Sometime last year, I discovered French girl style and it changed my life. Over the years I had tried to follow many different trends but none of them stuck with me the way that French girl style did. The French way of dressing is classic, elegant, and dare I say – easy – once you get the hang of it.
So, how do you get French girl style without actually being French?
Allow me to help you.
How to Get French Girl Style
If there’s one rule about French girl style, it’s that you should never look like you spent an hour in front of a mirror this morning (even if you really did) perfecting your outfit, hair and makeup. French women have a natural ability to dress in a way that seems effortlessly elegant.
While Americans will spend the time matching their handbag to their scarf or lipstick, French style tends to revolve around neutral pieces that can easily pair with each other. There is never more than one statement piece per outfit. Bright colors are rarely seen on the streets of Paris – unless you count the bright red hue on almost every girl’s lips!
Keep it simple, and you too, can master the art of French girl style dressing.
French Girl Style Basics
French girl style begins with a closet of good basics. Once you have the basics down, you can add in statement pieces here and there and play with your personal French style.
Here’s a general idea of the basics in almost every French woman’s closet:
For tops, there are always a few long-sleeved button-up shirts (in white or blue), comfortable T-shirts (in grey, black and white), and several classic silk button-up shirts (in white or black).
On the bottom, French women own comfortable straight-leg jeans (1-2 pairs), tailored high-waisted pants (1-2 pairs), a jean mini skirt, a suede mini skirt for fall, one dressy black skirt, and a few pairs of jean shorts for visiting the south of France!
Levi's Women's 501 Jeans, Shout Out Stone, Blue, 26
$98.00 (as of January 17, 2025 10:14 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)When it comes to dresses, French women love wrap dresses because they’re so easy to flatter any body type. Have some in a mini-length and others in a midi length. A silk slip dress in black is another must-have for going out.
The French girl’s outerwear usually consists of a beige cashmere sweater, an off-white oversized wool sweater, a beige French girl trench coat, at least one plaid blazer for fall, a fitted black smoking jacket, and a warm wool wrap coat for winter. In especially cold climates, you might consider a puffer coat.
Double-Breasted Trench Coat with Belt
11% OffThis isn’t a comprehensive list of all the French wardrobe basics there are but it’s a good place to start when analyzing your current closet situation.
If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of re-doing your whole wardrobe, start with these French wardrobe essentials.
French Girl Style Form & Fit
French style isn’t just about what you buy, it’s about how it fits you. You’ll never see a Parisian girl wearing clothing that’s too tight for her. Clothes are often worn oversized or loose on the body. French girls often play around with proportions and wear an oversized sweater with a slim jean for example.
Masculine blazers have also become popular among French women, in part thanks to Isabel Marant – the French designer who became known for the oversized blazer trend.
French Style Classics
There are certain items that just scream, I’m French, and although they are borderline cliché, they’re nevertheless good additions to your new French-style wardrobe.
Items like a long-sleeve striped shirt (called a marinière in French), cap-toed ballet flats (beige and black from Chanel), and a patterned silk scarf (vintage, Hermès) are timeless French style classics.
French Style Icons
Even today, French women draw inspiration from the French style icons of decades past. Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve are a few famous style icons from the 1960s which still influence the trends in France today.
Designers like Christian Dior and Yves Saint-Laurent are legends in the fashion world who reimagined womenswear at a time when it was drab and modest.
French Brands
The fashion design scene in Paris is alive and well. Designers like Isabel Marant and A.P.C. are favorites among the cool French girls of Paris.
For basics, go with Petit Bateau, a great everyday casual French clothing brand.
Affordable yet chic brands like Sandro, Maje, Comptoir des Cotonniers and Jonak have brought cool French girl style to the masses in France. Isabel Marant even launched her affordable line Étoile to great success.
Fast fashion isn’t totally dead in France, either, but French girls prefer to shop at stores like Mango, & Other Stories, and COS for quick, easy-to-wear basics.
If you’re shopping on a budget, then check out these affordable French fashion tips!
French Girl Beauty Routine
Beauty and style go hand in hand. Your beauty routine may change a bit too along with your new French girl style. The French beauty routine is similar to the style philosophy in that less is more!
French girls often dab on a bit of mascara, concealer, and lip color and call it a day when it comes to beauty. Red is the shade of choice and the brand is often Chanel.
Clarins Lip Perfector Sheer Finish
$30.00 (as of January 17, 2025 10:14 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Hair is typically left in its natural state; don’t even think about washing it every day! That’s what Klorane dry shampoo is for, of course.
Klorane Ultra-Gentle Dry Shampoo
$24.00 ($7.50 / Ounce) (as of January 17, 2025 06:54 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)For the finishing touch, you’ll want to choose a signature scent. Whether it’s custom-made at Le Labo, or a timeless classic like Chanel No. 5, make sure your perfume suits your personality. After all, the French girl knows that scent is strongly tied to memory.
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum
$86.00 (as of January 17, 2025 10:14 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)France excels as the leader of the perfume industry, so finding an amazing French fragrance won’t be too difficult!
Be Yourself
When it comes to French girl style, it’s important to be yourself! The French girl is comfortable in what she wears. Nothing is worse than tugging at a piece of clothing because it doesn’t fit right. The French girl doesn’t need to dress in revealing clothes to be sexy – because she exudes confidence, which is the sexiest thing of all.
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