What Men Can Learn From French Women

It's a well-known fact that women can always learn from their Francophone counterparts. And this time its the menfolk who are getting the tutorial.

Over at Details, Hermès menswear designer, Varonique Nichanian offers men 10 tried-and-true tips for dressing and looking their best.

She touches on weekend getaways (including the importance of passionate gestures) and outlines the perfect packing list:

For a weekend away, a man should bring a simple shirt, two cashmere sweaters, three polos, and one pair of jeans. For shoes, either sandals or light leather moccasins--just the essentials.

And like any and every good French woman, she stresses the necessity of the watch:

You should have one watch for the weekend, one for the week, one for suits, one for sport. I love watches. Watches are for men what perfume is for women. They are very personal, and you can wear them according to your mood.

And while four watches may seem extreme, you can also find one good watch to suit all your moods. A watch is an wise investment, and most definitely worth the splurge.

All in all, her advice is sage and has proven to be entirely effective. After all, neither of these two are really all that French (his father's Hungarian, and she's a born and bred Italian), but they've definitely mastered the art -- and now look at them!

French President Nicholas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni exiting a plane in Egypt

What do you think of her advice? Agree? Disagree? Got any fashion advice of your own?

And, if you're only in it for the French women, find out how French women are the new "sexual predators" here.
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See what else you can learn from them here.

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Ha, such style those French men have if this is true (not that I believe it). I suppose they tie those cashmere sweaters around their necks? Such a silly look! Polos? Sandals? Light Leather Moccasins? "Just the essentials."

Yeah, if you want to look like a total DORK.

[JiminNC]

Why did I read this?

[melonman]

Maybe it's the French connection. Gets me every time.

[aceholiday]

a watch in 2008? introducing the cellphone.

[recless]

Y'know, fashion experts are like slinkys... the don't really do anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

[tess08]

LMAO

[Mort]

LOL! Just the thought brings a smile!

[Christabelle]

If a. .. watch is sooooooooo personal who needs four of them? No logic to that idea. One should suffice and it need not be a Rolex. I personally like a man is jeans and loafers. Polo's are for the golf course. A good no iron shirt will do and possibly a blazer in wool or courderoy. Absolutely NO jewelry except for than watch. Gemme a real man who isn't decked out in finery.... unless he's attending a wedding or being celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival for group pictures on the red carpet. A man with class and money doesn't advertise it.

[SharonB]

This story is as insane as Karl Lagerfeld's wardrobe.

[bentenrai]

I've been on vacation in France a couple of time. One thing I can say about the French, is that they do master the art of living, and definitely are very jealous of everything that makes them French.
I can say it wouldn't hurt for us to learn a couple of things from them:
One is having a political debate without treating one another like crap. The French with some notable exceptions are adamant on etiquette, and there's a reason why. It's not about being elitist, it's about considering that you want to be treated the same way you treat others.
When I was down in Montpellier, I was told I had to live like the French since I was in French territory, and I reluctantly agreed. I was treated with fresh baked bred made by the bakery downstairs, one glass of wine everyday, and a bottle of beer. At worst it was fun, at best it made me healthier and lightened my mood as well as the conversation around the table. I'll take that any day over "freedom fries".
The French usually won't serve your chocolate in styrofoam. No sir, the chocolate will come in porcelain ware with a metal spoon to stir it, not a plastic tube. It makes you feel special even if you're the poorest bastard ever.

[falco]

If men take this advice then I guess they will be just like French men! Hey, I got an idea! Why not just be yourself instead of fulfilling someone else's expectations! If you try really really hard, you can be what is called "authentic". That means being true to yourself and not falling for the phoniness of advertising and marketing in making you want to create an image of yourself that someone else has dictated, what someone else considers "cool". And if the chicks don't like it, then you can be assured they are the wrong chicks to hang out with.

[SharonB]

You had me on your side until that last sentence. Perhaps I am wrong when I assume that you by the word "chicks" are referring to adult human females?
If you did, let me give you just one little bit of advice...

Don't do that. Okay?

You don't like being told to behave like a French man and I applaud that. Grown women do not like to be called "chicks".

[metalpipe]

Oh, S., and you never call men 'dudes'? Get a life. I am so over sensitive women.

[amanda85]

As I expected: xenophobia off the scale...

Sounds a lot like sour grapes...

