yesterday

7 Things Everyone Can Learn From This 43-Year-Old French Trendsetter

by Aemilia Madden

Around the world, women look to their counterparts in France as a source of inspiration. It seems that French women have a lesson in effortlessly cool fashion to teach the rest of us. But, sitting at the pinnacle of the Parisians is the model, rocker, and muse Caroline de Maigret. At 43, Caroline’s laid-back yet elegant style is equally inspiring to women at 21 as it is to those at 81. The trendsetter’s style manages to transcend age in part because her approach to dressing is particularly refreshing; she manages to share her unique taste while always keeping things simple.

But don’t just take it from us, it turns out Caroline has some seriously inspiring words on exactly how she developed her rules for dressing. To help highlight her perspective, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite quotes from Caroline over the past years. Each encapsulates exactly what makes her a favorite among fashion’s It crowd, no matter where they live. Continue on to check out her style, and read up on a few of our favorite quotes from Caroline.

1/22

Photo:

A Love Is Blind

In her book, How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are, Caroline shared, “You don’t have to spend a decade’s worth of salary on your wardrobe or flaunt designer brands the whole time. All you need is one signature item: The one you wear when you need to feel strong.”

2/22

Photo:

Collage Vintage

Caroline told Harper's Bazaar, “Fashion gets boring to talk about after five minutes, but style is so much more, I can go on about style for hours. Style is everything—culture, your personality, and what you do—that’s what makes style. It’s who you are, and how you want to be perceived by others.”

3/22

Photo:

Style du Monde

“The Parisian never gives too much away. When it comes to revealing herself, she follows one golden rule: Less is definitely more.” (From How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are)

4/22

Photo:

Collage Vintage

She told Bella Blissett for You Magazine, “Nowadays, we want to be effortless—but looking effortless takes effort! So we weave a story—create an illusion of effortlessness.”

5/22

Photo:

Collage Vintage

“A smoking jacket, jeans, and a white T-shirt are items every woman must have.” (From How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are)

6/22

Photo:

Style du Monde

In an interview for InStyle Caroline shared, “However you choose to present yourself to the world, the most important thing is to make that look your own. That’s the Parisian in me talking.”

7/22

Photo:

Collage Vintage

Caroline told Harper's Bazaar, “[Parisian women] We’re not that perfect, and it’s okay. In France, we kind of gave up on that whole perfect thing, and it’s interesting to other people.”