American Girl unpacks the "French Girl" Style

[@milkteamachine]

I feel like the "French girl" aesthethic is mostly romanticized by people who have not actually been to France, much less lived there.

[@dongysakura418]

Same thing with people who romanticize NYC

[@MCheesesushi]

Yep, I can say as someone who has been to Paris several times and even more times to France (I live close to the French border) ... it's pretty in parts, but also loud, (understandably) rude and dirty. Cool to visit nonetheless for the history and culture. I prefer Edinburgh ;)

[@romy7865]

As a French person that lives in France I can tell you that what you've said it soooo true !

[@kidaria1333]

Decades ago it was more a thing. Still too much stereotypical thinking but it had a true substance. Through globalisation and digitalisation the world is closer too each other in positive but also negative ways. 80% of normal average teeangers in europe wear all the same look be it france, germany or sweden expect fashion victims and subculture.

[@Arcaryon]

As a Geman who spent a lot of time in Italy and France on vacations over the years to name two popular examples with some international reputation, a girl is a girl everywhere. I understand the concept of national asthetics but it all falls apart once you actually start to travel as even in Paris or Rome, the amount of people who don’t fit into the idea that someone might have of a cultural style is far too noticeabl. It’s mostly just a fictional idea for fashion, an artificial construction for a specific work field and enviorment.

[@ohmiasi2538]

I think the French girl aesthetic is also popular because it seems so simple - people want to be fashionable but feel overwhelmed by the all the options and with things like pattern mixing it's easy to go wrong and look a bit ridiculous. So the idea that you can be fashionable without being super bold or creative is very attractive to a lot of people

[@rndmusrnm2763]

That’s assuming the French Girl aesthetic is purely a clothing style, when it’s really a standard. Maintaining that willowy figure, styling ur bangs so they look effortless, having perfect skin so u can wear minimal makeup n still look good-nothing about this aesthetic seems easy or simple.

[@tess5437]

@@rndmusrnm2763 or you can accept your skin and figure and wear not much makeup and simple clothes like French people actually do (I'm French), it's confidence that makes you beautiful...

[@rndmusrnm2763]

Tess김 But we’re not talking about actual French women. The ‘French Girl’ this video is talking about is not a person rather an embodiment of an aesthetic. The problem isn’t choosing to have a casual-minimal style. The problem how the ‘French Girl’ exists in American minds and how very excluding it is to women who aren’t white, pretty and skinny.

[@tess5437]

@@rndmusrnm2763 Well please don't use the word "French girl" then, I agree with you but what I am saying is that anyone can have that style, but of course if you are not looking the same as these instagramers it won't look the same but will still be the same style.... I mean it's what we do in France so why not start extending your definition of that "French girl" style

[@rndmusrnm2763]

Tess김 Tess김 I didn’t think I needed to further clarify what I meant by “French Girl” bc the video we’re commenting under explains it. But what I’m talking about is the American “French Girl”, it’s not a commentary on actual French culture. I want to emphasize I’m not talking about clothes or a style of dressing or even the aesthetic. I’m talking about the PERCEPTION of the aesthetic here in America.

[@wenkachan6180]

I want rococo fashion to make a BIG comeback cause girlllllll we would all look GOOODDD

[@marily6920]

those rococo dress sleeves got me 🥰🥰🥰

[@corycianangel6321]

We have lolita fashion or maybe go into vintage fashion! There are communities for both of those.

[@wenkachan6180]

@Eden Kennedy I know lolita fashion but I do prefer total rococo look. We would all be so flawless!!!!

[@kittymowmow12]

Give me the ruffles. ALL THE RUFFLES

[@wenkachan6180]

@@Mymelodii774 yeah! It would be WONDERFUL. We gone make Marie Antoinette jealous.

[@marswag666]

so aparently you can go from basic to ✨basique✨

[@asha5548]

This is fantastic 😂

[@isda3314]

Definitely gonna call myself ✨basique✨

[@solmerete276]

😂

[@lubiekocyki]

underrated comment

[@ih2439]

@@asha5548 fantastique, you mean

[@leslievanhouten]

French Girl style is a way for US Americans to exoticize “basicness”

[@nattraley]

can i hand you an award

[@lovelylolaunicorn]

You are damn right

[@MiniMaggit51]

Gonna stare at a wall for 10mins now to help me get over this realisation. Thanks.

[@silverlips998]

I will frame this sentence.

[@stace_d]

Oooooo, I've never seen it summed up so efficiently. You nailed it

[@fitzyfitz95]

As a french girl, this whole 'french style' thing to me just doesnt make sense, it is just 'rich white parisian skinny girl aesthetic' which is really boring. Like can we stop acting like Jeanne Damas is a style icon, her and all those parisian influencers wear the same things ,,,, There is such a amazing diversity in France but the US markets only a certain aesthetic which is sad.

[@thatbitchnoemie]

SAY IT SIS, SAY IT. **high fives in French**

[@AM-kr4pv]

Im not french but I grew up in London and was just a ferry or when I was older, a train ride away, and my best friend as a kid was french and like her mum dressed quite badly if I'm honest! Whenever I went there, aesthetically people were basically indistinguishable from where I was from. So I never understood this idea of French girl style. French people look like all sorts!

[@fitzyfitz95]

@@AM-kr4pv I think it is just that french wear way less sportwear than americans but otherwise i don't see any difference with other countries

[@Claraddict]

let's not forget that in paris, this "french girl" aesthetic is considered basic and not that stylish by a lot of people

[@capi_nlt]

I'm also french but I never actually lived in france I just grew up with the culture through my both parents and yet people tell me "ahh you're so french" upsets me even if it is in a positive way. Like my passport doesn't define what I like (nor excuses how I may act)

[@go_2180]

as a french girl, i can confirm that the « french girl » stereotype only applies to (mostly) white, skinny and bourgeoise girls living in paris such as jeanne damas. she embodies it to an almost comical point in my opinion, pushing the stereotype to an extreme. (i also find the lack of diversity deplorable ; france and especially paris are very diverse)

[@sall.9919]

I agree completely!

[@sall.9919]

@@FireGriffon I agree, but where are the plus-sized "French girls"?

[@jaceyjacobs4013]

FireGriffon nobody said it’s a crime to be white or that ur a bad person for it. All they said is that bc french people aren’t all white, examples for French fashion shouldn’t be either.

[@go_2180]

Jacey Jacobs that’s what i meant obviously, thank you. france is a place of massive immigration and has been for decades, so the representation of the « parisian white girl » is just a little overdone, since paris is so diverse.

[@jesusisapisces]

@@go_2180 well Arab French girls and Black French girls can always build their own platforms celebrating their unique style and how their cultures tie into it. White women are always going be exclusive about whatever it is they have the power to be exclusive about, and no amount of complaining is going to change that. I honestly hate when people do this because it gives white women so much credit, and contrary to popular belief, the lamenting from others about how white women safeguard their spaces and refuse inclusivity, goes to their head. They get off on it and deep down they understand there's nothing wrong with it. Because ultimately there isn't. These skinny white girls from France are not thinking about WOC. Can we stop thinking about them and do our own shit?

