I May Work in NYC, But My Closet Looks French—6 Chic Spring Basics That You’d Spot On The Streets of Paris

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Chic french woman basics spring 2026
(Image credit: @sylviemus_; @juliesfi; @salome.mory)
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I work in NYC, but my feed thinks I live in Paris. Maybe it's the obscene amount of French fashion content I've consumed the past week. Hello, chic Parisian trench-coat outfits and French-woman flat-shoe trends. Regardless, there is no denying the effect it's had on my style. My office outfits are proof. Forever grateful for midi skirts and Repetto flats. Upside: I know exactly which spring basics define French women's style.

If you want your spring 2026 outfits to feel more Parisian, here are six chic French-woman basics that fit the bill. Spoiler: lace-trim shorts (specifically the Dôen Iona Short) make the list. Any francophile will agree that a classic trench coat is a must, and that this denim silhouette can be found in chic closets across the 16th Arrondissement. Plus, shop the timeless, two-tone slingbacks that have walked the cobblestone streets since at least the 50s.

6 Chic French Woman Basics for Spring 2026

1. Cap-Toe Slingback

@juliesfi wearing a red cardigan, white crewneck, blue jeans, Chanel bag, and cap-toe slingback heels

(Image credit: @juliesfi)

2. Lace-Trim Shorts

@sylviemus_ wearing Doen lace-trim shorts and a white cardigan

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

3. Linen Trousers

@salome.mory wearing Me and Em linen trousers and a striped button-down

(Image credit: @salome.mory)

4. High-Neck Vests

@emmanuellek_ wearing a Sezane high-neck vest, bootcut jeans, trench coat, and East West bag

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

5. Cigarette Jeans

@sabinasocol wearing light-wash jeans, kitten heels, and white top

(Image credit: @sabinasocol)

6. Classic Trench Coat

@sylviemus_ wearing a trench coat, lace-trim skirt, and kitten heels

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)
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Josephine Hadjiloucas
Josephine Hadjiloucas
Assistant Shopping Editor

Josephine Hadjiloucas is a New York–based writer. She first interned at Who What Wear UK in 2024 and later joined Who What Wear U.S. as an assistant shopping editor after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2025. When she isn’t covering the latest Gen Z trends or updating her under-$100 Nordstrom wish list, you can find her browsing the racks of NYC’s best vintage stores or rewatching Moonstruck for the 50th time. “Snap out of it!”