10 style tips from French women | "Parisian chic" | Justine Leconte 

Update: if you're interested in building and curating your own style, I've created a free PDF guide called 7 RULES TO TIMELESS STYLE. You can request it here: www.justineleconte.com/timeless 😘

Fashion rules in the Netherlands:1: You have to be able to ride your bike in it.2: It must be rain proof at any time, especially when riding a bike.3: no compromises. It has to be comfortable, even on a bike.4: Bright and shiny colours, several bright colored prints are oke. You will be more visible when riding a bike in the rain.5: Bootcut jeans are oke, they are our skinny jeans because our calves barely fit in them (because of all the bike riding)6: It must be easely washable after you drove around with three children on your bike.

I am Scottish, and before I saw your channel I wore leggings, band t-shirts, ill-fitting bras, and trainers. But I always wore a chunky scarf. At one point I had 5 pairs of leggings that I wore in rotation. I had one pair of jeans that were too tight. Nowadays I use a capsule wardrobe inspired by 'Parisian chic'. I have 2 blazers, 5 skirts, 5 plain tops. 5 thin sweaters, one pair of plain blue jeans, one pair of boots, two pairs of ballerina pumps, 5 scarves, one pair of heels, matching underwear haha and of course some accessories. I've never felt so good. Thank you, Justine! x

I'm Native American (indigenous or aboriginal. Some call us American Indian) and in my culture we wear lots of colours. They tend to be in the same groups and traditionally inspired by natural landscapes like the pendletons inspired by mountains or the swirl patterns in the southeast inspired by water. But now at powwows you will see many neon colours in the regalia. We also favour a lot of jewellery but it will all match in style or pattern. Long hair is culturally important and many of us still wear our hair very long so intricate braids and adornments for those are common when we're dressing up or putting on regalia. Very tight clothing is traditionally looked down on as well as showing your legs. Most women's outfits in formal or cultural situations are loose skirts or dresses with a belt that cinches in at the waist.

I don't know about America in general, but here in Colorado we have what we call "Colorado casual," which means hiking/outdoor gear pretty much all the time (ie, you'll see A LOT of Patagonia and North Face). It's perfectly normal to show up to a business meeting and see people in Tevas, fleece, or down vests. Preferred accessory is a dog.

Here in Algeria: -colorful / print hijab scarfs - long blouse that goes down to knee level. - ballerina or sneakers ( high heels are really rare) - eyeliner is a must - jean -long coat - fake engagement ring 😂💔

I am French and it's crucial that you say indeed that all the advices are Parisian chic , because they are a set of codes for a certain category of classy women who like everything to be neat. I am only 21 but I know plenty of women who wear shoes and bags that don't match, or who wear fun colours on their nails, dark blues, purple, in autumn, and light colours in summer like yellow, orange, nude, pink... We even like to add effect by making one nail with a different shade to break the symmetry I think maybe once you know the rules, it's up to you to break it a little Either way it's a pleasure to watch your videos :)

Some Canadian style rules I tend to notice. At least in the province of Québec, where people tend to be more practical than fashionable: - It's not okay to wear socks in sandals - Comfort before style, so leggings are often worn as pants here - You're not supposed to mix black and navy - No one wears boots in summer - Flannels are considered an all year item, even though it looks more appropriate for fall and winter. It's also appropriate for a business casual work place - It's okay to wear a tuque (beanie) even in the summer - Usually people don't care about matching their bags to their shoes. They just have two go-to bags that match everything. One for fall and winter, and one for spring and summer.

I am Italian and a few rules are different. We dress with colour in summer and in dull colours in winter. We use similar colours, in different shades - we call it "tono su tono". I love wearing black, brown with cream (not French!), but works well for someone like me with black hair and brown eyes. I could not leave the house in joggers too!!!

I'm Romanian and I don't know about the general fashion rules of my people, but these are some things my mother taught me: - DO match shoes with purse - NEVER mix black and brown (white is a non-colour and goes with anything, black does NOT - black "is a colour", and doesn't go with brown, EVER) - DO NOT mix prints: if your shirt has a print, your bottom should be solid colour and vice versa - DO NOT mix silver and gold And now I wonder if this has anything at all to do with the fact that my mom is a French teacher. :D Another thing my mom is adamant about: keeping outfits season / weather appropriate: no boots or wool hats in summer. There was a trend a few years back, where cotton crochet "summer boots" were all the rage. She absolutely hated that. Oh and wedge platform tennis shoes were once a thing too. None of that crazy novelty hybrid stuff. I love my mom. :)

In my personal opinion, as an American woman, I think there is a lot to learn about true beauty from our French counterparts (I am of French descent but I have never lived in France; only visited): the appreciation of intellect and meaningful conversation; eating healthy and well, loving one's imperfections and making them one's beauty trademark (instead of trying to be like everyone else)--these are only a few of the many things I love and enjoy about the French. Your videos are engaging, organized and most of all full of your lovely spirit! Thank you for all the delightful things you share with us! I hope all the good you give is returned to you!

