AN EXPOSÉ ON THE PARISIENNE DRESS CODE
by Rachel Suleymanov
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? When asked to speak in French, many feel inclined to recite the words of Lady Marmalade. The nation’s sexually liberated reputation is notorious: ranging from cliche menage-a-trois to casual affairs, the world has formulated a sexually rambunctious and fluid narrative around France. However, during my short time in Paris, I’ve discovered one thing about the woman’s body that might feel at odds with this assumption: it ought to be covered.
That’s right. Les règles du jeu: dress modestly. This might surprise you, what with France’s intense fixation on banning hijabs and all. Nevertheless, the classical “Parisian-girl style” that is so widely admired is largely conservative. For example, denim shorts are, for the most part, rejected by French women because they are considered frumpy. They're also too short. Some of my American friends have been stopped on the street by women who tell them that the hems of their skirts, dresses, or shorts are far too revealing. For a country that is seemingly sexually liberated, the woman’s body is not to be seen. Perhaps the woman’s body is to be alluded to. This is why the French woman does not relinquish her sex appeal in dressing more modestly–the goal is to merely negotiate it in more subtle, alluring ways. This, of course, reinforces a woman’s place as a sexual object. But then again, what gendered fashion doesn’t?
An added note that cannot be unsaid–French men can be rather unruly. To say they are forward is an understatement, and they might not take no for an answer. Though many will meet this statement with dismay, their treatment becomes more egregious the more revealing you dress. In other words, I think French women avoid shorts not just because they’re frumpy–I think it’s a means of survival. Although I will admit–nothing will actually stop a pervert from being a pervert.
I have concluded that being sexually liberated and dressing conservatively is not so difficult a duality to conceptualize. If one views the body as sexual, one might aso believe it ought to be reserved for sexual activities. In other words, it's not so difficult to believe that a country with this stereotype might lean more sartorially convervative. If anything, it reinforces the notion of the sexualized body–by hiding it.
Still, I must end with a testament to Paris’ beauty: it is unparalleled in my eyes. Even with this unsaid dress code, I enjoyed my time there immensely. With all this in mind, I present to you some pictures of what I wore in Paris. Fair warning, these pictures are, at times, blurry, unruly, or headless. I hope they are informative nonetheless.
