“I first noticed how well French business leaders dress in 2013”, when Publicis chief Maurice Lévy unveiled his doomed $35bn merger plan with the US group Omnicom, says Adam Thomson. Lévy strode out in a black suit, crisp white shirt and black tie: “it was understated but elegant and brimming with confidence”. His opposite number’s blue shirt and gold tie came a distant second. The Lévy black-white-black combo is a classic in France. Indeed, the “flamboyant” London code of pink and striped shirts “could easily derail a promising career” in Paris. And in France, clothes fit; while if you remove an Englishman’s jacket you will probably “discover a spinnaker billowing under his arms”.
What explains this style gap? I blame school uniforms, which English children wear and the French do not. Choosing what to wear makes French children more aware of clothes and fit; uniforms bought by value-conscious parents, by contrast, are either too large, or too small. The lesson, if you’re heading for Paris, is to play it safe: “rein in the colours, and above all, wear a suit that fits”. (Adam Thomson, Financial Times)
I have no doubt that feeling elegant and well dressed gives you confidence, but no amount of money and tailoring can substitute for brains, ability, shrewdness and understanding of human nature. Over the years the French seem to have consistently underestimated the Anglo- Saxons, which is why, relatively speaking, the latter have more thriving economies than the French. Enough with style! Bring on substance!
Moreover,the writer is, in my opinion, totally wrong-headed about school uniforms, which avoid the horrible business of competitive dressing in schools and its attendant bullying and teasing of less well-@off children. Moreover, they denote ‘egalite’, a concept introduced during the French revolution and apparently abandoned thereafter. Epicurus would have approved of the uniform. It assists peace of mind.
Like with yesterday’s post, I don’t believe the substance vs style dynamic is a zero sum game. The Nordic countries seem to be very good at both. I highly doubt the absence of school uniform contributes to French fashion style- that’s more due to a different culture and a greater emphasis on appearance in society. That isn’t without its downsides; from the British perspective, the French can be very snobby towards people who choose to dress ordinarily. As for school uniforms, I suggest a compromise between the approach of the author and yours. Rather than having a regulation uniform, students should simply be required to dress smartly: suits for the boys, skirts, dresses and smart shirts for the girls. This gives people the peace of mind with the uniform, as everyone has to dress in the same style. But it also gives the students discretion as to how exactly to look, which may provide them with the sense of style the author claims Britain needs.