If You're Trying to Dress Like a French Woman This Fall, Skip These Denim Trends

When I think about what makes French style so magnetic, it always comes back to effortlessness. French women have a way of dressing that feels both incredibly polished and completely unbothered, and when it comes to denim—a true closet essential—they never get swept up in fleeting trends. Instead, they stick to pieces that will look chic today, tomorrow, and 10 years from now. With fall on the way, it should come as no surprise that I'm looking to them for inspiration when it comes to my denim drawer.

As someone who lives in New York, I'm guilty of at least testing out every denim trend that comes my way. Cargo pants? Sure! Pants that drag on the dirty NYC streets because they're so baggy? Guilty as charged. French women, however, are far more discerning, and maybe it's about time I took some notes. Below, I'm breaking down the denim styles they're skipping this fall and the ones they'll shop instead. If you're aiming to emulate their timeless, polished approach, keep scrolling.

She skips ultra-low-rise jeans

and shops mid-rise cigarette jeans

It pains me to say this as a lover of low-rise jeans who feels uncomfortable when I slip into mid-rise jeans, but this isn't about me, a New Yorker who likes her jeans to start at her hips. It's about French women who look far chicer because of their preference for mid-rise and high-rise jeans. You won't catch me in super-high-rise jeans anytime soon, but to emulate my favorite French women, a mid-rise moment is up next for me.

She skips puddle pants

and shops tailored straight-leg jeans

While I love puddle pants, I might not call them the most practical, especially with the number of rainstorms in NYC lately, because they need to run through the wash a bit more often than normal. French people love a cropped and tailored pair of jeans more than anyone, so they'd skip these baggy styles for a straight-leg silhouette any day.

She skips cargo jeans

and shops indigo and black jeans

Adding cargo pockets to denim has been a fun way for brands to remix classic silhouettes in recent years, and that will still be a thing for years to come among the fashion crowd of NYC. Paris, however, has a completely different vibe in this regard. For a utilitarian look, a French woman might not be a fan of cargo jeans but would love to wear an indigo pair or even black to give off a cool girl flair.

She skips distressed denim

and shops frayed-hem jeans

Distressed denim always comes and goes in the fashion cycle, especially in New York, but in Paris, this definitely happens less often. The traditional and classic French woman would avoid gaping holes and overly distressed denim, but a frayed hem would catch her eye.

She skips patchwork and statement colors

and shops white jeans

A French woman's idea of making a statement is choosing a stark-white pair of jeans in a sea of blue. Don't even bother trying to get her in a bright-colored pair or overly patched style. Instead, break the "no white after Labor Day" rule for an effortlessly cool look.

She skips jeggings and stretchier fabric

and shops rigid denim

I'm so grateful that jeggings are staying a thing of the past (for now) after there were whispers that they might be having a comeback next. The French are known for their love of quite the opposite look—rigid denim that is comfortable but keeps its form will always win in their book. Think Levi's 501s.