French Chic Style + Parisian Fashion Tips

French Chic at a Certain Age: The power of black a la Juliette Binoche… not so basic!

Basic black becomes beautiful black when it's worn in the right French Chic way... It's funny how there are photos of us that almost instantly look dated and others that have timeless perfection. What we are wearing plays a huge part in what sustains looking chic and vital rather than overdone and garish. Take for instance, the style power and endurance of perennially black clad Juliette Binoche and Malgorzarta Szumowska pictured here. >> Day One of the three-part FoS series Ageless & Age-Appropriate French Chic At A Certain Age Let's think about this: every season there is a trend color; something eye-catching to refuel your need to buy something new. You wear that color. Like this season's trendy shade of coralish-roseish-tangerine formerly rightly reserved

We are going to start a chronicle to look at the personal style of some of our FocusOnStyle readers. Hey, that could be YOU next time! Jump to the end to see how to share your personal style with us. Lindsay Webdell is one of our Twitter friends and jumped to the chance to share her look with all of us. Lindsay is pretty nifty too... she has a fun and colorful spin on French Chic style in her choice of classic pieces that flatter her figure while being extremely distinctive and modern. Best off it's all affordable fashion. She's pretty cute, don't you think? Now, heeeeeeeeeere's Lindsay.... -S.H. Lindsay's touch of fun accessories I'd call my style "classically and affordably fun." I'm drawn to timeless

Yes, an 11 year-old pair of jeans can be forever-cool! Model, muse and musician Charlotte Gainsbourg's instinctive, casual yet chic boho Parisian sense of style usually catches our eye with her often unexpected choices and while at a fete for Marc Jacobs by Louis Vuitton she surprised even more so while wearing a pair of Balenciaga jeans from 2001. Discover tips for your own take on: French Chic Balenciaga Ad 2001 featuring the jeans Amidst a glamorous crowd Gainsbourg was a standout with her relaxed, always cool je ne sais quoi in a pair of cuffed engineer inspired jeans topped with a simple black blazer which brings to mind that early Balenciaga never goes out of style as it served as blueprint

Christmas in Paris: Les Sapins de Noel des CréateursWho doesn't need a little edgy style boost for their holiday tree? And why not make it a very French chic designer one at that? Richard Nahem takes on a visual tour of some very Parisian inspired Christmas trees for a bit of design inspiration and to benefit a very charitable cause . --S.H. SEE: Holiday Windows It's that time of the year again, tis' the season, HO-HO-HO, and all that to focus on the magical lights, done-up store windows, and abundance of trees, all to celebrate the Christmas spirit of Paris. MORE ABOUT: French Chic Les Sapins de Noel des Créateurs, now in its 16th season, is a collection of original Christmas trees from

First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a Tracey Reese sweater

I'll Have What She's Having: Michelle Obama Plays With A Twist On A Classic In Chicago For A Cause We've been a lull on our Michelle Obama style watch for a while, but this striped Tracey Reese sweater got our fashion engine going again for some can-do, every day style chic. While in Chicago yesterday to promote healthy eating initiatives in low-income areas, style maven Michelle Obama radiated a cool playfulness in a classic ivory and black striped sweater from Tracy Reese that featured an asymmetrical key-hole cut-out and an unexpected bow at the neckline. MORE: Michelle Obama style We love the fact that the classic elements of Reese's striped pullover keep Obama looking appropriate and put together while the

There's a very "inspired by" version of the Isabel Marant "Poppy" bow pumps that Emmanuelle Alt had been sporting quite a bit over at the GAP. So what if the sold-out style was from last season, they are classic, super cute, and very French Chic. Pair them with skinny jeans for a Parisian take on understated lady-like look or wear them with your favorite plaids of the season. You can't go wrong and if you don't tell anyone, I won't mention that the GAP Suede Bow Pumps version has the bow at the back rather than at the side. Superb!

