French Girls Don't Actually Wear These "French-Girl Trends"

"There's one thing that first comes to my mind when I have to think about "French girl" trends that we don't actually wear, and that is the beret! I'm thinking of it because I know it's kind of making a revival these days, but it's so cliché. I don't think any Parisian girl who's not working in Fashion would wear it unironically. Even worse, paired with a 'marinière' (striped shirt) and carrying a baguette." — Sabina Socol

"It's safe to say that the French style fantasy created a lot of clichés. I don't think that some pieces are particularly stereotypical, but some styling choices are. I've never seen a French girl wearing a beret with a marinière and a rain coat while carrying a baguette. Same for the polka-dot dress, the basket bag, and the espadrilles—it's not every day that you see a French girl dressed like Brigitte Bardot." — Sarah Nait

"I guess I wear a lot of stereotypical things like berets, stripes shirts, tuxedo, little blacks dresses, leather jackets, trench coats, all black of course. Sometimes the 'French' uniform is something I like to play with because I like to be something else than a 'Gainsbourg'-esque girl but not any less French. But there's a Facebook group that raises every year for a day against ballet flats because actually a lot of people think they look ugly and that they, well, smell!

"[As for] Chanel bags, I think it is more about bourgeoise girls who have a family who could afford one or that they can afford one. I think the most common bag would be the Longchamp Pliage, Lancel [bags], and Gerard Darel if you're looking for an expensive classic bag. Otherwise mostly girls have large bags—[usually] black ones or simple ones." — Adeline Rapon

"Everyone thinks French girls wear berets (holding a baguette in their hand), but I actually still don't wear them (but I hold baguettes in my hands). It's not that I don't like it, but it's hard for me finding a good shape and size of beret (I have a big head)." — Tokyobanhbao