Hello Justine! Love your all RU-vid videos and your light hearted personality. I am Lithuanian, but I live in Sweden for 15 years now. I was shocked how big difference can be between two countries which are so close to each other (just across the Baltic sea). The biggest difference is that women in Lithuania are much more feminine, they were a lot of dresses, skirts and a comfortable high heels all year round. Swedish women are wearing dresses only if they are going to the wedding or it's a dress code for some occasion. Jeans, pants, sweat pants and yoga pants, t-shirt (white or black) with sneakers is a uniform. In winter is time for another uniform: black or blue jeans and a black jacket with the feathers inside with the hoody (Canada goose type) and chunky boots or sneakers. Make up is a must in Lithuania, even if it's almost invisible, but nobody goes to work at least wearing a mascara and a lipstick, which is not the case in Sweden. Women in Lithuania are trying to have their own individual styles, not to follow a fashion blindly, which is totally opposite from Sweden. We never mix gold with silver-it's considered tasteless. Women in certain age (let's say after 40) will never wear shorts, mini skirts or other extreme things which are considered tasteless after a certain age (it's for younger women). It's not a case in Sweden at all... Lithuanian women has that timeless elegance and feminine look with a modern twist adapted to each person individually-that's the first impression you get. Women in Lithuania in general love their long hair, taking care of it, we use a lot of organic, plants and honey based products. We all know how to use different kind of herbs for a health or a beauty purposes (it comes from our pagan heritage, when we weren't Christians yet). Every self respected Lithuanian woman earns at least one piece of jewellery which is made from amber. Usually we own a lot of it as it's our "gold" and a traditional warm stone, which is also a part of our national clothes. Linen (Lithuanian cotton) clothes (also is a part of national clothing), a dress for a lady and a shirt or pants for a man it's a must in summertime for every Lithuanian (it also goes perfectly with amber). We were growing linen (seeds and oil is used widely as well) in Lithuania from dark ages, when nobody even knew yet what it is and it was considered as ''a poor people clothing'' at that time, because of ''ugly grey color" (which is a natural linen colour, without whitening) and wrinkles. Women are also quite conservative especially after a certain age, you will not see a woman going to the work with the dress and high heels without tights (even in a summertime it would be weared 10-15 den matt skin color tights. For the special occasion like a wedding it's absolutely a must! In general Lithuanian style is a classic and elegance, where women look like women and men look like men, which is again not a case in Sweden...If I see in Sweden very well dressed and put together lady, I am 100% sure she is an Easten European (Baltic states or Polish mainly). Purse and shoes should definitely match, there is no chance to see someone wearing a wrinkled piece of clothing unless it's linen. In comparison with Sweden and their black-white-grey uniform all year round, we were a lot of colours especially in spring and summer months. I was shocked how different looked Mango collection in Sweden (black, grey, beige, sporty, pants mostly) and in Lithuania (all colors possible, dresses, skirts). For a first 5 years I didn't buy anything in Sweden, use to go shopping in Lithuania only, now with online shopping I don't need to do that anymore.

A shout out to all fellow subscribers. This is the most uplifting and positive group on RU-vid.

I don't know much about fashion rules in my country because I know so many people with so different styles it's kinda hard. But my sister is a designer so she kinda makes me follow some rules so I don't look like a total disaster. Those rules include: - Don't over accessorize - Match your shoes with either your purse/bag, jacket or sweater - Don't use clashing colors, and if possible stick with neutral and pic an accent color, and be careful with color breaks in the outfit - Use stuff that fit you even if the cut is to make it look "oversized", oversized doesn't mean you look like a potato bag - Either show legs or clevage, never both (I usually chose legs) - In terms of make up, either eyes or lips (I don't usually wear make up) - Use colors that make you look good, not washed out (this took a lot of trial and error but along the way i found one yellow shirt i can wear without people questioning my health) - Don't be afraid of wearing colored shoes - Don't be afraid of making mistakes - If you feel good in it, own it

4:53 “In French you have the rules and you have the exceptions. It’s like the language.” As a girl learning French in America this hit me HARD

I love this! Here are some tips from India (North India in my case): 1. Most of us tend to have warm skin tones, so true colors are preferred to pastels. Colours like Red, Orange, yellow suit us a lot, so you'll find all festive clothing, wedding outfits from this pallette. 2. My mother, my aunts and women from older generations avoided wearing lipstick, especially red lipstick. They'd go for maroons, if at all. That probably had to do with lack of comfort with this lipshade. However, right now, orange based red lipsticks are a part of every dusky Indian woman's makeup kit. 3. Kohl. Lots of kohl. Indian women are known to have big, dark, sultry eyes, and we love to emphasize the same by lining them with kohl. That's all I can think of right now!

I'm a Brit and I think we are delightfully mismatched scruffs with a classic touch- think punk and tartan. In fact, punk probably couldn't have happened anywhere else like it did in the UK. If you think of McQueen or Westwood, you can see a sense of playfulness and rebellion with classic styles. I love how chic French women look but it's not for me. I would never dream of matching my bag to my shoes. And those colour rules would seem so 'beige', bland and frumpy here. It works so well for the French though. I love noting the differences in national styles. We are all at our most comfortable and stylish in such different ways. I just returned from Japan and the women there have so much fun with their fashion- bubblegum pink, frills, Lolita styles- it was great to observe. Thank you for this video!

In Poland it's a bit complicated 1. Women tend to wear full makeup on a daily occasions 2. Wearing high heels on a daily basis is a standard not a rarity 3. Outer clothing - jackets, coats, blazers are usually the most important piece of clothing in the whole outfit, and we love when they are of good quality - preferably made of wool etc. 4. We don't really wear much of a jewelry, on a daily basis at most it's one bracelet and small earrings. 5. We love leather shoes and bags, the ones made of plastic are seemed as a "not natural option" 6. Colours of the outfit, shoes and bag should match, preferably they should be in the same "tone ". 7. Women tend to wear feminine, flattering clothes. You can sometime see people wearing loose trousers but it's extremely rare to see someone wearing both baggy trousers and loose top. 8. It's very important to iron your clothes, if you wear white shoes make sure they are white etc. Take care of your garment. 9. It's safer to be too elegant rather than not elegant enough, unless someone is going to gym you won't see them wearing yoga pants.

I’m Jewish and I grew up with high style and confidence, very blessed, and I’m agree with most you say, specially accessories and colors. Always balance your clothes, knowing that clothes reflect a mind state and send a message to others around you, influence people in a positive way with your outfits, never wear more than 3 colors, and always make sure they are related in the color spectrum. 👍🏻

In America it is very difficult to sift through the overwhelming quantity of low-quality clothing in order to find something amazing. Most people here value quantity over quality and so that’s what everyone sells.

I'm from the southern US, specifically Georgia. There is a certain level of "finish" that a lot of women like here- it's the opposite of effortless, they like you to see all the work they put in haha! Finished bright nails, full face of makeup, curled big hair, lotioned and tanned, perfumed, high heels and matching bag. I just love it, it's so girly and loud ❤️

Never, in the 5+ years of watching YT have I scrolled down and read all of the comments. This is fascinating! I adore studying different cultures and hope to travel more, so this is not just anthropologically interesting, but also helpful for developing my cultural sensibilities. Another video idea or two: visuals of accessories that "work" for a French woman, including handbags, scarves, and jewelry. I'm curious--What is the view on tights in colder weather? Thanks again.

