No doubt about it.  French women have style.  Something about them makes them stand out.

Could be the cigarette.

There is somewhat of a standard uniform.  A silk knit topped with a thin cardigan.  Or a belted chiffon smock and light leather jacket.  Then nice slacks, high-heeled sandals, a large purse, an I-phone — and a cigarette.

Slender body, long hair, well-manicured hands and painted toenails (red, coral or tangerine please!).  The sandals of choice this year:  Espadrilles.  Though as we move into fall, short boots and closed toes are replacing the sandals.

You can spot these young women from a block away whether alone, in a pack or with male colleagues heading to and from the office.

The men are well-groomed with hair slicked back whether long or short.  Their uniform:  Oxford shirts, no tie, well-cut suits and long-toed shoes.

Older women are easy to spot, too.  But they wear dresses, tweedy suits and much more sensible shoes.  Think Ferragamos.  And they don’t smoke.

Cigarettes and walking.  Is this the secret that keeps the French slim?  Believe it or not, we saw them exercising this morning, running around a track, kickboxing and cross-training in our neighborhood park, Park Monceau!

Outside of the park, however, only the tourists were wearing running shoes, graphic Ts and shorts (including cutoffs — ugh!).