I can trace my obsession with French style all the way back to the first time I watched Beauty and the Beast. Belle might have been bored with her provincial life, but I certainly wasn't. I begged my aunt to let me cut the hem of an old blue bridesmaid dress that resembled Belle's dress, asked my mum to style my hair in a bow every morning and insisted upon carrying a basket with me wherever I went.
Today, I still find myself trying to emulate the look of French women, albeit with less taffeta, and I have made it my mission to analyse what exactly are the French fashion essentials that I could add to my capsule wardrobe. I trawl through vintage photographs of Paris, looking at the outfits French women have worn in the past, and I have an entire archive dedicated to saved images of the ensembles my favourite French influencers wear.
Deciphering French style has been made easy thanks to these essentials.
Upon looking at these snaps, I saw a pattern begin to emerge. I realised that almost all of the French women I follow own the same core capsule wardrobe of fashion essentials. Of course, I am all too aware that this uniform may not apply to everyone in a country, but the women I'm particularly interested in all subscribe to a look I love.
"French women invest in timeless pieces over trends," confirms Marissa Cox, a French style expert and friend of Who What Wear who now resides in Paris. "Wearability is integral to a French woman's closet, as she doesn't tend to overdress. She looks for pieces that can be dressed up or down."
So which French fashion essential do the country's best dressers rely upon to ensure they look chic at all times? I decided to do the honourable thing and share them with you. Scroll below to find out.
11 French Fashion Essentials That Always Look Chic:
1. TRENCH COAT
Style Notes: Coats don't come more classic than the trench coat, so it's little wonder that they appear so heavily in French culture and the real-life wardrobes of France's chicest residents. You may be wondering if this is the case during summer, and the answer is yes. French women are almost always clad in a lightweight trench. If it gets too hot, simply peel off and fold away.
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Note the drop-down shoulder detail. It's perfectly slouched and perfect for throwing on and off.
Paris' much oved trench coat.
A trench for those with petite frames.
I love how pared-back this particular trench style is.
2. ROMANTIC BLOUSE
Style Notes: French women are masters at looking effortlessly polished, and the piece that helps them achieve this potent combination is the blouse. While they'll wear just about every blouse look out there, we find that the French women we follow tend to opt for elegant white iterations.
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Such a great way to elevate your usual jeans and shirt look.
Of course, Sézane always serves up some of the best white blouses.
The vintage feel of this really piqued my interest.
So pretty.
3. TAILORED TROUSERS
Style Notes: Take subtle cues from officewear with formal, tailored trousers and sometimes even a '70s lilt. Add anything from shirting to t-shirts on top.
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What a silhouette.
This COS pair looks so chic.
So easy to dress up or down.
Opt for linen for those summer days.
4. BALLET PUMPS
Style Notes: We know what you're thinking: Ballet pumps for French women? Groundbreaking. But out of all the French-style clichés, this is the one item that French women actually wear year-round.
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These classic ballet flats look so comfy.
Bring along a pair of compact ballet flats to change into after a long day, or night, in heels.
They're so chic.
Available in a range of colourways and finishes.
5. STRAPPY DRESS
Style Notes: When it comes to dresses, the French typically prefer fuss-free silhouettes (unless they're couture). For day-to-day wear, you'll see countless Gallic women wearing simple strappy numbers and sandals to match.
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Perfect for summer weddings.
A stunning print.
The exact style Tamara wears wears above.
Such a pretty motif.
6. BLUE JEANS
Style Notes: It's hard to think of a time when straight-leg jeans didn't dominate our wardrobes. French women have been championing this denim trend in vintage blue for years.
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As validated by our Editor in Chief.
A dark wash always looks premium.
A light wash complete with a slight kick flare.
Agolde denim never disappoints.
7. BLACK BLAZER
Style Notes: Finding a jacket to match your daily outfits can be tricky, but not if you have a black blazer at your disposal. French women use them to dress up their denim and to bestow their dresses with some je ne sais quoi.
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This chic silhouette will pair with everything from a jeans to slip dress.
Arket serves some of the best blazers on the high street.
This silhouette has the wow factor!
With a slight '90s lilt.
8. Skir Co-ord
Style Notes: Co-ords are a year-round staple in the wardrobes of French women. There's something incredibly uniform about a matching two-piece, not to mention effortless. Whether in shrunken or elongated lengths, there's a style for all.
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Sézane is your one-stop shop for all things Parisienne.
An easy wardrobe staple you'll wear for years.
Rouge brings a certain French flair.
Wonderfully '80s, thanks to the puffed shoulders.
9. BASKET BAG
Style Notes: More practical than top-handles and more elegant than crossbodies, basket bags are naturally the French arm candy of choice when spring hits.
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Polene's infamous Cyme handbag is now available awash with rattan.
The cylindrical handbag is reminiscent of the styles Jane Birkin used to wear.
Roomy enough to store all essentials and more.
This leather strap tote contrasts perfectly!
10. MINISKIRT
Style Notes: No one embraces the miniskirt quite like French women do. While they wear them with heels when the occasion calls for it, this summer, you're much more likely to spot them wearing miniskirts with mules and refined tops.
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An a-line style is incredibly classic.
Pair with your favourite sandals for summer.
This mini will work hard for you.
Grey pleated midi skirts were huge last autumn and now we're witnessing myriad shrunken iterations..
11: HEELED SANDALS
Style Notes: No French wardrobe is complete without classic footwear. It has such an impact! For summer, Parisians prefer barely there footwear in the shape of heeled sandals; this season, they're awash with snake print and deep hues. They're indispensable for their blend of function and elegance.
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I'm in love with this timeless piece
2025 is the year of thong sandals, and this NEOUS pair comes complete with a lace trim.
Who can say no to a classic black heel. Imagine this as the finishing touch to a monochromatic outfit.
From summer days in the city to weddings, these shoes will work hard.
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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