France is a country that is rightly considered the trendsetter of world fashion for more than a century in a row. People for whom fashion trends along with chic and taste are not an empty phrase, first of all look at fashion from France, following all the fashionable Parisian rules. Do you have your own peculiarities in French fashion? Since when does the reign of French fashion dominate the global fashion industry? It’s worth stopping at these questions and answering them in full.
History of French Fashion
The concept of “fashion” has been associated with France since the reign of Louis XIV, when the country, under the control of the ruling government, began to rapidly develop industrial industry. In this regard, the French royal court was considered the trendsetter of European fashion. Baroque fashion was made possible by the production of silk fabric and lace. Luxurious lace and silk dresses complemented by bright ornaments and skillful draperies were an attribute of pomposity and wealth.
In later times, French fashion turned into a truly revolutionary one, introducing men's clothing elements into a women's wardrobe in the twentieth century: trousers, jackets, formal shirts and even ties. She made such a bold coup from romanticism to modernism, forcing the entire female fashion to take a new path, known to all, even French people, far from fashion, Coco Chanel.
Coco Chanel
Almost every modern woman has trousers, a jacket and a small black dress in her wardrobe - the greatest creative find of Chanel. No less famous fashion accessories of her name are metal jewelry and the famous quilted handbag on a chain. The same can be said of the cult spirits of the Chanel house.
Coco Chanel has long been gone, but her business lives on, and the fashion house of her name continues to be considered one of the main houses participating in the main French fashion week in the fashion industry. Coco herself is still striving to imitate, quote and inspire her, which is completely justified, because it was this great woman who was able to so boldly and irreversibly influence the fashion of the 20th century by founding the Chanel fashion house, introducing completely new images in women's fashion. In addition to trousers and other convenient things from the men's wardrobe, in addition to the universal and affordable for almost any woman little black dress, it is Chanel that we owe to the appearance and constant presence in fashion of small hats, tweed suits, jewelry, as an independent fashionable and prestigious world of jewelry and even a stand fashion for tanning.
Dior
Another eminent French designer is Christian Dior. One of the most famous fashion designers, who invented feminine dresses in the style of a new bow and raised the concept of “French fashion” to a new height.
Dior caught the women and their post-war mood, dreams and desires with all the flair of a talented master. Parisians at that time were already tired of short, strict skirts, trousers and almost men's jackets, so Dior’s super-feminine collection was enthusiastic and enthusiastic. Bright colors, luxurious fabrics, skirts to the ankles (lush or straight), small rounded shoulders, tightened waist - everything in this new collection shouted about the charm of traditional femininity. It was a new French fashion, which soon became world-wide.
Yves Saint Laurent
The name of one of the leading fashion designers of the 20th century, whom Christian Dior himself chose as the successor, is forever inscribed in the history of fashion.
Many of Laurent’s fashion ideas are now classics. So, women's tuxedos, which struck the imagination of fashionistas, subsequently became the brand's business card. It was Yves Saint Laurent who offered to actively wear women's trouser suits, high-neck sweaters, black leather jackets , safari dresses , high boots, ethnicity - without all these things it is already difficult to imagine a woman’s wardrobe from any city in the world.
Of course, these are not all French fashion houses, the fashion world would not be complete without the unbearable and shocking Gauthier, fancy Lacroix, chic Pierre Cardin, Louis Vuitton, bag and accessories master, elegant Hubert Givenchy and many other great fashion designers.
Modern young designers
Today, the titles “young designer” or “budding couturier” have no special meaning, since the fashion industry has been flooded with the names of young artists who are trying to modernize the traditional concept of ready-to-wear. Individuals succeed. For example, Olivier Rustan, who was lucky to gain recognition in the world of fashion, competently balancing between the traditions of the Balmain Fashion House and his own new youthful taste. Each Balmain brand fashion show is held under loud applause of the hall, and western stars themselves offer Rustan friendship and cooperation.
Another successful young French designer - Nicolas Gesquiere - until 2012, worked as the art director of the Balenciaga Fashion House. Gesquiere's collections abounded with elegant silhouettes combined with geometry of forms, generously seasoned with a futuristic design. Since 2013, Nicolas Gesquiere became the creative director of another famous brand - Louis Vuitton.
