On style and self-possession
“If you strip away the stereotypes and contradictions about her, one of the fundamental qualities associated with the French girl is her sense of self-possession. She is entirely, unequivocally self-contained. She is focused on living her full life, following her own agenda and cultivating her actual self, rather than reinventing herself or pining away to be someone she’s not. Throughout her life, she invests herself in learning and experiencing, not to change who she is, but to become more fundamentally and more fully who she truly is.”
Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide To Finding Her Inner French Girl
To be honest, I’m completely over those French girl stereotypes but when reading the excerpt above, it reminded me of Archana’s comment on my 5 piece French wardrobe overview post and more specifically the fact that I decided to wear a black jumpsuit instead of a white dress for my wedding: “But I cant help admire the ones who do what they desire.” This has always been something I take pride in: I refuse to give in to the pressure to be someone that I am not. Not only when it comes to style but also in everyday life. From a very young age I knew that it is impossible for everyone to like you and your actions or beliefs. So you might as well just be yourself, follow your own path and surround yourself with people who like and love you for who you truly are.
Style-wise I try to stay away from trends unless they fit my own individual style which is simple and fuss-free. As much as I would like to experiment at times, in the end I usually go back to my trusted uniform; jeans, a simple t-shirt / sweater and sneakers or ankle boots. Which is fine because I aim to build a wardrobe that is functional, timeless and a reflection of my personality. I know that some people consider this blog too intense in terms of shopping, planning etc. but I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to dissect your personal style and preferences. The better you get to know yourself, the easier it is to get dressed in the morning and to feel put together, which leaves more time for the things that are truly important in life.
So well-written. Keep posting according to your own feelings/beliefs – your authenticity is visible and makes this blog worth visiting day by day!
Thank you! Love this place so much & a couple of days ago I read it ALL again post by post!
Daria
Thank you for the wonderful compliments Daria! They are very much appreciated.
I think it’s a great mindset to have for life in general and something I probably need to work more towards! In terms of clothing, like you I’m generally unimpressed by trends (although sometimes one catches my imagination) which has made wardrobe planning easier. And I agree, once I realised what I wanted out of my wardrobe I can get dressed confidently and not have to worry about feeling self conscious for the rest of the day and concentrate on other things.
You should check the book: The life-changing magic of not giving a f*ck – How to stop spending time you don’t have doing things you don’t want to do with people you don’t like 🙂
Great post – something i heard about this topic always stuck with me ….”trying to be someone else is tiring, be yourself because thats easy!”.
This is so true! You can be happy only when you know yourself and accept yourself. Everyone has their own path. If we all looked the same, the world would be so borring! I like your attitude, Jessica! Have a lovely weekend!
yes I am too over the whole french women are superior to all human beings.
Good on you for blazing your own trail
I got mentioned on Daarboven !