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Recently, I’ve been delving deep into all things style related here on Distant Francophile. These pieces have been inspired by the emails I receive each and every day from readers keen share their style triumphs and challenges.  Naturally – me being me – I’ve tried to include a touch of French flavour to the posts wherever I can. Good examples of this have included Four Reasons It Can Be Hard To Update Your Wardrobe and Style Made Easy – The Parisian Palette . But when browsing my back catalogue a short while ago I realised that I’ve made a rather large omission. I’ve never really taken an in-depth look at either body shape or fit in anything I’ve shared. Well, it’s about time I addressed that issue. Why? Because understanding your body and dressing it in clothes that fit your unique shape are fundamental in building a wardrobe you love and developing style confidence. So How Do I Determine My Body Shape? There are really only five general body shapes, although they operate in th...

I find other cultures completely fascinating. I’m quite sure this is the reason that I’ve always been compelled to travel. Actually being in a place gives you insights that you will never find in a book or on-line. But no matter how many times you visit a destination, you never quite develop the same understanding as you do when you live and learn there. I think this is why I’m such a fan of memoirs – I’m always trying to dig a little deeper, learn a little more – even if it is through the eyes of others. All of this back story will give you some idea of why I was so delighted to read Sherry’s latest post on French education. In it, she takes a thought provoking look at the French school system through the eyes of the all important students. I’m very thankful to Sherry from  Save. Spend. Splurge .  for sharing yet another aspect of French culture here on Distant Francophile. If you are a regular reader you’ll know that Sherry kindly offered to guest post on all things French cultu...

The topic of women’s confidence has been popping up everywhere in my life lately. Blog posts and book reviews landing in my inbox. Conversations with women, both at work and in social situations. And the clincher, the example that really grabbed my attention? The interview I did less than a fortnight ago with a big time Australian author, coach and speaker on developing confidence. She will use our interview as bonus content in a career enhancement program she offers. During the interview, our focus was mainly on how women might build confidence in the corporate environment (a topic at the heart of my day job). But eventually we touched on the topic of style – because for so many of us, how we present ourselves to the world is absolutely linked to how confident we feel. It is easy downplay the links between how we are dressed and our confidence levels. Some might suggest that it is superficial. But I disagree. Style and confidence are absolutely linked. We all know that when we thi...

You all knew that, one day, I’d return to the topic of shoes. It simply had to happen. In fact, it honestly surprises me that it has taken me so long to get around to writing about footwear again. Why? Because shoes are hands down my style superhero. The right shoes have saved me from potential style disasters way more times than Superman ever saved Lois Lane. Now, I know I’m not the only woman on the planet who is a fan of great shoes. But what is it about the right footwear that can lift your style game from so-so to sensational? Three Reasons To Adore Shoes Shoes can make a statement. A statement shoe can take something as simple as jeans and a t-shirt to the next level. And for me, there has been a many an uninspired workday outfit that has been elevated by a brightly coloured, elegant or off-beat pair of shoes. Shoes are faithful. They don’t let you down when your weight is fluctuating. They are trans-seasonal. And they are slower than average to go out of fashion. But you ...

I was reflecting on my personal style journey recently. Safe to say that it’s been a pretty wild ride. I was always interested in style. As a child I wanted to be a fashion designer ‘when I grew up’. I remember going through reams of paper while I was attempting to come up with spectacular outfits. Unfortunately, I was born with the artistic ability of a lemon tree. As it happens, lemon trees, generally speaking, are not particularly good at either sketching or designing. (Interestingly though, our son was born with an innate talent for both design and sketching. Maybe it was somewhere inside me after all? Who knows?) Regardless, my inherent lack of ability didn’t stop me from playing in the fashion and style space. And with the support of an extremely creative and talented mother, as child I learned to create clothes for my dolls and later, as a teenager, I was inspired to sew my own outfits. I also went through a stage of embellishing my clothing with paint and ribbons and lace. ...

Get to know the most famous French saints, including their history, places named after them, and more. (As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn commissions on certain purchases. Please note, information provided is for entertainment purposes. See our disclosure policy for details.) France has a long and rich history , which was more often than not influenced by religion. As you travel around France, you may notice that many of the country’s landmarks are named after saints. The country was at the forefront of the spread of christianity in Western Europe, and many of the France’s patron saints date back to those earliest days when the Catholic church was starting to take hold. Nonetheless, these French saints remain widely recognized with their stories and their legends having stood the test of time. So let’s get the facts about the most famous French saints, shall we? Allons-y! 1. Saint Joan of Arc (1412 – 1431) In the midst of the 100 years’ war between England and France, a you...

There’s a reason why Coco Chanel and Ines de la Fressange continue to inspire models, stylists, and celebrities today. They, like many French people, understood the secrets to healthy aging and looked stunning well into later life. However, even de la Fressange and Chanel had to work hard to age well. The laissez-faire approach — although a French expression — may work for many things in life, but aging is not one of them. Instead, you can take after the French in a different way and adopt an approach to aging that embraces reality, rebels against stereotypes, and makes the most of the golden years of your life. Beauty and Botox The French approach to aging is all about accepting reality and making the most of the here and now. But that doesn’t mean you need to give up on your beauty regime or turn your back entirely on Botox or other treatments. When taking the French approach to beauty and Botox, remember that less is typically more. French men and women don’t skip the Botox trea...