The young designer Guillaume Henri made world fashion recall the almost forgotten Carven fashion house, giving the girls a new favorite brand for them. According to rumors, this designer made an interesting proposal to lead the next major fashion house with history - Nina Ricci.
Fashion magazines
From the second half of the distant XVIII century, it was in France that the first magazines specialized in fashion and everything connected with it began to appear. At that time, French fashion magazines were separate large engravings, which were painted manually with watercolors and were accompanied by a description of each fashionable detail.
The modern fashion gloss came from the first French fashion publications, such as the L'Officiel magazine, published in Paris in 1921, the oldest of the French fashion magazines, whose release continues today. In 1938, it was this magazine that was the first with color photographs on the pages.
In 1937, the weekly Marie-Claire appeared in France, which also reached contemporaries. It was an innovative publication at that time, telling not only about world and French fashion, but also about secular and cultural events, about health and beauty recipes, publishing readers' letters and answers to their questions, covering other important aspects of women's life . Thus, the publication was the first of a large army of women's popular magazines.
In 1945, the French magazine Elle was introduced to readers, the main content of which was articles and photographs related to fashion. The first issues of the magazine were sold out in record time, and after a couple of decades, Elle was recognized as the most widely read magazine in the world.
Street fashion
The French style, which has already become notorious, is a taste that manifests itself in the style and choice of clothes and accessories from French fashionistas. At all times he was distinguished by special refinement and charm.
The proximity of high-fashion catwalks, of course, leaves its mark, but not only this factor affects the special charm of French street fashion. A masterly mastery of the art of combining seemingly incompatible things, building a harmonious and unbanal image and forms the basis of what is called French fashion and style. Putting on a warm coat with a thin T-shirt or a chiffon dress, as if taken out from the great-grandmother's chest, with an almost male tweed jacket, and seasoning the image with original accessories to taste, the French achieve a completely unique impression, showing the world a signature French look.
French women are Europeans to the core, most of them preach adherence to European values ​​and gender equality. They are independent, make a career, and this can not but affect the appearance. Typically, French women prefer light as natural makeup (and often do without it), affordable brands and calm colors of clothes. In the guise of a true Frenchwoman, the keynote is a slight negligence, but not sloppy at all. This negligence can be afforded only by a very well-groomed woman who knows the power of her attractiveness and has an undeniable taste. The most important thing in the appearance of the French fashionista is accessories and jewelry. The matched set makes the casual dress evening. French women are not indifferent to jewelry “with history”; they love to delve into the goods of flea markets and antique shops.
How to create a French look
The main difference between the French style and others is the lack of bright colors and variegation in clothes. Provence women have a skillful combination of snow-white clothes with unobtrusive cream shades and black classics. Thus, a French woman will turn an ordinary black maxi dress in combination with well-chosen jewelry and lovely details into a delightful outfit for the evening.
Dresses are a special article in the wardrobe of a true Frenchwoman. Light dresses and skirts easily fit into a feminine, playful and at the same time sophisticated look. In preferences, French women also have straight cut skirts and tulip skirts as the quintessence of everything that French fashion offers.
Clothing is not everything, to create an image can not do without accessories. Since the time of Chanel, ladies continue to wear hats of neat shapes and calm colors. This season, Fedora and Trilby hats will be especially demanded.
Bags French women prefer roomy, but elegant styles. Baggy bags, similar to duffel bags, are unlikely to interest them. Classic shoppers for everyday wear, an interesting type of clutch bag for publication - this is the choice of a Parisian woman.
France also gave us long stylish necklaces. But keep in mind that they are not very suitable for women with large breasts. The French style in jewelry is the original jewelry made of metal and wood of noble varieties. They fit most looks.
The French are virtuosos of the art of creating interesting images. The resulting ensemble consists of many layers. It is complex and simple at the same time. Additions always work impeccably on the image of the owner, and all together constitutes the mystery of eternal French charm. This charm, combined with democracy, makes the French style so attractive to the rest.