Fashion tips from an Australian woman: 1. Trackie dacks (tracksuit pants): A wardrobe essential, these should be worn as much as physically possible without developing a skin rash. 2. Bikini: In summer, bathing suits can be worn in lieu of actual underwear, most notably in shopping centres with little or no additional clothing. 3. Sunnies (sunglasses-Preferably in the reflective-sport-visor style): To be worn all year round. Sometimes in front of the eyes, if someone is trying to speak to you, however they can also be stored on, or more usually behind the head. 4. Hi vis shirt (High visibility shirt): This should be worn by gentlemen at all possible opportunities, however for the 3 or 4 of you not in the Tradie profession, a wife-beater tank is a good substitute. 5. Footwear: In those unfortunate cases where bare feet may be considered "unacceptable" (5 star restaurant/press conference/construction site) Uggs, thongs (flip flops) or steel cap boots are the ONLY available alternatives. No exceptions. 6. Never mix silver and gold: If your nose stud or eyebrow ring is in silver, then clearly whatever you stick though your belly button shouldn't be in gold. 7. Hair styles: For women, hair should be worn in the rats-nest bun style as high up on the head as can be achieved without it covering the face completely. For the gentlemen the mullet and the Surfie Jesus are the most popular. 8. Skincare: Living in one of the hottest and driest places on earth, Australians know the importance of drawing a narrow line of coloured zinc on the end of their noses. This should be in either green or yellow (the Australian colours) however exceptions can be made for football colours. 9. That healthy glow (in the dark): If you've made the mistake of wearing sunscreen don't worry, fake tan can be applied liberally in either the shade tangerine or apricot. 10. Mix and don't match: Items should be loud and preferably offensive, clashing harshly with other items in your outfit to give the impression of a poor blind 80's pop star. Remember price always trumps quality so try to buy most of your wardrobe from chain discount department stores like Kmart or Target (or as we say here in Australia "Targé"). Final Tip: The desired look is effortless and casual; 'trailer-trash chic', you should look like you just rolled out of bed...and into the "not good enough to donate" bin at a redneck yard sale.

I live in the Netherlands, in what we call "de Randstad" which refers to Holland's most modern and 'educated' cities (Den Haag, Amsterdam, Utrecht). Dutch style is extremely pragmatic, just like Ducth people are. Most of us cycle to work or school every day, even when it is snowing or raining. Because of this people seem to opt for more practical shoes like converse, vans, clarks or ankle boots. When women wear heels casually they are usually boots and are almost always a shade of brown. When it comes to colour, people wear a lot of browns, blacks and greys though students also incorporate a pop of colour, usually in the form of a backpack. In the winter you see a lot of huge scarves, and most people chose to wear a coat that is warm rather than fashionable, so parkas are very popular here. I feel like we don't wear a lot of jewelry either, maybe a watch and some stud earrings or a basic ring, but that's about it. The Ducth are all about functionality and looking effortless, I used to really not like that aspect of Dutch style, but now that I'm very busy myself I definitely see the appeal!

In India the style varies every 50 kilometres! A lot of it salwar-kameez, that is a loose cotton pant with a long shirt or kurta as we call it. In the cities you'll find a lot of jeans, and dresses too. The villages predominantly have the saree (a 5 yard fabric draped around the body) in different styles, depending on the region.

"No old jogging outfits ... EVER." Ah oui madame! I could not agree more! And I absolutely agree with Lagerfeld on that ~ a track suit (solely unless one is coming from the track, or gym) DOES mean one has given-in and admitted defeat indeed ... and in my experience, that most definitely describes people who wear them as their normal, non-sports wardrobe. Ugh! A pet hate. As for the rest, I am apparently a displaced French woman! (I think I knew that already. Genetic memory I suspect ~ my ancestors were French for quite literally a thousand years!). I've watched your whole series now ... and it's me!

It’s changed in the US **so** much! We have a family story of one of my great aunts, who got dressed to do her Saturday shopping and then noticed, in the first store window reflection, that she had one one seamed stocking and one unseamed (new) stocking. She scurried home to change, mortified if anyone had seen her. This was before I was born, but the story was repeated at family get together as well past when I was in high school. Fast forward to the early 2000s, and I had just pulled up in front of my bank, and looked up to see a man going inside, wearing pajamas and flip flops. I reached for my phone, and called my mother. As soon as she said hello, I said, “Mom, I’ve lived too long..” As we talked, I said, “What makes people look in the mirror before they go out and say, ‘Yes! That’s the look I’m going for today!’” She said I was making the mistake of thinking they looked in the mirror. This continues into almost the second decade of our century. Yesterday, I saw a grown woman in a one piece red tartan pajama at the local burger restaurant. I don’t think we have any standards here anymore. Raised the way I was, I only wear yoga pants or exercise leggings if I’m going to and from the hockey rink. I never wear sweatpants in public, and haven’t worn shorts in public since I had to haul around more than one child. The rule here these days seems to be, if you like it, go ahead and wear it all at once. That includes a different color of polish on each fingernail and none of it has to match what you’re wearing.

I'm American and entirely without style but, in 1996, I went to Paris. And it changed my life. Everything I'd heard about snooty French people was wrong, of course you know this already, but I discovered quite by intuition than American tourists are big and loud and they invade others' space. Instinctively I drew myself in, kept my luggage and elbows close, read the signs before asking questions, took my turn, and most importantly, I attempted to speak French. I slaughtered the language but I was so earnest in my attempts I think the people I met in shops, restaurants, and hotels appreciated my efforts. I met wonderful people, had fascinating conversations, and felt at home the entire time I was there. But, the real reason for my comment is that back then, in 1996, I noticed how much black-and-brown combinations I saw in clothing. I was lucky enough to be invited in to the atelier Ecru, and offered the chance to purchase samples. While I'm far to fat to fit into anything so chic, I bought a black-and-brown sweater jacket for my sister. I will always remember my few short days in Paris as being the most romance-soaked of my life. xxoo

Paris style by an expert makes this one of the better channels on RU-vid

In South Africa the more traditional wear for ladies is very loud and proud and colourful. It is truly amazing. In terms of the youth, it is sad to report that most of the young folk tend to follow fashion trends from mostly America and other celebrated countries and cities from the world. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but everyone looks the same. The other problem is that once a latest trend kicked off, it will be in the stores everywhere. I guess this is a global phenomenon where the fashion outlets delegates what we should wear and style and it's probably been this way since the inception of a sort of fashion trend. The cool part then happens when you come across a person who does their own thing. Who experiments and compiles outfits out of different "fashion do's and don'ts" without looking like a clone of his/her peer. The expression via trying something new with your look is not only bold and inspiring, but a little piece of magic. Keep up the great work Justine. I love you and your channel so much. Shout out to my fellow followers whose comments is heart warming. Elandri, Pretoria, South Africa xxx

