Fashion Blogger Garance Doré Admits French Style Can Get A Little Boring

Garance Doré is probably best known for her self-titled blog, where she shares her fashion photography and illustrations along with her musings on life in general. This week she publishes, Love Style Life, which has plenty of fashion in it, but it also works as a sort of inspirational memoir of how she grew up and found her own voice, and how you can, too. Yahoo! Style spoke to the French-born Doré about how her style has changed through time, what she’s buying for fall, and why she loves thank-you notes.

Garance Doré photographed in Paris during fashion week. Photo: Getty Images

Yahoo Style: You write about wanting to “capture the true essence of style.” What is that?

Garance Doré: It took me a while to think about how to approach a book after doing my blog for such a long time. I did want to talk about style, it’s the lead in my journey. There’s no style at all if you’re not a beautiful person inside.

YS: Do you really think that’s true?

GD: I truly believe that, of course! The more you mature, the more you learn that. When I was younger, I thought clothes would make me cool and that’s really not the case. You’re cool and then your clothes reflect that.

YS: You talk about turning 40. How does style change with age?

GD: I don’t think style has to change as we get older. Rules after you turn certain ages, there’s no such thing. It’s about how you feel in your own body. As you go, you learn more about the way things make you look. When you’re 20, you don’t know yourself and want to adopt a new trend that’s exciting. One day you realize high-waisted bell bottom jeans are not for me. With everything, you know yourself better and you don’t keep on making the same mistakes.

YS: How do you pick and choose trends? I think of something like the recent Gucci collections, which would look terrible on me.

GD: Gucci is awesome! My best advice is to look at myself in photos. That’s the best medicine if you’re not sure. Mirrors are tricky—we trick the mirror, we turn a certain way. Also good feedback from friends. My sister is mine.

YS: Having really honest friends seems very French.

GD: I’ve been here 6 years and I surprise people with my frankness. They don’t know how to react. I’m not brittle, I’m a realist. But with style, there is only trial and error. It’s a mix of how we feel and how we look and things we can’t change. Your dreams, the woman you are, who you want to be, and use that to your advantage. Use that to edit yourself. The truth is we have too much to choose from. For example, I like to walk everywhere. I can’t wear heels all the time.

YS: There are tons of photos of you in the book wearing towering heels, though!

GD: [Laughs.] I try to be smart. I’ll wear them when I know I’m going to be photographed, so I wear them to special events or in the evening. I’ll think , “This outfit that would be great with heels today, but I’m going to be tired at 2:00 because I want to walk from one meeting to another.”

YS: What have you bought for this fall?

GD: A white duffle coat from Coach I love. Boots from Stella McCartney and Top Shop. Their shoes are awesome this season. I’m pissed because I didn’t get my hands on all of them. I might buy another coat, a new pair of jeans, my Repetto shoes. I buy the same things all the time.

YS: Who are your favorite style icons?

GD: It’s always changing. In the past, I love Lauren Hutton in the 80s, I just identify completely. I do love Jenna Lyons, but her style wouldn’t work on me at all. I have fun looking at how she dresses, it’s inspiring. Women like Humphrey Bogart’s wife. Emmanuelle Alt is someone I look up to. It’s not only for her style, but that confidence she exudes. I look to her when I don’t know what to wear.

YS: So much is said about French style versus American style. Why can’t we look more French?

GD: It’s a real thing. In France we don’t like to show off. I regret that. I think people should absolutely show of. People stick to what works. They do not want to be the woman everybody’s going to look at, It’s more about being cool. That’s what’s difficult to describe. Know the best pair of jeans and stick to that. Pick a few colors. It gets a little boring.

YS: You devote some space to the art of the thank-you note. Do we really have to send them all the time? Is it just a fashion world thing?

GD: I think it’s a good thing. I’m trying to be a good thank-you note person. You don’t have to overdo it, but it will stand out.

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