french habits I swear by

Although I wasn’t born in France, French culture has shaped a core part of my identity- and my goodness, I’m proud of that. My mother is French, and I later moved to Paris for university, meaning that my most formative years, both in early childhood and early adulthood each sifted through a sieve of ‘frenchness’. To his day, I find myself leaning ever-closer to my French side, embracing it loudly and proudly in the way I live, work and see the world.

This list could easily stretch to pages and pages, but today I’ll just share five of the key French lifestyle habits that I truly live and swear by.

When I lived in Paris, my step count was through the roof. Parisians walk a lot. The metro doesn’t have escalators on every floor like in London, and you’re lucky to get a lift in a Parisian flat. So stairs, steps and speed walking is the way forward. You don’t need to go to the gym because your top floor chambre de bonne is your daily work out.

Here in London, I actively walk when I can, walk up the escalators and ensure I keep my body active, moving and healthy. Simple daily movement choices like cycling to work, or walking an extra 20 minutes over a bus are accumulative habits that can change your health over time.

In France, cultivating a culture générale is deemed as highly important and necessary. ‘Culture génerale’ refers to a person’s general knowledge across the various fields of history, literature, the arts and sciences, as a way to encourage critical thinking. That’s to say, in France, regardless of which industry you’re in, you’re encouraged to read, discuss and appreciate the arts. I remember being at University and the lecturer scolding us for not holding what he called ‘basic ancient-greek knowledge’ not on the syllabus, but on the syllabus of life nonetheless.

I think this cultural understanding of the importance of art, literature and history is a reason why it’s so common to see people reading in France, be it on the Metro, or sat in Parks. Independent and secondhand bookshops are found on every corner, (along with a boulangerie), fuelling the desire to read. Regardless of whether I plan to read or not, having a book in my bag just-in-case and build up the read-don’t-scroll habit is a French lifestyle habit I strive to conquer.

Intellectualism, learning and curiosity is proudly engrained in French culture, and the symbol of that is the classic livre de poche in each French bag.

Something my mum drilled into me growing up was the importance of skincare. In France, heavy makeup isn’t the norm, and it’s much more common to invest more time and money into skincare over makeup- which is no surprise hence that many top dermatological brans are French.

In France, women tend to embrace a more ‘natural’ look, in order to embrace their natural features. Daily exposure, to natural faces in France is refreshing. It seems there’s an acceptance and understanding that beauty is simple, it glows strongest when we’re in our most natural state. Often a little concealer, a dash of blush and a touch lipstick is all you need to feel ready for the day.

I prefer to moisturise and wear a good suncream over spending lots on makeup, and that’s a generational French habit I think I’ll always keep.

We have too many decisions to make day-to-day and automating outfits is one of my favourite ways to fight decision fatigue. My daily uniform is a French classic, you’ll see on women of all ages in Paris and that’s because it’s simple, elegant and effective.

In winter it’s the classic: turtleneck top, blue jeans, black boots and a wool coat. In Summer, a sundress, or switch the warm top for a white blouse. Perhaps you can jazz it up with some sunglasses and a nice bag and boom you’re sorted. You look good, feel good and didn’t drain your mental battery at all in doing so. A classic French outfit default will always be my go-to.

I believe that one thing to invest in is a good quality perfume you love. You don’t need many, one is sufficient. ‘Le parfum’ is a historical symbol of luxury and refinement, and my goodness do you feel it when you use one you love. One signature scent that you look forward to spritzing is all you need to feel put together and ready for the day.

I hope you have the loveliest Sunday,

Eloïse