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

into your daily routine

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 sth 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 sth – to enjoy sth very much

to take pleasure in doing sth – to find happiness in doing sth

booties – short, stylish ankle boots

to throw sth on – to wear sth quickly without much thought

to rock (a piece of clothing) – to wear sth confidently and stylishly

leisure – free time for relaxing or fun

to be outdoors – to spend time outside

connoisseur – sb who knows a lot about sth (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

sb intentionally

with grace – elegantly and smoothly

front rows of runway shows – VIP seats at fashion shows

to pull sth off – to successfully wear/do sth difficult

to buy into (a myth) – to believe sth 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 sth – to originate from sth

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 sth – to make sth into a product for profit, to commodify sth

to embrace sth – to accept/adopt sth enthusiastically

to resettle to Paris – to move and live in Paris

high-brow – sophisticated, intellectual (often pretentious)

to craft sth – to carefully create sth (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 sth in your wardrobe – to start wearing sth

on a regular basis, to add a new piece to your style

to get recognition for sth – to receive praise/attention

for sth

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 sth – to receive criticism for sth

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 sb – to attract sb romantically

attire - clothes, especially of a particular of a 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 sth to an international audience - to advertise sth 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 sth - to earn money doing sth

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 sth - to come from/be caused by sth

to gatekeep sth - to control who gets access to sth

diverse city - a city with many different cultures/people