Vincent Cassel - actor
The true Parisian is temperamental! There, I said it, but I think there is no way around it. He can be the most charming and irresistible person you have ever met and he can be arrogant and plain difficult. But maybe therein lies his charm ...
He wants to please and be pleased. He adores the women he meets, but loves it when they adore him too.
Flirting and charming is second nature to him, his compliments are as flattering as they are quickly forgotten.
These pictures are of Bernard Henri Levy, France's best known philospher,
and for me the archetype of the elegant parisien. Seen here with his actress wife.
He dresses well, likes to look dashing, loves good shoes. He can carry off that wonderful air of elegance and ease, smart without looking uncomfortable. He wears a warm scarf tied around his neck in winter, and sunglasses in the summer. He'll wear polo t-shirts but never short sleeved shirts.
He is a gentleman, he holds doors open, and waits for the ladies to be seated before taking his own place. He is happy to joke, but happier still to argue ... about anything; the state of the world; the best way to cook his favourite dish, the merits of the latest film - he is a great conversationalist. Happy to spend time with friends, delighted to enjoy a romantic dinner with the woman in his life.
Vincent Cassel and his wife Belucci
He loves his children, he doesn't feel ridiculous buying flowers, he wears perfume, he enjoys the opera and good restaurants, he knows about wine. He can talk about books, politics, women, food and sport. He is an accomplisher.
If you want to please a Parisian, be sure to have something interesting to say, and to have made an effort with your appearance. Then just enjoy!
Voila! A light-hearted look at le parisien, probably too stereotyped,
but hey ... this is just a blog!
