FRENCH DRESSING: she may have spent hours in front of the mirror, but she doesn't look like it. Her clothes may be expensive, but she doesn't flaunt it. Chic contradictions are what define women from the world's most celebrated fashion capital

We love them. We hate them. We really wish we could tie scarves like them. French women have this seemingly effortless style that makes them the object of envy of their European counterparts who buy the same labels -- sometimes even the same outfit -- but are surprised when they aren't instantly transformed into Catherine Deneuve.

 Our Gallic cousins across the Channel have always had that certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to fashion. After all, you can't really imagine a French femme trudging down the Champs-Elysees in unforgiving velvet tracksuit bottoms, with a tattoo on view, scruffy trainers and lashings of fake tan. No, she's much more likely to be sashaying along in a neat pencil skirt, killer heels, perfectly co-ordinated silk scarf, cashmere cardi and designer shades. For the land that gave us Coco Chanel, Balmain, Givenchy and YSL, clothes are more than just something to throw on in the morning.

But now it's no longer about pricey clutch bags, expensive tweed suits and super glamorous evening wear. The new generation of super cool French It-girls - actress Clemence Poesy, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Josephine de La Baume (girlfriend of hip record producer Mark Ronson) - are the poster girls for the new laidback Parisian chic. So, what is it about these women that makes them look so stylish?

French women are chic, believe they are chic, and take trouble to look chic. It matters. One of the key rules of dressing like a Frenchwoman is to think years, not seasons. With a colour palette revolving around grey, black, navy and camel - regardless of the season - don't expect to be whipped into a frenzy of excitement. Labels such as Zadig and Voltaire (known for their knitwear) and La Redoute (best for casual pieces) belong to a category of clothing that are hugely popular in Paris.

 Because they send out the right signals without making the wearer look like a fashion victim. This is important, since in matters of dress, as in love, French girls like to cultivate an air of casual indifference - to give the impression that they haven't made any effort.French style is about passion for beauty and joie de vivre. Whoever has this--whether native or not--is French to me.




HOW TO GET THE LOOK
Here, a list of French must-haves:

* A well-cut trench.
* Vintage jeans, fitted to your figure.
* A Chanel jacket in navy or black.
* Crisp, white Charvet shirts.
* Pumps by Christian Louboutin.
* Ballerina flats by Lanvin.
* Hermes and Chanel bags.
* Vintage fur, inherited from your mother.
* Jewels from the family, as well as costume pieces.
* Fleamarket finds.
* Cheap basics from H&M and Zara.
* Chloe suits.
* Balenciaga pants.
* Shawls brought back from exotic vacations in Indonesia and Africa.