What can the Dutch woman learn from the Parisienne?

Stocking up on bags full of designer clothes in stilettos and having lunch in chic restaurants: the Parisian lifestyle is hot, thanks to the Netflix series Emily in Paris . But that is normally a bit different, says Renée Koudstaal (47), writer of Live like a Parisienne – O ok if you are very Dutch of which a fresh version is now available in stores.

Renée Koudstaal was 18 when she moved to Paris. She worked for the Parisian crème de la crème in the fields of fashion, beauty, politics and culture, fell in love with the Parisian lifestyle and was inspired by the Parisiennes and their timeless elegance. “And that has nothing to do with what you see Emily in Paris. ”

“Parisian women have to laugh heartily at the image they portray there: a woman riding through the city on a scooter with her hair blowing in the wind, brightly colored clothing, high heels and an Hermès bag on her arm. You will never see the Parisienne in such a cacophony of style cues. And she doesn’t wear high heels either, because she runs around all day trying to earn money to pay for her overpriced house,” she explains.

“She doesn’t follow trends anyway. In her closet there are timeless items that enhance her personality. That goes much further than which color suits you or which body type you have. Your perfect wardrobe does not start in a store, but with who you are and what you stand for.”

Don’t just walk into a shopping street, that’s a guarantee of a bad purchase

Koudstaal recently launched the online course Dress like the Parisiennes (see www.renee-k.com). According to her, we can learn a lot in terms of style from women from Paris.

“In France you get clothing culture from your mother or grandmother: what are beautiful materials, how do you wear them, how do you combine clothes? We don’t know that at all, and I often have the feeling that we follow trends instead of being the masters of our own wardrobe. The most important lesson is not to buy from doubt and impulses, but from knowledge. Know who you are and what suits you.”

According to Koudstaal, simply walking into the shopping street is often a guarantee of a bad purchase, due to all the temptations around you.

“In the twenty years that I have lived in Paris, I have never gone shopping with Parisian friends. They go to a store during their lunch break and then return with a small bag containing exactly the item they wanted to buy. If you meet someone with all their shopping bags, they are certainly not a local. They prefer to have a nice meal with friends, go to the movies or go to the theater.”

The most sustainable option is shopping in your own wardrobe

To respond to the sustainability theme, Koudstaal added a chapter on vintage shopping to its new edition. She explains how best to do this and gives her favorite addresses in Paris and the Netherlands.

“There is also a chapter about anti-shopping, because the most sustainable option is still shopping in your own wardrobe. I also dress ladies in the corporate world and I often hear: ‘I have nothing to wear’, while the walk-in closet is overflowing. We really need to get rid of that buy-buy-buy syndrome, we owe it to our earth. Parisiennes are also an example in this: they often live in small spaces and cannot afford a walk-in closet at all. So their wardrobe is timeless, of good quality and not that big.”

According to the writer, the essential classics that everyone should have differ per person. “They are different for you than for me. For example, I always have white jeans, a good cashmere turtleneck, a classic denim shirt and a tuxedo jacket in my closet.”

Koudstaal, who divides her life between Amsterdam and Paris, explains why she loves the French capital so much. “You are constantly surrounded by beauty. On your plate, in the streets, the buildings, the museums, the covers of books. Everything I see around me makes me happy. Furthermore, Parisians are known for enjoyment, which is woven throughout their lives. In the Netherlands it quickly becomes: ‘Are you going out to eat again?’ While that is allowed there, it is almost mandatory.”

Dutch women can put themselves more in the foreground

Life as a Parisienne is not just about looks, but about the complete lifestyle, Koudstaal emphasizes. “When I look at my Parisian friends, they are not only mothers, but also colleagues, friends, sisters and, above all, women. The Dutch woman could put herself more in the foreground.”

For inspiration, she interviewed women who are an example of how they combine motherhood with their own career and life, such as Chantal Janzen and Igone de Jongh. “We should stop feeling guilty when you go out and do fun things on your own. Let the Parisiennes guide you in this too, and enjoy!”

Emily in Paris can be seen on Netflix.