Charlotte - Style & fashion
Bonsoir, my name is Charlotte. My mother, ex-model for Saint-Laurent, is American but I’ve lived in Paris since I was 4 years old. Since my mother was often abroad for fashion shows, my French grandmother, a dressmaker for Chanel, taught me the way to become a real Parisian. Today, I’m a wedding-planner and my husband directs a famous fashion magazine. I don’t have to tell you that I have a front seat at all of the fashion shows and I’ve developed a good general culture about fashion. Although I’m the personal shopper for my friends, my strong points are marriage and elegance.
What is a Parisian?
- Time:Thursday, 30 November 2023
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A Parisian, or Parisienne in French, is a charming woman, often chic but complex and paradoxical. Let’s be clear: you can be charming without an ultra-bright smile and chic in blue jeans. The Parisian has an elusive personality that’s hard to pin down. At first, she comes off as distant and a little cold. But fairly quickly you realize she’s refined but nice. She’s saucy, with a stinging sense of humor. She likes to surprise you. She’ll open up when you least expect it, then suddenly pull back into her shell, and finally go back to being her charming self again.
Everybody talks about Parisian charm. Perhaps part of our charm stems from being mysterious. We’re like hidden, genetically programmed behavior codes that only other Parisians know how to read and use. You hear a lot about French attitude or typically Parisian behavior. Well, I guess it’s true. We have typical ways of acting with our friends, our men, our kids, and strangers. We know what we want and how to get it, but we won’t reveal our strategy too much.
There’s the native Parisian, born and bred in Paris, and then there’s the “Parisian by adoption.” As it turns out, it can be hard to tell them apart. Fortunately, you don’t have to be born Parisian to become Parisian. According to Karl Lagerfeld, “You don’t even have to be French to be Parisian”— provided, however, that you have a good friend like me, a benevolent godmother who takes you under her wing and reveals all the tricks of the trade. And, of course, provided you have the proper survival guide from which to extract essential pearls of wisdom as needed. Where can you find it? It’s in your hand!
Be careful. Becoming Parisian is possible, but it’s an art. It takes a lot of work to achieve the supreme result: perfect style that looks natural and spontaneous. One day you’ll finally mange, but watch out—if you want to stay glamorous, there’s no letting up. One slip and you’re a “has been.” Not that I want to be discouraging. Hang in there and follow my advice. Write my tips on post-its and stick them on the fridge, on your bathroom mirror, and on the dashboard of your car. In no time, “Parisian-ness” will soon become an automatic reflex.
Another part of our appeal is the way we mix our grandmothers’ traditions with the latest trends. We dream of traditional dishes with rich sauces but nourish ourselves on steamed haricots verts (French beans) with barely a dash of olive oil. We enjoy simple and light nouvelle cuisine but also love not-so-light Italian recipes that we happily blend into our own culinary heritage. This is sometimes known as “the French paradox.” It is the art of masterfully juggling styles, of nimbly shifting back and forth between apparently contradictory trends. It is an acquired skill.
We’re brought up to be careful about the way we speak; language is part of our image and bearing. Yet we don’t hesitate to adapt some of the “in” expressions of our teenage children, which are not always refined but are an unavoidable part of urban life. Pop slang one moment, literary discussion the next—it’s not always easy to keep up with our conversation, but that’s just the way it goes, for the Parisian does not have a moment to spare!
We are said to be elegant. Even if our style is meticulously planned, it must look very natural. Once again, we have our little secrets. There are strict rules for being and staying chic, whether we’re getting married, strolling the banks of the Seine, or sipping a cocktail at Café de Flore, a legendary sidewalk café in the quaint Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. The same goes for our kids. They must be well bred, well behaved, and impeccably dressed.
My girlfriends in the States are always telling me how Parisian I am and asking me for advice on shopping and style. I take the compliments with all due modesty. Of course, we know all the right addresses in the French capital for just about everything—from the fanciest chocolate éclair to the best private sales. We’re very proud to boast about our “finds,” but only rarely will we actually divulge our “secret” addresses. A Parisienne wouldn’t be a Parisienne without her little black book of the “right places.” After all, whether you’re looking for a soup bar, a hat boutique, or a health spa, “in” is “in, “out” is “out,” and Heaven have mercy on anyone who doesn’t know the difference!
