Five Reasons Why Every Woman Should Live in France for a Year
Part I
Every time I sit in front of this computer to write the newsletter I’m always stumped. Some of you are here for Paris news and others are here for news about me. Some want to read about Paris fashion and others couldn’t care less about the art of being Parisian chic. My goal is to strike a balance between giving each reader what they need, especially those of you that pay. I do not take your subscription fees lightly so please let me know in the comment section what you’d like to see from the newsletter.
This week I’m making the case for why every woman, especially Black women, should live in France for a year. Though I should make the case for Paris specifically, there are so many other beautiful cities in France besides Paris, especially in the south. In fact, every winter I question myself as to why I’m not living in the South of France. What’s more is that clients that I consult on moving to Paris somehow all end up in the South. I kid you not. All the girlies eventually head South.
Despite my adoration for the South of France, the glamour of Paris is what keeps me here. I’m also a city girl. Glamour is what made me thug it out in New York for six years. Glamour is what has kept me in Paris for eleven years.
I’m creative so aesthetics are important to me. I need to have pretty surroundings. I need luxury experiences. I need to see wealth because when it’s so close it feels attainable. I’m a lover of history so I adore being close to museums.
Every woman should live in France for a year for the following reasons.
1. Elegance
With Paris being a global fashion hub, women living in Paris have access to some of the most elegant and luxurious experiences in the world. Traditional French women are elegant. When I say French I’m speaking strictly nationality, thus one should not assume that a French woman is always a white woman. Everything from setting the table, how the food is arranged on the platter, and how they tie their silk scarves, a refined French woman is always tactful, gracious and elegant.
2. Resilience
Nothing prepares you for living in a country that doesn’t acquiesce to your feelings. The French do not give a f*ck about your feelings. There have been times when I wanted to scratch my own eyes out due to frustration with a salesperson at the grocery store, the immigration office, the Uber driver. In France there always seems to be an obstacle. France teaches you to try again. A perfect example of this is when I was denied the ten-year residency card. I was so disappointed that I cried. Do you know what I did after I cried? I put my big girl chonies on, resubmitted the file, and was approved. I tried again and succeeded. The bureaucracy here is unparalleled but after dealing with it you can handle anything.
3. Natural Beauty
Aesthetics have always been important to me. I am someone who must look at pretty things. I always try to ensure that my surroundings are pleasant. Think about economically marginalized communities and why those communities often have trash everywhere. One of the reasons is that it is difficult to appreciate unattractive surroundings. When something is beautiful one takes special care to ensure that it remains that way. Paris has some of the most beautiful buildings and neighborhoods that I’ve ever seen. Menton, Annency, Antibes, Cannes are stunning French cities. From the picturesque countryside to the stunning coastline, France’s natural beauty provides women with endless opportunities to bask in natural beauty.
4. Work-Life Balance
A full-time work week in France thirty-five hours. The French take a two-hour lunch break and have six to eight weeks of vacation. After working twenty plus years in the states, nothing compares to the work-life balance I have in France. It’s also why I never know the days of the week. When one isn’t focused on getting through the week to the weekend, every day seems like a Friday.
5. Artistic Inspiration
France has long been a haven for artists, writers, and creatives. Furthermore, due to the flexible work-life balance, one has more time to tap into their creative side. All my friends here have creative businesses. I likely would have never had the time nor inspiration to create Paris Chic Code if I were living in the states.
People were shocked when I decided to move to Paris. There were so many women that said they wished they could have but they had children, or parents, or this or that. There were so many excuses as to why women chose others over themselves. If you learn nothing else from Paris Chic Code I hope you learn to choose yourself. Do not let small details deter you from living your dreams. There is absolutely nothing that you can do in the states that you cannot do in France. And if it’s not your cup of tea you can always go home.
Bisous,
Latrice
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À bientôt,
Latrice Darlène Shepherd
Founder, Paris Chic Code