Bit of a rebel here. I like black and brown and sometimes (gasp) wear them together. Like an irregular verb.😉

Another great video! What was Rule #3? I played it again and still couldn't hear. RE rules from elsewhere. Speaking as an immigrant in the US, i haven't found many universal style rules, but here's one: It's never OK to wear socks with sandals. Many types of shoes also are only worn with bare feet. Nylon stockings are for old ladies only (sadly.) I've found that different regions of the US have different rules. There are places (East) where men can wear navy blazers with pale trousers to almost any dressier occasion. There are other places (West, Southwest, Northwest) where a navy blazer would be laughed at. NYC likes black. Atlanta's more colorful. So many different climates and cultures. Americans seem more likely than Nordics to buy entire outfits at one time, rather than buying clothes one coordinating item at a time. Americans show a clear preference for eye surgery and contact lenses. Nordics seem to prefer eyeglasses. I see the difference on the street immediately, traveling between continents. Living in America I've grown to enjoy bold colors, not just my safe Nordic grays and blues. Fun, because I also discovered that black and gray (which look elegant on most people) make me look sick. Can it be that there is no universally flattering color, not even black or gray? In the US, neutrals often anchor a chic wardrobe but they don't have to BE the whole wardrobe. I have a theory that color palettes relate to climate. Closer to the equator - India, Florida, Morocco - bright sunlight calms bright colors down and makes them look "right". Intense sunlight can wash out neutrals into blah-ness. The further we move away from the equator, the less intense is daylight. In gentler light, neutrals take on a more beautiful and interesting appearance. Big blocks of bright color become overwhelming.

I can't speak for the rest of Canada, but here in Montreal: 1. Footwear is expressive but FUNCTIONAL - too many hills and cracked streets to waste time with heels! If heels are worn, it's as heeled boots or wedges; anyone in stilettos must be going out at night or is meeting someone for a coffee date. 2. Functional winter coats - many people do favour stylish wool coats and peacoats, but parkas are also common. Once it's -10 degrees, warmth is more important than anything else. 3. Eclectic personal style - trends are less important than establishing your own signature style. 4. Casual hair and makeup - it's a windy town and we're all busy. Hair is tidy but usually kept casual. Makeup is applied as needed, with young women usually favouring a signature look, like bright lipstick, winged liner, etc. 5. Cozy layers - again, it's very cold here. Wool scarves, slouchy cardigans, ankle boots, etc. are necessary to stay comfy while running around town. 6. Minimal jewellery - maybe it's just a sign of the times, but young women here don't usually bother with much jewellery. Maybe some studs and a watch, unless it's a formal occasion. 7. Quirky accessories - accessories don't have to match your outfit here. Bags, hats, and shoes, and scarves are chosen mainly based on how much fun you think wearing them will be. 8. Perfume - nearly everyone wears a light spritz of something. 9. The key is to look CASUAL yet POLISHED - you never want to look like you're trying too hard or wearing a costume, but you still want to look put-together.

It's very nice to hear the version of beauty in one's culture with great respect for the ways in other cultures. True enough, French Chic is highly respected across the globe.

Great video again Justine! I feel like all the rules you said apply to Italy as well (when it comes to socks though, we might also accept a very light grey for a light shoe, even though white is better, it's still fine). I might add a few more rules we have in Italy: 1) You don't wear socks with sandals. 2) You don't wear white boots. Like, never. They are considered very trashy. 3) You don't wear flip flops if you're out of your house. Not even to go to the nearby supermarket, never. The only exception is if you are at the beach or swimmingpool. This is what came to my mind! :)

In Bulgaria (Eastern Europe) the clothing style pretty much follows H&M collections. Though there is a difference between generations. Younger girls basically follow instgram hipster trends. Those, who are 25+ stick to 3 main things: 1. Skinny jeans could go with every occasion (party, teatre, work, school, date, at home, hiking etc.) And I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE! We haven't really adapted the hight waist and crop tops as in the UK, but just wear normal lenght on both. 2. Mascara and fon du teint are a must for 99% of women, but if you're one of the cool girls, then professional heavy makeup is perfectly fine even for highschool and a walk in the park. 3. We have all and every type of color and pattern in stores, but it's not because we like to mix and match that much. Everybody just dresses in their favorite color :D It doesn't matter what color suits your body and skin, but what is the color that you like most.

I think Swedish fashion is a bit like French in that less is more, but it's not as sophisticated. When we say we want to look "effortless" it means looking like you threw on whatever you found that morning and happened to come out looking stylish, if a bit messy. Some key elements: - Back. Like a LOT of black. (A LOT of black!) - Oversized coats. - Loosely fitted garments in general. - More or less chunky boots, because snow + fashion can only have one outcome. - If you're wearing a dress you're considered "dressed up". (Disclaimer: I'm personally more into alternative fashion, so I might not be the best person to comment on Swedish fashion.)

I'm from Puerto Rico, now living in the mainland US. Funnily enough, PR being a tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean, we NEVER wear 'flip-flop' sandals. EVER. (Unless we are going to the beach at that exact moment. And some people would wear other shoes, and bring the flip-flops in their beach bag.) We just don't consider them 'shoes'. That was the first thing I discovered when I moved to Florida: people wearing flip-flops all the time! :) PS: Loved this video, and you just gained a new subscriber! :)

Wow this is interesting. I have had a similar approach to clothing since I was a teenager and I still do today in my late 20s. My mom always used to tease me about it saying that I was too boring and should come out and shop more often and that I should try brighter colours and more jewelry. She was always the one obsessed with what everyone was wearing nowadays and chasing the next fashion, bringing home stuff for me to wear that she insisted that I try because it was trendy. For a long time I really thought maybe my style was boring. I hated buying wild coloured shoes with nothing to go with it but my mom would insist it was pretty and we'll find something to go with it one day. Usually we never did and I never wound up wearing it because it didn't go with anything I had. Lol it's weird to find that my tastes weren't boring at all. Classic, chic, minimalistic, balanced, practical and with enough longevity to last a decade without looking dated, but not at all boring. Perspective is a heck of a thing. I never needed to force myself to wear neon nail polish or necklaces with large earrings when I knew they didn't suit me. Oddly enough, though my style hasn't changed much, recently my mom has been saying that I carry clothes well and that something about me looks elevated. I think she's just warmed up to what I always gravitated to which is a very French style.

