If there’s one group of people who know how to do fashion, it’s the French. Home to brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès, France is known as one of the most dominant fashion epicenters of the world, and for good reason. So how do you emulate the classic French style clothing look? Here are a few key pieces (as well as helpful fashion tips!) you need to add to your wardrobe collection to do this successfully and stylishly! The best part? It’s easier than you think.
How to Nail a Classic French Style Clothing Look
1. Opt for Simple, Gold Jewelry Pieces
Pendant necklaces and classic hoops are items you’ll find in almost every French woman’s wardrobe. Oversized, statement jewelry is usually not the norm for a French woman, as they prefer to accessorize subtly. These pieces are extremely versatile and worth investing in because you’ll wear them again and again throughout all seasons!
Sézane, a French brand, makes high-quality pieces and they are a perfect place to start if you’re looking to invest in your staple pieces. Shop French, look French.
Throw on your gold hoops or gold necklace (or silver if that suits your skin tone better) for that perfect finishing touch to your outfit, whether it’s with a sweater in the fall, a white shirt in the spring, or a white blouse in the summer season.
Related: How To Build a Jewelry Collection: 11 Must-Have Timeless Pieces
2. Aim for Perfectly Undone
Keep things perfectly messy. Meaning? Don’t try to look perfect if you’re aiming for a French girl style! A pristine pressed shirt, makeup perfectly contoured, and hair so slick and smooth that makes you look unapproachable is not the goal.
Embrace tousled hair, a few flyaways, an oversized shirt, and jeans not perfectly cuffed. You want to look good without trying too hard. Stylish without looking like you spent hours on your appearance. That is the French way!
3. Consider Adding a Beret Hat to Your Wardrobe
Cliche? Perhaps. But you can’t have a complete classic French-style clothing look without a beret hat in your wardrobe! I especially love these hats because they’re easy and adorable to style at any time of the year.
In the fall or winter season, opt for a black or neutral-colored beret to wear with a long trench coat and boots. Once spring has sprung? Push your style boundaries with a light-colored or pastel beret, such as beige or pink, and pair it with your favorite dress. The options are truly endless!
If you want to take the styling a step further, try playing with different hairstyles to sport under the beret. You could try tying your hair into a low messy bun, twisting it into two braids that hang effortlessly out of your hat, or wearing your hair down with loose waves. It doesn’t get more Parisian-inspired than that!
4. Focus on Good and Natural Skincare
When you think of French girls, it may be the fashion that comes to mind and not so much beauty and skincare, but a good skincare routine is just as important to French women…if not more!
After all, you only get one body and one face, and healthy skin is a big key to aging gracefully. And no, focusing on “good” skincare doesn’t mean you have to have a 10-step skincare routine. Curious about what a typical skincare routine is as well as what products French women use? Here is The French Girl Beauty Guide for Effortlessly Beautiful Skin.
5. Fill Your Wardrobe With Neutrals
You’ll tend to see bold colors, crazy prints, and tie-dye lounge sets way more in America than you would in France. To nail that classic French-style clothing, it’s a good idea to fill up your wardrobe with neutrals!
Does this mean that French women never wear color? Non! Of course, I can’t speak for every French woman on the planet, but when one does decide to wear a bold color, it’s typically balanced out with neutrals to still achieve that bold yet tasteful look.
Related: 45 Fall Parisian Street Style Outfits That You’ll Want To Add to Your Outfit Rotation ASAP
6. Replace Nude Tights with Black Tights
Nude tights are not fooling anyone! Instead of trying to match your skin tone and make it appear as if you aren’t wearing tights, just own the fact that you are and opt for opaque or barely there tights.
It is way more alluring and stylish because nothing says French-inspired fashion like tights under a frock or even a pair of shorts. Tights, paired with a pair of black heels, loafers, clogs, or even sneakers will complete your outfit of the day. While designer tights (like the infamous Gucci ones) are lovely and recognizable, you don’t need to spend a fortune.
7. Wear a Puff Sleeve Blouse in the Warm Weather
Another warm-weather fashion staple for a classic French style wardrobe is a puff sleeve blouse. The whimsical silhouette will make you look like you just stepped out of a summer vacation in Nice, France!
