French women have been a Fashion reference for many years, representing elegance and grace. They are what we call: très chic.
Do you want to learn the secrets of how to dress like a Parisian woman and look elegant all year long with very little effort?
Maybe you’re currently after French fashion inspiration to revamp your own personal style (such as the Parisian street style that combines classic coats with elegant straight leg jeans). Or perhaps you just want to understand what the French style is about and why so many women are obsessed with the Parisian girl look, then this post is for you.
P.S. Visit my Amazon Storefront, where you will find a curated selection of elegant lifestyle products for women that range from home decor to must-have beauty care tools.
Table of Contents
Quick Intro: My HUGE Love for France
Being that my grandfather was Italian, you can say I have always had ‘’a foot in Europe”*
* rough translation of a Brazilian expression
My father was very proud of our Italian origins, and to complete the package, I now date a Roman myself for 4+ years.
But when I was 8 years old, I was introduced to Claude Monet’s art and it was love at first sight. Monet’s art speaks to my soul and I feel emotional whenever I am blessed with seeing his paintings face-to-face (I was lucky to visit Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France).
So I’ve always had this HUGE, undying love for France and everything France-related (I actually cried the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower because it was the feeling of a dream coming true).
Thankfully, I’ve had the chance to live in France for over a year in a city called Toulouse in my early twenties. Back then, I dated a French guy who spoke no English and we ate delicious baguettes and cheese, every day.
After my super popular post where I talked about how to dress like an Italian woman, I’ve decided to expand the theme into French woman’s wardrobe as well.
Today, I will share the secrets of the Parisian women’s chic style so that women all over the world can be more elegant too.
Keep reading to learn why everyone in the world is obsessed with learning the style hacks on how to dress like a Parisian woman.
(and why French fashion is so iconic for classy women).
RELATED: Fashion Mistakes Parisian Women Will Never Make
Alors, on commence?
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What is The French Girl Style?
When thinking about the classic French girl look, we immediately think of red accents, stripes, slip-printed dresses (such as flowers or polka dots), cardigans, and midi skirts.
There is a reason why Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Parisians’ style has been envied and imitated for decades (and for a great reason).
For that reason, French women love wearing timeless pieces in neutral tones. I can bet you’ll always find items such as a trench coat, a simple t-shirt, and black leggings in any French women’s closet.
If you love looking feminine, classic, and always fashionable, you should learn a thing or two from Parisian women style tips.
Without further ado, here are 6 easy ways to nail Parisian chic style for both summer and winter.
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Video | How To Dress Like A French Woman (French Style Guide) by Audrey Coyne
How to Dress Like A Parisian Woman
The iconic French girl style is not about copying what everyone else is doing.
It’s about finding your own personal style – something that works for YOU. The French girl style is, after all, about making you feel comfortable in your own skin.
What is the Parisian Woman Style?
Have you ever been to Paris?
If yes, then you know that Parisian women have a certain je-ne-sais-quoi of Fashion. It is no wonder French fashion is one of the most influential style ideas in the world. These women have been a source of great inspiration to define fashion and style rules for years.
Something about French girls attitude and confidence exhumes high-fashion, even if they are wearing plain jeans, black blazer, and their iconic ballet flats (that never seem to go out of style).
Real Parisian fashion is not about following trends, quite the contrary. Oh no. while Parisian women do update their wardrobe with a few trends, they’ll always stick to a somewhat similar aesthetic
(this also makes shopping a hell of a lot easier).
The French girl look is chic, subtly sexy, natural, relaxed, and yet casually elegant. If you’re dying to know more about what French women wear and get outfit inspiration from stylish French women, keep on reading this post.
Try out a few of these suggestions and build your own personal style based on a classic French girls foundations.
RELATED: Fashion Mistakes You Will Never See A Parisian Making
How to Dress Like French Women in Colder Months
- Jeans, a plain shirt, and a midi statement coat
- Skinny jeans and an elegant sweater with flats
- A casual blazer with a scarf or turtleneck
- Little black dress with black tights, with a small handbag
- Wear an All Black Outfit
- Long, timeless coats
- Accessorize with sunglasses
- Tailor Your Clothes
Autumn & Winter Fashion in France
They say that an image is worth a thousand words. So what better way to introduce you to the French girls style ideas than showing stylish women?
French women usually dress in neutral colors (with the exception of the clichéd red accent), and especially during winter time, a French girl would avoid using bright colors.
To master the Parisian style, always keep it neutral, classic and chic. That’s because wearing bright colors calls attention, and a French girl would prefer maintaining her looks subtle and minimalist.
And Parisian women always mix casual and dress-up pieces rather than wearing all casual pieces at once or looking too dressed up. Think trench coat over jeans and white tees, ballet flats with the little black dress, or blazers with a pair of white sneakers.
In colder months, French women seek high-quality and warm fabrics such as high-quality cotton, cashmere, and Alpaca wool.
French girls don’t allow trends to dictate their wardrobe but instead, they incorporate different wardrobe staples that match the colder days.