The Parisian is said to be svelte. But do we ever love our pastries, sausage, and cheese, none of which is exactly great for a woman’s figure! How do we keep the weight off? Let’s say that we are constantly on guard, preferring the philosophy of “preventing and correcting” to that of “repairing and healing.”
Last but not least, the Parisian woman would not be what she is without Paris, a city that is sublime but often gray, an exciting place but also a tough one. Paris is a magnificent setting, a stage for the greatest celebrities of our time. Paris is also a demanding place to live. If you are worthy of the Ville Lumière (City of Light), you won’t be seen dead in baggy sportswear or sloppy shoes. Paris is a city where people are expected to outdo themselves. There are strict rules here about what is and isn’t done. If one is or aspires to be Parisian, one behaves as expected 24/7, even when traveling. Paris is a harsh mistress, but the Parisian bends to her strict rules and criticism with pride. She is proud of the beauty of the city and its cultural riches. This pride can be sensed in her character.
To keep her face looking naturally youthful even as time marches on, to keep her figure despite a sweet tooth, and to live up to her famous reputation, the Parisian woman must constantly have the right attitude at the right moment.
If you want to know more about… read my book “Tips from a true Parisian woman” (Rizzoli).
IS BLACK STILL IN FASHION IN PARIS ?
- Time:Monday, 04 November 2019
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"Black is always trendy" is what people often say to each other when they don't know what to wear. In any case.... Black is the Parisian woman’s color. Beyond the boulevard périphérique—the wall that “protects” the capital—women wear beige, blue, and pastel tones, but in the Ville Lumière, black persists and always wins. Although the runways and fashion magazines offer the new colors of the season, when buying, reason beats emotion and the Parisienne chooses black because it is the “master key” that goes with everything and suits all situations.
JEWELLERY: THE STYLE OF PARISIAN WOMEN
- Time:Tuesday, 26 July 2022
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While in other cultures “over accessorizing” is seen simply as a demonstration of femininity, in Paris it’s considered good form not to overdo it for fear of looking tasteless. That might seem a paradoxical attitude, but it’s based on the Parisian woman’s mentality of “less is more.” Basically, you can spoil a look by trying to overdo it, and that applies to jewelry, makeup, accessories, and plastic surgery. So…
FRENCH CHARM, ATTITUDE OR POSTURE?
- Time:Tuesday, 26 July 2022
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The Parisian stands straight and walks with her head high. Haughty, superb, proud and snobbish? Not more than anyone else. Perhaps it’s just natural, genetic and involuntary? Certainly, the Parisian is aware that she belongs to an elite lucky enough to live in the city of light, the capital of style and romance. Does the way she carries herself have anything to do with this? Or is it a question of upbringing that engenders such haughty behavior? So, improve your posture and borrow an “unwittingly” superb attitude and perhaps obtain this, so Parisian, slightly snobbish charm.
During the Fashion week Paris is the epicenter of fashion not only on the catwalks...
- Time:Tuesday, 01 October 2019
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The epicentre of fashion, Paris is home to the world's largest luxury groups and the world's largest and most historic fashion Maison.
LE FASHION BLOGGER FRANCESI PIÙ SEGUITE NEL 2019
- Time:Monday, 09 September 2019
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Imprescindibili nel mondo della moda, le blogger diffondono le tendenze, condividendo le proprie « cotte » con i loro fan. Ecco le blogger francesi che hanno saputo inserirsi in questo mondo che appartiene loro a pieno titolo.
GINETTE NY, A BRAND DEDICATED TO STRONG WOMEN, AWARE OF THEIR OWN POWER AND UNIQUENESS
- Time:Tuesday, 12 December 2023
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Fr« Ginette Ny » originated the concept of Contemporary Jewelry and created a world where each woman can invent her own modernity, made of a subtle balance of achievements, emotions, and sensuality.
Frédérique Dessemond is the creator of « Ginette Ny ».
