I usually associate Jessica Alba with a very L.A. look that screams “big budget movie star”: body-hugging dresses with bare legs and high heels, party frocks piled high with amazing accessories, and expensive T-shirts with even more expensive handbags for bumming around town. But she’s spending some time in Paris this week, and very much dressing the part…check out her French girl-chic look (and the four easy tricks for scoring your own version)

While Susan’s off absorbing the fabulousness of Paris Fashion Week (bring me home some chicness–and maybe a bottle of bubbly–si vous plait?!), I’m holding down the fort here at STF and admiring the view from afar. I’ve got to admit, it’s giving me a little bit of wanderlust. And seeing this photo of Jessica Alba wandering the streets of the 2nd arrondissement gave me the perfect excuse to dress like a French girl today, with a few well-placed accessories that are unmistakably Parisian. The rules to looking like a French girl go something like this:

1. Wear a knit hat. A beret may be a cliche idea of Paris, but hey, all cliches are born from somewhere, right? Besides, it will help hide the less-than-squeaky-clean hair that’s another prerequisite of the French girl uniform (two days without a wash, minimum!)

Mossimo  Sequin Beret – Black knit hat

2. Layer up in dark, neutral colors. Instead of wearing a big old puffy jacket, pile on layers of sweaters, vests, blazers, and scarves in a similar color family (different shades of black and gray are a total French girl staple) to stay warm. Pair the layered look on top with skinny jeans or a miniskirt on the bottom to keep your proportions right–anything else will make you look bulky.

3. Rock the perfect flats. France is the land of beautiful ballerinas, so it’s only natural the chicest women there would be inspired by their footwear. Classic flats are not only cute but obviously very comfortable–and an ideal way to add a bit of color or pattern to your look.

Salvatore Ferragamo ‘Varina’ Flat$470 @ nordstrom.com

4. Go incognito. The last step to being an irresistible French girl, a la Jessica Alba? Maintaining an air of mystery. And there’s no better way to do that than from behind a great pair of sunglasses.

Dior
Diorissima Sunglasses $295 @ saksfifthavenue.com