I strongly tend toward Classics and dressed that way in the office when I worked. All my clothes were Vogue flat patterns that I made, for which I took instruction 3 times a week and 1/2 day on Saturdays. I am retired now and wear jeans and tops to attend my groups at the senior center. I am sewing again buying classic patterns on the retro auction sites. Classic once, Classic Always, (easily adjustable hemlines and jacket lengths to be in harmony with Change.) Love your videos, just found them. Thank you! But as an American Older Woman now, I enjoy the freedom to dress any way I wish. Yaay!

I'm Asian and I agree with a lot of the French fashion tips. I tend to go for a minimalistic look with a dash of color. My grandma's personal motto is to always dress up and be presentable no matter where you go. So I don't really wear house clothes when I'm out running errands (which is very common here)

I'm italian and all these rules perfectly apply to italian women! Of course there are exceptions, especially amongst younger girls, but these rules are the basis of italian fashion as well! We probably prefer wearing different nail polish colours, but it's a totally new trend for us, because we used to wear only red until a couple of years ago! And of course, you can't wear leggings as trousers and sandals with socks. Those are huge NO here! :D

The comments on this video are so interesting! I love hearing from women around the world. I am a new subscriber and really enjoy your channel. I'm an American in California but love the French "Parisian chic" style. I find most women here look like they are not wearing makeup and dress very casually. But that is their style. It's intentional. I always wear makeup, but try to tone it down to fit in. Looking forward to more tips from you Justine.

In Spain we have an expression: "pink with red, punch on the eye" (well, in spanish it rhymes).

I am a Canadian, but have lived up in Northern Ontario, and briefly in the US. I was a plus sized woman for a period of time, and now I have lost 160lbs, I am in awe of styles in general in Canada, but in particular among the young women/girls, and many of the middle aged women. I must be french at heart because I am usually watching your videos, and talking to the screen saying yes that's what I do!! Well here in Canada, in the depth of winter, survival skills take over, and that particular jacket, or coat, or blouse I was certain I was wearing today can't possibly be unless I want to freeze to death each time I step outdoors! However, I think overall Canadians are a practical stylish suited to their lifestyle. I find many middle aged women dress very boxy, and that women in general wear the wrong sized bra, or don't adjust the straps at all, leaving their waist line at the same level at the breast line.... or simply wear the wrong style of bra for their breast size, and mass proportion. The young women seem to have adopted either a respectful, conservative style, or are wearing cut off tops, or very tight pants at the waist with an overhang of belly fat that looks just awful. When I was plus size I was always accentuating my positive parts, but keeping my abdomen covered, even though it wasn't as big as many, still I feel for my own comfort i could find a better way to flaunt the good! Im a firm believer in having good self esteem, and feeling good, but it seems some of these styles that let it all hang out, are almost a middle finger to society! lol I thoroughly enjoy your videos, and your feminine, softer spoken execution that seems so graceful! Thank you!

Generally speaking, fashion in the USA, like technology, is all about the latest and greatest. That said, I am seeing a trend in my office more toward the Parisian style. This is expected in the winter when black is worn more often, but I live in Florida and while the clothes are lighter in weight most of the year, I still see a lot of black v-neck tops, blouses, and sweaters. Yes, we need to have sweaters in the office because when the outside temperature is around 100 or more, the air conditioning is turned so low to combat the heat that it makes the office into a walk-in freezer. One woman kept fingerless gloves at her desk because the building maintenance couldn't balance the temperature at her desk. I also have noticed that different parts of Florida have different fashion vibes. For example, southern Florida up to south Orlando has a lot of Caribbean influence. The Atlantic and Gulf coasts have more of a relaxed "beachy" vibe. North Florida fashion is similar to the southern states. In general, even business fashion is more casual as it's often too hot for a tie and/or jacket. I LOVE your videos and look forward to them.

My maiden name is Charlotte Mauzy. I love your you tube videos. It took over half my life before I realized, "I AM FRENCH" or at least 1/4. My father was killed in WW II and he is was buried in Saint Alvold (sp) France. I did not get to know his family very well as they lived about 100 miles from Mom and me. I am 72 years old, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall, and Have weighed 105-120 lbs, my whole life. I am always told I look like I am still in my 50's. Since I have told my friends I have French heritage, they say I look French. I am so excited and want to learn everything about French women. I started taking ballet lessons. I want to learn to speak French. I just discovered your you tube videos tonight. It is 10:30 PM here in Eastern US and I want to stay up all night to watch all of them. OH NO, I must not, for I will get bags under my eyes. Well Goodnight, I will watch them in the morning. Bless you and have a wonderful day!!

As a Latvian who has moved to Denmark I have noticed that in Denmark people usually don't wear a lot of bright colored clothes. For example, when I was walking around in my bright yellow raincoat during the autumn I noticed that a lot of people were staring at me :D

Ever since I watched this there is a French woman in my head everytime I go to choose some socks. She's rather exasperated with me. 'ZOSE??? Really? You can nuht be seriEUSE!' hahahahaha ohhh my sock drawer is a horror film for her. :D

I don't agree with the comments that the US has no style rules -- I just think that they are not strongly socially enforced. What I find fascinating is the difference in style rules between the different regions of the United States. East Coast tends to be more formal and neutral; West Coast more casual and jeans-friendly; South allows for more bare skin because it gets really hot and humid down there. Think New York vs. San Francisco vs. Austin, TX.

