French women have been a Fashion reference for many years, representing elegance and grace.
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?
Whether you are after Parisian’s outfit inspiration, (such as the Parisian street style, from casual to chic outfits), or if you simply want to understand what the French style is about, 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 as my grandfather was Italian, you can say I have always had ‘’a foot in Italy’’*
* 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 3+ 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 have even been to his Garden in Giverny).
So yes, I’ve always had this huge love for France and everything France-related.
Heck, I even cried the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower because it was a dream come true.
Thankfully, I’ve lived in France for over a year in my early twenties and dated a French guy who spoke no English (and we ate baguettes with cheese daily).
And after my super popular post on How to Dress Like an Italian Woman, I’ve decided to expand the theme to French women as well.
Today, I will share the secrets of 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 Look?
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 after all 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).
If you love looking feminine, classic, and always fashionable, you should learn a thing or two from Parisian women.
Without further ado, here are 6 easy ways to nail Parisian chic style for 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 | 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.
Something about their attitude and confidence exhumes high-fashion even if they are wearing plain jeans with an oversized jacket.
The French girl look is chic, subtly sexy, natural, relaxed, and yet casually elegant.
Real Parisian fashion is not about following trends, quite the contrary.
Parisian women might update their wardrobe with a few trends, but they always stick to a similar aesthetic
(this also makes shopping a hell of a lot easier).
The ‘Problem’ With The Current Fashion Trends
Perhaps dressing with classic pieces is a tip we can all learn from.
I believe today we are all so focused on being “different” (by wearing bold shades and crazy, extravagant pieces), that we are more or less looking all exactly the same.
I find it hilarious how especially in summer here in Barcelona, every girl looks exactly the same, no matter the age
(does oversized blazers, biker shorts, and white sneakers ring a bell?).
Personally, I don’t like the current trend of fashion. I believe the ’90s were a period of fashion we all looked back and regretted until very recently.
(At least those of us who actually were old enough at the time to have actually lived the 90s fashion).
Nothing was uglier than those plastic bags, platform sneakers, and fanny packs, and now they came back full force and brands are trying to convince me they look good when they don’t.
I also further believe that in a few years from now we will look back to this Fashion period in time and regret it.
(Just as we did with the 90s).
RELATED: Fashion Mistakes You Will Never See A Parisian Making
Autumn and Winter Fashion in France
How to Dress like an Elegant Parisian Woman in Colder Months
Jeans, a Plain Shirt & a Midi Coat
Skinny Jeans and an Elegant Sweater with flats
A Casual Blazer with a scarf or turtleneck
A Simple Black Dress with Chic Tights, with a Small Handbag
Long, Classy Coats for Colder Days
Summer and Spring Fashion in France
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 they all compose the famously thought-after Parisian summer wardrobe, of course!
In this section, I will go over some general and essential elements of French summer fashion for you to copy.
Espadrilles
Image source: Pineterst Image source: Pineterst
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!
Embrace your ballerinas by investing in a high-quality pair of flats and make them your signature look!
Style Tip: Pointy flats will give a further fashion style boost
Alternatively, invest in low-heeled ballerinas
Image source: Pineterst Image source: Pineterst
A 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).
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
Image source: whowhatwear.co.uk Image source: Pinterest
Easy, breezy, and beautiful (Cover Girl – sorry, couldn’t resist). Throw on a floral dress with your basket bag and espadrilles and you’re go to go. Wrap dresses are especially popular among Parisian women’s styles!
A Midi Skirt
Image source: ladyfashioniser.com Image source: kpfusion.com
This piece is perfect because it can be dressed up or down, depending on where you’re headed. Midi skirts are romantic and stylish, perfect for any occasion.
A (Solo) Cardigan
Image source: emersonfry.com Image source: popsugar.com
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.
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.
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
Image source: bedazelive.com Image source: whowhatwear.co.uk
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
Image source: iamandco.com Image source: Popsugar
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
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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
Image source: modernarchive.de Image source: Pinterest
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
Image source: mydomaine.com Image source: theeverygirl.com
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
Image source: howtowearfashion.com Image source: glamour.com
Will French girls ever give up their denim?
I 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 Parisian Women in Summer
I have gathered the best style inspiration on how to dress like a Parisian woman in summer.
Find below 6 Parisian-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 Parisian woman during summer.
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 you like the most about it 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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