Are you still lusting after an afternoon picnic under the sun with baguettes and wine waiting for the Eiffel Tower to sparkle up the night? I feel you, if all the beautiful Instagram posts of Paris on the Showpo feed haven’t got you already channelling your inner Parisienne, start now and get ready to feel both classy and carefree, ready to take on the world with confidence.

Embrace an au naturale face…

Parisienne women like to keep it simple. Embrace what makes you special! Do you have lots of freckles or moles? Don’t cover them up! Have a few staple makeup items in your bag such as tinted moisturiser or a lightweight foundation, concealer, blush, mascara and a lipstick. That is all you need.

Laze around at the park in the middle of the day…

Actually go outside on your lunch break. If you a little bit of free time during your day, be lazy and don’t feel guilty about it. You will be much more productive after having some timeout. It’s so freeing to take your cafe au lait outside in the sunshine and sit on a park bench reading a good book for a few minutes.

Limit your wardrobe to 10 essential items…

I know I have way too many clothes squashed into my wardrobe. I always fall into the trap of trying to justify my purchases and starting my inner babble with, ‘maybe I can wear this for…’ or ‘I’ll definitely wear this again’. Cut to a few months later and it’s either still sitting in my closet with the tag on it or I actually did wear it once but never again. Keep your mind stress free with these 10 essential items that you can all pair together:

1. A white tee – Is there anything more versatile? Pair it with any type of coloured pants, a skirt, jeans, a slip dress. You can do no wrong!
2. Ballet flats – They are equal parts chic and comfortable and they never go out of style.
3. A blazer – Transform into a more sophisticated version of yourself in a of couple seconds, throw on a blazer and be #girlboss ready for that interview.
4. A cashmere sweater – Comfort is key and Parisienne women like to be both parts fashionable and practical.
5. A striped shirt – Could you get any more French? Complete the look with culottes or jeans, a navy cardigan, a pair of flats, red lips and you’re all good to go!
6. Black pants – Stuck on what to wear in the morning? Start with some black pants and go from there. It will take you from Monday to Sunday from coffee with a client to lunch with the gals then drinks with the boyfriend.
7. Classy heels – Don’t be extra, go with your basic black or nude heel that you can wear to a business meeting all the way to Friday night drinks with friends.
8. Jeans – No explanation needed.
9. A white button-down shirt – A bit more elegant than your average white tee but still subtle and comfortable.
10. A little black dress – A girl should be two things- classy and fabulous! Spoken by none other than the iconic Coco Chanel. You will definitely feel those two things wearing a LBD.

Eat croissants for breakfast every day…

It’s so satisfying to bite into a crunchy, buttery croissant in the morning. A secret to eating like the French is to have a short, quick breakfast followed by a big, long lunch and ending the day with a simple dinner. That’s it, no snacking in between. If you absolutely can’t function without satisfying a craving go for something healthy like an apple or some nuts (the unsalted kind).

Enjoy the little things…

Having said that, it’s not like French women don’t ever indulge. It is France where there is a never-ending supply of bread, cheese, wine and macarons. When you decide to order that chocolate fudge brownie for dessert, actually enjoy every mouthful and stop berating yourself about it afterwards.

Wear red lipstick…

Want to look and feel more chic and confident? Apply some bold, red lipstick. When I travelled to Paris as soon as I went out the door I put on some red lippy. That day I actually got stopped and asked for directions not once but three times! I like to think it was because I looked like a true Parisienne woman.

Look sober, even when you’re not…

Drink and have fun but don’t ever look wasted. Channel that attitude when you’re waiting in line to get into a bar/club and you have a little pep talk with yourself by repeatedly chanting, ‘look sober, look sober, look sober’. Don’t be that girl that gets kicked out of the club by dancing on a table topless. Not that there is anything wrong with freeing the nip but there’s a place and time for everything.

Take extended lunches complete with un verre de vin…

Lunch is sacred in France. It recharges you, gives you time to socialise which makes you happy and consequently makes you more motivated to make the most out of your day. And who says you can’t drink on the job? A glass of wine (only one, you don’t want to fall asleep at your desk) may inspire you.

Walk around your apartment naked…

Love your body and also know your body. Walk around your apartment in your birthday suit, well probably not such a good idea if you’re still living with your parents or in a sharehouse unless you are all nudists which in that case, go ahead. If you find yourself alone in the house or even if you live with a boyfriend/girlfriend embrace your sexy bod and show it off. They will definitely not object and this decision will probably lead you both to an activity that burns many calories 😉

On that note, enjoy sex and self-pleasure…

Women can be just as sexual as men. Don’t ever apologise for your sex drive, your preferences, your fantasies, what you like and don’t like, whatever it might be. Take the time to discover these things and don’t be embarrassed. Life is all about pleasure, baby!

Cooking food is an art form…

Going to the fresh food markets on the weekend is a must. Keyword being fresh. The French love to put on a soiree and impress their friends and family with their cooking skills. There is nothing more satisfying than enjoying a hearty, homemade meal so get creative in the kitchen.

Wear sexy lingerie even if you’re single…

Don’t you feel so accomplished when you’re wearing matching underwear? You don’t need a man to make you feel sexy. Strut around in your lingerie, you’re hot, girl!

Simplicity is key…

If you think, ‘is this too much’? It usually is. In the words of Coco Chanel- simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.

Don’t try so hard…

Just take life as it comes. That’s doesn’t mean be slack, do your job and whatever you have to do to get through life to the best of your abilities but don’t become something you are not. Be yourself! If that job promotion requires you to change your beliefs and the way you should treat people, it’s not worth it. If being in the ‘cool group’ requires you to get blind on the weekend when you’re more of a homebody, it’s not worth it.

Words by Tamara Bose