Look through my Who What Wear UK article history and you might notice that I have a little bit of an obsession with French style. Ever enticed by their ability to create wearable looks steeped in je ne sais quoi, French style remains, in my opinion, the chicest of the lot.
With the change of season now properly setting in, I'm keen to revamp my wardrobe with a few new-season colour trends to bring my wardrobe into autumn 2024. Naturally, my first port of call for some styling inspiration was the Instagram feeds of French women. The chicest of the bunch are already incorporating the season's favourite shades into their outfits, so below are the five autumn colour trends that the French have convinced me I need in my wardrobe right now.
5 AUTUMN COLOUR TRENDS FRENCH WOMEN ARE LIVING IN THIS SEASON
1. MILKY WHITES
Style Notes: Rather than reaching for bright white, France's most stylish are incorporating a milkier tone into their autumn wardrobes to offer the same outfit-brightening effect in a natural, more wearable way.
SHOP THE MILKY-WHITE COLOUR TREND:
Wear with a relaxed pair of jeans and kitten-heel mules.
This comes in petite, regular and long lengths—an option we don't often see for skirts.
Super chic.
2. NAVY
Style Notes: I come back to rich navy every autumn when I'm looking to add depth and contrast to an outfit. Pairing well with lighter shades such as cream, butter yellow and pink, this more interesting alternative to black also styles well with sky-blue shades for an elevated, tonal look.
SHOP THE NAVY COLOUR TREND:
This hero knit also comes in four other shades.
These run slightly large, so consider sizing down.
A navy trench coat is an equally chic alternative to traditional beige.
3. CHOCOLATE BROWN
Style Notes: If you spend any time in Paris over the next few months, you might notice a particularly delicious colour trend taking over the streets. Moving away from the deep black shades that often dominate at this time of year, Paris' most stylish are shopping their dark neutrals in rich chocolate-brown tones.
SHOP THE CHOCOLATE-BROWN COLOUR TREND:
Every great wardrobe starts with a crisp cotton button-down.
The linen composition makes this naturally light and breathable.
These also come in three other shades.
4. OLIVE GREEN
Style Notes: Olive green is back on the agenda for autumn, and I couldn't be happier about it. This earthy tone is a natural accompaniment to so many of my favourite autumnal shades, including browns, greys, blacks and creams.
SHOP THE OLIVE-GREEN COLOUR TREND:
The single zip and fuss-free design gives this such a sleek energy.
I always come back to Me+Em for its chic wardrobe basics.
This comes in UK sizes 6–30.
5. BURGUNDY
Style Notes: In fashion terms, nothing screams autumn like the burgundy colour trend. A grown-up take on all the red pieces we've seen a lot of over the past year, this deeper merlot shade offers a vivid wash of colour without dominating an outfit.
SHOP THE BURGUNDY COLOUR TREND:
This is the perfect size for carrying around your evening essentials.
Croc-effect boots are a subtle way to add texture to your autumn looks.
Bundle up on a chilly day.
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