S1 C1-C2 JANE BIRKIN-IFIED: BECOMING THE FRENCH GIRL

to be taken by sb/sth – deeply attracted or charmed by sb/sth

a touch of ennui – a slight feeling of boredom or dissatisfaction

to trump American It-girls – to surpass trendy American girls

to catch the Francophile bug – to develop a strong love for French culture

to churn out sth – to produce sth quickly and in large amounts

trademark messy hair – a signature, intentionally unkempt hairstyle

dewy – having a fresh, glowing, slightly moist appearance (often skin)

to embody the stereotype – to perfectly represent the stereotype

to embrace the ethos – to fully adopt a particular attitude or philosophy

unabashedly alluring – confidently and openly attractive/charming

purposefully undone – deliberately styled to look effortless or casual

je ne sais quoi – a hard-to-define, appealing quality (French: “I don’t

know what”)

to strut – to walk confidently, often to show off

to streamline one’s style – to make one’s fashion choices simpler

and more cohesive

to trade in trends for flattering pieces – to stop following

fads and wear what suits you best

to go on a rampant search for sth – to obsessively look for sth

incessantly – without stopping, constantly

to indulge in romance – to enjoy romantic ideas or experiences freely

to latch onto sth – to become strongly attached to an idea/trend

to fulfill the self-prophecy – to make a personal belief/

expectation come true through actions

vice – a moral weakness, bad habit or guilty pleasure

elusive French woman – hard-to-define French feminine archetype

elegantly dishevelled hair – artfully tousled locks

smattering of red lipstick - a small, casually applied amount of lipstick

crystallised into collective imagination - solidified in shared

cultural consciousness

the epitome of sth - the perfect embodiment of sth

canonised through innumerable films - immortalized by multiple films

to exude French girl chic - to radiate Parisian cool

a slew of sth - an overwhelming quantity of sth

to don picnic attire - to wear countryside-inspired clothing

to satiate one’s Francophile senses - to satisfy one's craving

for French culture

sartorial inspiration - fashion inspiration

a pantheon of it-girls - a group of the most influential it-girls

to solidy sth - to permanently establish sth

to receive backlash - to face significant criticism or opposition

to diminish a woman's power - to reduce female agency

self-perpetuating cycle - a cycle that continuously reinforces itself

buttressed by a lucrative industry - supported by a profitable industry

to hone in on the coveted aesthetic - to target the highly desired style

to distill the routine - to break down the routine into essential parts

enduring prowess - lasting cultural influence, strength and relevance

imbued with sth - deeply infused with a particular quality

to buy into the myth - to uncritically accept an idealized narrative

a few spritzes of Chanel No 5 - a few sprays of Chanel No 5

in the cultural zeitgeist - in the public consciousness

to capitalize on the allure - to profit from the appeal

tarnished legacy - damaged reputation

embedded within the trope - deeply ingrained in the archetype

to recast Parisian women - to reframe French femininity
Parisienne insouciance – Parisian carefree, effortless attitude

it cemented our obsession with all things Paris – it solidified our strong fascination with Parisian culture

to engender a feeling/result – to cause a particular feeling/outcome

institutionally Parisian snobbery – the deeply ingrained Parisian elitism

innate – natural, inborn, not learned

ephemeral – fleeting

sacred cow – an unquestionably revered but sometimes overrated idea

indisputable timeless chic – undeniably classic and eternally stylish

vice-like grip of Parisian chic – the strong, unrelenting influence

of Parisian style

to wane – to gradually weaken or fade

chain-smoker – sb who smokes cigarettes continuously

market saturated with guides – a market with an oversupply of guides

countless tomes on French beauty – endless books about French beauty secrets

it feeds us the same narrative – it reinforces the same overused story

to dispel the myriad myths – to debunk the many false beliefs

constitutionally unimpressed – naturally hard to impress, as if it’s a part of your character

self-fulfilling fantasy – an idealized belief that perpetuates itself

propped up by Birkin – supported by Jane Birkin

discerning – having refined taste, selective

infectious guileless manner – a naturally charming, unpretentious attitude that draws others in

to emulate a fantasy – to imitate an idealized version of sth

yearning for the Parisian dream – a deep longing for the Parisian dream

lingering enthrallment with Paris – a lasting fascination with Paris
effortless elegance - appearing sophisticated and refined without visible effort

model off duty - a deliberately casual yet fashionable aesthetic that centers everyday sartorial choices made by models

rigid - strict, inflexible in style or attitude

somber - dark and serious in tone or color

creams and ivories - soft, neutral off-white color palette

Chanel pumps - classic heels by Chanel

put-together - appearing neat, coordinated and polished

understated - subtle and restrained in style

with a sprinkle of chaos - with a small, intentional element of

disorder

with a smidge of sth - with a tiny amount of sth

trust fund kid - wealthy young person living off family money

smudged eyeliner - messy eye makeup

muted color palette - soft, subdued range of colors

staples of the aesthetic - essential, defining elements of a particular style

lacy lingerie - delicate, feminine undergarments decorated with lace

beat up books - worn, loved books showing signs of use

opulence - luxurious richness and extravagance

entitled - behaving as if one deserves special privileges

disposable income - money available for non-essential spending

to stem from sth - to originate or develop from sth

to curb one's appetite - to reduce or limit one's desire for sth

to bleed into sth - to gradually mix with or influence sth else

to pull from an aesthetic - to take inspiration from a particular

style

dainty pieces - delicate, finely made clothing or accessories