashion taste (with a few exceptions like the scrunchie) and i love the fact that the french culture validates that. Trust me people ask me how i do that and i always reply them with “less is more”. You attract more people and turn more heads with these tips.
What you said about Norwegian beauty standards for women is so spot on! It's exactly the same in Sweden, and I'm a Swedish woman living in Paris since just a few years. I always had an awkward feeling I look like a s*utty Viking in comparison to all these elegant French women but couldn't quite put my finger on why... but thanks to your advice now I can AND I have the tools to change my ways! Merci mille fois!!
Oooh this gave me the chills! I am so happy I could give you some tools to find your beauty 🥰
"Slutty Viking" 😂
So sad! You're all probably gorgeous, why would such beauty need to also become slutty viking? I hope that changes in the culture.
I'm English, we too have mastered the 'Slutty Viking' look. Since most of the SVs' here seem to be about 16, I'm hoping they'll grow out of it. I'm just glad the internet wasn't around when I was that age; we were all dressed like the group Bross.
Scandinavian women are naturally beautiful. You don't need to hide behind style or elegance to be beautiful. Nothing wrong with being stunning.
The only style you need to follow is the one that brings out the best features in you and makes you feel good about yourself.
I love that philosophy and totally agree with it; elegance, beauty, style is all about enhancing or even portraying what you want and how you want in your own unique way instead of walking around like a instagram filter
Who cares about French woman anyway, and what makes them right? Comfort is key, life gets tough sometimes not everyone lives a fairytale
I agree, if you want to follow these French guidelines move to France. I guess only French women are elegant. Wear what you want and what suits the climate you live in.
Then why did you even watch a video about French style by a French women with a French channel name??
Oh right, had to get your two cents in regardless. Ah well, it boosts the algorithm in her favor for her channel either way. 😉
I mean, people will watch rage bait whether or not it boosts the video’s algorithm.
Being smug got you nowhere 😁
My Mom grew up in Los Angeles in the 1950s, and emulated the "Old Hollywood Glamour", much of which was similar to what you are talking about. Her family wasn't wealthy, but my Grandmother made her clothes out of good fabric, from patterns they chose for their tasteful and flattering looks. Natural fabrics, clean lines, classic color combinations, show style rather than 'fashion'. I grew up in the 1970s, so the more casual, natural look was popular. But the overdone botox, plastic surgery, fake lashes, etc. are everywhere now. I can't tell you how many times I've come across a young woman working working at a bank, a restaurant, or a store, who has those crazy butterfly eyelashes. They are so distracting, and I find it keeps me from taking her seriously, which when I was that age, was the one thing I wanted most. I hope more young women will see your videos and choose to dress with style and elegance.
Thank you! I love this kind of content, classic chic is so much more desireable than the "instagram style" nowadays. I'd love to learn more about the style of an elegant home and also how to behave in society, at the table, etc.
Please let me know, how you keep your skin so beautifully white.
As for me, I feel french women are extraordinary beautiful because the don't try to fit into that "ideal frame", but show their individualism. Like with hairstyle, wrinkles, etc. In a crowd of "instram beauties" you can spot the french women at once because the look "different" or distinctive.
6:44 the photo on the left is from Moscow Red Square. Winter in Russia is -25 degrees so it’s difficult not to put this huge piece on and still keep warm . Still thank you for the recommendations we can use them from April to September 😂
-25 is winter in Moscow maybe but winter in another part of Russia is around -40 and we wear real fur coat not just because we have this misconception of elegance but just because it’s the only way to stay warm and safe, with ethical fur coat you would be frozen already. I found this video very silly because obviously this girl doesn’t prepare properly the information, especially about Russian women, she was always mentioning them in a negative way. If she had ever been to the UK she would never connect Russians with eyelash extensions as the number of British women wearing vulgar eyelash extensions is horrifying but in Russia it’s very rare. In all countries you can find elegant people and opposite, so I think it’s quite stupid and not ethical to mention nationality in this context
I'm sick of hearing about what the French do and do not do! DO YOU❤
I agree botox and fillers are a big no no for me. I wear eye liner, mascara, tinted lip balm and in the evening add lip liner to blend, blush. I don’t do the heavy multiple foundation, contouring etc. just simple make light make up so that I look more awake and refresh. My skin is very sensitive, hyperpigmentation so I’m careful of what I use and how much. Lots of sun screen and daily skin care routine is what’s more important to me.
Thank you for this video. I totally agree with the overall message - natural materials, natural look, embracing who you are instead of trying to fit in some impossible ideal of beauty, less is more, no fur. The underlying thing is that we should work on our inner self more than just concentrate on the exterior, because that will give us the confidence to be true to ourselves and be happy about not just how we look, but also how we feel about ourselves. Also, I think that in France all stages of life are appreciated, and women are not afraid of getting older and their age showing. Aging with dignity and elegance is an art in itself.
