16 Classic Pieces French Girls Would Never Toss

Building a wardrobe with a strong collection of classic pieces is a surefire way to always look stylish. No matter what the trends of the moment are, you can draw on staples that will never go out of style. And it seems this is something French girls are well versed in. While they’re not afraid of taking the occasional fashion risk, we’ve noticed that their looks are almost always rooted in timeless pieces and well-cut basics. Curious to know more about the prized items they’ve found over the years, we chatted with French girls to find out the classic pieces they would never toss.

“Basics are pretty much all I wear every day,” Parisian Sabina Socol told Who What Wear. Items like straight-leg jeans and boxy outerwear are the building blocks of her wardrobe, and it’s no surprise that these are also the pieces she would never get rid of. Similarly, Parysatis Peymani admitted her affection for vintage-inspired denim, explaining, “I wear them five days a week, and I would never get rid of them.” But how does this fit into the French take on fashion? Sarah Nait summed it up nicely, “In my opinion, the iconic ‘French style’ can be defined as a capsule wardrobe composed of perfectly tailored clothes and statement pieces that work with your silhouette.”

Sounds good to us. Keep reading to see which French fashion staples stylish women would never toss from their closets.

CLASSIC FRENCH FASHION STAPLES

So, which classic fashion staples would French women never get rid of? It includes five key pieces: leather or suede ankle boots, vintage-inspired jeans, button-down shirts, tailored outerwear and a leather motorcycle jacket.

“This is actually kind of an easy question, at least for me, because I’m simply obsessed with my basics. I’m pretty sure if you’re ever in Paris, you’ll run into at least one or two girls that are sporting one of the below. To me, there’s just one rule to follow when it comes to basics: Find the best brand for each item.”—Sabina Socol

“I am not afraid to keep wearing pieces I really like, so there are definitely pieces that will be in my wardrobe forever. I will never get rid of a satin-trimmed blazer, a ’70s-inspired leather jacket, a double-breasted coat, a silk shirt and a pair of masculine boots. I don’t really like to get out of my comfort zone, so I am always attracted to darker colours and luxurious fabrics.”—Sarah Nait

“Let’s be super honest and not original at all: Levi’s jeans. I shop mine in vintage shops in Paris, but you can find some good ones at Re/Done. Also, I can’t do a winter in Paris without new ankle black boots—super comfortable and always elegant.”—Parysatis Peymani 

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Related: The Parisian Way to Create a 5-Piece Capsule Wardrobe

Next up: Suitably obsessed with French style? Acquaint yourself with the brands that were born there...