[@sighcantthinkofaname]

I think part of the problem is effortless isn't seen as not wearing makeup or doing your hair, it's seen as light makeup instead of heavy makeup, or hairstyles that don't use as much heat. An "effortless" style implies the default is like.... full glam? Everyday? If that's your thing awesome, rock it, but it should be expected from no one.

[@gremlita]

yes! much to think about

[@Jordan-db2og]

Full glam definitely isn't the look they're going for

[@emilylang7311]

le lo Obviously? Nobody said that

[@pennybennett874]

@@Jordan-db2og - i think she means that to call the apparently "effortless" hairstyles or makeup looks "effortless" (despite the fact that they do require some time and effort) is suggesting that even the most casual look is still something to be worked for, which would almost make a 'full glam' look the everyday expecation

[@pennybennett874]

because if the minimum is effortless, then surely tons of effort must be required for something fancier?

[@lilsoupangel]

I think its also worth mentioning the rise of the "scandi girl." ever since the rise of minimalism and scandinavian design in mainstream fashion and interior design The Scandi Girl started to develop. i once heard someone say that all american women want to dress like french women, and all french women want to dress like scandinavian women. I think the Scandi Girl is just another variation of the french girl or cool girl, maybe a little less bougie/classist though. She rides a bike, she's minimalist and has a capsule wardrobe, she's dresses effortless and cozy, yet tailored and refined, she's not afraid of more masculine silhouettes.

[@Islaras]

Yes this

[@SF-jp8mi]

I immediately thought of Matilda Djerf! I do love her style tho

[@elleitra3004]

I've really only heard scandi girl as a term for scandalous not Scandinavian

[@melliexcx]

AGREE!!!

[@katriina6831]

@@SF-jp8mi I don't know where Matilda Djerf is from but she dresses in a French girl style. Her style is too feminine and done up to look scandi. Scandi girls wear black, grey and beige, big and loose things, masculine silhouettes, practical shoes. We never try to look "cute" or "pretty", we want to look cool.

[@evansspotter]

this is similar to this 'italian summer' aesthetic that people started to become obsessed with after call me by your name became popular that cannot be achieved unless you have immense wealth

[@angellover02171]

Call Me By Your Name might be the newest version but it's been around for a long time.

[@giuliad223]

And Luca, might I add. I know I'm still white and it isn't cultural appropriation because NOBODY in Europe suffered the way black/indigenous people did and we can all agree on that, but it's still upsetting how the mainstream culture will pick someone else's culture and people will start obsessing with it and treat it like it's a book aesthetic... As an Italian girl I got American mainstream culture shoved down my throat by the media since I was born and now they are picking my own stuff back up the floor and trying to sell it back to me? It's literally so annoying. And they start treating people (esp girls) who's life they're trying to romanticize like they are some kind of inspiration board (like some comment I saw about "scandi girl"??? Which is allegedly an aesthetic after the revival of 1930s Scandinavian design) like no honey they are not doing it for you

[@Lazyblondee]

@@giuliad223 I'm sorry, but what do you mean that nobody in Europe suffered the way black people did?

[@giuliad223]

@@Lazyblondee we weren't enslaved or segregated in our history (with very few exceptions that never come close to black people) nor do people mistreat us based on the color of our skin

[@comprendersi1444]

OMG YEEESSS. I went to Italy with other students and I didn’t understand why everyone had these inaccurate ideas of what orally already was and didn’t want to actually learn about Italy when they were in Italy! but they had all those syndromes as a collective group

[@sweetheartbunnygirl]

me thinks the french girl archetype is a variation of the 'cool girl' trope but mostly performed for other women also i really enjoyed today's video ms mina ♡♡♡

[@gremlita]

thank u jess

[@honeyjam9593]

Ooof yes !

[@juliette360]

As a french girl, I 100% agree on the fact that the "French Girl" does not exist in real life. And if she did, she would be super rich and not at all representative of the normal french girls haha

[@cloudie1464]

On vit pas dans la même France alors parce que je vis a la campagne et j'en vois tout les jours. Tout le monde porte ce genre de vêtements

[@sallys.2707]

@@cloudie1464 Oui, mais c'est un peu comme ce qu'elle dit dans la vidéo, si pour être une icone de la mode "French Girl" il suffit de porter des blouses fluides, des jupes courtes, des blazer et des t-hirt/jeans, la moitié de l'Europe est une icone de la mode.

[@please_im_a_staaar]

Imagine being rich and CHOOSING to dress like flavorless boiled water.

[@roucarnagelejust446]

de ouf t'as trop raison juliette

[@juliette360]

@@roucarnagelejust446 merci bg

[@adou7770]

I'm a 17 years old French girl, and I live in a rural village in the south of the country (spoiler : we do not all live in Paris XD). I think your video is well done, and pretty accurate. I myself didn't know a lot of things you explained about the history of French fashion, so it was very interesting. I agree with you when you said that the "French Girl" doesn't really exists, because it's kind of an anachronism like you said, or a myth. However, I noticed by comparing with other nationalities, that we start to pay attention to our apparence, (especially the harmony of our outfits) at an early age. When I went to the "collège" (the secondary school, from 11 years old to 15 years old), the way you dressed at school had an importance to fell accepted socially. For example, I've Spanish friends and it is clear that they usually adopt relaxed/comfortable outfits to go to school,and it's totally normal where they live. Same thing with a Canadian friend; she came to my high-school for a week and said that it was very surprising to her to see the sophistication we put in ours outfits just to go to school. Obviously, not every girl in my high-school or French schools in general wears like a top model every day, but I think fashion is an important part of our culture. Thank you for this video, you're doing a very good job. Keep going because I'm sure you're going to be successful, you have charisma and an original touch :) Ps: sorry for the mistakes, I'm still learning English.

[@ew3606]

I find that funny because French people school students have a stereotype of dressing terribly. When they come over for school trips to the UK they're dressed in cagoules and badly fitting jeans

[@theturniptress805]

I am Indian and people seem to think of all of Europe and also the US and Canada as being filled with sophisticated, rule abiding people , who never litter on the streets etc.etc. kind of weird . I am not saying that there aren't people like that , just that, I don't think everyone in the West is like that. On social media though, things are usually presented as being from the view point of an american. And there seems to be a recurring theme of the French Girl as being this carefree , free spirited person, who still manages to look like a supermodel.

[@rosalia4371]

this is unrelated but your english is so so good!!! 💛

[@rositasouza1216]

@@ew3606 you don't have to be rude lol. I've met french students here and they dress pretty well.

[@ew3606]

@@rositasouza1216 it's not rude it's just true lol. I don't think French students dress any worse than any other nationality but it's comical to see someone thinking a completely different thing than the stereotype other countries have for them

[@MarieHP]

As a middle class French woman of colour from provincial area, the erasure is real! "Where are you from? - I'm French. - Oh you live in France! But where are you from? - I'm French. - But that's not where you're from right? - ..."

[@randyranda8881]

Everytimes !!!! 😩

[@samiraansari5686]

@DRE wow, how smart of you to figure that out. I bet op didn‘t know that at aaaall 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

[@randyranda8881]

@DRE there is no true french, it's just a racist mindset....

