How to Spend a Day Like a Frenchman

Le Matin - The morning

Essentials: Takeaway café au lait, croissant, headphones, polo

The day starts, naturally, with le café. Usually an espresso or café au lait at a café table, preferably accompanied by a croissant, but today he takes his coffee with him and walks through the waking city wearing Manchester trousers, a black polo, and sleek leather shoes.

There is no reason to rush. He strolls through the busy streets on his way to work, coffee in hand. In his headphones: Françoise Hardy, then Serge Gainsbourg, then Sébastien Tellier.

L’Après-Midi – The afternoon​

Essentials: Le Monde, book, baguette and market bag, shirt

The afternoon leaves room for flâner: walking without much of a destination or any particular need to get somewhere quickly. Evening blazer, white shirt looking sharp yet relaxed. A pair of Paraboots on his feet and wide trousers.

He stops on a park bench to catching up on the latest news in Le Monde, browses a bookshop and wanders into a neighbourhood store or vintage shop simply because it happens to be there. On the way, a visit to the marché: cheese, flowers and whatever looks good enough to bring home for later. He passes the regular boulangerie along the way, a baguette comes with him. There is always room for a baguette.

The point is not necessarily to accomplish anything. Quite the opposite.

La soirée - The evening​

Essentials: Physical map, wine glass, cheese, blazer, and a trench

Before dinner comes l’heure de l’apéro. A glass of something tasteful, olives, charcuterie or a few small bites while the evening slowly begins from todays marché.

He has somewhere to go, but Google Maps can wait. Checks the street signs and takes a turn down a narrow side street. Shoes against cobblestones, map folded back into his pocket.

Dinner starts late, and nobody seems particularly concerned about when it will end. The food is simple, but the meal itself is allowed to take time. Cheese, naturally, and dessert is not really up for negotiation.

And when dinner is over, the evening doesn't necessarily end. Put on the trench to keep the French fall weather out. One last stop at the bar before heading home.