The Real Chic Life

First, I’m excited to announce the winner of our Sephora giveaway- Sheila Ressel! Please see the original giveaway post for more information. We’ll be announcing our next giveaway on Tuesday! Now on to one of my favorite French brands- Rouje Paris. I first discovered Rouje on Instagram. Their cute ads featuring a diverse array of women at all stages of life (including motherhood) wearing feminine, vintage-inspired clothing really drew me in. I learned that the brand was founded by Parisian “It Girl” Jeanne Damas, and her impeccable style quickly became a source of fashion inspiration for me. Her personal style is a masterclass in effortless yet chic dressing, and she’s done an excellent job of translating her aesthetic to Rouje. Think chic blazers with jeans, timeless wrap dresses, and figure hugging silhouettes with feminine prints. Rouje also offers accessories and beauty products. They have multiple stores in France and one in New York, in addition to their website. If you’re a fan of other French brands like Sézane, you might enjoy Rouje as well. I think Rouje does spring and summer collections particularly well. Many of their items do fall in the investment/splurge category for most of us and there can be some variation in fabric and fit, so if you’re looking for a guide to help you shop strategically, here are my honest thoughts on some of the dresses I’ve tried from Rouje. I’ll cover tops and skirts in a later post.

The Gabin Dress– The Gabin dress is the style that really put Rouje on the map. It’s a celeb and influencer favorite, and was even featured in the last James Bond film (pictured above). This dress is a midi length wrap dress with a five button closure and waist tie. It features a low v-neckline and short, gathered sleeves. Because this is their most iconic style, Rouje releases the Gabin dress in various prints every season. I first purchased the Gabin a few years ago in a red floral print. What I love about this dress is its versatility—It’s a great capsule wardrobe piece because it is so easy to dress up or down. I wore this dress for dates with my husband and walking around the city. That print was made out of a viscose fabric and unlined. I didn’t mind that the dress was unlined because it made the style feel light and breezy and it had enough design details to still feel like a well-made piece. I did feel like it ran a little small though, especially in the hip area. The low v-neckline and subtle slit also make this a dress that doesn’t work well for modest occasions unless you have the neckline pinned or altered. Last year I purchased another Gabin in white with pink and red flowers. On this version the skirt was lined. And the sizing had been adjusted to a more true to size fit. Overall I think the Gabin dress is a wardrobe hero that’s likely to garner a lot of compliments. This style has been replicated by other brands, but if you can splurge on the original I’d say go for it.

The Gabinette Dress– The Gabinette dress is the mini version of the Gabin. I purchased this one in a navy floral print (pictured above) and got a lot of use out of it. This mini length makes the dress more casual, and I was able to throw on sandals or white sneakers and a denim jacket on chillier spring/summer outings with my kids. The style and pretty floral print made me feel put together. I love both the Gabin and the Gabinette, but if your lifestyle involves a lot of casual outings and you don’t mind the mini length, you may get more use out of the Gabinette as well. This one fit true to size. It’s currently available with long sleeves. The short sleeve versions will probably return this spring.

The Daria Dress– When I first put the Daria dress on, there was a bit of a learning curve. The tie at the bust affects the length of the straps and the overall fit of the bodice. Once I got it tied to my liking, the Daria dress quickly became my favorite dress from Rouje. I’ll admit it’s not the most substantional dress of all time (another unlined style) but the silhouette is incredibly flattering. I saw someone describe it as the kind of dress you can easily toss into your bag. It’s also another piece that’s easy to dress up or down depending on the color and fabric you choose. I got this one in a classic navy polka dot that I love and later snagged a blue floral print during one of their archive sales. Rouje released the Daria in a red print (pictured above) that looks amazing for evening events and I wish I had purchased that one instead of another floral. Sizing for this dress can vary based on the print, so pay attention to the sizing recomendations on the product listing. They usually advise to size down for the Daria, and going down one size has worked fine for me.

The Ines Dress– The Ines dress is a short sleeve midi dress with a gathered chest detail. I think it’s the perfect special occassion dress for events that are semi-formal. The silhouette is fitted and very flattering. I got this one in a berry colored silk, and wore it to my anniversary dinner. I could also see myself wearing it to a semi-formal wedding. This one fit true to size.

The Dana Dress– The Dana dress was love at first sight but sadly this one didn’t work out for me. I love this lingerie inspired slip dress silhouette, and the gorgeous trim at the neckline. It was previously released in a lovely rose pink shade and I was heartbroken when I discovered it was sold out. I stocked this dress on Poshmark and Ebay with no luck. Then it re-appeared during an archives sale, and I purchased immediately. But when the dress arrived I found that the cups at the bust were way too small for my size D chest and I returned it. The rest of the dress fit true to size and it felt substantial and well-made, so ladies with smaller cup sizes may have better luck.

The Fauve Dress– The Fauve Dress is another style that I wanted to love, but it didn’t work out for me. It’s a sleeveless midi dress with a button closure down the front and a tie in the back. This dress is light but very flattering, and gave me the perfect casual, but put together vibe. I purchased it in my normal size and when I received the dress, it was actually too large in the bust/arm area. I exchanged it for a smaller size. The couple of times that I wore it, I received compliments, but I had a major issue with one of the buttons. It kept coming undone, which may have been a fit issue, but I already knew that a bigger size wouldn’t work for me either. Overall due to the fit issues this is a style I’d pass on in the future, but I do love the vintage inspired silhouette. It’s currently sold out but may return in the spring.

The Gabina Dress– This dress is identical to the Gabin, but without sleeves. I was excited to try this style because it looks like a gorgeous piece for daytime events. The product description advised shoppers to size down, so I went down one size. When I tried it on I discovered that the dress was too small (I think the fit may be slightly small in general, like the original Gabins) so I should have taken my normal size. When I returned it my size was sold out. Because I am a fan of the Gabin in all of its variations, this is a style I would probably try again. It’s also sold out but may return in the spring/summer.

Those are my honest thoughts on all of the dresses I’ve tried from Rouje Paris. While some people may not like the use of synthetic fabrics and unlined styles, I have noticed that they are producing more dresses with natural fibers like silk and I appreciate that the dresses feel lightweight and breezy. I do wish the brand was more size inclusive, and also that returns were easier (there is a return shipping cost) but overall this is a brand that I love for their thoughtful collections that really stick to their aesthetic- French, feminine, and effortless. I’m excited to see their upcoming spring and summer collections.

If you’ve tried Rouje, what are your favorite pieces? If you’re new to this brand I’d love to hear your thoughts too, are there any styles you’d like to try?

Xo,

Courtney