[@randyranda8881]

@DRE That doesn't make sense because France is a really mixed country, like USA, so even if you are white that doesn't mean anything :')

[@randyranda8881]

@DRE And those types of question are often Ask from racist old people in France

[@Celestial7Heavens]

Japan also believes this “French girl” persona is real. They generalize all French women are like Lillie from Tekken who represents the skinny, rich, white, blonde, snobbish French girl stereotype. XD Paris syndrome is very alive and still active in Japan.

[@j1430]

yea when i researched paris syndrome i found most of it was from japan

[@_bebeboudeur_]

funny when we know 90% have brown hair, are middle class or lower and quite chill

[@angst-i-et5373]

It’s weird that they choose to continue believing in such myths when we exist in an era of the internet and globalization. :/ At this point, they are inflicting their own mental pain when they are confronted with the truth and thier illusions are shattered.

[@adam.n-steve]

@@angst-i-et5373 I mean their society really dislike people who stand out so they often have to dress in black, white and gray so I guess they wanna live the beautiful, European fairytale life they see through rosey screens.

[@hey.peachrose]

@@adam.n-steve I agree but I would like say that Japanese people are actually very open minded when it comes to clothing. You can wear pretty much anything in Japan and people will be very accepting of it. But you have to wear it in your free time. School and work are grayscale. Not-fun places require serious clothing.

[@camirami2781]

I think we should see the positive side of this aesthetic, the "French girl" has timeless and good quality pieces of clothing, which is really good for the environment and for the budget.

[@AliaslsailA]

Good point!

[@oh4539]

That's the idealistic "french girl" lifestyle. The truth is, all the instagram girls that people follow and want to be like, are far away from following that more minimalist way of living and are constantly going to fashion shows, buying designer pieces and basically living how they want because they can (referring to the environmental cause). They show this effortless, "not overly materialistic" "focus on the small things" lifestyle but we all know it's not true

[@rishikapaul4740]

True, I always take their good sides.

[@N24-h4m]

Honestly I love this type of style without really thinking of it as “French”. The reason why I liked it is because of timeless pieces that are well made and sustainable.

[@happyjellycatsquid]

That’s what I like about the French girl « aesthetic »; ideally it would means having a small, well coordinated and long lasting wardrobe of pieces that look good on you, mesh well together and won’t break down immediately. I really aspire to something like this (with my own vintage, lovecore and cottagecore additions I guess) for environment and sustainability’s sake but I know that the stereotypical « French girl » is probably not so green 😬

[@iampomegranates]

Anna Karina has always been a style inspiration for me, but I never got why people considered someone like her to be “effortless.” She clearly put a lot of effort into her eyeliner and keeping her bangs looking perfect. That whole french new wave scene in general, while it may have felt like a big change from the American “new look,” was clearly very time consuming if you know something about style.

[@kidaria1333]

Because this style comes from a time when "proper styled" meant something else and for the standards back in that days it had been an interesting combination of elements which could have been labeled effortless chic.

[@ellehall5204]

love the overall message that it's okay to like aesthetics but it's important to be mindful of how/why we're socialized like certain aesthetics but also it's hilarious that you included the french golf balls from Gravity Falls LOOOL

[@Hoid.]

As a French girl, I can tell you, this archetype definitely exists. But they're only found in the super rich parts of Paris that normal people don't set foot into. The kind of girls that were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and actually have the luxury to live that lifestyle

[@tiphainer7143]

Confirmed, two years later, by another French woman. 😄 (going back in time to watch all of Mina’s oh-so-entertaining videos 💕)

[@civilcyril]

called the ‘grand european tour’ tours literally 3 countries 😭

[@kenonerboy]

Europe looked different back then

[@grimsyn8174]

It’s always fucking France,Italy,Britain

[@please_im_a_staaar]

@@grimsyn8174 the richest ones, of course. I wonder why not Germany.

[@dulaman9791]

@@please_im_a_staaar girl in italy we weren't rich back in the day, despite having a colonial empire 😭 but I've noticed that the anglos seem to view our country as their escape to a beautiful lifestyle because they only come here on vacation and don't experience the shitty aspects of italy. We're like their artsy, summer experience that only privileged rich people can actually afford

[@ines4242]

I hate it when so called "fashion blogger" have an Instagram and all you see them wearing is a white t-shirt, light washed jeans and sneakers. And in fall/wintertime they throw on a brown coat and a hat. And I'm sitting here thinking sarcastically "wow congratulation I never thought of wearing jeans and t-shirt together in my whole entire life. Thanks for inspirering me"...... Not 😂

[@materialgirl4896]

So true haha, literally overdone

[@dongysakura418]

but honestly, they are helping someone out there in the world. Believe it or not, some people do not know how to put on a tshirt and jeans and sneakers, esp if you have only wore a uniform for most of your life

[@maggieonline]

Ines LMAO that’s so true tho

[@justabitofamug6989]

I'm a better fashion blogger than them in my business wear lmao

[@ines4242]

@@dongysakura418 yes it's helpful to get recommendations for casual wear as well but a lot of the times I see one blogger with the same outfit over and over.

[@snowf6307]

I took two French courses at community college and absolutely loved my professor and she was really kind--of course the subsequent interest in French fashion, music, and food was very strong. I'm older now and I always wonder why I didn't have the same energy for being Filipino (Ilocano + Pangasinan)? The same thing with Japanese food, culture, music, etc. I had to unlearn so many things and be mindful of what I'm consuming while at the same time being very critical. I had to learn that my culture didn't have to offer something for consumption on a global scale for it be special or sacred. When did I become socialized to hate being Filipino? I was wrong. An aesthetic that's compact and legible makes it easy to get swept up in it--especially when society sees your ethnicity as less desirable. It makes me wary of my SE Asian peers (mostly American cis men) who went off to Korea, China, and Japan to teach English and how they view these countries to be perfect or superior in every way. It's weird and disgusting Anyway, this was an amazing video! Thanks for all your hard work

[@andhellorea8792]

Hey i just wanted to say, as a fellow Filipino this gave me chills reading it. It spoke so hard down to my bones because its so true... foreigners are held to a higher degree of lux where we are from and we cant even appreciate ourselves for how we are. Its a harsh reality what you said but saddening to know it is true. I have no clue as well when something turned in my brain, making me have a huge disinterest from my country and culture but it just happened. Its a bit disheartening when thinking deeply about it. Personally I feel like its somewhat an influence of growing up/ living elsewhere than your home country for most of your life. But I'm not quite sure. Was a good food for thought and I'm glad I found your comment!

