She's Got The Funk

This is to show you that a little really goes a long way sometimes ... Remember your Playmobil? Then I guess it's time to get them out of the basement and play.

Here, Funky Lady is playing with the pirate theme, though you can of course also be a nurse, a police officer, a construction worker... Gotta LOVE this!

By the way, and as a side note, you'll probably have to enlarge the pictures in the last posts to view them clearly. Don't ask me why, can't figure it out (yet ;)

Marinière

After a long period of working on my other business (you know, the serious internet one... actually, no, you don't know, but that's quite ok ;), I'm back with pictures from this summer in Paris.

I spent some time there on and off, amazed, again, at how Parisians constantly redefine femininity. Why? How? I'm still trying to nail it down myself. In the meantime, I'm just grateful to be able to watch. And share with you...

This week, you'll find a glimpse of the overwhelming number of sailors in town?? *

* Tried to take a picture of myself, but it just ended up silly ;)

Courtesy of the Sartorialist

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Oh my... Here is Giovanna Battaglia, editor of Vogue Italia.

Picture after picture that I watch of her, I see an understanding of styles, timing, colors that shows real intelligence and a capacity to dream, simply.

Also, the shoes (since everybody asks on The Sartorialist!) are from Pierre Hardy SS '10 collection. It's the second time we mention him in this blog ;) Pieeeeerrrree, visit our page!

Tout Est Bleu

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Looks like Paris has a case of baby blue shoes lately?

With special thanks to graceful Kenza, who also has a fashion blog in Paris :)

Rockabilly

After a few years attempting to win the hearts and minds of Parisian ladies, the cowboy look has finally made it to the streets... and nowadays, you see it everywhere.

And in the manner of designers Dolce & Gabbana's S/S '10 collection, you'll see even more of these around, as brands will flood the market with this easy to use style that is also affordable - a major scoring point for fashion CEOs these days ;)

So here are two looks, one in a variation of blue, (cowboy) brown, black and dark red and the other in blue, off white, black and grey. Note the use of the silver detail in the third picture, and her actual choice of belt, the leather breads reminding both of a rope and the 'interlacing' of her shirt colors.

If you want to make this look your own, you can also pair a plaid shirt with ruffles, a la Dolce & Gabbana mentioned earlier, or go for the kill, indulge in a vintage cowboy shirt, leather pants and some ridiculously obvious ankle boots... Not for me, although I love the idea of Rockabilly in France ;0

We're Launching!

After the blog, 31 Million - the business, which rests on the idea that:

If 31 Million women have the French Touch, so can you,

is launching shortly!

We offer several services, including fashion & nutrition classes, wardrobe consultations, shopping trips to Paris and soon, a rental platform for French-styled clothes & accessories.

Since returning from the holidays, we've been busy finalizing our website and getting ready to meet with the women of Amsterdam (and later those of London :) This is why we will disappear from your screens until the end of March... when we will be back with a bang and a smile, just like our Parisian Mammas would want us to!

See you back soon, and drop us line in the meantime if you want to contact us at nicky@31million.net or info@31million.net

A Nous Les Petites Anglaises*

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Whenever I see two wildly differing interpretations of any style - here the English - within 5 meters of each other, I know I'm in Paris... namely Place Saint-Sulpice

Featured here, 1) the old money aristocrat (meets E. Hemingway) who knows she's impossibly stylish but mends her kids' socks and generally thinks lowly of anything new, and 2) for the lady in the background, the "let me teleport to Edinburgh 2025" look.

These are impersonations of course, both these women look awesome simply because they are playing with codes. And that's très Français...

* "A nous les petites Anglaises": 70's French cult movie, with an even culter soundtrack by Mort Shuman. yep.

Picture Jungle

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Back in Paris I am, after a fun and chilly trip to Canada. Ze problem? Paris is equally chilly and as I stepped out to take pictures today, we all looked like Bibendum ('Bibenda'?). So as a sacrificial offering to the Goddess of Sun, I decided to post my fall-time pictures here. You will find the rest of this series on our "Making of" page that you should, most definitely, check.

What's next now? I think I'll find my amateur models in the Paris Metro where a warm breeze blows :) In the meantime, enjoy these and thanks again Aslon - the other deity - for being such a terrific photographer.

Bienvenue

So this is it, 31 Million's blog. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have preparing it!

Our concept is simple: if 31 million French women manage to achieve what is known as French style, then you can too.

This blog will post pictures of the women of Paris, updated regularly, as well as profiles of ladies we think have a great sense of fashion. These are women like you and me, so feel free to comment as well as make these looks your own!

Finally, do check the 31million website, where you can sign up for my French style and nutrition classes in my current city Amsterdam, and rent clothes and accessories with a "French Touch" from the site's dedicated platform.

Bienvenue chez nous!

Nicky