STYLE
Timeless style inspired by French women and essential pieces for a French-chic wardrobe all your own
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This story could simply list the French wardrobe essentials that I see French women wear in Paris while exuding that “je ne sais quoi”—sipping an apéritif on Boulevard Saint-Germain or popping a warm baguette in their tote at the neighborhood boulangerie.
But beyond blazers and button-ups, the essence of creating a French wardrobe is knowing that French women follow certain style principles yet still create a style that is unique to them.
French Style Principles
- French Women Ignore Trends
- Less is More
- Wear Color and Pattern Sparingly
- Practical Footwear is Chic
- French Style Combines Casual and Elevated Items
Traveling to Paris in Spring? 🌷
Read my guide to easy stylish outfits.
Building a French Wardrobe
Each of us is unique — our shape, our complexion, and what we feel good in, differs. French women understand this and find the styles that work best for them. With those in mind, they invest in quality French wardrobe pieces that can be worn season after season, without overly concerning themselves with trends. Here are some key pieces.
- Button-Up Shirt
- Cargidan (un Gilet)
- Trench Coat
- Blazer
- Striped Breton Shirt
- Shirtdress
- Classic Denim
- Loafers
- Ballet Flats
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For those of us who aren’t French, following the style principles that French women follow enables us to wear classic pieces and still create a French style that is uniquely ours. And isn’t that the fun of fashion? Using it to express ourselves in a way that feels creative and authentic to who we are.
A little more about the five principles of French style:
1. French Women Ignore Trends
French women know that style is not synonymous with the latest trends. The odd trendy piece is fun, but French women think of those as accents to a thoughtfully curated wardrobe of classics.
TIP: Rather than think about what’s in right now, think about what’s been in forever.
2. Less is More
French women wear less makeup, less jewelry, less accessories. Just, less. Think simple and minimal when it comes to jewelry for example — small earrings and a bracelet, or a necklace but no earrings.
The same goes for makeup. French women might wear a bright red lip, always chic, but will rarely wear a lot of eyeshadow. Makeup is meant to accentuate natural beauty rather than cover it in product.
Nails are usually short and you will rarely see a French woman with false nails. They put effort into keeping their own nails well cared for. They often wear clear or neutral polish.
3. French Women Wear Color and Pattern Sparingly
Unless they participate in Paris fashion week, many French women wear color and pattern as accents, rather than a head-to-toe statement. In cool weather, it might be a gorgeous silk scarf, or one tonal item such as a blush blouse, a mustard blazer or rust pants. In summer, they may add more color and some pattern, but balance it with neutrals. An exception would be a dress with some pattern, which is nice in summer.
I love neutrals and they are usually what I pack for Paris, but sometimes I want to wear something with some color or pattern. I think the easiest way to do that is to combine the patterned piece with a neutral, and my favorite French style neutral is black. It’s just as appropriate on a hot summer day as it is for a December holiday soirée. White works equally well, especially in warmer weather.
In the photo above I combined black and pattern. My tweed trousers are by one of my favorite French brands, Soeur. You can see more of my French favorites in: Affordable French Clothing Brands.
4. Practical Footwear is French Chic
Un petit quiz: What’s the one thing as important to French woman as looking chic? If you guessed “feeling comfortable” you are practically French.
You will very rarely see French women wear high heels in Paris because it’s a city for walking and has lots of charming and uneven cobblestones. I’ve heard Parisians say when they have friends visit from other fashion-focused cities like London, they have to remind them to leave their 4-inch heels at home.
What does that mean for us? There are many lovely flat styles that translate into creating great outfits and being comfortable. Get creative with flats with pretty embellishments for example. You can find more footwear inspiration in Best Shoes for Paris.
5. The Golden Rule of French Style
The style secret of French women seems to be that feeling comfortable, literally and figuratively, is at the heart of how they dress. That means feeling good in your clothes as well as in your skin with items that are well-made, flattering, and comfortable. Practically speaking, this casual-chic style is often achieved by mixing casual, affordable pieces with more tailored items. It’s not about things being overly precious or fancy.
Feeling good in our clothing can extend to ourselves; I think that’s the ultimate style lesson we can take from French women.
French Wardrobe Essential Pieces
Here are the seven wardrobe essentials with some options for shopping, if you are in need of some French flair for your wardrobe.
A Trench Coat
Paris gets rain in all seasons and a classic trench coat is a French wardrobe essential that works with every outfit.
I am wearing Sézane’s Scott Trench above which I bought on a recent trip to Paris. It’s a little pricey but the quality is incredible compared to MANY others I tried on before I decided. I also love their Clyde Trench; it comes in many colors. It’s slightly oversized and doesn’t have a tie at the waist.