[@lakia-chan]

so true... i'm from southeast as well and westerners are definitely perceived as more attractive and desirable. especially the bit about japan, it's terrifying how ingrained this mindset that the grass is greener on the other side and that our own home country is trash in comparison. also, putting countries on a pedestal (especially south korea and japan!!) overlooks their own social issues and almost degrades the people as well, as if they were products to consume as well

[@rishamayoux5212]

I’m half french and half filipina that being said, I’m proud of being both. Both countries/cultures have their avantages. What i love the most about the Philippines is how hospitable and easy going people are. Everyone knows everyone in town and most are either friends or family. I like how kids can just go out and call their friends to play outside whenever they feel like it without worrying about being kidnapped. How respectful people are especially towards their elders. People always help each others and family is super duper important. Food is amazing. Kare kare is my personal favourite! There’s so many kind of street food too. (Isaw, kikiam, fish balls to name a few🤤). About France, it’s more about the laws and stuff like that that i like. Healthcare and free and systemic education until 16 is nice. College fees are pretty cheap too compared to other countries, i paid ~300€ +170€ for the year and that’s on the pricey side for public universities. (Unless you go to a private one obviously) there’s also lots of things to help students get an appartement, pay the cantine etc. Museum are free for minors. i like that the country is laïc. I remember going to elementary school in the Philippines and having to pray with everyone to thank the lord for our meal wich was really a foreign concept for me at the time. Tho it’s really not perfect (sometimes it feels like the state’s religion is the republic). As someone who likes learning about history living in France was also quite nice. Of couse food as well. As a foodie I’m lucky for both of my origins/nationalities.

[@jiah9159]

Let's pls eat up our own culture before other people can accept it :>

[@WineFromTheLilacTree457]

this hit home.

[@thifanny7298]

I'm certainly guilty of following too many frech girls on instagram and wishing I could dress like them. But when you were showing and explaining the French Girl trend I looked at my bright-colored summer dress and curly voluminous hair and asked myself why my Brazilian ass is so obsessed with those wide thick jeans, huge jackets and boring basic blouses that would make me sweat my soul off since it's always hot as hell out here. My country is so colorful, hot and full of life, I live in an literal tropical island, and here I am wishing I could dress as bland as the French Girl.

[@arpitagoswami5920]

I feel you there. I am a curvy Indian woman - French girl aesthetic does nothing for me. The colors don't match with my skin tone, the fit is too tight at all the wrong places, the make up colors make me look like I have no blood inside me. But living in the west, it seems that the French Girl aesthetic is the gospel.

[@lppofthepool644]

i relate to you too. and i feel like my obsession with french girl aesthetics is even more of a brainwash because i know i like bright colors, it suits my personality and makes me feel good, yet i have the _feminine urge_ to buy more white button downs and neutral pants every time i saw them as a part of an aspirational french girl

[@chokemewithmydiamonds9456]

you're the basic brazillian girl then😂

[@joaoandrecordeiropimentel2686]

​@@chokemewithmydiamonds9456 that's rude

[@chokemewithmydiamonds9456]

@@joaoandrecordeiropimentel2686 so it's ok to say basic french girls but not basic [literally any nationality]??? make it make sense please

[@learpalmer]

I'm french, I live in Paris and I often travel to Japan, where the cliché of the French Girl is VERY present and omg I've always try to articulate and explain to people why I think their vision of us is not accurate and why I hate it but I could never find the right words. Also I feel like a lot of Parisian nowadays enjoy this stereotype and try to live up to it (although they do not represent the majority of people living in Paris at all), especially in fashion schools, which is so annoying because you would think people there would be creative and strive to be different/unique but they're just trying to be a copy of this precise stereotype. Anyway thank you so much for your video

[@queenonika4015]

oooo what do japanese ppl think of french ppl ?

[@liz_violet]

@@queenonika4015 almost worshiping

[@lornithorynquedelespace9385]

As a French woman living in Paris, I'm dressing like a trash bag 🙂🕊️

[@isda3314]

@kerfuffle needs help yes please, that'll be my aesthetic

[@duchessedeberne3909]

Trash gang unite

[@shirin9452]

You are an inspiration to us all 💀

[@cathe196]

You’re making me feel much better about how I’ll look when I finally visit France.

[@MrTwentington]

I think the idea of being a version of perfect without really trying is alluring to men and women in different ways. Like I feel the male gaze “she’s so hot and doesn’t even try” thing is very obvious because straight men be crazy and entitled and have a weird aversion to understanding femininity beyond something alluring and enticing for their consumption. (And tbf to the straights I think even some gay men do this too somehow) But for women I think it is attractive to appear to float above it all. To be beyond marketing and diet culture and expectations yet paradoxically flourish at it and essentially inhabit the world like you’re Serena Van Der Woodsen. And I think the most important antidote to both those issues is to reiterate reality. You can like chic form fitting clothes and french looking hairstyles all you want but we should acknowledge that it takes work and from what I’ve seen even the influencers who embody this do not have it totally easy. They get critiqued harshly for their femininity and also get made to feel like their world deserves to crash down if it ever falters in any way. For instance I follow a London influencer who is everything pink blonde and girly but one time she posted a campaign for a watch where you could see she had blonde hairs on her arm... and the comment section was RUTHLESS to her over it. Like she’s really out there about as close to Princess Aurora in real life and she still wasn’t enough to protect herself from that. Overall you’re absolutely right- playing with aesthetics and style is fun but we need to make it clear where the line is drawn of an aesthetic vs a real human being as human as any other.

[@riel8428]

You're talking about FreddyMyLove, aren't you? If so, she definitely doesn't deserve it she's too sweet and kind for that

[@MrTwentington]

Riley Lisica I am! And I adore her- she really didn’t deserve that hassle over peach fuzz on her arm. But to me that was such a wake up call seeing those comments on Instagram because like I say, she’s about as girly and blonde and Penelope Pitsstop perfect as it is humanly possible to be and she got this barrage of hate comments over something totally harmless and inoffensive. And I thought about it a lot because back in my tumblr days I once got an anon telling me I had a big chin and I have never forgotten it- but that was one comment once years ago and she got loads of it. I assume she’s more confident than me though because she kept the picture up and proclaimed she’s proud of her body as is and good on her for doing so

[@lakia-chan]

@@riel8428 i watch freddy casually and had NO idea she had hate over something so trivial?

[@SoWhosGae]

People be weird nowadays. I have fuzz on my forearms too and literally no one, not even my partners have mentioned anything ever in my life. Like who ARE THESE PEOPLE?!! Do they even have friends???

[@dongysakura418]

@@lakia-chan she actually gets a lot of hate. she is pretty strong for continuing to put out videos despite it

[@eleanor9640]

This video reminded me so much of “Beauté fatale” by Mona Chollet (a Swiss-French feminist writer). She talks about the image of “the French woman” and how it is used to push a particular type of femininity (usually at the expense of feminist discourse) and she even calls it an “exported brand” used to promote and sell French luxury brands. I really enjoyed your video!

[@klitzy]

Ça me fait penser que je dois toujours finir Les Sorcières

[@noodlepoodle3582]

I am a dragon who will hoard aesthetics and no one can stop me

[@theturniptress805]

Go, noodle poodle , gather up all the aesthetics.

[@user-mi4of6mt7j]

Noodle Poodle must be stopped. You MUST conform.

[@tasiablock5928]

Someone once asked me why I dress in costume. Honey, it's all costume! Don't get typecast!

[@breathJONNYstay]

😂😂

[@laninfapimentel311]

@Noodle Poodlle I like the energy of your comment! More power to you!

[@KeepCalmAndSparkle91]

as a swiss girl who would like to give her two francs to the discussion, the picture of the franc you showed at 10:07 is actually the current swiss franc, hence the "helvetia" writing on it, not a french franc. not a big deal, just wanted to mention it, great video btw.

