29 September 2008

French Chic


There is no denying that when it came to style, France got it right.  I would like to tell you more about it, but i've been researching now for 3 hours and it's coming up close to 1am.  So i cheated and copied and pasted a very brief description.

Along with Milan and New York, Paris is sometimes called the "fashion capital of the world". The association of France with fashion (Frenchla mode) dates largely to the reign of Louis XIV [26] when the luxury goods industries in France came increasingly under royal control and the French royal court became, arguably, the arbiter of taste and style in Europe.


The most beautiful movie i have ever seen is with no doubts, Marie Antionette.  The palace alone was fascinating to see on screen.  My husband has been there.  I'm incredibly jealous, but he has promised to take me for our anniversary next year.
Her gowns, shoes, fans, furniture, friends and lifestyle was so glamourous.  The colours so rich and full that i almost felt i could reach out and feel the texture of their clothes.

I have tried to capture a french feel in my home, but i have a long way to go.  I found a shop on eBay though this evening,  and i got incredibly excited over the cheap prices.


The above two imagesa are previews of what they sell.  Incredibly stunning.


French Furniture Inspiration










15 comments:

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Great post. I actually studied French design as part of a summer course I too at uni. Most interesting.

MelMel said...

Lovely pictures!
When we went on honeymoon the lady who owned the cottage we stayed in had some of her own house done out like this, wonderful furniture and fabric, she said she had got most of the items at flea markets!
I like the first picture, i could do with a day of pampering!xxxx

Tinyholder said...

I like this stuff but I must admit I wouldn't have it in my own house. It's far too luxurious and oppulent! I think this kind of decor is very much dependent on what type of house you live in for sure. I do like it when peeps mix this Louis XIV/Gustavian furniture with very bright or very deep and dark colours. It creates a really dramatic effect.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I love the film Marie Antoinette, I like to have it on in the background just so I can admire the colours on screen.

I love the french style but think it'll have to do for my other home (hmmm maybe I should get the first home first!!!)

I would LOVE a chaise long, it's been something I've wanted since I was a young girl.

Victoria xx

sharie said...

I WANT THOSE PINK SHOES!!!

I've never had a pair of shoes like that but if I had those shoes I would turn into a completely different person. Wonderful!

Great photos. I always study the interiors in films. I love watching old black and whites just to see how they decorated their houses back then. Sometimes its much nicer than now.

angel said...

Lea, those pic's are stunning especially the first few...... gulp.
I have just remembered, i saw a picture on the fairygothmother.com [blog page] and they had beautiful french maid outfits [oh i sound like a perv now!!!!!] no the point i am making is that the clothes and furniture are gorgeous.
My DD is having her Wedding dress made by the designer there, he makes corsets for the theatre. wonderful....ermmm..... never mind i shall go back to my knitting. lol

The Vintage Kitten said...

Its a beautiful style. Mr K is just too mucky for me to have a home decorated this way. We need dark colours in our sitting room. If I ever win the lottery I will buy two houses together and one will be all mine so I can go next door and just look at all the lovely things...no men allowed X

Ann said...

I'm with you there...the French are really stylish they have such class that leaves me in awe.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this great link to the ebay shop. Such beautiful items!

what is your styleosophy said...

I love that red floral wallpaper!

Emma-Kate said...

I love shabby chic style, i have just become addicted to it, i have decided to decorate my bedroom shabby chic/french and looking at your blog has just given me some great ideas. I've been finding it quite difficuly trying to get ideas of how i want my room to look.

You live in Kings Lynn? Im just down the road(ish) in the Holbeach area :-) xox

shabby chic furniture said...

Really lovely post, photos are also awesome , this is really different style of fashion, I am always studying the interiors in the film. I like watching old black and white just to see how they made their home at the time. Sometimes it is much better than it is now.

Michelle said...

I have a mixture of french country and shabby chic and until reading this thought maybe I'd call it french chic, LOL. I'm thinking now I still just have a mixture, though it's changing.... or is that evolving?

French Furniture said...

The French had the right idea. I love the shabby chic look. My collection just keeps growing. x

Shabby Chic Shower Curtains said...

Nice site! I love the shabby vintage style..its sooo awesome!