I Scoured the IG Accounts of France's Best Dressed—5 Pieces They Aren't Without

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(Image credit: @highishe)

Maybe it's the obsessive person in me, but I keep thorough tabs on good outfits I come across on the day-to-day. It helps a lot as a fashion editor (where documenting trends and style is part of the job), but it's also useful whenever I'm in need of fresh style inspiration. As it turns out, about half of the outfits in my folder belong to French women. That fact shouldn't really be much of a surprise—French women really are in their own class when it comes to effortless elegance—and they tend to stick with tried and true pieces that withstand the test of time.

In the name of fashion research, I decided to dig a little deeper to see exactly what some of the most stylish French women are wearing. From a denim classic to a trending shoe, five staples emerged that seemed to be the throughline among them. To discover and shop them all, keep scrolling below. 

1. Black Midi Dress

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(Image credit: @soleneoj)

The French famously prefer to keep things casual, but that doesn't mean they aren't privy to a great dress. Whether the occasion is a full-course meal at Le Train Bleu, or drinks at Hotel Costes, a black midi dress is always appropriate. The French way to do it? Go for understated glamour, like column dresses or ruched pieces that accentuate the body yet aren't too over the top.

2. Structured Oversized Blazers

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(Image credit: @highishe)

A structured blazer is a favorite among most stylish people, so it makes sense that French women too can't seem to let them go. Some styling notes: it should lean more relaxed and effortless than preppy, so stick with blazers that offer a loose fit. 

3. Ballet Flats

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(Image credit: @leiasfez)

From Paris to Provence, the French women I researched for this story seemingly can't be bothered with complicated footwear. For the day-to-day, they were either in kitten-heeled boots, sneakers, or ballet flats. Since ballet flats are surging among designers and fashion people right now, the options are as plentiful as ever. 

4. Straight-Leg Jeans

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(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

We can blab about the fast-paced cycle of denim trends, but as far as the French are concerned, straight-leg jeans will forever be the uniform. It's a classic style that's resistant to fickle tastes and trends and looks polished with everything. What's not to love?

5. A Sophisticated Bag

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(Image credit: @fakerstrom)

Some of the best designer bags are made in France, so it's not really a surprise that the country's best-dressed crowd keeps a good bag on their arm. Celine, Saint Laurent, and Chanel are a few of the stand-out brands beloved by French women, but emerging brands like Savette and Marge Sherwood are equally noteworthy. It honestly doesn't seem to matter which brand you choose, as long as it's polished and neutral.

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.