I'm Italian and my style is quite near to the French one. The differences are that I use also three colors in one time, but well blended, because I think that many looks are too boring and without personality. I've got the problem with the dress with black shoes, I mean bright coloured dress. So I've bought a pair of medium dark silver shoes that fit with almost my elegant and coloured springtime dresses. I prefer trousers because my day is very busy and I want to be elegant and comfortable at the same time. I wear stilettoes only with dresses and elegant trousers. I really really love the french style, even for my children.

i don't like giving my exact country but most of these things are applicable to anywhere in eastern europe: - the accent is always on sexy, some people take it over board and that's quite common too, but most people don't over-do it. - we always find a feature considered stereotypically attractive in our body (ass, boobs, waist) and emphasize it as much as possible - there are no color rules - feminine is always desirable but not girly asian-esque feminine...more like grown up chic feminine. - we like to have a couple of things on trend and emphasis is put on a good coat winter jacket - we don't like to spend much on clothes so we get them for lower quality as long as th cut is nice we can skimp on quality - summertime is always synonymous with dresses, just find your style of dress and wear it - we're big on ballerinas and sandals here during late spring and summer (because it gets ridiculously hot), people have actual collection of ballet flat style shoes - fake nails, manicured with gel or press ons are almost a must, if not at least a colored manicure - no make-up rules in particular though most of us usually do foundation brows and mascara, also bronzer seems to be popular with a lot of people. - we have no qualms wearing short shorts around the city

Japanese women always wear tops that will cover the hips when wearing leggings. Leggings are treated like tights or stockings. In general, they don't wear tops that show cleavage.

In Turkey women fashion is separated to 2 groups; work fashion and casual fashion. We can describe casual fashion as a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. And we can describe work fashion as a midi skirt or some pants and a shirt sometimes with blazers

❤️U Justine! I recently decided to upgrade my wardrobe and start dressing prettier and classier so it’s no coincidence I found your channel and now I’m binge watching your videos to upgrade my style. You are so beautiful and classy! A great role model!

Just discovered this vlog and I am fascinated by the discussion! I grew up in the NYC area, and when I moved to the southern part of the US 20 years ago I was mortified by how casual people dress here compared to the north. I understand the heat plays a role in staying cool, but it's much too sloppy for my taste. I work in a business casual workplace where jeans are acceptable but I cannot bring myself to wear them. Coworkers always ask me why am I so dressed, but I think it is the look I wish to convey and proper attire never goes out of style 😙

in USA the rules vary depending on your subculture :)

Love this video and the comments! Here in Los Angeles, California, our dress code changes depending on where people are from; it's a city of global immigrants. Also, everyone is trying to get noticed and stand out, so outfits tend to be trendy and creative. But in the summer, everyone goes for the lightest, most casual clothing possible. One thing Angelenos have in common is dedication to health; fitness is a big fashion trend here, and a lot of people showcase their fitness with bare midriffs, shorts, and so on.

I live in Belgium and this video felt like Justine was listing Belgian rules (maybe because Belgium and France are bordering countries, I live in the north though). Another very important one we follow is to NEVER wear jeans on jeans. And oh, that part on the colors couldn't be more true. The moment somebody walks around in bright pink or whatever, we assume it's a foreigner (a lot of the times American, Scandinavian, Polish, Russian, ...) So cool to see all the comments from different nationalities

After twenty years of following my husband across the globe for his international business travel, I have refined my wardrobe in some ways and expanded it in others. I agree with all the points discussed. Well done.

I have lived north and south in the U.S., and Alaska. I forgot all sense of fashion during my Alaska years, though I was the girl who always wore lipstick with her polar fleece. Now I’m at home in Texas, but my personal style is “home” only to me. I live in a semi-rural small city and and have been asked if I’m from California. In a sea of same-same clothing and handbags studded with turquoise, I consider that a compliment. On a serious note a primary fashion motive is chronic pain, and allergies to leather dyes, etc. I am having to be creative to create a spiffy look that agrees with my body - often that is black as a neutral, with lightweight patterned scarves over a comfortable, but well cut knit top. I am absolutely loving the observations from women around the world - and as ever, the cheerful wisdom of Justine!

Regardless of what others may say, you have listed the basic guidelines of classic fashion which never goes out of style. Wonderful advice.

Most of those rules are things that my Mother taught me and neither one us is French,but I believe most people who are fashion minded tend to watch what is happening in the French houses. My sense of style comes from my Mother we are very similar,of course as she was my first role model and the one that I went shopping with,and still do. Thank you Justine,I love your videos.

At first, I thought you said that *point #2* was not to _over-exercise_ and I was like, _“great!! I’d fit right in, I’m moving to France!!”_ 🤣

In my opinion, because Batik is the most domestic ethnic pattern in my country (Indonesia), I think it is fun to mix up the solid color outfit with batik accessories, skirts, or pants in daily activities or more formal setting at night.

In the UK it is cold and rainy, so it is fashionable for younger women to wear black tights under shorts and skirts (I do not really see women over 30 do this, but they are welcome to.) Everyone also wears a lot of ankle boots. We tend to wear darker shades of colours over light- either to reflect our weather or because it was on trend in the 90s-2010 to wear bright neon colours and that's not as popular now (see scenesters.) We are also quite into minimal looks, although I have seen exceptions, and we have sort of punk and alternative styles in a lot of places moreso than other countries.

In Mexico there are many styles and depends on how much money, lifestyle, region etc but what I notice the most when I'm in a supermarket or public transport is everyone is wearing jeans and mostly levis.

I'm from Brazil so the current style for most people is the one I like to call "tropical fancy". Most girls and women will always prefer the bright tones, long hair, playing with colors and most will try the "new summer trend" in December (which here in South, is obviously in the end of the year, haha). Some girls will keep the trend, some will hate it and never use it again. Our summer is a nice time to find a new trick that we will use the next whole year, or for the rest of our lives! In Sao Paulo or the South of Brazil is colder and has bigger cities. So the style here is more similar to the French women, but we still have the taste for the "summer trend". Our culture is based in the summer, basically! And I love the tropical vibes, they're a good way to keep yourself inspired and happy. That's why we brazilians are so "warm", I think...

In Greece, we are sometimes fans of... maximalism! We like big pieces of jewellery, colourful clothes, fancy bags, impressive make up and occasionally follow the latest trends... I believe that this is our own way of understanding "la joie de vivre" and it also matches our characters! (Personally, I'm not very much into that, but I definilely love colours and I also tend to add at least one "fun" element to whatever it is that I'm wearing... I refuse to take anything too seriously!)

Yes slob casual with UGGs is seen pretty regularly at grocery and gas stations across the USA. I like some traditional and some new styles and I mix and match a few pieces with what I already have.