She was born in Marseille in the South of France and grew up in « la Cité Radieuse » an architectural complex designed by French architect Le Corbusier known for minimalism and pure geographical lines. After studying art history in one of the best schools in France, she won the green card in a lottery and moved to New York in 1999. In 2002 she started the story of GINETTE NY and launched her first collection: foremost sold in the streets of Nolita, quickly catches the eye the buyer from Calypso, a fashion and jewelry store in New York City.
Her signature?
A delicate line of gold monogrammed necklaces, that most women envy terribly. And it does not take too long to fall in love with the baby diamond purity necklace, a rose gold chain set with a flower design inspired by the infinity sign and paved with glittering diamonds.
Her concept ?
Pure materials and natural stones, architectural and design inspiration, luxury of simplicity, purity of shapes, the collections are the reflection of a unique artistic expression. New vintage inspiration, sensual experience, Paris-NYC lifestyle. A connection between jewels and skin, like an extension of oneself, an opportunity to show your unique personality. An unique DNA in the world of contemporary jewelry. The full collection includes delicate bangles, sparkling drop-down earrings, tiny studs and pendants, bringing retro charm to your every outfit.
Story…
When she first started 15 years ago, « Ginette Ny » was one of the first jewelry brands offering a variety of fine pieces made of solid gold crafted in the most delicate way. As a matter of fact, she exclusively worked on gold, not even setting diamonds or any other gemstones. Through « Ginette Ny » Frederique Dessemond offered women an alternative between costume jewelry and high jewelry. Years passed and fine jewelry brands saturated the jewelry market offering way too many options to a clientele that once did not know where and what to buy. As a revival of the brand, « Ginette Ny » was re-launched this summer, introducing new materials and stones, such as diamonds, rose gold, onyx and pearls. A subtle balance between luxury and understated pieces, vintage inspiration and pure lines.
Frédérique Dessemond :
« At the origin of the contemporary jewelery concept, « Ginette Ny » aims to offer women an everyday luxury, a gold skin jewel, contemporary and timeless ».
My Ginette Ny favorite ?
\\\"I love all the black ceramic and rose gold series, the contrast between the warmth of the rose gold and the sleekness of the ceramic gives a very modern feel to those pieces.\\\"
Boutiques
After New York in 2007 and Paris in 2015, Frédérique Dessemond opened her third shop in St Tropez. Ginette Ny’s jewelry shop is staged as a « jewelry bar » concept, enabling customers to discover the collections in a casual and personal way.
Copyright all photos: Ginette NY
THE FAVORITE BATHING SUITS OF THE PARISIAN THIS YEAR
- Time:Wednesday, 31 July 2019
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Here comes the sun and with it our favorite clothing season: swim season. If you're jetting off on a spring break getaway or simply counting down the days until summer, swimsuit season is officially upon us. A classic one-piece or bikini never goes out of style, but Summer 2019 is bringing forth a fresh batch of fun swim trends to try. From retro styles like underwire bikini tops and high-waisted bottoms to sexy high-cut suits and beyond, these are the top trends of true Parisienne to try this season.
Style tips by Patrice Brandmeyer from Monsieur's magazine
- Time:Friday, 19 July 2019
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How to wear these summer essentials: swimwear, white linen shirt, mini socks and the timeless seesucker jacket! Here are the style tips of the most chic magazine among the magazines of Paris... For an impeccable look during the holidays.
BRIDAL BOUQUET. 10 MISTAKES TO AVOID...
- Time:Wednesday, 12 June 2019
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Wedding bouquets, who doesn't love them? Or better yet, who doesn't love staring at picture after picture of them? Your bridal bouquet is a once in a lifetime accessory, so a number of mistakes have to be avoided before choosing! When else do you get to carry a beautiful bunch of flowers designed especially for you, all day long? What flowers should you include? What colours or shapes work best with your dress and your silhouette? Follow our recommendations and you’ll be O.K.
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Edizione Italiana
Edita da RIZZOLI, Sophie la Parigina è una guida di stile moderna su PARIGI. Illustrata dai disegni di Alessandra Ceriani, completata da un elenco degli indirizzi preferiti dalla parigina e arricchita di ricette gastronomiche.
English Edition
Published by RIZZOLI New York, Sophie the Parisian'sis a modern life style guide about PARIS. Illustrated with color drawings, complemented by a list of Parisians' favorite locations and enriched with gastronomic recipes.