The French Chic Formula for Everyday Style a la Emmanuelle Alt

I'll Have What She's Having: Off-handed, easy, wearable Parisian style Emmanuelle Alt Makes Cool French Chic Look So Easy, so can you! Style is a lot like cooking. If you start out with poor ingredients, no matter how many spices you add, the dish doesn't work... well, at best, it could be just passable. But if there are a few very special ingredients, the result can be superb! I've been observing the very covetable, easy-going style of Emmanuelle Alt for some time as she is one of my poster girls for pulling off everyday élan in an attainable, distinctive and fuss-free way. Emmanuelle Alt attends the Jean-Paul Gaultier show as part of the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011

Retail Remedy: A homage to the stylish women of Paris Who better than French style icon Inès de la Fressange to be the ambassador for La Parisienne? That's the event at Galeries Lafayette department store to promote the stylish, urban women of Paris. Inès de la Fressange is a former top model, a muse to Karl Lagerfeld, and once the visage of Marianne, the national emblem of France. More recently she is also had a successful career as a designer, a fashion consultant, and currently the brand ambassador for the renowned French shoe brand, Roger Vivier. But the big store window homage is to push her new style book, Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, or as she describes, "a user's

Red Carpet Hair- French Chic Chignon for Julianna Margulies at the Golden Globes

When too many actresses chose to over do their hair, here's one look that keeps it simple and chic YES, please do try this classic French chignon at home... There absolutely can be too much of a good thing! Close-up of Julianna Margulies Sorry to report, but there were far too many actresses who opted for big fashion and big hair at Sunday's Golden Globes... a fashion victim combination that did nothing for the star herself but became a walking ad for the heavy-handed stylists who put her together. SEE: Golden Globe Fashion Photos Confession: I was waiting for a one actress to wear a diamond studded sandwich board mentioning all her fashion credits. In all that frou-frou frippery, a

Treat Yourself With A Vintage Chanel Bag and Jewelry

Great classic style never dies... Didn't quite get what you want this holiday season? Tired or loading up on a lot of trendy pieces that have a fashion spoil date sooner than your credit card bill comes in? What to do? French actress Bambou as the classic French Chic look Don't fret. It's time to cozy up to some timeless style and nothing says it more than vintage Chanel! It's the epitome of how to dress French and the reason why classic French chic endures. Vintage Chanel handbags and jewelry have that unerring subtlty of heritage and the timelessness that makes them even better today then the day the were first designed. >> Not quite up to vintage Chanel? Check

Paris Chic Bicycles Are Rather Fun and Utalitarian

One reason why Parisians have such fab legs Somehow we would like to believe that the bikes in Paris are rather tzujed up glam affairs. But, no. More often than not, Parisians go for practicality rather than preciousness when it comes to getting around the city-- always with a dash of French chic style, of course! Richard Nahem, observes... I recently started taking photos of bicycles around the city. They have a certain charm which is hard to describe. From the slick racers that are used in the Tour De France, to the beat up but tough spray painted bicycles to the delivery ones with baskets to the gray, to the utilitarian Velib rentals, they are a vital form of

Big Love Cartier Style As It Expands Its Iconic Jewelry Collection

Cartier Love Collection 2010: There's no doubt that I have been in love with LOVE for a long while. No, not the kind of emotional love that first comes to mind... this is a style site after all. What I am referring to is the iconic modernity that comes in the red Cartier box, preferably with an engraved note card attached. Cartier's Love affair first began in the 1970's with the yellow gold flat bangle designed by Aldo Cipullo. Punctuated with screws, the bracelet requires a simple turn of a screwdriver to undo therefore becoming a lover-to-lover symbol of commitment-- a 70's take on a chastity belt, if you will. More than that, its timeless clean design works so well

Looking Like Your Dog Is So Chic in Paris

A mademoiselle and her pooch in Paris Only in Paris when you look like your dog, it will be chic! I know I will get an argument by dog lovers from other places (particularly from Sharon and her love of French poodles), but I say no one loves their dogs more than Parisians. I back up my statement with the fact that dogs are allowed almost anywhere in Paris- at the butcher, the baker, restaurants, the metro, parks, art galleries, food shops, boutiques, and dog grooming salons. >> SHOP: Need to be discreet? Check out our Cute Pet Carriers Want immediate attention and better service in a restaurant or cafe? Just park your dog on the chair next to you

PERSONALITY BRAND KICKSTART: Become An Authentic Superstar...

French Chic at a Certain Age: The power of black a la Juliette Binoche… not so basic!

Timeless Thursday’s -Charlotte Gainsbourg Proves Some Things Never Go Out Of Style

French Chic Christmas Tree Inspiration- from Mary channeling Lady Gaga to Stella McCartney yarn tales

Michelle Obama wears a striped Tracy Reese sweater for a bit of French Chic style

ADVENTURES IN EXTREMES- The Isabel Marant Pumps that Emmanuelle Alt Loves or the GAP version