Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Take a quick spin in Google for tips on hair styling, dieting, cooking, basically anything — and you’ll be directed to how to do it like a French girl. But the obsession with this theoretical woman actually goes way back before internet publications needed click-y headlines.
When Vogue published its first issue in 1892, it was originally marketed as magazine for wealthy New Yorkers — but its pages were constantly devoted to what was happening in Europe, specifically Paris. The growing fashion industry was based in the City of Light, and Parisian women became the models not only for stylish clothing, but for how to live a totally stylish life. From hairstyles to how to smoke a cigarette, the early pages of Vogue were filled with French lifestyle tips.
The fixation has only gotten more intense since.
Follow Racked on YouTube for more videos | Like Racked on Facebook to never miss a video