How to get Parisain Chic???

The hubby and I are off to Paris in a few weeks time for a well deserved break so lots of serious outfit planning will be need in the next week or so. I love Paris it is one of my favourite places, just sitting drinking wine and watching the world go by - it is one of the few cities that is OK to stare at how people are dressed.

And I will be doing rather a lot of  people watching because French women seem to look effortless chic whatever the occasion, so what is their secret??

Rule no 1 - buy quality not quantity, you don't see French women's wardrobes bursting full of clothes they never wear, investment pieces are the key.

Rule no 2 - go for classic items - you don't see many new trends in a French wardrobe, they like to dip into the seasons look but work them around their classic pieces.

Rule no 3 - keep it simple French women stay away from fancy frills and fuss favouring clean lines and neutral colours.

Rule 4 - add in some vintage whether it be your grandmothers Hermes Kelly bag or Chanel jacket ( I wish but that's what the French ladies do invest and pass on to the next generation!!!) or something you picked up in the little vintage shop around the corner from your office.

Rule no 5 - accessories, accessories accessories  - a great bag or fabulous pair of shoes, a scarf tied jauntily around the neck or a vintage brooch placed just right.

Rule no 6 - spend a little more on your lingerie, French ladies spend money on their underwear - no basic M&S multi packs or greying bras, go for matching sets in pastel shades or classic black.

Rule no 7 - take your influence from classic French designers - think Chanel, Dior and Givenchy

I've got a few more French flavour posts to come leading up to the visit and then from Paris itself - so watch this space.