What To Wear in France’s Waterways

Listen to me carefully: do not pack a Breton top. Sure, you might have an image of yourself as Jean Seberg, but as you cruise through the rural French countryside, you will stick out like Emily in Paris. A voyage on Les Bateaux Belmond through the gently stirring waterways of the French countryside, with stops at Michelin-starred restaurants and wine-and-cheese pairings at sunset, is all about relaxed elegance à la française. This is, I repeat, not Paris Fashion Week.

This is the heartland of discreet chic, where idle days are spent relaxing with a good book and a glass of wine, as a light breeze tenderly resets your nervous system. It’s important to be comfortable on a boat, which is what no one ever tells you. Think lightweight linen shirts, a classic pair of blue jeans, triple-ply cashmere sweaters and minimally branded accessories. The idea is to look like you’re not trying. 

The French even came up with a word for it: insouciance. You’ll want to be relaxed enough for an impromptu picnic on a riverbank and elegant enough to pass as a connoisseur at a private wine tasting amidst the vines. And, like a good wine, it’s all about great taste – not over-the-top opulence. This is a grown-up trip for those who enjoy the finer things in life, not just the flashiest.