It is something of a style cliche to say that Paris is a site of style inspiration but a recent trip to the City of Lights has reminded me why it has this reputation in the first place.

Whilst its inhabitants may not fill the streets with quite the same sartorial eccentricity of London or New York, there is a compelling allure to all of that understated nonchalance. Of course, it is my experience that you have to actually be French to pull it off…

Thankfully we have a whole world of beautiful Parisian films to add a little stylised inspiration into the mix. I am inclined to steal Jean Seaburg’s feline eyeliner, gamine stripes and flirty skirts from the Godard classic “A Bout de Soufle“, for example.

However, my absolute favourite (incest aside….) has to be “The Dreamers“, whose beautiful reproduction of the Parisian student riots of the 60’s lends itself to endless wardrobe raiding. Eva Green’s wardrobe of apron skirts, floral chiffon, jewel colours and berets is particularly enthralling and has been a firm favourite of mine for ages.

Add some contemporary French style icons into the mix ( Marion Cotillard, Vanessa Paradis and Clemence Poesy) and I find myself wishing very much that I had been born on the other side of the channel….