Don’t you wish you were in Paris right now? ME TOO. So much so that I decided to pretend I was in France for the day, without having to pack a single bag, dig out my passport or fly thousands of miles (or spend a gazillion dollars for that matter). If I wasn’t able to bring myself to Paris, I’d bring Paris to me. From what to wear to what to eat to what to listen to, here’s how I celebrated my Francophile-ness in my own home (and you can too!).
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1. Get dressed like a French girl. You might be tempted to lounge around the house in sweats and a tank, but seriously, would a stylish French lady EVER be caught wearing that even in the privacy of their own home? I think not. Put on your most on-fleek, yes-I-could-be-in-Paris-right-now outfit. You could go classic (think striped shirts, a scarf on your neck and a pair of slim pants) or get some tips from our 15 New Ways to Nail French Girl Style for a more modern spin. There are some looks that are totally TD.
2. Smell like a French woman. The French love their perfumes, so for your day of embracing all things francais, you should dab on a scent that conjures up Paris. The world’s most famous perfume — Chanel No. 5 — is TOTALLY French, albeit old-school. Other classics include Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs, Guerlain Shalimar and Yves Saint Laurent Opium. I went with my old stand-by from high school days, the aptly named Paris by Yves Saint Laurent. It’s a mix of mimosa, orange flower, rose, moss, sandalwood and amber, and it totally takes me away to the city of lights (and being 16!).
3. Enjoy the sweet sounds of French music. The French have a unique sound, especially their music from the ’60s. I pulled out a few iconic French singers for my day of living French, including Serge Gainsbourg (his songs with Brigitte Bardot are ah-mazing!), France Gall and Francoise Hardy. I also threw on more contemporary sounds from the likes of Stereolab and Stereo Total. Additionally, if it’s more up your alley, you could enjoy some modern sounds from Daft Punk, Air, Phoenix or Justice.
4. Do a French-inspired DIY. A super chic (and easy) project to tackle is our ascot scarves tutorial, or do some decoupage (we’ve got some sweeeeet suggestions here). I spent my day of celebrating Frenchness working on my embroidery ode to Brigitte Bardot, where I filled in the rose that the GORG French starlet of yore is holding in an old vintage pic.
View this post on InstagramChanel's SS17 lookbook is best paired with French Rosé. #whatilearnedinparis
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5. Drink some French wine. You gots to! On a beautiful day like this, I grabbed a lovely rosé. But really, any Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy or Champagne will do!
6. Eat all the French foods! Okay, maybe not all of them. Not only will you get a tummy ache, but some things just aren’t that tasty (we’re talking to you, escargot and frog legs). But I’m alllllll for the cheese, macarons, croissants, crème brûlée, cheese, Salade Niçoise, boeuf bourguignon, steak frites, cheese and even more cheese. To really get the taste of France, I bought some brie and a freshly baked baguette and snacked on that. For dinner, I made a totally delish bistro style beef stew, and we had a few super yummy macarons for dessert. So, so yum!
7. Watch a French movie. I dare you to watch Amélie and not want to book a plane ticket to Paris, like tout de suite. It’s oh so irresistible and oh so French. To get in the mood, you might also wanna watch movies that honor three of France’s most famous women, like Coco Before Chanel, La Vie en Rose (about Edith Piaf) or The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. If you’re feeling like going old school, check out Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, François Truffaut’s Jules and Jim or Luis Buñuel’s Belle du Jour. (Photo via Miramax)
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8. Get Some French Inspo from Instagram. Following these peeps will have random French pics pop up on your Instagram feed all day long! I spent some time following some new French faves like Lindsey Tramuta (@lostncheeseland) for drool-worthy food pics; Joanna Lemanska (@misscoolpics) and VuTheara Kham (@vutheara ) for iconic images of Paris; Anne Hidalgo (the mayor of Paris) and all the chic ladies on our 15 French Girl Instagram Accounts You Need to Follow list.
What’s your fave way to celebrate that French lifestyle? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know!
(Featured photo via Getty)
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.