Travel Archives | What is French?
— Observations from two days spent in Paris, and briefly north in Pontoise & Aver Sur Oise and a good argument for why one should always carry a notebook. And not just on exotic travels, the world happens for us always. It is one of my greatest honours to notice her.—
What is French?
French is skinny jeans and large scarves on men.
French is bougie, pleated skirts and white t-shirts on women.
French is sneakers. French is running.
French is a fashion shoot outside a Romanesque bathroom in a public park.
French is lovers sharing a baguette on a wooden bench.
French is not smiling back at someone who smiles at you.
French is little dogs in huge parks. French is a cat sitting on an accordion while the player plays.
French is framboise and oeuf in Parc Monceau. It’s paraqueets in trees. And crêpes – ô mondieu.
French is boulangerie.
French is patisserie – it’s fromagerie & charcuterie.
French is navy suits and light blue shirts. Shoulderless dresses with bed-hair tresses.
French is café noisette, pain au chocolat, tarte aux framboises and éclair pistache.
French is cobbled streets, lunch in the park. Wild cottage-gardened sidewalks and tiny espressos in busy street cafés. French is neat braids or wild manes.
French is that ‘devil may care’ look – smoking on the corner – taking your scooter on the underground, or cycling on a bike wearing Pierre Cardin.
French is fast, frivolous and fancy.
It’s also lasé-faire, artistically lewd and quietly lovely.
French is avoiding where tourists go, working hard but taking it slow.
French is Montmartre in May, the Basillique and bêrets. It’s La Chouffe on the train. Umbrellas in the rain.
It’s floral and print. Scant with a hint. Active and alive – if you’re willing to pay the price.
French is what I’ve always known it to be.
Except now that I’ve felt it, I can say it’s ‘tres joli’.
Photography by: Andrea Fedder