Try These Looks and You're Practically French
When stylish women come to mind, Parisians always top that list. French women are synonymous with style, and really, part of the reason is their understated approach to fashion that always looks good. After all, they tend to opt for classic and trend-resistant pieces that will look good season after season, instead of items that will end up in the resale pile after a few months.
When it comes to the style of Parisian women, their look can be summed up in three words: nonchalant, effortless, and chic. From tailored jackets to the perfectly cut jeans to a versatile pair of suede ankle boots, French women always add pieces to their outfits that are polished without coming across as trying too hard. Here, read about the women who inspire us and embody what Parisian style looks alike today, then shop some of the pieces they’re wearing now.
SABINA SOCOL
“There’s this sort of ‘uniform’ in Paris," Sabina Socol admitted when I asked about her take on Parisian style. “Not everyone dresses the same. Of course, there are a variety of styles, but I don’t know why I can always recognize a Parisian through his or her clothes when I’m abroad. I think Parisians are all about good basics: a good pair of jeans, boots, and a cashmere sweater. Quality and shape are super important. Also, as opposed to other big fashion cities, Parisians rarely tend to overdress.”
Claire Most
Clare Most agreed: “I think there are many different kinds of styles in Paris, but there is always this effortless and easy vibe in each of them.”
Cleméntine Desseaux
Clémentine Dessaux added that the “Parisiennes are very casual-chic. They will always choose undressed as opposed to super dressed-up. They love simple designs, and they always wear something quirky, even if sometimes you don’t see it unless they get undressed. They are all about details. They will always play it cool, like they really don’t try too hard.”
Anne-Laure Mais
“I think you find your personal style when you know yourself really well,” Anne-Laure Mais noted. “But as I usually say, style is more a question of attitude, so don’t mind what you are wearing. This is more about your personality.”
Marie Blanchet
“Fashion style in Paris, I’d say, is ‘effortlessly chic’ and somehow anti–fast-fashion,” Marie Blanchet added, “which is good, I think. It is in me, so deeply rooted that it is hard to explain. I’m such a Parisian cliché I think!”
SHOP THE KEY PIECES FOR A PARISIAN-INSPIRED WARDROBE:
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear where she oversees luxury, runway content, and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
-
These New Reformation x Camille Rowe Collab Pieces Will Sell Out Fast—See All 20 Styles
She came back to serve seconds.
-
I Know Parisians Would Love These 29 Stylish Nordstrom Fall Sale Items (FYI, They're Going to Sell Out)
Elevated staples to shop on sale before Black Friday.
-
I Was a VIP Nordstrom Stylist, and I Just Got Back From France—I Wore These 7 Items to Look Chic in Paris
Parisian-inspired looks.
-
Looking Parisian in Paris Is Only Doable If You Own These 12 Fall Wardrobe Essentials
Buy them; look French. It's as simple as that.
-
I Know I'm Going to See This Specific Parisian Outfit All Over NYC and L.A. This Fall
Expect to see everyone wearing some variation of this easy, cool look.
-
6 Fashion Pieces I Regret Letting Go (and What I Learned)
The pieces I should have kept and why they still haunt me.
-
This Is the NYC Way to Wear the Anti-Trend Jeans Color French Women Are Obsessed With
As seen on NYC It girl Irina Shayk.
-
Yes, Ballet Flats Look Good With Skirts, But They Look Even Better as Part of This Parisian-Approved Combo
Very '90s.