The allure of French style can be maddeningly mysterious (just ask a guy what "je ne sais quoi" means to see our point), so we were thoroughly delighted to come upon a concrete tip that anyone can try. Cupcakes and Cashmere’s Emily Schuman recently posted about a French rule of thumb from one of her Parisian readers that’s too good not to share. Essentially, if you’re wearing a longer dress or skirt, opt for heels, and if you’re sporting a miniskirt of mini-dress, wear flats. This little trick will ensure your outfit proportions are always on point, and that you’re showing just enough skin. We pulled some street style outfits to illustrate the rule, and have to say that it works every time.
Scroll down to see if you agree whether flats really look better with a shorter hemline, and heels with a longer one. Then shop our skirt and shoe pairings, and pin the slide below for future reference!
Shop our perfect pairings:
Skirt: Topshop A-line Overlay Lace Skirt ($85)
Shoes: Alexander Wang Max Slip On Oxfords ($238) in Maroon
Dress: Needle & Thread Embellished Georgette Mini Dress ($360)
Flats: 3.1 Phillip Lim Devon Flats ($159) in White
Skirt: Alexa Chung x AG Kety Skirt ($178)
Flats: Gianvito Rossi Leopard-Print Calf Hair Point-Toe Flats ($895)
Shop our perfect pairings:
Skirt: A.L.C. Side Slit Fitted Midi Skirt ($416)
Heels: Isabel Marant Pippa Printed Calf Hair and Suede Pumps ($430) in Brown
Dress: Zara Fancy Knit Sleeveless Dress ($60)
Heels: Loeffler Randall Reeve Heels ($280) in True Black
Skirt: Antonio Berardi Jacquard Midi Skirt ($279)
Heels: Dolce Vita Kaiza Heels ($160) in Caramel
Next up, check out How to Dress Like a French Girl at the Airport.
-
Breaking: Julia Roberts Wore This Clashing Bag Color With Black Flats, and the World Didn't EndI'm totally copying this.
-
If You Want Your Clothes Mistaken for Designer, Try These 7 Zara OutfitsExpensive-looking styles ahead.
-
Not Ready to Let Go of Sardine Summer? This Chic Bag Launch Will Help You Carry the Vibes Straight Through FallThe first drop sold out, so these won't be around for long.
-
Nordstrom’s Fall Sale Is Almost Over: Tory Burch Shoes and Ralph Lauren Jackets to Shop Before It EndsOnly two days left.
-
30 Things I'm Buying From Zara to Dress Like Ayo Edebiri This FallShe's my style inspiration.
-
Calf-Hair, Suede, Espresso—30 Luxurious Nordstrom Items I'm a Little Too in Love WithSimply stunning.
-
This Fall Skirt Trend Will Log More Hours of Wear Time Than Your Mini and Maxi Skirts CombinedGuaranteed.
-
It's Controversial (I Know), But Frequent Fashion Flyers Swear By This Jeans Outfit for Long FlightsIt involves an elegant leather coat and chic luggage.