The puff sleeves add a head-turning dimension to any outfit and give off that subtle stylish statement that the French know how to do so well. Whether you opt for a long-sleeve button-up or a cropped summer top, the puff sleeves can work for almost any occasion. These are typically paired with jeans, midi skirts, and denim shorts. Throw on some espadrilles or block heels and you’re good to go!
Related: The Best 12 French Summer Outfits to Wear This Year
8. Ensure Your Wardrobe Has Classic Pieces
Tailored, timeless, and classic pieces are the building blocks of any classic French style wardrobe. Where to begin? Focus on these 10 classic style essentials of Parisian women first:
- A Good Pair of Jeans (think straight-leg jeans)
- Neutral Blazer (an oversized blazer works too)
- Lightweight Sweaters
- Basic Tops (a white t-shirt is a must)
- Ankle Boots
- Ballet Flats
- A Chic Trench Coat
- White Sneakers (Veja is very popular)
- Striped Shirt (think Breton stripes by Saint James)
- White Button-down
Once you have these investment pieces, you can look into adding a leather jacket, a little black dress for special occasions, black pants, and other classic silhouettes in various neutral colors – if they fit with your personal style, of course!
Looking to put together a Parisian style ensemble without spending all the time and effort it takes to get ready? Just mix and match from your classic French wardrobe essentials! The beauty of this mini capsule wardrobe is that all of these clothing pieces pair well with each other, ensuring an effortless and polished appearance.
For example, pair your classic sweater with your straight jeans, neutral blazer, and ankle boots, and your classic French style clothing look of the day is ready to go.
Wondering what else makes up a French wardrobe? Don’t worry, I won’t leave you guessing. Get a FREE shopping list to build your French-inspired wardrobe by signing up here.
9. Mix Soft and Structured Pieces
A stylish French woman is a master at wearing the clothes and not letting them wear her. One way to do that is to mix different fashion styles, such as soft and structured.
You’ll achieve a classy and chic look when pairing a satin cami with a blazer or flowy pants with a killer jacket. This is a great way to master a unique personal style that’s key to looking like you stepped off the streets of Paris.
Related: 8 Secrets of French Style
10. All Sizes Are Welcome
No push-up bras here! French women embrace their natural size, no matter how big or small. After all, nothing is more appealing than confidence, right?
If you find yourself on the smaller end, instead of trying to force your body to be something it’s not, find some beautiful lacey bralettes and bras that make you feel confident and alluring. French women tend to tastefully leave a few buttons undone or wear a sheer shirt over a bralette as well.
11. Put All the Excessive Logos Away
France is known for its couture fashion houses, after all, so no, I’m not saying French women never wear a logo, but you don’t want to be excessive about it! I’m talking Chanel earrings, a Gucci graphic t-shirt, a Louis Vuitton bag, and Christian Louboutins all in one outfit.
More times than not, an outfit like this says, “I’m trying to show off”, and that is not how French women dress. First and foremost, buy a designer item because you like it, not because it’s trending.
And when you do wear a designer piece, try to stick to one designer for your outfit with minimal designer logos shown. You are not a walking billboard! Your focus is wearing quality pieces and timeless classics in a chic way, not trying to flaunt anything.
12. Find Your Signature Style
Is it a fragrance? Lip color? The certain way you tie your scarf? What do people remember you by? How would your friends describe you? Are you the woman who always wears leopard print? The woman who can’t leave the house unless she’s wearing heels? The woman that always has a stack of gold bangles on?
Find that thing that makes you you and own it! Yes, it’s true that French women have a set of wardrobe staples and philosophies that they follow for their Parisian fashion, but yet somehow, Paris doesn’t look like every woman was copied and pasted – there is still originality there!
Whether it’s the fact that you wear a silk scarf around your purse instead of your neck or the fact that you embrace an all-natural hairstyle, make style tweaks that embrace your unique personal style.
Classic French Style Clothing for a Guaranteed Chic Look
These 12 clothing pieces and style tips are a necessary part of a classic French style clothing look. Whether you implement one tip or all, you can’t go wrong with any of the ideas above. So say “oui oui!” to these must-have clothing items to complete your ideal French-inspired ensemble.
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Great site. Interested in the shopping guide
Thank you!
Not all sizes are welcomed in France and a hat berre is ano no!!! I am sorry
Thanks for your feedback! I interviewed Parisian women that live there to put together this post and used my own time spent there as well.