I’ve been obsessed with French girl style since I was in middle school and made my first trip to Paris. I’ll never forget the purchases I brought back with me – a pair of red Zara flats, white jeans, and the cutest red and white polka dot top from a no-name boutique. I wore each of these pieces to death throughout my school years.
Since moving to Europe in 2017, I’ve found that my obsession with French girl style has only grown. I’ve picked up a lot of European style since being here, including the Dutch penchant for white sneakers. But there’s just something about French girl style that I still gravitate towards.
When you think about how to dress like a French girl, think classic basics, great skincare, comfortable yet chic shoes, and barely brushed hair. Believe it or not, that je ne sais quoi of French girl style is easier to attain than you’d think. Below I’m sharing 6 tips for how to dress like a French girl, so you can bring that extra bit of chic to your own wardrobe.
And if you’re craving a trip to France as much as I am, check out my guide to Paris here and my guide to Antibes in the south of France here.
Xx, Kelsey
It all starts with skincare
Ok, not so much a wardrobe tip, but the French skincare obsession is very real. French girls tend not to wear a lot of makeup. This works when you’ve got a fabulous skincare routine to start with. Some of my skincare favorites can be found here for summer and here for winter.
Classic basics are the way to go
When considering how to dress like a French girl, always choose high quality basics first. French girls understand the importance of high quality pieces that can be mixed and matched.
Some of the classic pieces that should be in your wardrobe include a white blouse, a great pair of jeans, a plain tee, a khaki trench, a blazer and a white button-down.
Shoes must be practical
Nothing drives me nuts more than watching Emily in Paris and seeing Emily teetering around in stilettos. The streets of Paris are all cobblestone and make it impossible to wear heels. Instead, French girls opt for block heels, flats, white sneakers, and boots (heeled or flat).
Tailoring makes all the difference
A great pair of tailored trousers or a blazer that fits just right will make your outfit 10x chicer. French girls know the power of tailoring even the least expensive pieces. If you don’t want to shell out for a tailor, but pieces like my favorite Sézane trousers that fit just so and have a tailored look.
Stick to a neutral color palette
The easiest way to dress like a French girl is to adopt a mostly neutral color palette. You won’t see Parisians running around in bold and bright prints. Instead, you’ll see a lot of white, cream, black and navy. These colors make it very easy to mix and match your whole wardrobe. Plus, neutrals always look chic.
If color is your thing, add in pieces in a solid shade. Red flats or a fuchsia blouse paired with your other classic neutral pieces will look especially stylish.
As far as patterns go, you can never go wrong with the basic striped Marinière. Whichever print you decide to go with, stick to prints that don’t feel too bright and aggressive. A neutral palette always helps here.
Don’t go over the top
When looking at how to dress like a French girl, the number one tip is not to go over the top. French girls appreciate simplicity over trying to hard. Flashy logos, too much jewelry or obnoxious prints will instantly set you apart from the French. Stick to simple gold jewelry, simple hairstyles and basic outfits, and you’re good to go.
