Fashion has been an important cultural export of France since the 17th century, and modern "haute couture" originated in Paris in the 1860s. Today, Paris is considered one of the world's fashion capitals, and the city is home to many of the premier fashion houses. Historically, many of the world's top designers have been French, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent.

The women of Paris have always been the world leaders of a classic, sophisticated look, that certain je ne sais quoi which has held such mystique for style-conscious women everywhere. With their all-encompassing and distinctive style, the Parisians are in a league of their own. Regardless of trends, or what's considered desirable in any given season, the "aura" of Parisian chic transcends it all. The look is hugely seductive - you won't catch a Parisian in a bulky sweatshirt or in a comedic outfit. It's about choosing the right accessories, jewelry and perfume. The elusive secrets of Parisian chic reveal how to dress rich and how to dress thin. Quite often it translates to quietly timeless elegance. The demure "Parisian look" is anything but colorful. It works best in black with a splash of color, purple seems the be the color this year, and looking well-groomed is crucial.

An important element of Parisian chic is confidence and realizing that style is about presence. Quite how Parisian women developed this sort of seductive chic is anyone's guess - perhaps they were all brought up on moody film noir, or simply inherited their sense of style from their equally chic mothers.

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