Every Chic French Woman Knows These 8 Items Make Outfits Look Expensive
From footwear to outerwear.
One of the many things that draw people to French style is that the outfits Parisians wear look so effortlessly expensive. The reason? Chic French women tend to avoid overly trendy items in favor of ones that lean classic and elegant. That doesn't mean they don't wear trends. They just choose them carefully.
As a Who What Wear editor, I spend a lot of time studying what French women wear because people around the world are very interested and seemingly always will be. I always look out for the specific details that make their outfits look expensive during any given season. Currently, there are eight items I keep noticing that the chicest French women are wearing, and I'm here to put them on your radar so that you, too, can incorporate them into your wardrobe. It's a mix of basics and trend-forward items that are easy to style and could also be described as classic.
Scroll on to familiarize yourself with the expensive-looking staples French women are wearing and shop chic versions of each item.
Satin Pants
Satin pants are the easiest, most comfortable way to make an outfit look prettier and more expensive. They look elegant for a night out, but I also see instances of French women dressing them down with ballet flats and loafers.
Shop Satin Pants
Knee-Length Black Skirt
A knee-length skirt, which you could call the biggest skirt trend of 2026, makes an outfit look chic in that effortless '90s way that French women love.
Shop Knee-Length Black Skirts
Silky Slip Dress
If you've ever visited Paris, you probably noticed that silky slip dresses were everywhere—worn with heels, flat sandals, sneakers, and every other shoe style in people's closets. They're easily customizable in other ways, too, as you can add a trench, cardigan, oversize button-down, or leather jacket, to name a few options.
Shop Silky Slip Dresses
Striped Button-Down Shirt
A striped button-down shirt is another incredibly versatile staple that French women rely on. Even the most casual outfits look elevated when you swap a tee or tank for a button-down.
Shop Striped Button-Down Shirts
Kitten-Heel Mules
You probably noticed by now that Parisians love kitten heels, and kitten-heel mules are the style I spot them wearing most often. Simply put, they're just cooler than basic pumps.
Shop Kitten-Heel Mules
Suede Jacket
A suede jacket is often the perfect weight for the weather in Paris, and it adds an undeniably rich-looking touch to any outfit it's paired with. Recently, I've seen quite a few brown suede jackets worn over black outfits on French women.
Shop Suede Jackets
Woven-Leather Bag
The craftsmanship of a woven-leather bag is what makes it look expensive, and if your bag looks expensive, your outfit will too.
Shop Woven-Leather Bags
White Jeans
French women keep trading blue and black jeans for white ones—even during fall and winter. Is there anything more elegant than being able to keep a pair of white jeans pristine?
Shop White Jeans
