The 2013 Toronto Film Festival is winding up and it’s time to get psyched, because the celebrities are here. However, with the arrival of French actress Marion Cotillard – who was in Toronto last year to premiere "Rust and Bone" – we can’t help but wonder a) what she’ll wear, and b) when she’ll give us her style secrets.
We weren’t sure when the latter was going to happen (the former has to – right?), so we’ve decided to pay homage to French fashion, by attempting to adapt it ourselves just in time for fall 2013. According to style stars and collections, here’s what we’ve learned. And Ms. Cotillard, if you’re reading this, yes, we will go shopping with you.
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How To Dress French
1. Horizontal Stripes
It may have been pajama-inspired vertical striping we saw at Stella McCartney and Moschino this year, but you can still interpret the stipe trend “a Francais” thanks to simple black and white horizontal styles. Paired with jeans or even leather pants, you can channel the iconic ‘60s French look while still staying on-point in 2013.
2. Red Lipstick
Red lipstick is a year-round staple, so it’s no surprise it was on models in F/W 2013 shows. That said, nothing dresses up an outfit like classic red lips – especially if you combine them with a beret and a mini-skirt ala A.P.C.’s Ready-To-Wear Fall collection.
3. Riding Boots
We know the English don’t have a monopoly on riding boots, but French brands like Le Chameau and Hermes offer a bankable alternative to Hunters if you’re hankering for a change. Or, if you’re in the market for a little glamour, take a page – literally – from French Vogue, which featured knee-high Gucci riding boots in its June issue that seem tailor-made for this fall.
4. Minimalism
Thanks to actresses like "Inglorious Basterds" star Melanie Laurent – who showed up to the Burberry Fall 2013 show in London in a satin trench coat – French style has been closely associated with minimalism, as much as it has been with glamour. In the case of Ms. Laurent, she dresses down her coatdress with loose wavy hair, lip stain, and grey shoes. Much like she did at the premiere of "Now You See Me," where she donned all black, and a low, loose ponytail. This fall, less (whether it be accessories, intricate hairstyles, or makeup) is more.
5. Blazers
For decades, blazers have been a wardrobe staple (and F/W 2013 is no exception), but you can still make them “French” by donning unconventional styles (like the person snapped here at Paris Fashion Week), or by channeling the likes of Carla Bruni, who used it to pay tribute to the season’s menswear trend. You can also don an oversized blazer with a pair of looser-fitting jeans and oxfords for that minimalist feel (which, for the record, will also pay tribute to that timeless trend: comfort).
6. Contrast
Without fail, French natives like former French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld and Marion Cotillard have perfected red carpet contrast, pairing designer formalwear with soft, even messy hairstyles. French style is synonymous with seeming effortless, and like we saw on models in countless collections, loose updos, disheveled waves, and borderline bedhead will help tone fancy outfits down.
7. Lace
Never forget that the season’s lace trend should always remind us of French – ahem, Chantilly – lace, and we have not. While you hardly have to get decked out in the fabric to embrace the trend, you can use Marion Cotillard (her again!) as inspiration, who wore a flower embroidered lace frock at the Critics Choice Movie Awards earlier this year. Like Cotillard, you can keep the lace modern: paired with leather, dark tones, and even biker boots, you can come off casual, and still on-trend.
8. Capes
It’s hard not to scream “capes!” at the top of your lungs in joy when you read about them, and frankly, it’s almost offensive not to. This season, Anna Sui, Derek Lam, and DKNY embraced the style, but French designer Stephane Rolland opted for a less conventional take in his couture collection debuted last year. That’s the key: French style is about uniqueness and self-expression, so don’t be afraid to pair a cape with tights, or a cape with leather pieces, or even opt for a detailed, embellished cape – it’s all about you.
9. Tartan
History buffs, rejoice: Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection was a show straight out of "The Tudors," and frankly, it was magnificent. Through tartan, cashmere, and tweed, Karl Lagerfeld borrowed from the UK’s past – because Coco Chanel herself loved the Elizabethan era. Since English revival is also big in 2013, combining the two is easy: pair capes with tartan stockings, or A-line skirts with ruffled, button-up blouses. It’s fall-appropriate and classic – meaning that even hundred of years after pieces like this were worn, they still have a place on the fashion spectrum.
10. Mini Dresses
Not to make this all about Marion Cotillard, but that’s why we’re here: having rocked an Antonio Berardi mini-dress at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, she proved that through a high neckline, subtle shoes, and minimalist makeup, you can still make a short hemline red carpet-appropriate. Print mini-skirts and mod dresses are must-haves this season, so to keep them “French,” remember that minimalism will tone down their shock value (if super short), and layering stripes or even a leather jacket will give them a more street style vibe.