[@c0rdita]

Thank you for writing this, I searched for someone telling it so I could leave my upvote XD

[@duchessedeberne3909]

Noted that too

[@selmaingrid5425]

Can you make a video about the Scandinavian/Nordic girl “aesthetic” ? I think it would be interesting because most of the pictures that come up if you search Scandinavian/Nordic girl in for example Pinterest are summer pictures, although it’s winter for half of the year in Nordic countries. Ps i love your account and I’ve watched almost all videos

[@joshdavis6521]

you are so interesting and smart and i love your voice!!! i could hear you talk all day. pls do a closet tour!

[@Chez-shire]

It's so interesting because as a french girl myself (and parisian for four years) i've never heard of this aesthetic !! It's more fun knowing that, being in Paris every day i can't remember seeing a lot of girls/women wearing this, APART from women in the richest streets in the center of Paris (historical and tourist center)

[@reneepathos]

Josephine Baker was actually born in the United States but she was absolutely a French star

[@ellcally508]

People forget about the part where she left the United States due to lack of opportunity and racism. She went to France where ppl treated her better and appreciated her. Same with James Baldwin. Our loss.

[@reneepathos]

@@ellcally508 Didn't forget about that at all.

[@Yougaljuboja]

@@ellcally508 Same with Nina Simone.

[@babymilksnatcher]

I mean, she literally fought against the Nazis while in Paris. The least she deserved was to be considered as a fully French citizen afterwards.

[@sophiaharvey7890]

@@babymilksnatcher And now she's in the Pantheon. The greatest honor in France. It means she's a national heroine.

[@Maria-lb5uq]

This trend basically feeds of the premise that you just have to be skinny to look good with a t-shirt and jeans without being called basic.

[@psamide]

As a French girl, I would add that French people were also influenced by this American bias. I grew up learning from my mom that you need basics (regular blue jean, white chemise, black tee, etc) and then you add a touch of glimmer. Too much is vulgar, less is ok but boring. It took me many years to detach myself from this idea. Plus, I think the French couture industry totally embraced the French girl cliché to export itself and sell more. French women magazines are still trying to sell you this French girl image. Thanks for your video, they're always well-made and smart.

[@Historyrhymezz]

As a Parisian, I hate the kind of fetish/personality trait that people have for this whole thing (French or not, even though french people generally don't claim it unless maybe out of the country, and yet often people like to remind us of the accent and more, which whatever,) but I also can't stand when people -specifically who are not familiar with the culture- mock every little thing claiming you're trying to look "aesthetic" or something. It is still part of the culture, the clothes, the history, the food, architecture etc. It just is. The problem is when people pretend French WOC don't also live and dress that way, they very much do and should be more represented, -another huge issue in France. What is also annoying is when people try to push it to a point where it is not actual anymore, or not natural (we're in 2020, no we are not smoking vogues with berets on). Do we do certain things that look stupidly cliché? Yes, but we're not thinking how Parisian it looks like (???). Lily rose Depp is a great example of an LA bourgeoise girl who milks her frenchness (Vanessa Paradis is her mother) so much to the point where even French people dislike her. You can even find her smoking vogues and exaggerating French accent on youtube, yet English is her first language, not French. She never grew up in Paris the way Parisians did, never went to school here, took the subway like us, hang out in other non-bourgeois areas. she doesn't represent what Parisians know of the city -its beauty and ugliness.

[@deadchannel5284]

isn't that also johnney depps daughter too?

[@Historyrhymezz]

dead channel yep

[@oziku1816]

I agree, there is a difference between fetishing a culture and appreciating it

[@NN-ws2fd]

Why so pressed... I'm French as well and this has never rubbed me the wrong way. I always appreciate when people love France and willing to learn about our culture (it kinda feeds our French ego ngl)

[@Historyrhymezz]

​@@NN-ws2fd no one is pressed. we're discussing.

[@N0pleaseN0]

I live in France, and fashion is not as big of a thing here as people seem to think Also, we don't wear stripes or berets, only foreigners trying to blend in do that :')

[@federcamille9214]

I'm French and I wear one regularly 😂

[@sirinebenyahia2277]

I do wear stripes they're pretty cute but berets...

[@lilykiss1145]

@@federcamille9214 Same ! That's one of my favourite headwear in winters XD I never wear stripes though, I don't like it on me XD

[@szlendak1368]

well i’m french toi and we do lmao but you surely don’t mind a lot about fashion

[@andreaelizeth]

@@sirinebenyahia2277 yeah, me too, I adore striped patterns in clothes, I didn't know it was considered it a tourist thing😬

[@armitagehux8190]

As a Parisian girl I have to say that when I go outside I don't see a lot of fashion diversity. If you're a French woman and don't wear a certain type of clothes ( feminine, well cut, neutral colours and patterns ) you're in the minority and people will ask you why you dress like that. The worst thing a woman can do here is wearing sportswear outside of the gym, and that's upsetting.

[@ines4242]

I some slavic countries it's the same. If you dress differently or dye your hair a "wild" color they aks why you do that and if you are doing drugs 😂 the only difference is that wearing sweat pants outside is OK (depending on the country/city)

[@manonv8976]

Totally relate to what you said. I've lived four years in Paris, and although I am French,I felt out of place a lot of the time. Now that I live in the UK, I'm ENJOYING the freedom of clothing, hairstyles and appearances I see on the street. I also feel like I can wear basically what I want, it won't raise any eyebrows or attract unwanted attention as it used to in Paris. It feels very freeing.

[@agnesonimus5444]

I’m french but grew up in the states. I studied for two years in paris recently and although I usually like to dress “nicely”, I once wore my workout leggings to class because COMFINESS. Everyone kept commenting on it, lowkey shaming me for dressing like this. Meanwhile in the US everyone wears leggings all the time lol. I was so shocked at that difference in mindset and how uncomfortable people made me feel for a simple pair of leggings.

[@apurvanair9817]

Agnès Onimus that happened to me when I was in France, definitely got judged for wearing leggings haha

[@ElleBellsChannel]

The only sportswear cute out of the Gym is the varsity jacket and tennis skirt.

[@stargazerbird]

As an English girl the first time I visited France it was like a fast course in grooming. I felt so undone. Went back and got a proper fitted bra, an appointment at a good hairdresser and started collecting well made clothes and ditched my cheap shoes. As a general rule they really are more put together and elegant. Or maybe it’s just that we Brits are slobs?

[@mathildeaimee6648]

Well, as a French girl, my mother always used to tell me when I was growing up how she loved the British style, because it as more colorful and fun than the French one. We are used to that "elegance", and some eccentricity has its charm too, the "undone" look can be charming. And the only time I got to travel to England, I was not at all under the impression that you are slobs, haha. I liked how people were dressed, and on the top of that I found people to be nicer and cooler than in France. So, you know, to each his own I guess.

[@justabitofamug6989]

The real French girl aesthetic is chain smoking lmao

[@JH-kw8zy]

I will sign every petition for Rococo to come back.

[@vicoyeyemarz6508]

i remember when I saw a boy on Twitter . he put a photo of him wearing a white t and jeans with a black belt with the caption "I love to dress retro" ...

