There is only one word to describe the French — chic. From the food to the fashion to the apartments, everything the French touch is effortlessly stylish. So, how do you take a page from the Parisians and recreate the chic French design style stateside? 

 

Well, it’s time to face the facts. As an American, you will never be as chic as a Frenchman, especially a Parisian. C’est impossible! There are many things Americans do well, including building businesses, defining global pop culture, and, here in Austin, smoking Texas BBQ. Being chic is simply not one of them. 

But it is not entirely your fault. There are historic figures and events that have positioned France as the epicenter of style, including Marie Antoinette’s lavish wardrobe, Thomas Jefferson’s rave reviews of French culture, and Georges Haussmann’s decadent reconstruction of Paris. 

 

But mostly, the reason you can’t recreate chic French style is because attempting to be chic is the most unchic thing you can do. 

 

My advice: don’t even try. 

 

France Has a Long-standing (and Carefully Strategized) Reputation as Exporters of Chic Style 

The spectrum of French living feels so effortlessly chic to us Americans, from picking fresh herbs at a French provincial country home to enjoying a coffee and cigarette at the cafe under a Parisian flat. Why is everything the French do so chic? I’ve found that France has a long history of carefully positioning itself as experts and exporters of style. 

 

It began with the reign of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. Much of his efforts went into a lavish PR campaign to establish himself as a civilized monarch of the future and put distance between himself and the warrior kings of the past. He constructed the Baroque Chateau de Versailles, saw that the court was dressed in the most fashionable trends, and invested heavily into the arts. These investments in the talents of designers helped establish Marie Antoinette and her lifestyle as iconic figures in French fashion and lore. 

While Louis XIV knew the branding power of style, he also saw an economic opportunity in the fashion industry. He and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the minister of finance, funded the French textile industry and worked to keep out foreign competition. Colbert is quoted as saying, “Fashion will be for France what the gold mines of Peru are for Spain.” And, this agenda stuck. Over three centuries later, textiles, luxury goods, and fashion are still major pillars of the French economy. 

 

How could you be anything but chic when your country is known for fashion houses like Dior, Saint Laurent, and Hermes? 

 

Where Did America’s Fascination With the Chic French Design Style Start? 

The French academic Andre Seigfried wrote, “France occupies a place apart in the United States. No other country is more passionately loved, and none is more disparaged or harshly condemned.” Do I detect a hint of jealousy from my fellow Americans? 

 

Americans have been enamored with French culture and style for decades. In many ways, we’re very similar. On the whole, we both value individuality, a sense of romance, and indulgences in the finer things in life. However, Americans tend to take a boots on the ground hardworking approach to getting what they want, while the French take two-hour lunch breaks. It’s easy to see why we’re jealous. But, when did Americans become so fascinated with the French? 

Well, Thomas Jefferson actually gave many Americans their first peek into French culture from his extensive travels. Before tourism grew as an industry, travel was for the elite. Jefferson, who had lived in Paris from 1784 to 1789, wrote about his French experience saying, “Here we have singing, dancing, laughter, and merriment. They have as much happiness in one year as an Englishman in ten.” 

 

From there, American curiosity only continued to grow. Members of the Lost Generation, such as Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway, flocked to Paris salons in the 1920s to pursue their creative endeavors and escape their disenchantment with their own country. And Hollywood cemented the romantic Parisian trope in films like An American in Paris and Amelie, further romanticizing French life. 

 

While many Americans spend life relying on their grit and hard work, it seems that our Parisian counterparts pass the time enjoying art, conversation, and croissants. The French just make it look easy, and we can’t help but stare. 

 

What’s the Secret to Chic French Interior Design? 

Parisians don’t even have to try to design a chic apartment. It just comes naturally to them. Every last detail is perfectly styled, without being styled at all, like the wrapped flowers from the market sitting on top the antique dining table. But don’t feel too discouraged, the French had some help. 

 

The iconic Parisian design style we know and love wouldn’t exist without Georges Haussmann,  the French Baron who rebuilt Paris between 1853 and 1870 during the Second Empire of Napoleon III. He demolished medieval neighborhoods to build large, comfortable flats. These are the buildings that Paris has become known for today, taking forms and motifs taken from the Baroque, Regency, and Rococo periods with a pared down approach. 

Certainly the combination of the historic architecture in such an old and storied city adds a lot of layers to the look. After all, many Paris apartments have been homes for hundreds of years, and the layers of design styles, from the paneling to the trimwork, are often highly ornate. When they are paired with more contemporary furniture, they make for a lovely juxtaposition. 

 

It is impossible to recreate this architectural history in any place but France. After all, you can’t expect to add hundreds of years of history to an American home that’s less than a century old, or worse, to a new build. 

 

Do Americans Have Any Shot at Being Chic? 

One might ask oneself, “How can I be more like the French?” They pull themselves and their homes together effortlessly without going out of their way to style things. They just live in style — it happens naturally. Do us Americans have any shot at being this chic? 

I gave my earnest advice earlier. Don’t even try. And I meant that sincerely. 

 

If you want to be more like the Parisians, stop working so hard at being chic and questioning if you’re doing it right. No chic person is a copy of another. Rather, they are unapologetically themselves. Living chic is living simply, living by your own agenda. Embrace it. 

 

You will never look chic trying to be something you’re not.