Just because you’ve been finding great inspiration from French fashion doesn’t mean you need to do a complete style overhaul and start from scratch. You can emulate the chic French girl look by paring down their favorite looks and finding the style principles at the root of their fashionable everyday wear. From balancing masculine and feminine pieces to focusing on quality over quantity, you can put a French twist on your own personal style with these helpful tips and tricks. Keep reading for more on how to put your own spin on classic French fashion.
1. Infuse your own culture or interests
Although there are plenty of well-known pieces that comprise the “French girl uniform”, French style is as much about individuality as it is about classic, capsule staples. French girls know that infusing a bit of their own personality into their looks is what elevates their style and makes it so memorable to anyone who sees them.
For instance, if you’re obsessed with the 90s, don’t be afraid to incorporate that interest into your everyday looks. Go for a denim vest paired with your favorite go-to capsule pieces. Incorporating your own culture and interests will also make you feel more confident! Plus, it makes getting dressed more fun when the outfit truly feels inspired by you, instead of just wearing a generic set of pieces that you feel like you should be wearing.
denim vest | skirt | crossbody bag | flats | sunglasses | t-shirt
2. Add a statement accessory to your look
French women love to add a statement accessory to their look. They often stick to capsule, neutral pieces, so a bold statement piece can change the entire vibe of their outfit. Because they believe in timeless, classic staples, a statement accessory is a great way for them to incorporate a trending color or style into their wardrobe without it taking up too much room in their closet or breaking the bank.
If you want to incorporate this methodology into your current style, you don’t have to limit yourself to a scarf or pair of cat-eye sunglasses. A bold pair of red ballet flats, colorful glasses, or chunky jewelry are all great ways to set your look apart and make it appear more interesting.
For my fellow lovers of a classic sweater and jeans, a colorful pair of shoes is the perfect way to add interest to our beloved outfit formula. It just goes to show that you don’t have to completely change up your style to infuse French girl inspiration into your aesthetic.
sweater | white pants | flats | bag | earrings
3. Choose elevated footwear
One of the easiest ways to elevate an outfit is by choosing classic, elegant footwear. The right pair of shoes can transform your look and make you appear more put together. If you’re utilizing a capsule wardrobe, as many French women do, a pair of shoes can also change up the aesthetic of your outfit. Swapping out your shoes is an easy, relatively inexpensive way to make your clothes feel fresh.
French women, especially Parisians, balance comfort and appearance when it comes to choosing their footwear. They often walk a lot and tend to prioritize flat shoes or a low heel. If you want to emulate how French women shop, go for classic, timeless designs. They typically aren’t choosing the latest and greatest. Instead, they go for staple styles like loafers, ballet flats, Mary Janes, slingback heels, or even a clean white pair of sneakers.
silk shirt | loafers | jeans | bag | earrings | belt
4. Mix in vintage pieces with new ones
Many French design principles can be applied to their fashion as well. If you take a look at the typical Parisian apartment, you’ll notice that they often like to layer vintage and new pieces. Just as their homes balance contemporary and antique pieces, they love to wear vintage items mixed in with new ones.
Besides the quality of vintage items and the sustainability aspect, vintage pieces often offer depth and context to your look. If you want to wear something that isn’t being sold all across the Internet, head to your local vintage or thrift shop! It doesn’t have to be a designer piece to make your look appear more expensive and interesting. And if you’re not buying anything new, try incorporating vintage-inspired pieces that you already own alongside your more modern pieces for a unique look.
t-strap flats | lady jacket | jeans | bag | earrings
5. Play with color and texture
If you want to infuse your current style with a piece of the French girl aesthetic, try playing around with color and texture. This is a low-cost way to make your outfits feel new and interesting. An outfit comprised of chic color combinations and mixed textures will feel more dynamic and unique than one that is all cotton, all linen, all satin, etc.
Try experimenting with combining unique colors and textures to add depth and dimension. Style a linen dress with a raffia bag, leather sandals, and a cotton bucket hat. Or, pair a wool sweater with a satin slip skirt, velvet flats, and a pair of crystal earrings.
white dress | sandals | bucket hat | raffia bag
6. Focus on your favorite neutrals
French girls love a neutral outfit because it can be easily created with capsule wardrobe pieces. They focus on quality pieces that will last them a long time, and that are easy to mix and match for the most wear. Therefore, their closets often prioritize a neutral palette!
