Week 3 - Samantha Soleta

Like Colbert, many nationalists aim to have their countries less dependant on imported goods and focused on the creation of domestic products and influence. French leaders over time have prided themselves on elegance and luxury. Even to this day, the term "bougie" or "boujee" is a commonly used phrase to describe lavish lifestyles, typically attributed to aesthetics that display glitz and gold. It's an interesting parallel in that we see the term in songs like Migos' "Bad and Boujee" as the term has evolved from the French bourgeois, France's upper class of the 16th and 17th century. Louis XIV was one of the leaders in recreating a new image of France that made even simple things seem to be the most refined, thus illustrating France as one of the finest of all of the European nations. This archetype of wealth and sophistication has been reinforced over centuries. Not only has France become the pinnacle of fashion and class but it has also helped propel it forward into a world leader.

Emphasizing certain attitudes of the nation's sophistication has also emphasized France's power in the world. We see young girls across the world with Parisian style themed rooms and parties, celebrating the elegance behind it all. It's not abnormal to see a miniature golden or silver covered Eiffel Tower in the homes of fashionable young womxn across the globe. As a child, even I had a love for all things French and that influence had continued on into me taking 4 years of language classes to learn French myself - a skill that I've used only once in actual conversation and not as a tool to impress others.

Works Cited

Bowen, Chelsey. “French Themed Girls' Bedrooms.” HGTV, HGTV, www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kid-rooms/french_themed_girls_bedrooms-pictures.

Dejean Joan. 2005. The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophisticated, and Glamour. Free Press: New York