Jeans, a plain shirt, and a midi statement coat
When dressing like a French woman, keep it simple! Streamlined shapes, a small selection of colors and even a bare minimum (gasp!) amount of clothing in your closet.
Simplicity is the key to dress like a French. Instead of a midi coat, you can also try on a trench coat, denim jacket, leather.
Skinny jeans and an elegant sweater with flats
Skinny jeans dress up a pair of skinny jeans in a sleek and simple way. Opt for classic pairs for a polished look, or embrace embellishments and fun textures for an instant skinny-jean upgrade.
A casual blazer with a scarf or turtleneck
The turtleneck and blazer combo is a timeless European look. The thinner the knit is, the easier it will be to add as a sleek layer with a blazer, a leather jacket, or a wool topcoat.
Stick to dark colors like black, blue, gray, or burgundy, which will suit fall and winter look
Little black dress with black tights, with a small handbag
The little black dress is the perfect evening dress that is here to stay, regardless of come-and-go fashion trends. Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of French brands, such as Chanel.
If you want to dress like a French woman, this should be a staple piece in your own wardrobe and not overlooked. It doesn’t have to be a big investment, but it should be high quality as you will go back to it time and time again. Pair it with black tights and
Wear An All-Black Outfit
Black is a timeless color and no there color screams elegance like a totally black look. In fact, black outfits are extremely chic at any age and makes anyone look polished (not to mention slimmer).
To keep things interesting, you can mix different textures and patterns to create a stylish monochromatic outfit. Or you can let the color and print come through in your accessories and choice of footwear.
Long coats are a classic piece for colder days
Whether it’s black, grey or camel, a long coat is such a great piece to invest it, because a high-quality one would last you for years and years to come. Additionally, you can use long coats to style different winter outfits
Rock Your Sunglasses
It doesn’t matter if it’s not summertime, you should be wearing sunglasses year-round. Sunglasses are a great way to accessorize an otherwise plain outfit.
Experiment with different shapes such as cat eye for edgier looks! Perhaps you’ll come back to classic aviators or round lenses, but you may just find that quirky shapes are fun too.
Something as small such as sunglasses can play a massive part in developing your unique style and signature look!
Make sure that your clothes fit well
This tip can ne used for both winter and summer time, but we will leave it as a winter tip. That’s because, especially during winter time, our clothes tend to be baggier. In our efforts to stay warm we layer many outfits, but this ends up not flattering our overall look.
And just like their Italian counterparts, French women know that the key to always looking your best is to wear quality pieces that fit you perfectly. This doesn’t mean wearing something tight, rather wearing something that is tailored to your body.
Not only you’ll feel more confident, but it will also elevate your entire outfit.
What do you Need to Achieve the Parisian Chic Summer Style?
What do espadrilles, printed dresses, and basket bags have in common?
Well, put together, these classic pieces all compose the famously thought-after Parisian summer wardrobe, of course! If you’re like us and you love the way French women dress in summer, this French wardrobe style guide section is perfect for you.
Now, we’ll go over general and essential elements of French girls summer fashion for you to copy into your own personal style.
Summer and Spring Fashion in France
Espadrilles
Also known as ballet flats.
These are perhaps the “it” shoe of every season in Paris. They add the perfect summer feel to any outfit and look great with skirts, jeans, and dresses (it’s no wonder every French girl in the world has a pair of these in they closet).
Do it like ‘ze French‘. Embrace your inner-French girl and invest in a high-quality pair of flats and make them your signature look!
Bonus Style Tip: Pointy flats will give a further fashion style boost
Alternatively, invest in low-heeled ballerinas
These classic shoes are another great way to add style while remaining g comfortable is having a good pair of low-heeled ballerinas.
They make any outfit pop and look instantly more elegant (and you gain a few extra inches in height, making you look more confident and chic, just like a Parisian woman would).
French women won’t be caught in a situation like wearing heels that they are unable to walk in. Remember: it’s never a good look to be wobbling around in heels that are painful. This draws unnecessary attention to your unstable walking, rather than to the outfit.
A Basket Bag/Straw Bag/ Wicker Bag
A basket bag (or straw/wicker) is the perfect French summer accessory that just screams season chic!
It adds great interest and texture to a look while remaining casual and feminine.
A Floral Dress
While floral dresses are perfect for wearing year-round, there’s no better time to embrace their lighthearted whimsy than the warm summer months
A Midi Skirt
In addition to being universally flattering, the midi skirt is a key part of an easy, compliment-worthy summer French girl outfit. So if you want to dress like a French woman, let the flirty florals, silky fabric, or tiny pleats of the skirt steal the spotlight.
Pair it with a plain white tee and flat sandals, and finish with a statement necklace.
This piece is perfect because it can be dressed up or down, and you can change your unique style depending on where you’re headed. Midi skirts are romantic and stylish, perfect for any occasion.
Younger French style icons (such as Clémence Poésy) has been known to rocking cropped cardigans and a mini skirt in the spring and summer.
