In order to avoid looking de trop, it’s essential to do your fashion maths before leaving the house, as Goldstone explains. “I wouldn’t say we consciously apply a rule book to dressing but we generally go by the ‘less is more’ approach – think Coco Chanel ‘take one thing off before you leave the house’ rule.” she shares. “It’s a balancing act, for example if we wear short skirts or dresses we won’t have much cleavage on show, we don’t tend to wear more than 2-3 different colours at the same time, or if wearing print, stick to the one statement piece.”
“It’s all about balance,” agrees Anne-Laure Moreau, creative director of French fashion brand Musier Paris. “During summer, less is more is a real thing. I also like to mix styles. If I wear sporty shorts for example, I will add some feminine ballerinas and pearl earrings, it is all about balance. I think it is more about attitude than actual style. It is the way you wear clothes.”
Goldstone’s tips to anyone wanting to look more ‘French’? “I think French style is generally more pared back than British style, focusing on timeless basics with the odd statement piece, rather than leaning into trends too heavily,” she explains. “So to look more ‘French’, you should invest in a good capsule wardrobe: high waist flared jeans, denim shorts, an oversized white shirt (preferably men’s), a Breton top, a little black dress, a floral slip dress, espadrilles, a basket bag and cat eye sunglasses.”
The latter pieces on Goldstone’s list conjure up the wardrobe of millennial style icon, Jeanne Damas, of the French fashion brand Rouje, who proves Gallic savoir-faire doesn’t simply mean boring or monochrome. Indeed, her best-selling item, the Gabin dress, is a modern take on a 1940s classic, with tie-front, deep V and midi-length skirt. What began in a few colourways and a polka dot print is now available in 17 different versions. It’s all about having an attitude of insouciance.