[@tiwiogunye]

💀😂😂😂😂😂 mam

[@suides4810]

Why did i read "He was holding a potato"

[@shffer3590]

this

[@goobertron9099]

WHAT

[@thewonderlander1372]

...the fuq? Lmao

[@atrolololop]

french girls LOVE to carry around baguettes at all times

[@ElleBellsChannel]

The bread or the purse?

[@corvicore6813]

@@ElleBellsChannel yes

[@skyekh.9836]

We don't love to carry them around! We love to take them home and eat them

[@poohcanplay123]

corvicore 😂

[@ibii1124]

Hi I’m French and I can confirm that’s true

[@the_only_living_ghost]

The aesthetic is clean, effortless, and I think highly related to confidence more than anything else. Its about accepting yourself as you are and dressing to reveal your beautiful self. The clothes dont hide you, they present you

[@chuuhreesa]

"it's way of expression not a form of social conformity" this is what I needed to hear today, thank you sis

[@bitterOrangish]

Growing up french but very disconnected to my my french roots, and then finding this unachievable standard of what a french girl is meant to be at puberty, sent my identity crisis on fire.

[@aidez-moisvp7580]

bitterOrange 😕😕

[@theparrot6516]

Ouais

[@nataliac3607]

The way the French girl is often presented as “empowered” and “liberated” as part of her performance of femininity....it’s interesting...

[@spiderganon]

"How to wash your hair like a French girl" Me, a French girl getting my hair tips from Brad Mondo : *sips tea*

[@shaddare]

Brad Mondoooo, la vie

[@medealkemy]

hehehe chuis pas la seule 😂

[@ohheyitsberry2196]

As a french woman, I can confirm that 80 % of the clothes shown here are indeed worn by some french women. It is a very specific social group though : these women are over 20, are relatively wealthy (upper-middle class) and live mostly in Paris "intra-muros". You can find some in the other french big cities too but it's more rare

[@beitheleaf8221]

Your dialogue over the cultural/historical context of fashion has been eye opening for me. Thank you for helping me broaden my perspective ❤

[@elenabb8483]

10:09 I noticed a little mistake, the currency showed is not a French franc but a Swiss franc. Easy to mix up ;)

[@sufinch]

This is a really interesting analysis and one I sorely needed to hear! I’ve recently found myself falling into obsessing over the french girl aesthetic on instagram without stopping to consider the pitfalls of buying into that faux-effortless lifestyle they are all trying to sell. I think the look suits me but I definitely want to be more critical of the way that I engage with the aesthetic.

[@fionatsang9353]

'I don't think anyone should feel trapped by their aesthetic' Yeeessss, this!!! We are all multifaceted people with different interests, we can wear varying looks depending on our whims. Sometimes I want to wear masculine biker jackets and jeans; other days I'm in the mood for a girly dress and heels, both are still true to who I am. Whenever people are like 'my look is just this exact thing, nothing else', I'm like 'why limit yourself?' That's what's great about a lot of French fashion: it's more than just trendy body coverings, it's an act of self-expression. Every time one of my favourite authors from the 1940's described a chic woman character, she wrote 'she wore her clothes like a Frenchwoman'. Just wearing the clothes isn't enough; you need to do it with the right attitude, carry them well once you put them on.

[@theartoflolita935]

I can't get over when you talked about how only the people who are skinny and white get called fashion icons they wear jeans and t-shirt

[@haneul4164]

We put so much effort in looking effortless... It's crazy. I remember the first time I put on lash extensions, shape wear, fake nails, colored contacts or even my breast implants (not talking about everything at the same time). It looked so good from the outside but I never heard anyone saying out loud how uncomfortable, sometimes painful and distressing it is to live like this. So everyone shuts up and wears high wasted pants even if it hurts our digestion. Wear long nails even if it's impossible to do normal stuff with them. Wear fakes lashes even if your eyes get infected or tired of the weight of them. Miss sleep to wake up earlier to do our hair or makeup. Wear high heels that deforms our toes or flats that'll ruin our foot soles and bones. Our purses are so easily stolen and bend our straight posture when we could have big secure pockets. It's crazy how dumb we are for beauty!

[@lesliealcala3202]

This is how all the rich white girls dress in my school. And I live in America

[@aumilorojes2340]

I live in Spain and it's the same but we don't call them French Girls (probably because we don't appreciate France as much as Americans do). We call them "Cayetanas".

[@macclift9956]

Are you a racist?

[@lesliealcala3202]

Mac Clift I really don’t know how you could arrive to such a silly conclusion

[@helencao6587]

Mac Clift how is that racist?

[@lesliealcala3202]

Tofi Bro! I’m Mexican too! Virtual high five 🖐

[@thatcoffee]

Some already pointed this out in the comments but it’s funny that many of the so-called 60s-70s “french” girls that largely influenced this style were not even french to begin with. Their fame just started in Parisian circles: Josephine Baker was American (Haitian and Native?). Jean Seberg was Swedish-American. Anna Karina was Danish. Jane Birkin from the UK. The list goes on

[@mooble1325]

this is such a great look at the construction of french identity in the american consciousness and you can so see it manifesting in things from instagram moodboards to the film industry

[@setablaze1802]

I remember, back when I was a 16 year old nervous wreck waiting to happen, being so nervous about appearing to be a rude person to French ppl when I visited Paris. This includes trying to dress in a way to fit in. Turns out, I needn't have bothered. The locals of the capital city were really nice, and I got to see so many different types of expression through clothing style. I stayed across the road from a Jewish temple, saw French hip hop stars film music videos amongst bustling crowds of ppl, and a group of roller skaters jump massive staircases near the eiffel tower. Nothing matched my expectations, and it was an amazing experience because of that.

[@jackie586]

i really like your poimnt about this "faux effortlessness" rhetoric we see a lot in social media trends. i wonder how this could tie into how we view labor (in a marxist lense anyways), where traditionally women's labor is devalued. i wonder if this effortlessness ideal is a reflection of women's labor--labor of beauty and fashion--rather reflects the idea that men produce labor and women do not,, sooo this effortlessness is a status symbol where rich women dont have to put in effort (because they can just hire someone to do there hair) whereas women in the public must do the work themselves. anyways, label your work! value your labor!!!

[@emilylang7311]

"My disgusting THREE-bedroom-Brooklyn-apartment" You rich, girl?

[@luiysia]

maybe she has roommates 😂

[@aliale4488]

I have a 3 bedroom apartment too and it's disgusting lol, might sound nice but there are many ways a seemingly nice sounding apartment could be trash. Like it could be a tiny crammed place with 3 bedrooms shoved in like it was for me, I'm not rich by any means btw. I've never lived in Brooklyn but I imagine there are cheaper areas.

[@emilylang7311]

Alial E I only have a 11 square meter room. That’s a fucking cell. So please...

[@punkmal]

Alial E brooklyn is NOT cheap at all these days especially if you have a 3 bedroom apartment lmao

[@gremlita]

I do have privilege to be able to move out of my family home in the first place, but I had other roommates in my apartment!