Everlane’s Modern Trench, is also a classic style, and a similar price point. If you want to venture away from the classic tan, the beech is nice.
For a budget pick consider the Quince Comfort Stretch Long Trench. (It also comes in a shorter version). Although I haven’t tried this on, I own many Quince items and find the quality usually excellent for the price.
Classic Cotton Button-Up Shirt
I recently saw a photo of the French-style icon Inès de La Fressange in Paris looking simple and chic in off-white pants and a long-sleeved oxford shirt in blue. I am channeling her at the Rodin Musée above.
A classic cotton shirt works year-round and will never go out of style. In spring and summer, it looks great with tailored shorts or a skirt, or can even be worn open as a swimsuit cover-up. In the fall, add a pretty scarf and a trench coat. In winter it’s nice under a crewneck sweater.
My favorite “affordable” oxford is by Boden: the Sienna Cotton Shirt. It comes in 20+ colors and patterns. The color Blue Oxford is similar to mine. Boden’s cotton is wonderful quality, very soft and an ideal weight. And Boden is part of the Better Cotton Initiative, a system that supports more sustainable cotton production.
All Year Round also does a nice job of their classic button-up shirt, The Deep End. My other favorite, also affordable, is the Everlane Must-Have Oxford.
On a budget? You can’t beat the Organic Cotton Relaxed Oxford, by Quince.
I also like washable silk as a French classic. Above I paired a navy washable silk button down with trouser jeans and sneakers. A scarf would have been a nice touch but it was unseasonably hot that day.
Splurge pick: I have a button-up shirt by Toteme and the fit and fabric are gorgeous. Note, that Toteme is Danish and so the sizing is European (32 is a US 2, 36 is a US 6, 40 is US 10, etc.) Toteme also makes a gorgeous classic White Poplin Shirt.
A Tailored Blazer
A chic blazer is my favorite French style essential because it works with so many things — jeans and trousers during the day, and with a dress or skirt in the evening.
For that reason, they are great for travel (I always take one with me to Paris). I find black and navy the most versatile. Above, I am wearing a black blazer by Tahari, which worked well for fall.
The French brand Sézane makes gorgeous blazers. I love their double-breasted styles like the Christie Jacket. The camel is beautiful.
My new favorite are blazers by Aritzia. I think they are great quality for the price! I purchased the Producer Blazer because it is a slightly longer cut which I find more versatile and it comes in many gorgeous colors.
My “investment” blazers are by Smythe, a Toronto-based brand that is a favorite of Catherine, Princess of Wales. I also love Veronica Beard blazers. They are expensive, but they look fantastic and are made to last. I find they run a little small.
Classic French Cardigan (un gilet)
A well-made cardigan, a gilet in French, will be one of your hardest working French wardrobe basics. It can be layered over a t-shirt or button-up, or worn on its own. Tucked or untucked, I wear them with denim, trousers, skirts and dresses. I am wearing the Sezane Gaspard with the buttons at the black. Classic colors are black, grey, ecru and camel (shown here). The brighter colors are also lovely and would make a nice accent in spring or summer, but I prefer neutral colors to build a French wardrobe.
I recently splurged on the Clara Cardigan from Reformation. The quality and fit are excellent. (You can see photos in my post, Outfits for Paris in Spring.
Quince has lovely budget-friendly cashmere cardigan in many colors. Less than $80!
Striped Breton Shirts and Sweaters
Striped shirts, known as the Breton or marinière in France, have become a symbol of Parisian style and a French wardrobe classic. What began as a part of the French navy uniform, was transformed in 1917 when fashion designer Coco Chanel introduced it as a part of her nautical-themed collection.
She was inspired by items worn by working-class people and saw the marinière as both stylish and practical.
A striped marinière can be worn year-round, depending on the style and fabric. These are widely available at many price points. The classic French choice is the Saint James Authentic Breton Stripe Shirt. It also comes in a Breton Men’s (Unisex) that is considered a “Boyfriend” fit for women.
I have a striped tee for spring and summer, a long-sleeved striped marinière for spring and fall (above photo), and a striped cotton sweater that I wear in three seasons — the Leontine Jumper also by Paris-based Sézane. (Note they have US-based distribution and returns are seamless!)
I also like The Modern Long Tee, by Kule, made in Portugal of lightweight cotton. It comes in a few color combinations: the cream and navy is the classic choice.
A Shirtdress
A shirtdress is so versatile and I especially love them for summer travel. It can be worn day or evening, with boots or flats, and you’ll always look put together.
