How to Dress Like an Ingenue
The definition of an ingenue is traditionally a young damsel but, in recent decades, the term has most often been used to describe a rising young female star, usually from European nations such as France. The ingenue look is mysterious, young, and sultry. Here are a few ways to look and dress like an ingenue. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- aura of mystery
- great dress sense
- little black dress
- long, black coat
- sunglasses
- high heeled shoes
- European designer clothes
Instructions
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Wear European designers. An ingenue is a distinctly European concept, so it helps to dress in European couture such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Prada, and Miu Miu. Wearing such expensive items contributes to the allure and appeal of the ingenue.
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Dress mostly in black. It comes across as sophisticated, mysterious, and Gallic to dress mostly in black. For instance, a "little black dress" does the trick. Ingenues usually avoid bright colors and busy patterns. To construct the allure of a young and beautiful ingenue, it is essential that mystery is maintained. Black does the trick quite well.
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Wear sunglasses! Famed ingenues of the past, such as French film siren Catherine Deneuve, have always favored wearing sunglasses, not only when outside, but even indoors. Sunglasses contribute to the ingenue's mystique--if you can't see the ingenue's eyes, you will never know what she is thinking. Make sure your sunglasses are high end. French fashion house Christian Dior makes great shades for the ingenue style.
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Wear long, dark, flowing coats! Long, flowing black coats look great to saunter down Paris' most famous streets, such as the Champs-Elysees. These long black coats are great to wear over the aforementioned "little black dress." Nothing gives off such an aloof air of mystery as a flowing coat. European cinema stars have been sporting this look for decades (for example, Sophia Loren).
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Always wear heels. Tiny, pointy heels are great for the ingenue style. Prada and Jimmy Choo shoe brands make perfect, tiny shoes for the dainty feet of a young ingenue. An ingenue can never be too casual, so sneakers and flats are generally out of the picture. If you are to dress and look like an ingenue, you must be "on" all the time, and always look well-kept and maintained.
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Tips & Warnings
Being an ingenue is not only about the clothes and style, it's also the attitude. To be a proper ingenue, you need to give off a certain "je ne sais quoi." Act aloof, mysterious, slightly bored, and otherwordly. These are key ways to behave like classic ingenues of the past.
Ingenues are usually pouting; it is part of the look of "ennui" (French for boredom). Be sure to practice perfecting your pout if you want to look like a real ingenue.
