Today, France and Sweden faced off in the World Cup. Les Bleus, led by Kylian Mbappé, won the knockout match at Met Life stadium in New Jersey, advancing to play Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia and sending Sweden home.
All the competitive, patriotic spirit swirling around the World Cup got us thinking about French Girl vs. Scandi Girl style. They’re among the industry’s most used archetypes; cigarettes and lipstick vs. natural wine and slick backs.
France is the historic home of haute couture and fashion’s oldest, most famous houses—think: Chanel, Dior, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton. But a number of brands that have helped define the fashion agenda in the past decade have cropped up out of Scandinavia–Ganni, Toteme, Our Legacy, Acne Studios, Cecilie Bahnsen, and Rotate by Birger Christensen, to name a few. Street style during fashion week in Paris, Stockholm, and Copenhagen always provide endless buffets of inspiration.
The two approaches are hardly monolithic—in fact, they are constantly evolving and it’s impossible to nail down a strict definition—but here, Vogue breaks down some of the key differences.
Playful vs. Classic
French style is known for the classics: crisp button-downs, jeans, and a white T-shirt, slip dresses, ballet flats, or a perfect blazer. Scandi style tends toward more playful patterns, relaxed, slouchy silhouettes, and color.
Layers vs. Labels
Perhaps because of the chilly weather, the Scandi Girl is the master of layering, often pairing interesting textures and functional pieces. In Paris, an it-bag can often do the talking.
“Lagom” and “hygge” vs. “élégance” and “je ne sais quoi”
The rule pour l’élégance, “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off,” is often attributed to the grande dame of Parisian fashion Coco Chanel. The Swedes have “lagom” or the concept of “not too little, not too much” to guide their sartorial choices. The idea of “hygge” or pursuit of coziness and comfort is another guidepost of Scandi Girl style, while the French have that certain je ne sais quoi.
Fortunately, in fashion, both can be winners.
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