Wardrobe « à la française »
The style of Parisian women has always been one of the most chic. It is simple, timeless, and effortless. That casual look with the excellent use of basic garments is genuinely exceptional. The uniqueness of this style lies in its clever fusion of timelessness and trend.
Each country’s fashion is distinct and worthy of attention; and this time, our attention is focused on France, more specifically on Paris, La Ville Lumière, the fashion capital.
Take note because we will try to discover some of the key elements that make this style one of the most beloved. We will analyze the style of French women, going from the most relaxed looks to an afternoon cocktail or formal dinner, so you will realize that building a minimalist French wardrobe can be simpler than it appears if we find the key pieces and the right combinations, as well as prioritizing quality pieces that are ethically and sustainably manufactured.
So let’s get to work!
Defining the French style is not easy, but we can highlight some points since particular aspects are always repeated in the streets of Paris, for example:
♡ Choose basic garments as the focal point of any look
♡ Less is more
♡ Use neutral tones with a pop of color as an accent in your outfit
♡ Wear eye-catching accessories such as sunglasses, bandanas, berets, jewelry, and so on.
Furthermore, because it is an elegant and effortless style, it adapts perfectly to any age, whether you are 20, 40, or 50 years old; everyone will feel comfortable and feminine with this wardrobe that lasts season after season. And by this, I don’t mean that style never changes; fashion is a phenomenon that is always in flux, but there is always a foundation from which we can start and then add our personal touch and some trendy details.
Color palette
One of the many things I love about Paris is its color scheme. Beautiful neutral and consistent tones paint the streets, gardens, and distinguished architecture. The blue roofs, grays, fresh green and pink flowers of the Luxembourg Garden in spring, reddish, and sandy colors dominate our view with their elegance and charm, creating a simple but unique color palette.
These colors complement each other perfectly, so building our wardrobe around them eliminates difficulties when putting together an outfit. We will obtain an elegant wardrobe from which we will derive the greatest benefit.
Surely there will be tones within the Parisian palette that best suit you, so I suggest you carry out an analysis based on the tone of the clothes you already have at home, this will help us determine the color that suits you the most and you will have the easiest choice when putting together your new French chic style outfits. Stand in front of a mirror and observe how certain colors make your face glow more than others. Is charcoal gray a little too dark for you? Is steel gray a better match for your skin tone? Is the color taupe making you look pale? Consider using sand tones. When it comes to neutral colors, there are plenty of options – there’s no need to limit yourself to tried-and-true black and white.
These neutrals also offer a great base for highlighting colors. Whether it’s a bright magenta, or something more muted, you can always easily play with color accents when you have a neutral base.
By using neutral garments as the foundation of our wardrobe, we will save ourselves the trouble of deciding what to wear; the decision will now be simpler and faster, and we will waste less money because we’ll not need the full spectrum of colors to put together outfits worthy of fashion week. We will ultimately avoid fast fashion and passing trends that drive us to buy, buy, buy. That is not required! We can achieve a lot with a few carefully chosen, high-quality pieces that flatter us and make us feel like true Parisians.
Apply the capsule wardrobe technique
To achieve a very chic French style, we can follow the capsule wardrobe formula, which in short is a group of basic clothes of good quality, they may be few but they can combine perfectly with each other and form a complete wardrobe, if you want to know more about how to create the perfect capsule wardrobe for you, I recommend reading ”create the best capsule wardrobe for you” or ”how to refresh your capsule wardrobe -summer items-”.
The French style can be considered a kind of uniform, but not a boring one, instead, it avoids pieces bought on impulse or just for trend, opting for more timeless options that contribute to conscious and ecological fashion. This wardrobe consists of a simple formula for using the same pieces in different combinations.
Now I will show you some of the looks and garments that are repeated incessantly and can be considered some of the great essentials of Parisian fashion. There are clearly basic pieces of the French wardrobe that French and Parisian women wear in real life, but some others have earned the reputation of being “cliché”, so we will try to go a little further than berets, sailor shirts striped and other French fashion clichés.
To make our lives easier, we can start with a wardrobe with 6 or 7 pieces that will be our base, and later add trendy and novelty details, as well as accessories to our liking. So let’s take a look at our key garments:
♡ To begin, a button-down shirt that is appropriate for your daily routine, can be slightly fitted at the waist or have a more relaxed silhouette, depending on your preference.
