Inject some je ne sais quois into your wardrobe with Absolutely’s guide to dressing like a Parisian with help from style icon Jeanne Damas
Words Joy Montgomery
Rouged lips, dishevelled locks, immaculate complexion and show-stopping style. Jeanne Damas is the model and fashion designer turning heads with her quintessentially Parisian approach to style. Shooting to the top of our girl crush list, Damas combines her own brand of je ne sais quois with a wardrobe stuffed full of androgynous tailoring, retro silhouettes and elevated basics. Her look borrows from the tenets of traditional french style yet with a fresh, 2017 twist. Needless to say, we’re obsessed.
We scoured the web and analysed countless street style snaps to uncover some of the style rules of our new favourite it-girl. From fail-safe combos to the new occasion wear colourway, scroll down and prepare to swoon.
TEA DRESSES ARE YOUR SUMMER UNIFORM
Jeanne Damas proves that cool girls can in fact do girly dresses. When the mercury rises, out come the pretty tea dresses, offering just the right amount of curve-hugging femininity and 1940s-inspired elegance. Damas lets the dress speak for itself – all it needs is a cute tote (preferably raffia), sun-kissed skin and ankle tie espadrilles.
HIGH-WAISTED TROUSERS ARE ETERNALLY CHIC AND FLATTERING
High-waisted trousers are a staple in the model’s wardrobe. Fitted at the waist and hips and tapering out just above the knee, this look is guaranteed to lengthen legs and provide a bit of Parisian cool to any outfit. Damas is currently loving ’70s-inspired shades of orange and brown, but tends to keep the top half simple. A tucked-in white tee will do the job nicely.
TRENCH COATS ARE THE ULTIMATE COOL YET CLASSIC COVER-UP
The classic trench coat is big news for AW17 and Jeanne Damas sure knows how to rock the look. A flowing trench instantly adds Parisian polish to casual separates and is perfect for inter-seasonal dressing. Wear with mom jeans and a crew neck knit to channel ’80s ingenue’, or add new season cool with a pair of heeled ankle boots.
YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH A BLAZER AND JEANS
French women historically have the ability to wear tailoring with a unique effortlessness and laid-back grace. A recurring theme in many of Damas’ street style snaps is the blazer and jeans combo. Rarely spotted without denim, the model often uses a boyish blazer to smarten up her outfit – a delicate cami top looks lovely peeking through masculine lapels. This is also a great option for petite girls who worry about being swamped by a trench.
HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK IS ALWAYS A STYLISH CHOICE FOR OCASSION WEAR
While the rest of the fashion pack grace parties and bar openings in extroverted Gucci gowns and flower-flecked Valentino, Damas proves that all black is a look that never goes out of fashion. From two-piece suits to LBDs, monochromatic is the cool girl’s ‘less is more’ option for occasion-wear. If you want to fully embrace the Parisian aesthetic then forgo heavy make-up and stick to smudged red lips and, if you dare, pretty ballerina flats.
ALWAYS KEEP ACCESSORIES TO A MINIMUM
As Coco Chanel famously said: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” The sentiment still resonates today and Jeanne Damas is all about minimal accessories. Rule number one: it’s all about the bag. The model is never seen without a stylish tote; not so flashy that it detracts from the outfit, but still chic enough to hold its own. Rule number two: jewellery should be subtle and delicate. A fine chain or two will add just enough glimmer to a silk shirt or bare décolletage. Alternatively, a pair of small gold hoops will look as cool with a daytime knit as they would with an evening cocktail dress.All images from instagram.com