Love your channel and love coming back to this video and the comments from around the world. It is insightful. I am originally from Bangladesh where, like most south Asian cultures, there is too much going on at any point. You should see brides on their wedding days sporting heavy gold embroidery on silk outfits and wearing as much gold as they can afford. They literally layer gold over gold! Not to mention smokey eyes, red lips, etc. Even on a daily basis people will mix bright bold colors with lots of jewelry and makeup. It is considered unusual to wear earring but no necklace, etc. Then I moved to Montreal where the style seemed more individualistic but polished at all times. It was a treat to see so many unique styles on the street - elegant, bohemian, effortless chic, edgy, athleisure chic, etc.....but always put-together. Finally I moved to a college town in Texas where the dominating style rule is shorts and tee shirt with sneakers or cowboy boots! Very different. I personally prefer the "Parisian chic" style with some exceptions, and appreciate when people take an effort to look put together irrespective of their style. I felt most at home in Montreal (style wise).

It's a good thing I'm not French, because I *love* to mix prints! Of course, I'm an artist and quite adventurous. Mixing prints can be a very sophisticated look if you pay attention to value and size. NOTE: We're supposed to listen to Karl Lagerfeld about anything when he wears the EXACT same clothes and silly ponytail every day of the week? humph

I'm French and, for one time, I agree ! Well, young women don't respect this code but, when you are older, you know this is the perfect chic and easy to wear wardrobe ! Have a great day !

In Alaska, everyone seems to wear flannel and we have a huge love for extra tough boots. When I dress up and try to wear fashions from other places or trends I always feel very out of place.

In Taiwan, more and more girls love to dress like Korean girls. They have a natural style with little designs on the cloth. Same as makeup style. Years ago, we love Japanese style. We love to learn from other country I guess. :-)

I'm from Italy and here we apply basically the same rules in fashion, exept for the neutral colors, we actually like wearing bright colors and those people who have an olive skin tone look great in colorful outfits.

I am Italian (I live in Rome) and I think the French and Italian styles are very similar, especially when you look at northern Italy, especially Milan because the Milanese have the chic and elegance that foreigners identify with Italian style. From Rome on down it changes a lot because in southern Italy there is much more attention to accentuate the sexy side (with deep necklines for example), colorful and often excessive clothing. Here there is a strong tendency to youth and to appear at all costs: in fact, for some years now we have more and more women turning to cosmetic surgery to inflate their lips, breasts and inject filler and collagen. In general, we have had the last twenty years that led to a deterioration and a coarsening of style and class.

I'm French-Canadian and... we have no rules! I see women with styles from all around the world there are no general guidelines for the everyday woman besides what is asked for their jobs. On the same street you can pass by a chic woman in tailored skirt and blazer and right behind her someone in loose sweatpants and tank top and besides them another in a punkish style. Colored hair are popular, so are tattoos and piercings and no one gives a second look to them, in my city anyway. I guess our culture says be yourself and be tolerant towards difference.

As an American woman, I think woman in this country make too much of an effort, perfect hair, makeup, body, plastic surgery, over botoxed, fillers, trendy clothes,etc. I've always admired French woman and their approach to beauty & fashion, as well as self acceptance. We could learn a thing or two from our Parisian sisters! ❤

In Spain most women have almost one piece of Zara, which brings us the fashion trends very quickly, affordable and with a good relation price/quality (I have several in my wardrobe basics. The last jacket I have thrown away had over 15 years). I think there are different styles from the north to the south. In Madrid you can find more political correct style, in Barcelona more creative outfits and in Sevilla more sofisticated. I think we use more colours in general. Of course sandals and socks are only seen in tourists as well as white socks (only exception: with sport shoes).

I think that it depends a lot on the weather and where you live. In Latvia you do not wear jogging outfits unless you are a criminal but in Norway its casual for men to wear jogging pants and women to wear sports tights, especially the younger generation. It's hard to dress nice where I live in Bergen, because it rains and its windy most of the time and its cold. So you would see rain boots as casual wear but in Latvia nobody would wear them since its considered a farming boot. Bergen is a city where the best dressers are the generation past 50, they dress more classy but usually never taking risks. It's all about comfort in Bergen. In Latvia there is a huge popularity amongst the Russian girls to wear high heels and jewellery that is mixed, so gold and silver in the same outfit. Latvian girls don't do that and usually follow french guidelines when it comes to dress code. The country is poor so designer items are not all that frequently seen on the streets. They are popular but people don't want to be robed. Latvian girls wear heels but it's not a casual thing as seen with Russian girls. Norwegian girls only wear them to go out to party or if there is a celebration, comfort is more important. Streets in Bergen are not friendly for high heels because of the stone used in many streets with gaps in between the stones, there are also many hills and its not practical for walking in heels.

Justine, thank you so much. This was fascinating. I am an apple shaped woman who, I now learn, has adopted quite a bit of a French style just because I feel so comfortable in black or neutrals with few accessories! The "less is more" idea has always seemed chic to me. Now I know why!

In Canada, style rules are very much dictated by generation and, because we're such a huge country with different climates, where you live. I aspire to look like I'm French, I have admired the French style for years now and buy books about it, but many women my age (Generation-X) are much more experimental than the French woman you describe. Almost 'loud' in comparison, but not as extreme as Americans. Also, we can be very casual here, the all-jogging/yoga/gym/sport outfit is worn in public, without any intention of doing those activities, because it is comfortable and is considered a genre of fashion in and of itself, not solely functional clothing. I am more formal than most, in the sense that I try to maintain a higher standard in public, but I'm unusual for my generation and the younger ones. But sometimes I "give-in'', too! Merci, Justine for being such a good influence on us! I think, from what I see, that you have a style that would take you anywhere and wouldn't look out of place. That's the French. No one spots a French tourist from a mile away in a crowd. What most people here agree on is that you should dress for yourself, not for others, but I don't entirely agree. I think you should consider others, we have to look at it, not you. Thankfully, styles have been more lady-like lately than they have been in the past, but the tight leggings worn as trousers and cleavage.... I can't believe they don't see it. As you can see, Justine, this video really resonated with me, thank you.... I'll stop now.

I watched this video months ago and remembered that particular tip that your long gown or evening gown should match your shoes. I did it last night, and I got so many compliments. :) thank you!

Thank you so much for your video!

In India, most Indians love bright colours and the strangest colour combinations like orange with pink or red and green. I, on the other hand, love dark/neutral colours. Indians also wear a LOT of heavy gold jewelry, but I love very minimalistic jewelry. It made me feel like I never fit in. I'm in Europe at the moment, and I just love French style and I feel that my style fits in a lot better here!