The good news is, you don’t have to buy anything at all to apply this French fashion principle to your own personal style. Simply take stock of your closet and note your favorite neutral shades. Start thinking about how you can mix and match these pieces to create new looks. Or, brainstorm ideas to pair these neutral pieces with your statement ones so that your colorful accent can take the stage without overwhelming you.
lady jacket | jeans | heels | earrings | watch
7. Go for classic patterns
French women love incorporating a pattern into their outfits. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to Breton stripes to get the French girl look. Leopard print, polka dots, and plaid are all classic patterns that will have the same effect. Patterns can help to complement your neutral pieces to make your outfit more personal and more unique. Use them sparingly to emulate the French girl aesthetic, but don’t be afraid to incorporate them more often into your daily wear.
leopard print skirt | tall boots | bodysuit | earrings | sunglasses
8. Prioritize quality over quantity
I’ve already alluded to this throughout the post, but it’s worth saying again! French women truly do prioritize quality over quantity. They recognize that quality pieces will look better when worn, last longer, and be better for the environment. They also recognize that if they don’t invest in quality pieces up front, they’ll probably spend more in the long run repurchasing that piece when it inevitably starts to fall apart.
Even if you’re not as limited in closet space as a Parisian apartment owner, try to take this lesson to heart. Less truly can be more if you pay attention to fit, fabric content, and the design quality while you’re shopping. Look for pieces that have high percentages of wool, silk, satin, cotton, linen, etc. These pieces will look better on your body and feel better, too! Plus, you won’t have to keep buying new variations of them year after year – these pieces are meant to last.
sweater | shirt | jeans | flats | bag | watch
9. Don’t be afraid to go oversized
You might notice that French women love to play with proportions as another tactic to make their efforts more interesting. Although it may seem counterintuitive to what many of us are taught, oversized pieces can really elevate your style when used in the right way.
The trick to achieving this chic French style principle is balance. If you want to wear an oversized blazer, don’t go for a loose-fitting tee underneath and wide-leg trousers. Instead, balance the oversized jacket with slim silhouettes, straight-leg jeans, and a figure-hugging white tee. This will ensure that your outfit is still flattering, even with the addition of the oversized component. It will also ensure that you are wearing the outfit and not the other way around.
blazer | t-shirt | jeans | earrings | bag | flats
10. Layer in interesting ways
The weather in France can be unpredictable and fluctuate widely throughout the day. Because of this, French women often dress in light layers. It allows them to adapt to whatever Mother Nature throws at them. The day might begin cold and rainy, and then end in sunshine and high temperatures. For this reason, layers in breathable fabrics, light jackets such as trench coats, neck scarves, and flats worn with socks are all popular choices.
Choosing an interesting mix of layers can be adapted to any climate. If you live somewhere warmer, layer with cotton, linen, twill, etc. If your climate tends to be colder, try reaching for layers in cotton, wool, cashmere, silk, etc.
flats | jeans | trench | t-shirt | sweater | bag | earrings
11. Mix and match masculine and feminine energy
Another way that you can emulate French style is by balancing the masculine and feminine energy of your outfit. Historically masculine pieces and stereotypically feminine pieces create harmony in your outfit and make for an interesting look overall. If you want to breathe new life into your outfit, try this well-loved French girl strategy.
For example, pair your favorite button-down shirt with a midi skirt, mules, and pearl earrings. Or, contrast wide-leg trousers against a soft cashmere sweater and ballet flats. Your options are endless!
skirt | shirt | mules | saddle bag | earrings
French Girl Fashion at Your Fingertips
If you love French fashion, the good news is that you don’t have to reinvent your entire personal style to emulate some of their greatest looks. Dissecting their go-to outfits and analyzing these style principles will help you apply their favorite fashion tips to your own looks. And you won’t have to set foot in a clothing store. Getting to the root of French girl style will help you upgrade your own fashion this year, without a wardrobe overhaul. What’s not to love about that?
Are you looking to add a few new pieces to your wardrobe using these style principles? Up Next: How to Shop Like a French Woman to Curate a Chic Closet
