S1 B1-B2 JANE BIRKIN-IFIED: BECOMING THE FRENCH GIRL

to move abroad

to go to another country to live there

chic

stylish in a simple, elegant way

effortless

seeming natural and easy

to implement a ritual into your life

to include a special habit

to bring joie de vivre to your life

to add a lively, happy attitude to your life (French: "joy of living")

serenity

a peaceful, calm feeling

luxurious routine

daily habits that feel expensive or indulgent

to pamper yourself

to treat yourself to something nice

to wear eyeliner

to apply makeup around the eyes

to break the bank

to spend too much money

to apply a few spritzes of perfume

to spray some fragrance on your skin

to eat out

to have a meal at a restaurant or a cafe

to opt for a croissant

to choose a buttery French pastry

to revel in something

to enjoy something very much

to take pleasure in doing something

to find happiness in doing something

booties

short, stylish ankle boots

to throw something on

to wear something quickly without much thought

to rock (a piece of clothing)

to wear something confidently and stylishly

leisure

free time for relaxing or fun

to be outdoors

to spend time outside

connoisseur

someone who knows a lot about something (e.g., wine, fashion)

cultural trope

a common idea or theme in a culture, an archetype

to infuse your life with elegance

to add stylish, refined habits

rouge

blush, red makeup for cheeks/lips

to fix your hair

to style or arrange your hair neatly

aware of the power of seduction

knowing how to attract someone intentionally

with grace

elegantly and smoothly

front rows of runway shows

VIP seats at fashion shows

to pull something off

to successfully wear/do something difficult

to buy into (a myth)

to believe something idealized/untrue

in droves

in large numbers

vintage denim

old, high-quality jeans with a retro style

to be drawn to French style

to feel attracted to Parisian fashion

to be rooted in something

to originate from something

accessible price points

affordable prices

covetable pieces

highly desirable clothing/items

to capitalize on/off the fantasy

to profit from a romanticized idea

to commercialize something

to make something into a product for profit, to commodify something

to embrace something

to accept/adopt something enthusiastically

to resettle to Paris

to move and live in Paris

high-brow

sophisticated, intellectual (often pretentious)

to craft something

to carefully create something (e.g., an image)

her own brand of je ne sais quoi

her own type of unique, hard-to-describe charm (French: “I don’t know what”)

impossible feat

something very difficult to achieve

elusive

hard to define or catch

Parisienne

a stylish woman from Paris (French term)

to offer an illusion

to present a false (but appealing) idea

to follow rules to chicness

to obey style "laws" to achieve an elegant look

effervescent free spirit

a lively, energetic person who lives freely

red tights

tight red legwear (hosiery), often worn as a fashion statement

ballet flats

simple, flat shoes like ballet dancers wear

striking/enigmatic beauty

very noticeable/mysterious and captivating attractiveness

to boldly combine colors

to mix bright colors confidently

to incorporate something in your wardrobe

to start wearing something on a regular basis, to add a new piece to your style

to get recognition for something

to receive praise/attention for something

liberated woman

a woman free from traditional restrictions

well-off

having plenty of money

her signature black headband

the black hair accessory she is known for

to wear a strong smokey eye

to wear dramatic eye makeup

clothes that reflect your personality

outfits that show who you are

sophisticated classic look

elegant, timeless and refined style

to get backlash for something

to receive criticism for something

androgynous look

a style mixing masculine/feminine elements

striped shirt

a top with lines (classic French style)

to stand out

to be noticeably different (in a good way)

memorable

easy to remember, striking

to seduce somebody

to attract somebody romantically

attire

clothes, especially of a particular formal type

rigid clothes

stiff, structured garments that don’t allow you to move freely

glamorous

very attractive, exciting and special

to chain smoke

to smoke many cigarettes one after another

to take a concerning turn

to change in a worrying way

(against the) romanticized Paris backdrop

with an idealized, dreamy image of Paris serving as a background

full of contradictions

having many opposite qualities at the same time

commodified Parisian myth

the commercialized version of the "perfect Paris"

tangible influence

real, noticeable effect that can be seen/felt

to dominate the market

to be the most popular/successful product

to market something to an international audience

to advertise something globally

timeless

never going out of style

associated with the concept of Frenchness

connected to the idea of being French

to make a career out of something

to earn money doing something

to embody the stereotype

to perfectly represent a stereotype

carefully curated

intentionally selected and arranged

unattainable

impossible to get or achieve

slightly dishevelled

a little messy (but in an attractive way)

to put on red lipstick

to apply bold red lip color

distasteful

unpleasant, offensive or inappropriate

to try too hard

to put in excessive effort

overdressed

wearing clothes that are too formal or attention-grabbing for the occasion

to take up smoking

to start smoking regularly

to stem from something

to come from/be caused by something

to gatekeep something

to control who gets access to something

diverse city

a city with many different cultures/people