First, let me say that I am so happy I have found you. I have learned so much about fashion from you, and you should really get paid for this. I hope you do. My wardrobe consists of mainly neutral pieces (a lot), and I have finally gotten the hang of prints, so that is what I am wearing/buying most of the time. I also have a lot of bright colors. My wardrobe is definitely mix and match, but it is so huge, I don't know where to start. I donated over 30 garbage bags, and I am still being run out of my house with my clothes. If I find something that I like, I tend to get every color in varying sizes to create different looks. I think I may be a classic American wardrobe girl because I have noticed that the closets in America are generally massive. I worked a job for over 2 years and never repeated an outfit. And, punchline, I still had plenty to spare. I'm not sure what the fashion rules are in the United States because it seems like everyone wears everything all the time. I feel women in the States purchase more clothing because we love and need choices. Maybe it's a symptom of being a country that is a so-called melting pot. I will say that I have discovered my nude is not the same as a fair person's nude (thank you Christian Louboutin). So I do wear brown shoes with silver jewelry, and everything else, because that is my nude color. Other than that, I really can't pinpoint a specific fashion for South Florida except for sweatpants, sunglasses, t-shirts, and jeans. When you go to Miami, you'll see a little bit more fashion forward folks. They tend to wear very bright colors as an accent with neutral pieces. Sometimes they just wear very bright colors as all pieces and to hell with what others think. I'm working on getting the bravery up to donate pieces that I love so I can live! Your channel is helping me do that. I truly have a shopping addiction, and it isn't cute or a joke. My friends borrow for my closets on a weekly basis. I even have a sign in sign out sheet haha.

Thank you, Justine! Love these French rules. In the USA, I think there are lots of little "sub-cultures" that each have different rules. And there is no shortage of cheap, trendy, disposable clothing. I'm following the French (except for my nail polish)!

I agree with your points on the video, Justine. As French women, we undoubtedly have these "rules" taught quite early. The shoe/bag part made me laugh so hard because this is a thing that is so common and agreed on in France that I never realized it could not be the case anywhere else. But let me tell you, for some reason, many French men do not know this - how rude! 😂

In India, for women:- 1. Pinks, reds, yellows and orange are more for festivities and weddings. 2. Avoid black and white for most festivals and weddings. 3. Lighter shades of pink and yellows for daytime and darker for evening. 4. Dark blue and dark green should be kept for evenings. 5. Sarees are a proper formal wear. Salwar and Kurti is casual or semi formal (depends on design). 6. For jewelry , Pearls are for days. Diamond is for evening. Gold can be worn anytime. 7. Light makeup is appreciated more. 8. Color for shoes should match your bag. 9. Hair should be well styled for a formal event. And a bun or something simple for glum situation. 10. Absolutely no makeup on funerals. 11. Sindhoor and bindi is preferable for married women in case you are attending a wedding. 12. Indian wear for weddings and festivals. Western wear for parties and other celebrations ( this one is flexible).

Even though I am more of a monochromatic color dresser, I do appreciate the newer look of mixing multiple patterns. It is a true art to be able to do so and still look classic and I have enjoyed doing so. Make sure you pay attention to scale. Large polka dot blouse with a smaller vertical stripe or abstract print. Treat it as you would texture. Some big and nubby with silks and/or cashmere. Love that!

Hello from the Pacific NW of the US, just wanted to share that I used your dressing suggestions. I applied them this morning before heading out. Within one hour I received two compliments. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your experience in a way that makes me feel better not worse.

Hello, a Mexican here. In the north of México -this highly depend of your socioeconomic status, and here is very bright the difference- you MUST wear makeup to work, older people tend to ask you "una manita de gato" if you dont use makeup and have your hair put together. We use lots of jeans, depending of the age. Im in my 20`s and work in something that mixes business and creativity, so I can dress myself fashionable and must be in the elegant side. We buy a lot of trending jewelry, lots of colors and LOTS of heels. Still, we can use our oversized clothes or gym clothes to go to grocery shopping. It´s very normal that girls from 16 and up dye their hair. In the north of México we copy a lot the american style that we see in series. Again, always depend of your social-economic level. The high society use the trend and the lower ones try to imitate them buying things that have big brands names in it. It's very very mixed.

I can't wait for your timeless pieces video Justine

Also steel blue or grey blue seems to be popular these last few years. I have several garments by different brands in this colour. I love it as its not boring blue, its like a muted but interesting looking calming blue. I stopped buying and wearing popping colours like red, even though I have olive skin and red fits me nicely. I go for light neutrals and this change came to me for a couple of years ago. My taste and style have changed completely since I past age 28

As a Chinese girl lives in Hong Kong, Hong Kong citizen categorize their outfit into different purposes, Hiking is a main activity on weekend, so hiking outfit for that; since it is a financial city, you also see lots of formal dresses and suits; young people in Hong Kong dress differently since it is a modern and multicultural city, Japanese style, Korean style, American style, but overall, they love skinny girls instead of curved body.

Well, all this is very interesting. When I was a child in the early 1960's my family lived in Paris. It wasn't until I started watching your videos that I realized how much my personal style was impacted by those years. I live in the United States where there is no style, except perhaps in urban areas. Yet I have always enjoyed quality, I love to dress and live well. Amen

Hi Justine, I am a recent subscriber and enjoy your videos very much. the rule about having just one print in an outfit tickled me very much. In India, women often wear salwar sets that have one colour and print for the top, a complementary or contrasting color and different print for the 'pants' and a 3rd color and pattern ( or something matching the bottom) for the chunni or dupatta. The material or the ready-made salwars come in these mixes. And the wonder is they all go well together and never clash. :)

as an indian - i can say the indian subcontinent loves colour - throw in a bright orange tunic and hot pink straight pants, loads of gold jewellry and a bright lip - thats indian for sure! india has a love affair with gold accessories, prints and everything Europeans could possibly consider loud! does every single indian dress like that - no! but generally speaking, mixing bold colours and prints and roping in some statement gold jewellery is an indian thing!

Haha! I am the total opposite to some of these rules, mainly the more colours and patterns the better! But I LOVE french fashion on other people. Nothing makes me happier than being in France and seeing an old lady walking down the street with some extravagant glasses, perfectly tailored dress and jacket with stylish shoes, all matching with one accent colour! I just want to high five them! Yes ladies, work it!