I Tried the “French Girl Aesthetic” for a Week—Here’s What I Wore

A challenge to wear a week of French-inspired outfits? Say less, I’m in! French style has always captivated me with its effortless, slightly undone vibes, to the perfect balance of masculine and feminine silhouettes. There’s no easy way to describe why it works, which is why we’re always writing about it and working to break down that “je ne sais quoi“. But as much as you can theorize about it, sometimes actions speak louder than words! These are the 7 French-inspired outfits I put together this week to get a little taste of Paris in the Midwest.

1. Work from Home

Shop Similar: tights | heels | pants | cardigan | button-down

Mondays are a fresh start to the week, and the perfect time to plan an outfit that makes you a little more motivated to start your week off on the right foot. I grew up wearing a school uniform, so it’s always been ingrained in me that if you dress nicely, you’ll be more productive! That’s why I like to occasionally dress up, even just to work from home. And yes, I do still believe this works to take your productivity to the next level!

The key to styling the perfect work-from-home look is to feel put-together, but still comfortable. One of my favorite swaps to make when I’m working from home instead of the office is to trade out traditional trousers for a pair of satin black pants. Satin pants manage to capture that easy Parisian chic vibe that I’m going for this week – they’re effortless with a comfy elastic waistband, but feel luxurious and sophisticated due to the fabric and soft drape.

On top, I like to balance out a traditionally masculine button-down shirt with a feminine, cozy cardigan, in true French style. And if I were going into the office, the only additions I might make would be wearing tights or hose and a pair of black heels to finish the look. The cherry on top? A pair of fun glasses, whether they’re prescription or blue light. Parisian women love adding personality to their look with a statement pair of frames!

2. Coffee Break

Parisians have mastered artful layering – which is perfect when that November chill hits in the Midwest. A super cold day called for warming up with a hot chocolate. And even though I usually go for black coffee or an espresso, a hot cocoa felt right when the wind was crazy and we woke up to snow flurries on the ground.

French women take advantage of their wardrobe building blocks when they’re putting together layered looks. A chic outfit doesn’t have to call for expensive designer pieces or the latest trends. Instead, Parisians rely on their tried-and-true staples to put together interesting looks.

This outfit isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it still looks put-together and stylish for a coffee shop date! Ankle boots, a gray sweater layered over a white t-shirt, a wool coat, and a mini skirt with sheer tights are all it takes to recreate the look. And if a mini skirt isn’t really your style, just go for a longer version instead. I promise, it will look just as chic!

The finishing touch is a suede bag. While many Parisians favor neutral looks, especially during the colder seasons, they do like to play around with proportions and textures to make their outfits more interesting. A chocolate brown suede bag was the perfect nod to the fall season.

3. To the Office

sweater | tights | skirt (similar) | bag | boots (similar)

While styling French-inspired outfits this week, it only felt right to pull some of my favorite pieces from Parisian-founded brand Sézane. After all, Sézane is known for its effortlessly cool French girl basics, from trench coats to bags to ballet flats.

When it comes to timeless style, Sézane’s staples can’t be beat! One of their most popular offerings is their sweaters. They have a wide variety of classic knits to choose from, but their Othello style has to be one of the softest. It’s a little bit slouchy and has just the right amount of detail. For a chilly November day at the office, it was the ideal piece to pair with brown tights, tall boots, and a plaid mini skirt. I just can’t get enough of olive green this season, and it was just the pop of color I needed for this otherwise neutral look.

Another French brand you can spy in this look is Longchamp. This large Longchamp Le Pliage might just be the best work bag I’ve ever had, and it’s the perfect size for my large laptop. I love how easy it is to wipe clean, and the bag itself is surprisingly sturdy, even with how lightweight it actually is.

4. Lunch with a Friend

Parisian style might incorporate a lot of neutrals, but French women also love their colorful details – especially during the colder months. Accessories are a popular way to do this, which is why a red triangle scarf was the perfect finishing touch for this lunch date look.

Underneath my Mac coat (a simplified version of the trench we all know and love), I kept things pretty simple with a few classic pieces: a cream cable knit sweater, a black mini skirt, and sheer tights. As for footwear, a pair of t-strap loafers felt just right for this slightly preppy outfit idea. Parisians love shoes that are as comfortable as they are chic, and loafers fit the bill perfectly. Plus, loafers are so versatile. They’re easy to dress down with a pair of denim and a striped top, or dress up with a look like this for a trip to the café on my lunch break.

5. Casual Friday

shirt | vest | jeans | shoes

French fashion tends to be a little more elevated than what most of us wear on a regular basis in the United States. Instead of leggings and athleisure, their go-to casual styling relies more heavily on classic denim. But all denim is not created equal! You’ll rarely spot French women in jeans covered in holes or rips. Instead, they opt for clean styles with little to no embellishments.

Parisians are the perfect inspiration for casual Friday looks, as they seem to have mastered that line of putting together outfits that are just the right amount of undone, but that still look put-together. Just the kind of vibe I was going for this casual Friday! In the spirit of classic French style, I reached for a pair of medium-wash jeans paired with a white button-down and a sweater vest. If sweater vests aren’t your vibe, a black blazer is another great alternative.

As for footwear, I brought my t-strap loafers back out for this look. A low-profile pair of penny loafers would also look great with this outfit idea. And for the final accessory, a gold bracelet watch adds just the right amount of shine while also being practical for the workday.

6. Shopping Day

suede jacket (similar) | ankle boots | cashmere tee | jeans (similar)

I finally started my holiday shopping this weekend and pulled one of my favorite outfits from my fall rotation. French girls love to style a cool jacket, and a suede style might just be the perfect piece for this time of year! I found this one at a vintage store a few years back, but thankfully, there are plenty of similar styles you can shop right now, both real and faux, to get the same vibe.

Underneath, I went with a cashmere t-shirt from Quince. A regular cotton tee would also work just fine, but I like the extra texture and softness that a cashmere tee provides. On the bottom, wide-leg denim was a natural choice for a French-inspired outfit! Wide-leg jeans and straight-leg denim are probably the most popular picks by the French.

For accessories, I kept things pretty minimal with a gold watch and small gold huggie hoops in addition to a chocolate brown suede tote. Leopard print boots were the finishing touch!

7. Church and Brunch

A typical Sunday for me usually involves three things: church, coffee, and brunch. The last day of the week is all about resetting for the week ahead, so I also like to fill it with a hobby or two, a bit of light cleaning, and easy dinners. For a relaxed fall Sunday, I went with a plaid coat by Avec Les Filles (the temperature is dropping quickly here), knee-high boots, jeans, and a cardigan.

French women aren’t afraid to reach for a patterned coat, especially if it’s neutral. Plaid, stripes, leopard… these are all perfect examples of jackets you can style that still fit in with a classic French capsule wardrobe.

7 Days of French-Inspired Outfits

Whenever you’re in a bit of a styling funk, choosing a theme for your week is a fun way to mix things up! Whether you go with French-inspired outfits or a different vibe altogether, having a mental moodboard of the aesthetic you’re going for can help you plan looks ahead of time that you’re actually excited to wear. And having your outfits planned out in advance makes the rest of your week that much smoother!

Want more outfit ideas to help plan out your week? We’ve done the hard work for you! Up Next: 7 Fall Outfits to Wear This Week — No Endless Pinterest Scrolling Needed