It’s universally flattering and comfy; it accents our waist and flows easily over the hips. And for many of us, a little coverage on our arms is also welcome. Choose a shorter or longer style depending on the season and how much leg you want to show.
I am wearing a J.Crew linen shirtdress (above) from last season. For an affordable classic, the Quince Washable Silk Midi comes in several chic colors. I have their washable silk blouse (shown above) and it’s been great — cold water wash; hang to dry. If you want to splurge, the Rory by Frank & Eileen is a beautiful dress.
Tuckernuck’s Chloe dress is a more structured option. Lovely. Tuckernuck has wonderful dresses.
Classic French Denim
You may already own the perfect pair of jeans to embrace French style. Since French women don’t jump on denim trends they most often wear straight jeans in a medium or dark wash. A slightly wider bottom that looks like a trouser is also popular. No ultra skinny, extra faded or ripped jeans. As with everything else, French-style denim is classic style, which will allow you to mix it endlessly with a combination of sweaters, shirts, tees and blazers, for years to come. In summer, you could go with a lighter denim.
I like the denim at Everlane. I have the Way-High Jean and have worn it several times in Paris. I prefer a darker denim color like the vintage Indigo. Note they comes in two rises (lengths). I went with the shorter. I am 5’6″ and long-waisted.
I also really like the denim at Reformation. Although it’s pricier the quality is great. I own two trouser-style pairs (one I am wearing in the photo above). The current style similar to mine is the Bex Stretch High Rise Wide Leg. I love a slightly wide-leg and a trouser-style jean because it is easy to dress it up. Another classic
Quince is a great affordable option. Specifically the Bella Wide-Leg Stretch. It’s easy to dress up.
French Loafers
If I had to pick one pair of shoes as a French wardrobe essential, shoes that are chic, comfortable and versatile, I think it’s a classic loafer. They are the first pair of shoes I pack for every trip to Paris, and usually the ones I wear the most.
Pictured above, I am wearing the Gucci, Jordaan Bit Loafer. (Yes Gucci is Italian; you got me on a technicality). They are a huge splurge and a purchase I considered for several years before I finally bought them. They are as beautiful as I expected and buttery soft; I walked all over Paris in them.
There are many lower-priced options in a similar style including Sam Edelman, the Loraine, available in many colors. BUDGET PICK: Quince has a similar version for $80! Three colors. Women’s Italian Leather Horsebit Loafer.
If you happen to be shopping for loafers in Paris, I recommend the French brand Bobbies. They have some gorgeous loafers and multiple locations.
Ballet Flats
Ballet flats are a timeless and practical French wardrobe staple. Since Karl Lagerfeld debuted the Chanel two-toned beauty almost 40 years ago, French women have worn them religiously, with everything from jeans to dresses and trousers. I wear ballet flats on every trip to Paris (except the dead of winter). I love that they are lightweight and comfy, the most practical shoe to pack.
I suggest ballet flats with some structure and arch support. In the above photo I am wearing a favorite pair of Cole Haan ballet flats from a few years ago. They are similar in color to the classic by Chanel, with a black cap toe. Here are two similar options: Tory Burch Cap Toe Ballet.
On my wishlist is The Demi Flat by Margaux (I love the navy). They are handmade in Spain, very comfy and beautiful. I tried them on a trip to New York but didn’t purchase them because I didn’t want to carry extra shoes around all day — I wish I had. Also gorgeous, their Fonteyn style.
Another chic and affordable option is the Day Ballet Flat by Everlane.
LOAFERS
And for a classic loafer style I like the Sam Edelman Loraine, and Quince has a great affordable option: the Italian Leather Horsebit.
I hope these French wardrobe ideas have inspired you to both work with what you have, and invest in some classic pieces that you will feel good in for years to come. Whether it’s for a dream trip to Paris or because you are tired of buying mediocre clothes that don’t last, any of us can embrace French style in a way that feels uniquely our own.
À Bientôt! (See you soon)
Packing for Paris with French Wardrobe Pieces
There’s an added bonus to looking chic in a French-style wardrobe: these pieces are great for travel because they are so versatile. When packing for Paris I start with a neutral palette, such as navy and white, and add perhaps one accent color. That allows me to pack lighter for a trip to France, or anywhere else, because I can mix and match my French wardrobe items to create multiple outfits (known as a capsule wardrobe).
If you are traveling to Paris this spring, I’ve written a guide to Easy, Stylish Outfits for Spring in Paris.
Traveling with a carry-on only? Check out my Autumn Capsule Wardrobe and Spring Capsule Wardrobe, both great for travel. And my guide to Shoes for Paris (or to achieve that classic French “je ne sais quoi” at home) expands on the shoes I discussed here.
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