The sensually mysterious French Woman is idolized around the world. What is it about these ladies that conjures up the idea of la femme fatale? How do they achieve that mix of womanly strength, style, and substance? They embrace their femininity.

There are plenty of “How French Women Are Perfect” guides, but this is not one of them. Like women everywhere, French women have their good and bad days. But after having recently spent some time in Paris, I figured out some of the small ways (that add up), that make the alluring French woman so appealing. The good news is, it’s not difficult or complicated and it’s all about natural beauty (something we love to champion at Ecosalon). 

1. It’s not the size of the heel, but the spring in your step

Dressing comfortably in clothes that flatter and fit your body is the first skill to master. Although French women understand the sex appeal of a great pair of pumps, they would rather wear a walkable stylish shoe over a towering heel. Forget about architectural confinement in clothing, like bulging cleavage or tight fitting clothes, and wear whatever brings you a sense of natural ease and comfort.*

*Comfort doesn’t equal sweatpants. Even if you are going to the grocery store, you don’t parade around as if you are going to work out.  Throw on a dress or a skirt, something feminine, but still relaxed.

2.  Once you’re out, don’t mess with it

Don’t constantly reapply your makeup in the bathroom or fidget with your hair at the table. Leave the house feeling as you want to look, and carry that feeling with you. Confidence in yourself and your style is beautiful. With this idea in mind, you’ll spend less time worrying about how you look, and focus more on just having a good time—which is the most attractive accessory.

3. Wear flattering basics

A small, but well-curated collection of basics will take you far.  For example, a personally stylized V-neck silk blouse will last longer than the latest runway knockoff look. Plus, you aren’t a slave to trends, which is very budget-friendly.  And don’t be afraid to wear the same pieces over and over again. Trust me, no one will notice.

4. Go easy on the makeup

Natural beauty comes from the inside and always shines through.  Style icon Audrey Hepburn said that beauty is within the eyes. Those windows to the soul don’t need to be caked in glitter and glam to be sexy.  Blush, mascara, soft lip (and sometime a little eyeliner) is all you need.

5. Don’t strive for perfection

Embrace your femininity through natural beauty, and be content with who and what you are now. As Yves Saint Laurent said, “Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”  What French women seem to have achieved is owning their beauty comfortably and being happy with momentary perfection, a quality I wish à toutes mes amies.

image: twm1340

The post French Women’s Real Style Lesson: Embrace Your Femininity appeared first on EcoSalon.

Femininity meets power-play in Costello Tagliapietra’s Fall/Winter ’13 collection at New York Fashion Week.

Stitched from the see-sawing juxtapositions of life, thoughtfully constructed dresses, like the ones that glided down the runway of the Costello Tagliapietra Fall/Winter 2013 show this week, have a story to tell. And if these dresses, jumpsuits and alpaca cloaks could talk, there would be conversations to be had.

From boardroom banter to cocktail chatter, they whisper of femininity, power and mysticism. Over weekend cappuccinos, they share their secrets in finding a graceful balance between femininity and masculinity, between power and sweetness. And, because they are the carefully crafted garments of Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, the design duo behind the line, they murmur one word again and again: sensuality.

When I first met the endearing business- and life- partners following their Spring/Summer 2013 showcase, the same, singular word, came up repeatedly.  At first, it seemed surprising to hear two burly men speak so softly about a woman’s emotions and desires—about sensuality. So this time I asked how it is that they simply ‘get’ women.  “It’s easy, really,” says Tagliapietra.  “Most of our friends are women, and we grew up with sisters.  We just surround ourselves by women. Strong women.”

With its Fall/Winter collection, Costello Tagliapietra calls forth the ‘working woman’s wardrobe’.  “It’s powerful, and it’s feminine,” says Costello. “Our woman is not afraid to embrace her femininity.” It’s this yin and the yang—the pairing of a slinky polyester dress color blocked using AirDye technology, contrasted with an alpaca caplette, sourced from Tagliapietra’s mother, the owner of an alpaca farm in New Jersey—that makes this collection so wearable. “We love that the alpaca comes from a women-run operation; we love that the animals aren’t harmed; and we love the whole farm-to-table mentality,” Tagliapietra proudly adds. Opposites really do attract—from runway-to-real world, in a magnetizing way.

Backstage: Designers Robert Tagliapietra (left) and Jeffrey Costello (right).

More looks we love:

Photos: Jennifer Barckley

The post NYFW: Striking the Balance with Costello Tagliapietra appeared first on EcoSalon.