[@esztercsaki1]

Seriously spot on about the burgeoise. I grew up in NYC and this aesthetic was also all over New York. I never really truly understood the soho style and effortlessness of these girls , especially when I went to art school and they were all over the place, until later in life when it dawned on me that they had money from family . If we’re still celebrating these basic ass people who happen to have a mass of generational wealth , then we need to stop. It’s so toxic to literally everyone who is not a white wealthy thin cys gentile

[@cam4636]

The amount of money and effort put into looking thrifty and effortless is such a sick mindset. You want to look like you're poor, but in a way that makes it clear you're not _actually_ poor, because ewww poor people lol we just want your _stuff,_ not _you._ It reminds me of the hipsters who'd spend hundreds of dollars on flannel and ripped jeans or would try to turn thrifting into a sport...or industrial/urban neighborhoods getting gentrified, actually. It's an aesthetic once you're over a certain income bracket, and that means you can drive out everyone who can't afford it.

[@missbiancaleigh100]

I loved Paris. I found the pace of life (I'm a New Yorker) refreshing. People walked more slowly and didn't yell in restaurants. I envied the Parisian work/life balance. Everyone seemed to grab a glass of wine with friends and colleagues in the evening. And the food is outstanding. Parisians do dress very well. Simple, well-made pieces fitted beautifully (it is a myth that all French women are thin). There was nothing vulgar or ostentatious; everything had a sense of balance and restraint. On the other hand, I have a Parisian friend who found the need for women to be 'just so' stifling, even oppressive. She couldn't wait to come to New York and make bolder, subversive fashion statements. Which she has, with admirable restraint. :)

[@rachelalmonte2273]

I love how educational your videos are and how you stress the importance of certain matters that tend to be ignored or brushed off.

[@Cloudy._.Reality]

PLEASE we need more of these aesthetic breakdown videos like 🙏

[@princessdyn]

As someone who grew up in the French culture and now lives in the US, those French girl listicles are so funny and phony. There are so many cultures in France, even among the white people. Paris is VERY different from the rest of France too. Personal style is PERSONAL. So copy / pasting the "French girl" packaged aesthetic is inauthentic and consumerist. Quite American actually (see how generalizations applied to an entire nation work?)

[@nicodranasien]

Ugh every outfit Mina wears is so beautiful but her hair in this vid is like my favorite one so far!

[@dariali1768]

Was reflecting on this topic for a long time. Thank you so much for the research, beautiful photos, video and audio material. Can only imagine how much time was spent on editing. Your channel deserves more subs 💯

[@lara_xy]

I think Americans obsess of this aesthetic SO much because most of them do not really travel over the pond very often and haven't actually visited France (because yes, what a surprise, not just Paris exists)

[@lizzypandora6986]

I love the amount of research that goes into your videos, and how you touch upon a lot of socio-economic and political aspects to contextualize the topic of fashion.

[@LaModeDarling]

yes yes yesss to all of your points! It can be such a sexist and racist aesthetic and also completely disregards all of the creative, outside-of-the-box French women historically and today.

[@oziku1816]

What does rascixm have to do with it

[@iii2594]

@@oziku1816 almost all of the popular instagrammers of this aesthetic are white and skinny (they don't even have to be french or living in france even! just be white and skinny, BOOM). the only popular non-white ig-er i can think of is heyhegia

[@RomanZolanski123]

@@oziku1816 not sure how you could not see racism in it

[@cam4636]

@@marinaaguas9219 ...Because Kfashion is known for the diversity of the people it promotes? You just replaced "I don't fetishize stereotyped French fashion" with "I fetishize fashion from another country I've stereotyped instead"

[@cagywarlock7]

This feels a bit elitist to me.. anyone else get that vibe from the French girl style?

[@kidaria1333]

because mostly only these people care of this style these days, which is sad.

[@laoyue5924]

I don’t usually comment on fashion vids but oh my lord everything you said makes so much sense!!! I used to be obsessed w the french girl style because of how “unique” it is and as an asian girl wondered why no matter what i did i couldn’t emit the same vibe as camille charriere or jeanne damas, but then i realized that u don’t have to try and copy other peoples styles just to look and feel special... thank you very much mina for making this video!!! 🥺🥺🥺 i hope more people get to watch this!!!

[@fravineas]

can we please have one for all the styles pls

[@AasthaBhansali]

"my disgusting three bedroom apartment in Brooklyn" - okay then.

[@StevieMichelle]

At least she has a place to live

[@AasthaBhansali]

@@StevieMichelle that was the whole damn point. A three bedroom apartment in Brooklyn doesn't seem like something easy to have.

[@StevieMichelle]

@@AasthaBhansali Exactly, I was agreeing with you. I live in a 2 bedroom house one bathroom and 5 people not easy, and I'm pretty happy I have a home to live in at least.

[@AasthaBhansali]

@@StevieMichelle yooooo that!

[@AasthaBhansali]

@Zara Louise Peyton I get that. Except she's talking about Brooklyn, a famously expensive place to live in. Being able to afford a 3 bedroom apartment is a luxury.

[@magnolialilly790]

Josephine Baker is an American that assimilated to French culture.

[@Lili-oe1ju]

And Jane Birkin is british, but both are still remembered as french girls.

[@ElleBellsChannel]

she's Haitian.

[@magnolialilly790]

LangBellsChannel no she is not, Joséphine Baker was born in St. Louis Missouri.

[@sydneepasala1810]

Originally from America but she changed her citizenship so her nationality became French

[@magnolialilly790]

Sydnee Pasala there is a reason why I put “assimilated” in my post. I know that she eventually got her citizenship in France I was just in the difference between other examples of French girls literally French girls and Josephine Baker who became a French girl. And I know why she became one because America treated her like sh*t when she would come back to the states.

[@catlyson3291]

I just binged all of your videos after the Wes Anderson one popped up in my recommended! Can't wait to see more of your fashion and analysis

[@jessicaqu6220]

I’ve been thinking this for so long and I’ve never seen anyone say it 😭 thank youuu I feel like it’s weird to exoticize and romanticize (and stereotype) any culture whether it’s European, Asian, etc

[@kidaria1333]

Most stereotypes has or had a true core at some point and to dream about ideals is a very humanly sentiment (be it culture, ideologies,...etc.). Often caused when your personal preferences clashs with your surrounding but are stylised elswehere. Weird and stupid is only when you believe glorified one-sided sterotypes are overall reality.

[@Sasha-mb3rv]

As a French girl I'm so tired of the romanticized vision of the French girl... But kudos on your historical research it was on point!

[@BouncinBenny]

I’m so shook i didn’t even know this was a thing and I wear jsut about everything mentioned 😭 i just found those pieces of clothing to be so beautiful!! Sometimes here and there I would see a model stunting them and I would just fall in love with structure and patterns. Thank you for this amazing in-depth analysis! I learned something new about fashion and even myself 😊 Love from Detroit💞

[@mikitea68]

As a French girl, I can say I'm way too poor for these clothes.

[@tinacornac1402]

omg i love this i also got sucked into the allure of the french girl aesthetic thinking it would make me more sophisticated and elevated. Now my boyfriend is born and raised in paris and we live here and its NOTHING like what the french girl aesthetic portrays. Its not nearly as boring, neat and tidy and dull and yawn. its diverse, we wear what we want.. its a dirty af city similar to new york but its real and much better than this capitalised aesthetic. it is what it is. Thanks for this video!!! i've never understood how to word my feelings towards this subject until now! ❤️

[@liztorical]

Idk if someone else said this but the franc shown is a modern swiss franc (helvetia, and see the cross on her shield.) I know it says 1907 but they haven't changed much since (from a French girl living in Switzerland). Nice video otherwise!

