A little Paris close to home
Stylist Clèmentine MacNeive shares her favourite places in Dublin that have a lot of French style.
Ballet flats? Check. Stripe top? Check. Insouciant fringe? Check. Understated red lip? Check.
When it comes to nailing the French Girl Aesthetic the fashion and beauty is easily achieved, but finding the elusive je ne sais quo required to pull it all together can be a little trickier.
To celebrate the relaunch of the iconic Renault 4 - now as an electric vehicle - celebrity and fashion stylist
Clèmentine MacNeive has opened her little black book and share her adresses secrètes to help us all enjoy the perfect French day - in Dublin city.
“The French do everything on their own terms but they do it with class and elegance,” explains
Clèmentine, “it’s an effortless confidence I definitely admire and one that’s reflected in the all-new Renault 4 - a car that’s also stylish, timeless and charming!”
Adopting this attitude, and the Reanult 4, Clèmentine recommends that everyone start the day with a perfect coffee and pastry - ideally at Mr French on Erne St. Known for its commitment to the perfect pour (flat whites are a speciality), fashion collabs and low-key interiors - Mr French brings Parisian charm to Dublin’s south inner city.
Follow Mr French on Spotify to enjoy playlists such as L’ecole du Hip Hop and Midnight in Paris if you really want to impress passengers!
Freshly caffeinated, Clèmentine suggests we embrace the ‘shop little and often approach’ to groceries so beloved of the French, whose commitment to quality produce outweighs their love for convenience and sees them shop several times per week to ensure excellence in the kitchen.
What this means for Clèmentine is that jumping into the Renault 4 and nipping into Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer St to get the perfect baguette du jour (her ultimate French extravagance) from their bakery is a labour of love rather than a chore.
While there, Clèmentine suggests that paying a visit to the cheese counter and splurging on a gooey camembert, followed by a pit stop in the legendary Fallon & Byrne wine cellar to pick up the perfect accompaniment is the simplest way to embody the French saying travailler moins, vivre mieux, which translates to work less to live better!
“The French way of life is all about living life with pleasure and enjoyment,” says Clèmentine, “whether that is with great food, culture or gathering friends and family there’s pleasure in the simplest of moments.”
Lotts & Co in Dublin 4 is another destination grocer which prides itself on quality and choice - making it ideal for those who want to shop quality outside the city.
Parking in Dublin city can often dissuade people from driving but when it comes to visiting Fallon & Byrne nearby carparks on either Clarendon St or Drury St remove any parking stress while the compact size of the Renault 4 make parking in tight spaces easier than ever before.
“The Renault 4 is perfect for city driving,” explains Clèmentine, “The 10-inch screen makes it easy to plan electric journeys, the voice control is very useful and the modular design means there’s lots of extra space when I need it for work - it’s stylish and functional in one.”
With the Renault 4 parked up and the afternoon stretching ahead, mum of two Clèmentine recommends some retail therapy. Firstly she suggests heading to the iconic French brand Jacadi’s South King St store. Jacadi is a firm favourite as Clèmentine adores their commitment to preserving the heritage of the l’enfance à la française that she so enjoyed growing up.
“My earliest memories are of eating crepes in Parisian cafes with my mum and people watching,” recalls
Clèmentine, a memory she hopes to pass down to her own children. Known for its durable and quality pieces which echo simple French styling, Jacadi is the ideal place to shop for Marceau and Camille.
Next up, Clèmentine suggests staying in the fashion lane and popping into nearby Costume for a browse through its selection of French designers including Isabel Marant and Zadig & Voltaire - this time opting for adult sizes and safe in the knowledge that the Renault 4’s spacious boot can take any purchases!
If parking in either Clarendon St or Drury St carpark add an extra layer of French fancy to your day by stopping into Ladurée and picking up a macaron - or two!
After working up a hunger, the only solution is to head to nearby l’Gueuleton on Fade St to enjoy an authentic French meal. “I love how passionate the French are about the importance of eating a meal together,” says Clèmentine, “it’s all about the food! Although it’s chaotic with a toddler and a newborn we always try to sit down and have a meal together and we are lucky to have so many great French restaurants here in Dublin - l’Gueuleton is one of my favourites.”
One of the city’s most famous restaurants, there’s a reason L’Guelton’s popularity never fades. The restaurant serves up classics such as French onion soup, croque monsieur, and moules frites, while its rabbit bourguignon is a cult favourite among Dublin’s francophiles!
If you’re after something a little more low-key, Chez Max at Dublin Castle serves up classic French fare in a truly unique location, while La Maison and Pichet are also firm family favourites.
The all-new Renault 4 is available from €27,999*, comes with a five-year warranty and is available from Renault dealers nationwide.
For more information, click here *evolution EV40 price incorporates VRT relief and maximum SEAI Grant of €3,500 for private buyers.
