The secret of French style

Our fashion expert Alyson Walsh reveals the style secrets behind effortless French chic; it's easy when you know how

What is it about French women? Gitanes smoking, vin rouge drinking femmes fatales. They don't get fat, they always look chic and, just like vintage Dom Perignon, they improve with age.

French women enjoy the best food and wine without piling on the kilos, we like fish and chips, followed by the latest fad diet. And it may only be a short skip across the channel but we're miles apart in the style stakes. So, how can we add a little je ne sais quoi to our Anglo-Saxon wardrobes?

  Coco Chanel and her classic style'French women know that a sense of style is personal,' states Mireille Guiliano, best-selling author of 'French Women Don't Get Fat,' 'and finding one's look to feel 'bien dans sa peau' requires a bit of searching.' So that's it. Our Gallic friends work hard at looking good but give the impression that it comes naturally. No slavishly following fashion for them, it's all about establishing an individual style that boosts confidence. To help us in our quest for effortless chic, Guiliano offers three fashion tips, 'Less is more, mix rather than match, and play with accessories.'

How to get the look

Less is more
Think Coco Chanel - this formidable designer's simple, unrestricting clothes changed the face of 1920s fashion and remain just as influential today. Her Little Black Dress, elegant jersey separates and nautical look are easy-to-wear favourites that guarantee perennial style. Don't try too hard, keep it simple. C'est tout.

Mix rather than match
Give your wardrobe a new lease of life by mixing things up. No need to pay homage to Christian Lacroix with a melange of clashing colours and textures. Just experiment a little, team designer with high street, try on shades and styles you wouldn't normally consider, spend an afternoon going through your clothes and planning new combinations. And never ever buy matching shoes and handbag.

Play with accessories
Pay attention to detail. Carefully chosen accessories make a simple outfit special. And, though we'd all love to have a Louis Vuitton bag, pair of Christian Louboutin shoes and Hermes scarf in our armoire, the good thing about accessories is that they don't have to cost a fortune. Throw on rows of Chanel-style beads and grab a beautiful, leather bag for instant va va voom.

More in 'French Women for All Seasons', by Mireille Guiliano.

And don't forget to:

Choose quality over quantity
Spend as much as you can on key pieces - this doesn't mean re-mortgaging the house to buy a classic YSL 'le smoking' or a little black Lanvin dress - but it's worth splashing out on well-fitting clothes in top-notch fabrics to enhance your chic appeal

Find a look that works for you
  French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld
Take 50-year-old Carine Roitfeld, editor of 'French Vogue', arguably 'the most stylish woman in the world,' she's established a unique look that works for her. OK, so Mme Roitfeld may be the editor of a super-cool style bible with the fashion world at her fingertips but her image is unchanging, she's immune to fickle trends

Et voila, the secret of French style. No Gitanes required. Just keep it simple, spend as much as you can on quality merchandise and use fabulous accessories to give a nod to the latest trends. It's worked for Charlotte Rampling and Kristin Scott-Thomas, those honorary Parisiennes with bags of style. Just be sure to dump the culottes in La Manche!

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