Older women, alternatively, will want to wear clothes that favor their body, while making them look elegant, opting for midi skirts instead.
A (Solo) Cardigan
A big tip from French women’s style is not to limit your cardigan to be worn only in colder months, as a layer to your shirt.
So, if you want to learn how to dress like a Parisian woman, you’ll have to learn how to love cardigans even when it is hot. The French love wearing these because it’s a statement piece of French fashion.
Cardigans are a huge staple in a French woman’s wardrobe and one of their favorite ways to wear them is not open over a top, but as the top itself!
A knit cardigan for summer (if the heat allows) not only pairs perfectly with your flared denim, but the mix of textures look fab with a silk midi skirt.
Style Tip: Cropped ones are also super popular and perfect for summer!
A Strappy Pair of Sandals
These shoes are pretty hot everywhere right now, but even if they weren’t trending, this is a really cute shoe style that looks great with anything!
A Slip Dress
There is no denying that this frock has a sexy and laidback look what gives it an additional seductiveness. It feels so damn good to the touch thanks to silky fabrics
When summer comes around, a printed dress is all you need. It can be worn with flats, sandals, or espadrilles, and whether it’s a wrap style or not, it’s versatile, feminine, and always chic.
Just as with the midi skirt, this slip dress seamlessly goes from day to night, depending on your styling.
Grab one in a lighter color for the day.
(Something like pink or yellow would be perfect while using dark green and even red during nighttime).
Red Accents
Red is the color of l’amour (and power), and that is why red is probably the biggest French Fashion cliché.
Be it by wearing a strong red shirt with denim jeans, or having a red cardigan at hand, or simply by adding a pop of red to your lips.
You can’t go to France without taking at least one red piece of wardrobe.
Gold Jewelry
Simple pieces that complete the look! Look for dainty pieces that are great for layering. Pearls are having a moment right now too (I am personally a HUGE pearls lover)!
A White Button-Down Shirt
There isn’t one post that talks about how to dress like a Parisian woman that doesn’t talk about the white, button-down shirt.
Though you can still wear black in summer, white buttoned-down shirts are definitely more popular.
This highly versatile fashion piece ad it can be worn with numerous outfits.
Cropped or Flared Denim
Will French girls ever give up their denim?
We think not.
But then again, why would they ever want to?
Flared and cropped is the way to go, but skinny jeans will never go out of style in France.
Style Guide: Step-by-Step on How do you Dress Like a French Woman in Summer
I have gathered the best French girl style inspiration on how to dress like a Parisian woman in summer. remember to keep it simple and avoid wearing bold shades (a common mistake our Friend Emily in Paris keeps making).
Find below 6 French woman-inspired summer outfits!
Polka Dot Dress + Basket Bag + Slides
Polka dots are charming, feminine, and great to wear all year long. Moreover, they look especially cute when the weather warms up. Adding a basket bag and some slides makes any look Parisian chic instantly.
Striped T-Shirt + Skinny Jeans + Espadrille Wedges
Sure, you can’t wear jeans the whole summer, but they look cute for those chillier mornings. You don’t lose the summer vibes though when paired with espadrille wedges. Cat-eye sunglasses channel the vintage French vibes!
Cami + Skirt + Sandals + Basket Bag
Many of my favorite French muses count on skirts to get them through the summer. Skirts are great because they can either be fancy with strappy heel sandals for a night out or cute and casual with sandals for a normal day!
Gingham Skirt + White Button Down + Espadrille Wedges
Straw bags are always in come summer, but these straw totes are having a moment! A French wardrobe always has a white button down in it and that, paired with espadrille wedges, makes this Parisian inspired!
Printed Dress + Espadrille Wedges + Basket Bag
Dainty, printed dresses are huge summer staples in a Parisian wardrobe. And by now you know that you can’t go wrong by pairing any look with some cute espadrille wedges!
Polka Dot Dress + Straw Hat + Espadrille Wedges
Once again polka dots come through as the pretty print you can’t give up. Sleeves are a big thing right now too, so look for dresses with some extra sleeve detailing!
Shop The Post For Your French Style
That’s a wrap.
These are my top tips on how to dress like a French woman.
If you liked this post, be sure to read this one where I talk about American fashion mistakes that French women would not be caught dead in. Remember that a little bit goes a long way. While it is one thing to put time and attention into your looks, don’t try too hard! After all, an effortlessly chic look is the goal.
A signature look is a style that you wear and feel so confident in, it feels like you’re wearing your own skin. It takes trial and error to find your own unique style, so don’t worry if you still feel a bit lost.
Bookmark this post so hat you can refer back to it whenever you need a refresher on Parisian women’s style tips.
Are you planning a trip to Paris when the lockdown is over, or do you simply love he French girl fashion? Let me know what is it your like about the French style in the comments below.
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Other Fashion Posts:
- Style Tips from French Fashionistas Every Woman Should Hear
- Habits of Women Who Always Look Expensive
- 5 Ways To Make Your Outfit Seem More Elegant
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