Subtly dropped shoulders, for example, will give you a relaxed appearance. On the other hand, I recommend that you avoid completely tight-fitting shirts because they will not give you that minimalist French look that you seek.
Make sure the fabric is comfortable for you; just because it is a shirt does not mean it has to be rigid and heavy; you can find fabrics with a slight elasticity that will not detract from the beauty of your appearance.
♡ A garment that never fails us, that we can always trust so that our wardrobe has style, do you know what I’m talking about? A good blazer, black, white, beige! Even in a wine or slate blue color, it will always be perfect to balance the refined and the relaxed. You can choose the silhouette that best suits your body type, for example:
- If you have are a Soft Gamine choose a length that goes slightly below the waist.
- If you have a Dramatic Classic kibbe, then choose a blazer that hits right at your hips, not above or below.
- For Flamboyant Naturals or Flamboyant Gamines look for A-line blazers or ones that have a certain volume at the bottom, this will give a nice balance to your look.
- For Romantics or Theatrical Romantics, I recommend blazers with a marked waist.
Have fun with your clothes and experiment to find out what looks best on you: fitted silhouettes, slightly loose silhouettes, with or without a lapel, you decide. Remember that this garment is not only for work, it always gets us out of trouble and suits us wonderfully. AND! Always remember to pay attention to the fabric, choose something that doesn’t make you feel too structured, I want you to walk down the street like you’re floating.
♡ The Mock Neck is a simple piece that also helps us balance the lower and upper garments. It serves a double function since we can use it as a layering piece or as an independent garment.
Choose a stretch fabric that fits flatteringly. Adding something fitted to your capsule wardrobe is always a smart choice.
♡ A pair of pants-trousers with a slightly relaxed fit that moves with the body and does not feel overly formal may have tailoring details like pleats and pockets.
Although black is always essential, white or a sand color also works and is very versatile. Another good idea is to mix the fabrics of the blazer and the pants to create a set that looks like a modern take on the traditional suit.
♡ A soft satin blouse serves as a top that can be elegant on its own or accessorized under the blazer.
♡ A piece that has recently gained popularity in this style is the legging, but made of a more substantial and full-bodied fabric, it offers more comfort, coverage, and structure. It can have openings on the ankle area’s sides and even pockets.
♡ The slip dress, long or short and preferably with a silk look, combines two trends, loungewear and minimalism.
These are the items I recommend you incorporate into your French minimalist wardrobe; I am confident that you will not be disappointed and that you will be able to fully benefit from them. You can add a couple of extra suggestions if you want:
- A blue chambray or linen shirt.
- Tailored shorts in a neutral color
- A midi skirt made of silk or chiffon
- A basic thin sweater, preferably made of wool for durability.
- A masculine character’s gray coat
- Tweed jacket and skirt
- A coat in camel with a belt
- Jeans with cargo pockets
- Dare to reinvent the biker jacket with a leather overshirt
Accesories
But, of course, there are the accessories, and, as previously stated, we will not be limited to the classic beret. The great thing about Parisian style is that it is made up of simple elements that can be personalized to your liking, including clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Some of our favorites for complementing your appearance are:
- Half-round boots or riding-style boots are a classic that has gained importance.
- Sneakers, because of course, we can be elegant without losing comfort
- A bag. Consider several models and designs, keeping in mind that this bag will be with you every day of the week, so think carefully before purchasing. When making your selection, try to go with a timeless design.
- The foulard, scarf, or handkerchief also works for any occasion. Allow yourself to be creative in terms of choosing the color, texture, and print.
- Flat ballerina shoes, Mary Jane style shoes, or formal shoes with a more ´´chunky´´ touch.
- Sunglasses that enhance your beautiful features.
You can create a wide range of formal and informal outfits with these pieces and certain accessories; you just have to experiment and combine them. Remember, these are just some ideas; you don’t have to go out and buy everything; you can start your French wardrobe with clothes you already own, selecting the ones that fit you best or renewing those that have potential.
And when you go shopping, remember that a product with good materials and manufacture will last longer, so we will avoid making frequent purchases and we´ll say NO to the fast fashion system, contributing with our small actions to the big change that we want to see in the fashion industry.
Leave a Reply