[@laxmizahnd]

The way I searched for a comment about this. Hah

[@paulagutierrez7391]

wow you did such an in depth video thank you so much for the time you’ve invested!

[@UninspiredArtemis]

My high school French teacher was born and raised in Paris, France and she would be the first to tell you the "French girl" aesthetic doesn't exist IRL.

[@dirt_is_soil]

I am so profoundly in love with your channel! Thank you for making!

[@GV-wv8uf]

My friend and I went to Paris when we were 20 (we are from Australia). She got punched on the train, there were several shootings outside our hotel during our stay, my friend got molested, I think we may nearly have been sex trafficked and at the very least we were stalked for up to hours by hoards of men several times in just a few days and spent the rest of our trip in our hotel scared for our lives. on the last day we moved to a hotel close to the airport so that we could go to Disney land and the make it to the airport easily the next day. apparently no trains or busses or taxis run after like 10...I just didnt expect that in Paris..thought it was kind of a jumping place..we tried to wave down some police for help.. our hotel had taxis and we had actually prearranged for them to pick us up but they didnt and when we called they just said they dont run that late....even though we planned it with them...so we sat for hours with no water and full of piss waiting for hours on a street cold as fuck while people smoked weed and screamed nearby (weed may be minor to you but I just really don't like weed culture)...like just little bogan gremlins having a goblin weed meet up. the hotel also told us to get the wrong tickets for disney...you need special disney train tickets...when we got there we had the wrong ones and got fined $80.... but yeah I just thought...it was kind of wrong that our little hotel was kin of like we dont feel like running the taxis anymore after we took your money so sleep on the street or die i guess....we didn't know where the fuck we even were or how far we were from our hotel or how to get there. Luckily an ANGEL came and WALKED US like 40 minutes to our hotel!!!!! Truly an encounter with a divine being, bless her!!!

[@daisyafterhours]

G V wow what a whirlwind. Would you ever go back?

[@DieezahArts]

Wow, you were unfortunate enough to get in the wrong area (for your hotel)... And as for the public transports, you might have been misinformed (which happens a lot to people who don't speak French there) as in most cases, even in areas of suburban Paris (like the one where Disney is located) where normal bus service stops early, there are night buses running. You just need to know the route and timetable... It was already like that 24 years ago... The cabs are as****es sometimes, that's true. And stalking girls is a common activity for guys in certain areas of Paris, sadly... I lived there for 10 years (more or less) and it wasn't easy everyday... I can see how it might have been one of the scariest vacation of your life...

[@eva1601]

wow that sounds intense

[@Zeniiichan]

I'm a french girl, was born there but I'm really far from being the "typical french girl" as I have african origins (morocco), as a LOT of other french there. Among french people, some are brown , some are black, some are asian, some are people of Italian birth, other Romania, portuguese and so on... In France there's a LOT of diversity and especially in Paris so I don't really know what they mean when they say "typical french girl I understand that some people want the aristocrat, bourgeois, Marie antoinette vibe and you have the right to like this of couse (I like the French royalty vibe myself) but it's nice to remind yourself that France is not like that anymore and some people who idolize France have to wake up. Moreover, as a French girl that don't fall under the "typical french girl" box it's really not a nice feeling to see things like this as It means I'm not French enough.

[@aizac91]

Yes France isn’t like that anymore, with all the riots and loitering that’s happening by your “French” background ancestry (NA and Saharan Africans) France has definitely lost it. Even the recent World Cup the French team looks like An African football team and yet God was in the Argentinians side to win the cup which guess what consisted of 100% Argentinians of EUROPEAN ethnic people.

[@Zeniiichan]

@@aizac91 I hope you'll eventually manage to soothe your heart... Good day to you

[@aizac91]

@@Zeniiichan my heart is soothe thank you for asking. And I hope you’re able to accept reality.

[@Zeniiichan]

@@aizac91 It doesn't look like it though... But well... Have a great day anyway

[@aizac91]

@@Zeniiichan it is, I’m sorry you cannot accept that France from an outsider perspective like mine who’s southeast asian sees it degenerating into another US. Look how the US turned out, that’s the path France is on.

[@ABROWN6336]

You have been KILLING these video essays! Keep them coming, please!

[@myettechase]

I already adore your channel but you’ve officially stolen my heart with that clip from Before Sunrise 🥺

[@mourningst5r]

YOUR CHEEKBONES ARE EVERYTHING‼️‼️‼️‼️💗💗💗

[@KaylaNoelle1]

All of my ads are in French now. YES youtube I AM Canadian ... NO I do NOT speak French 🥲😭. People told me I’d experience “Paris Syndrome” when I went in 2018 but I was so overjoyed to be there. It was a dream. I’m used to the way big cities are though but it’s fantastic and you should go if you haven’t been. Like The Louvre??? It’s even bigger and better than I thought it would be. I fucking love museums. Parisians also take their leisure time so seriously and I love that.

[@christinaluo]

This was so well researched and excellently delivered / edited!! Keep em coming 💕💕

[@MartinaBalieiro21]

i love how she does in depth research and still manages to edit her videos beautifully??? its amazing that we get to watch this content in such an easy manner. thanks for sharing your knowledge online :))))

[@Hippolyta.]

Finally watching this video a year later but here are my thoughts: As someone who's grown up in North America (both Canada and the US) our style is often made fun of my Europeans. They always say that you can immediately tell who is a tourist by the way they dress and it's always said with condescension. Obviously not all Europeans harbour this same haughtiness but it definitely is fed to us in media. We are seen as slobs, dumb and loud. So, the "French girl" and other European aesthetics is compelling. If it'll make us seem smart and classy in the eyes of the people who look down on us, then we want to adopt it. At least that's my reasoning.

[@kamoola503]

Maybe because I am from an Arabic country I am not familiar with “French Girl” phenomenon, but I see it in the movies and TV shows and they always make Paris like the “Dream” for fashion and everyone knows that Paris is the capital of fashion industry, but nowadays everything is different and no place is the fashion of industry because fashion is an inclusive way of expression

[@ajkolody8887]

I feel like a lot of people think I'm quite fashionable and good at makeup; in their minds its seems like they don't think l put a lot of effort in, which is the exact opposite of the truth. I looked very awkward for long time, style is a real process.

[@anonymerer]

6mins in realized Mina is describing Ashley from Bestdressed...

[@suides4810]

She does live in a fantasy in her Head.. Thats why she has to move everytime reality slips back into her concious.

[@junsssstarrrrr]

@@suides4810 wtf

[@daisyhodgson4591]

This is the kind of content I’ve been looking for, for ages!! The fashion cultures, themes you explore, and what they mean within a historical context are what I’ve I feel like I try to put into words, and dissect with people, but never seem to be able to. It feels like I’m having a fun conversation with a friend ahahah! Keep doing what you’re doing!

[@zeynepnazdag9747]

your voice is so calming