OK, so they invented the word. The one now used the world over to describe a look that is elegant, yet sassy; effortless, yet so carefully thought out.

But surely you don't have to be French to be chic? What about the beautifully dressed Italians? And Hollywood's finest know how to put on a show when it comes to style. Are we Brits really any further behind?

Now that the St Pancras Eurostar link has sliced the travelling time between Sheffield and the French capital to five and a half hours, a spot of shopping in Paris is now within the South Yorkshire fashionista's reach.

But do the French think we're going to let this side of the Channel down when we get there? Is that why Eurostar had sent French Vogue's veteran fashion editor Barbara Baumel to Meadowhall?

"No, no," laughs Barbara. "Actually I think the British have their own style and they do it very well. You mix lots of things, you love your flower prints and your hats.

"But it is very different to the French way of dressing and I am here to show shoppers how to give their wardrobes that dash of French chic – and hopefully entice them over to the fashion shops of Paris."

When it comes to style, Barbara knows what she's talking about. She has worked with some of the greatest names in French fashion. Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Louis Vuitton... the names trip of her delightfully accented tongue.

Along with dozens of women cruising the malls, I've been singled out by Barbara for a lesson in French dressing.

She gestures to a trunk crammed with clothes and accessories, all French, nearly all designer.

This is tres, tres bon. I've never touched a piece of Balenciaga before. The nearest I've ever got to Dior was a foundation. And to YSL, a perfume.

Alors.. not a beret to be seen, though.

What do you think? Post your comment below.

Barbara throws back her mane of chestnut hair and laughs: "If you see a woman wearing a beret in Paris, she will be a foreigner.

"Basically, there are four different ways that French women dress," she explains.

The first is Couture, which is the look of Catherine Deneuve. It's very clean, sharp and sexy with lots of black and only a few bold accessories.

The second is called St Germain – think Charlotte Gainsbourg. "We also call this look Bourjois Boheme. It's quite boyish, with twists of vintage and eccentricity," says Barbara.

Then there's Artistic, a look favoured by underground actresses. It mixes ethnic with rock and couture, street and army trends. It's individualistic – and the closest to our Kate's boho look.

Last but not least is the look with a name I can't pronounce. "Be-Ce, Be-Ge," purrs Barbara. The initials stand for Bon Chic, Bon Genre – which translates as chic and good style.

While Barbara talks, I struggle to work out which look Barbara follows.

I'm clueless; everything she's wearing is black – right down to her platformed patent peep toes.
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