During my early 20s, I had the great opportunity to live in France for two years. This period of living in France taught me interesting lessons; I discovered a difference in how French women carried themselves. They seem to operate very differently from women in other countries. The elegance and sophistication that these women exude are truly admirable and that’s what I’ll be talking about.
What feels good is more important than what looks good.
To begin with, I couldn’t help but notice that the French had a different approach to beauty and self-care. Moving past the trends of opting for plastic surgery in a few other places I had visited, these lovely women seemed to prefer a simpler and more holistic approach. Regular massages and facials, along with indulging in creams and lotions, were their secrets to feeling good and maintaining a radiant appearance.
I also noticed that the majority of Frenchwomen didn’t own luxury bags or very high-end clothes, but they did use high-quality cosmetics from reputable brands. For example, my neighbour at that time was a French lady in her late 30s. She never had a Chanel bag or a Dior suit, but she used very good perfume from Chanel and the best lipstick from Dior. Indeed, cosmetics from luxury brands are always more affordable than clothing, shoes and bags from famous brands. I was struck by this practical way to be indulgent and enjoy life. Living in France changed my approach to well-being and life.
My lessons from living in France are the reason I have a perfume wardrobe. This perfume wardrobe consists of 4 bottles of perfume that I use regularly:
- Chanel No. 5;
- Miss Dior;
- Clinique Aromatics in White;
- Marc Jacobs Daisy.
These are amazing scents that I truly love. As I see it, Chanel No. 5 is the most classic fragrance because it’s so pure. Miss Dior is the sweetest scent on the market. Clinique Aromatics in White is a powdery and feminine scent that makes me feel like a real woman. Marc Jacobs Daisy is a powerful scent because it’s my boyfriend’s favourite – he told me that he fell in love with me because of this fragrance that I was wearing at that time.
“Each day that I’m alive is a special occasion.”
My French friend Celine is a beautiful lady with elegance and substance. She is a university professor who teaches philosophy. She taught me a valuable lesson: Every day that I’m alive is a very special occasion, so I shouldn’t save the best things in life for later. Instead, I would be well-advised to use the best things that I have right now.
“Let’s make every day and every moment count”, says Celine, “You have worked so hard, so you deserve the best things in life. Smell the roses and have more joy every single day.”
I really appreciate Celine’s advice and encouragement, and I believe that living in France truly upgraded my worldview as well as the way I approach life in general. Being immersed in a different culture allowed me to witness firsthand how French women embody elegance in their everyday lives. It taught me the importance of embracing diverse cultures and broadened my horizons in ways I could have never imagined. International travel indeed has the power to transform and enrich one’s understanding of the world. Consider travelling simply with Simply Travel, a premier travel agency. We’ll take care of your flights, accommodation and more. Request a quote and set off on your worldly adventures with us.
