Fall feels like the ultimate season for French fashion. Maybe that’s because nothing is more Parisian than a trench coat and a classic pair of straight jeans. French women are known for their understated, chic style built on a capsule wardrobe of timeless pieces. Parisian women specifically invest in high quality items that never go out of style and amount to an enviable, effortless look any way they are styled. To me, the French way of dressing is the sexiest as well, as they always look natural and show just the right amount of skin. No matter the woman’s age, she seems to know how to balance her overall look perfectly. It must be something innate, passed down through the generations.
If you’re looking to imitate chic Parisian style this fall, here are 15 quintessential looks straight from the streets of Paris.
01. Trench Coat
It’s hard to think of chic Parisian style and not conjure up an image of a trench coat. A trench coat is one of those neutral pieces that goes with any outfit and any season. It’s timeless and trendless and therefore very very French!
02. Oversized Blazer
A menswear style blazer is also a very French way to wear outerwear in the fall. It’s one of those effortless “I just borrowed this from my boyfriend” type style tricks that is so enviable. It’s a great layering piece that pairs easily back to jeans or dresses and elevates even the most basic outfit.
03. Oversized Wool Coat
I think of French designers like Isabel Marant and her amazing oversized wool coats styled to perfection. You can see French girls everywhere on the streets of Paris in the winter with this statement piece. Whether they wear classic camel coats, a neutral color or a plaid pattern, French girl style is incomplete without one!
04. Chanel Style Jacket
Chanel designed this jacket style in 1956 to immediate popularity and it is just as covetable today. Worn as a set with a matching skirt or casually with a pair of jeans, this look is as classic, timeless, ageless and French as it gets.
If you love this jacket, here are 13 of the Best Ways to Style a Timeless Chanel Jacket.
05. Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is another one of those casual pieces that stands the test of time. It may not be the most classic Parisian look, but because it is so effortless to wear and layer, it certainly qualifies.
06. Ballet Flats
What is more French than a classic pair of Chanel ballet flats or one of Repetto’s modern takes on the style? It’s one of those Parisian wardrobe staples everyone needs. They combine style with comfort and can be paired with any outfit for a chic look.
07. Espadrilles
Espadrilles are a French go-to for footwear. (Can everyone envision the famous family portrait of Jane Birkin in her cutoff denim shorts and espadrilles?!). Whether they are flats or wedges, they are a chic and versatile staple that encapsulates chic Parisian style.
08. Knee-High Boots
High boots or riding boots are an easy way to incorporate French fashion into your look. Style with a pair of classic jeans or a mini skirt like Leia Sfez did during Paris fashion week for a sexy look.
09. Straight-Leg Jeans
A great pair of jeans is an essential part of Parisian chic style. Straight-leg jeans specifically are one of those classic pieces that every French woman has in her wardrobe. While denim trends come and go, a straight pair never goes out of style.
10. Black Pants
A pair of black pants are timeless and can be paired as easily with sneakers as with heels. This versatility makes it a French staple and provides an endless supply of outfit ideas. Monochromatic looks are also a cinch to style with a great pair of black pants. Here are 12 amazing ways to style black pants.
11. Striped Shirt
A striped top is classic but never boring. (same goes for a simple white button-down shirt). The French just seem to know how to style it to perfection with a few buttons undone, tucked perfectly into a pair of high-waist jeans or a skirt.
12. Striped Tee
A striped tee, specifically Breton, is at the top of the list of classic Parisian style. It’s a casual piece that can be paired back to so many things, depending on your personal style. Jeans one day, a skirt the next….the possibilities are endless.
13. Striped Sweater
Stripes just seem to be a neutral in French fashion as they are worn back to everything, all year round. For a cozy take on the stripe, pair a sweater with jeans or tie one around your neck as a simple way to help accessorize your look.
14. Little Black Dress
A black dress that’s easy to throw on for any occasion is something every French woman has in her closet. It’s an effortless way to get dressed up which is the key to French fashion.
15. Sweater Dress
A sweater dress with knee high boots is an easy and sexy fall look. In neutral colors, it’s a classic and effortless way to wear a dress in the cooler months.
