Parisienne

Parisienne is the feminine form of Parisien, the French demonym for a resident of Paris. In English, Parisienne denotes a woman from Paris or, more broadly, a cultural ideal associated with the city. The masculine form is Parisien, and the feminine plural is Parisiennes.

Historically, the term has been used to convey a Parisian urban identity—often linked to the city’s arts, fashion, and café culture. In fashion and popular culture, Parisienne chic refers to a style that emphasizes understated elegance, quality tailoring, and a cosmopolitan sensibility rather than ostentation. The stereotype presents a Parisienne as self-assured, worldly, and effortlessly stylish, though real-world variation is wide and not all Parisiennes conform to the trope. The term also appears in literature, film, and marketing to evoke Parisian atmosphere or femininity tied to the city.

In French usage, Parisienne is simply the feminine noun for a woman from Paris. It can also appear as the title or motif La Parisienne in works of art and media, signaling Parisian identity. The concept remains a mutable cultural reference rather than a fixed profile, reflecting changing fashions and demographics within the city.