Love this!
I loved your elegant coat advice. I know those, we call them Puffer coats here in Vancouver, look gigantic and almost comical…..but, everyone is wearing them. The high fashion streets of Vancouver are flooded with people wearing them. It’s late August and they’re already breaking them out. The thinner versions. We have varying weights of Puff depending on the season. Seriously the Puffer coats are considered an essential. And this is the warmest part of Canada in the wintertime.
They remind me of the Michelin Man. Also, you can get away with wearing one if you're thin, but a plus size person looks even heavier.
omg y'all she says the entire time 'at least according to french elegance...' not like 'it must be this way!' i thought this was a beautiful and tactful video. relevant examples and not hateful. thank you!
she says french women get botox etc. just not showy about it like USA. and a lot of the other stuff is TRENDY / cute, but not elegant. she is really clear and i think it's well done. brava.
Every time i watch a content on the topic of elegance, I realize that i am inherently elegant fashion-wise....😊 Many things that you mentioned are things that i would never dream of doing, like the dad shoes, or the infamous LV canvas bag...
If it's too commonplace, them it definitely isn't for me.
Weird enough your pic is the least elegant thing I ever seen. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
2:40 It's not about what you are able to wear, but rather what making the material implies.... here it comes with cruelty, so someone who has the money for real (but horrible fur) and choose the fake one, should not be deemed unelegant, on the contrary! Wearing real fur also goes against your 1st argument of being simple and not too flashy...
I really appreciate your forthcoming and transparency. It is refreshing and inspiring.
As a woman with a disability, who lives in a cold country I think I will pass on parts of this. She is welcome to wear wool and heels with my injuries in -20 weather. Enjoy the pain, frostbite, etc. So tired of fashion influencers regulating women's feet.
She's not 'regulating' and you're free to do your own thing. Looking elegant matters sometimes and when it does, she gives good advice. I live in the country and most days practicality and dressing sporty is a better fit.
I love that the French celebrate a woman's individuality. Style vs. fashion gives one the freedom to create a unique look.
Women can wear anything they like or want…Regardless if they’re American, European, Asian, African or Mexican. Beauty and elegance exudes from the inside, how you treat others…
Clothing and accessories are all material things.
Wear whatever makes you comfortable, happy and satisfied!
girl those wool coats just are not gonna cut it in the winter. and i also feel like the scrunchies/hair clips is a bit far because it's such a small detail and genuinely look fine. agree with the rest though. also, let's remember elegance is not all about how you look!
I just discovered your channel tonight. Even though I'm Anerican, I truly believe the French have the right idea when it comes to beauty. The whole enhancement of what you have and be yourself approach is much more inclusive of all women instead of the cookie cutter beauty we find in media today. My 12 yr old daughter is just becoming interested in fashion and makeup. I am trying to teach and model for her that being unique and natural is far more interesting than being like everyone else.
As far as nail shapes go, in my opinion, as a licensed nail tech, squoval or rounded off square shapes can be very elegant and pretty. The more square a nail is, the stronger it is because more nail is left for structure. The rounded corners make for a safer nail with less scratching and poking of yourself, your loved ones, and things. Also, many women have square nail beds. It is always a good idea to match the shape of your free edge to the shape of your cuticle. This makes for a more natural looking nail, which I feel embraces the idea of natural beauty the French do so well 😉
Any country in the world would basically have a much more correct idea of beauty than the US 😅
@@noqueq9003 Ouch! Where are you from, making such a harsh comment?
@@sarahjohnson3092 My origin is irrelevant here. Everyone knows that all stupid, ugly and trashy trends come from the US. One has to live under the rocks to not know it.
The LV bag, the nails, botox/ corrections- I agree since forever. Unique, natural beauty rocks the most! Merci
Thank you for saying it about the Stanleycups. ❤
Here's the thing about fillers: If they're obvious, they've been done wrong. Done right, you'd never know the face has been treated.
but most of them are detectable. You can see it in even rich people.
@@carlamata9617 not true. Every suburb in America has 2 dozen dermatologist that are BOOKED solid for fillers. Most women are just getting a pinch, not a full mL.
I think French Manicure is incredibly elegant, like you said, only if it’s not a big white line.. I believe, it’s clean, simple and looks natural and timeless. Other than that, I can understand everything else 😊
They look like a stanley cup on the tip of a finger to me. So plastic and so noticeable. I didn't always think that though, I wore them for a really long time but then one day, they just started to look weird. I'm specifically talking about acrylic nails which is what she showed in her video. If someone has nice natural nails, maybe it looks less clunky and fake.