[sunzen]

this is a bit late...when did the term metrosexual come about...arent they describing the same thing? And better yet gay men have adopted the french culture as their own...

[SolarPowerGuy]

"You should have one watch for the weekend..."

Shallow materialism at its finest -- and what's romantic about keeping to a schedule?

[trollsbwild]

When I was seventeen, my college had foreign students processed there from all over the world. I met a french girl, who taught me the secrets of giving and getting oral pleasure.
Her name was Beatrice. My only wish is that I would like to thank her many years later for the valuable training.

[wadenelson1]

What is this Huffpo obsession with what we can learn from the French?

[JamesInDenver]

Why are there suddenly so many silly news pieces (like this one) on the HuffingtonPost? The Internet is full of nude or partially nude photos, are they really necessary here? What is this sweeps week or something?

[bugsbonzai]

Who wrote this crap? "Watches are for men what perfume is for women." What, completely unnecessary, unless you're unprepared? Who made this rule? If I have my cellphone, I don't need a watch. Watches are to tell time, anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you a watch.

Sorry lady, you don't have a clue. I don't buy the myth that french women know any more or less than any other nationality's women on men. This sounds more like advice on how extremely wealthy men can impress extremely superficial, thin euro-trash model-types. No thanks. Stop selling me a fantasy world; give me practical advice that I can use right now, not after I make my first million. I don't know any woman in my life that would be impressed with four watches.

[situationcritical]

I'm sorry, I thought you were referring to what gay men could learn from French women.

[jubo]

What a ridiculous piece. Very right wing. Or Gauche caviar. Same différence.

[solarfared]

Odd then that this is only on HuffnStuff. I couldn't find it on Fox.
Garsh, I wonder why? BTW 4 watches is stupid. One watch is barely tolerable. People who wear multiple watches, based on their moods, are uptight anal dorks.

[Tyrione]

Agreed. They are attempting to make up for their lack of self identity when Mother wouldn't let them suckle her teet.

[Artisbey]

So far, my most enjoyable week-end getaways didn't require clothes.

[Robert59]

I never and I mean never wear a watch. And I'm never late.

[Dogma]

Well aren't you something special, Little Bobby No Watch!

[drspaceman]

Only commandos need watches and only one of them. Can I substitute the two cashmere sweaters with two sweatshirts and the sandals with flip flops? Plus I'd pack a second pair of jeans just in case I pee myself. Polo shirts are ok but I'd rather have a few tee shirts officially merchandized by my favorite sports team and/or league. Oh and lots of chocolate, nylon stockings and cigarettes. I hear French women love those things. My dad told me that.

[peachfuzz]

I think the destination & season dictates the clothes.

Wearing a watch in humidity sucks too.

[AnAmericanGentleman]

Money! Money! Spend! Spend! 'Tis the only path to success!

[cbm17]

I got one watch- and that's all you need. incidentally Sarkozy and his wife are a laughingstock in Paris (who wrote this- surely an American??), so I don't think anyone should look to them as an example of good style or taste.

[LoRiseAntlers]

My fashion advice would be to ignore all the yammering idiot "experts" and wear what the hell you want to.

[JScott]

YES YES YES!!!!!!
THAT is true fashion!

[Mort]

What men can learn from French women? That it's ok to have hairy pits & legs, go unbathed, lay out nude on a beach no matter how you look? Or with all her style advice is she saying men should all be gay boardwalk strollers?

[amanda85]

You forgot the ridiculous beret. Everybody knows every man and woman in France wears one. Rush says so, it MUST be true...

[Mort]

Have you actually been to France? Nowhere in the world, except maybe Harvard Square, have I seen more women with braidable armpits, wooly legs and few showers.

[jubo]

Interesting name, in French.

[amanda85]

"Have you actually been to France?"

Unlike you, yes.

[FirstShirt]

I recommend

1. buying one cheap watch for every mood.

2. Learn how to order Thunderbird in french.

3. Wear shorts for several days before your trip...just to annoy those around you.

4. Chew Red Man.

5. Dont forget to have a pair of white sweat socks for every occasion.

6. And, wear a sweat shirt that says [in french of course] "kiss my american a**". Or, even better, "Bush 08". Europeans love that.

[wolfgangmo]

Bwahahahahahahaha.

Best comment yet.

[quadman]

LOL!