french summer

I've been missing summertime France recently.

For two summers during my high school years, my family hosted some really amazing French teenagers and my brother and I were hosted by their family in return. Whether it was floating in France or running around Boston with our newfound French family (woo hoo, alliteration!) members, those summers were beyond incredible.

Like this year, last summer I stayed in good old MA and worked, but it felt much more new and exciting since I was working on the campus I had decided to attend for college. Now, I've been in the same on-campus job since and all through the school year. I really like all of the people I work with and making money is always a plus for college students... but it's no France.

So, I thought I'd French-ify my little Massachusetts existence a bit!

I found a French blog to obsess over:

Coline is extremely fashionable, chic in the way a whole bunch of french women seemingly are naturally. I love her look because she is, as I said, completely chic while still rocking tattoos! She's been posting since 2007 about beauty and fashion, so I have a crazy amount of catching up to do! Luckily, I speak french, as my brother and I participated in an immersion program when we were young, but even if you don't her blog is definitely worth a view or a hundred! Her style is amazing, she is adorable, and pictures do say a thousand words!

I compiled a French-inspired reading list:

Jennifer L Scott started the whole concept of this book while she was blogging about her experience abroad, staying with host families in Paris. Not only is this something I can relate to quite easily, I also took a peak on Amazon and adore her writing style! She is engaging and candid about her experiences and I can't wait to read the rest!

I was accidentally on the French Amazon site and while looking at Jennifer Scott's book, saw that this one was paired with it as a suggested bundle. I think I've spent more time in Paris than in any other part of France (especially when you include that family vacation we took when my parents made my brother and I take pictures of them kissing everywhere...) and Parisian street style is both fascinating and beautiful. If this little book wants to try and tackle that for me, it can go right ahead. 

(the stripes make me trust it more but "never trust a book by its cover" and all that)

But, despite my high hopes for the above title, I don't want to put all of my eggs in one basket! And what a second basket this is! A guide to Parisian style written by French style icon Ines de la Fressange, model extraordinaire, and illustrated with fashion photography in addition to her own amazing drawings. 

(the author is so sassy and I love it!)

If you really want French fashion, who better to read up on than Coco Chanel and Christian Dior? I think these speak for themselves...

And of course there is always French cuisine (if anyone can give me the perfect baguette or macaron recipes, I may just have to kiss you on both cheeks!) and flipping through the pictures from my trips!

Oh, I can't wait to delve into these with my feet in the sand and the sun on my back. Until then, I'm going more French casual with nice basics, striped tops (which I already have a love affair with), and my wonderful floppy straw hat that I bought with encouragement from Grace!