How To Recreate Modern French-Girl Style
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Follow a few key rules: never try too hard, always mix feminine and masculine details, prioritise timeless pieces over trends and choose good-quality fabrics. These are the guidelines that will keep your look grounded while still allowing room for personal touches.
Nail the foundations. In my eyes, French-girl style is, at its core, effortless and minimalist and standout accessories are what add edge or personality – maybe that’s a vintage designer bag, a cool hat or a pair of earrings found at a Paris vintage market. It’s about mixing up the smaller elements to keep the look modern, not dated.
Find your muses. I’d describe my personal style as masculine-feminine chic. I’ve always been inspired by Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn, Loulou de la Falaise, Jane Birkin and 90s muses like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and Penélope Cruz. These references are classic, but I like to make them feel right for the modern world through the styling.
Create a signature outfit formula. My go-to is a white, oversized button-down, vintage Levi’s jeans, loafers, statement earrings from my brand Muse Rebelle, Ray-Ban Wayfarers and a standout vintage bag like a Chanel flap or Hermès Herbag. I layer it all under a trench or oversized blazer – comfy yet polished. My most treasured piece? A vintage Chanel Blizzard Zip Flap Bag from Karl Lagerfeld’s 2011 show – it’s such a unique piece and full of fashion history.
Build on those timeless staples. Every woman needs three key pieces to master French style: a crisp button-down, well-fitting jeans (either straight-leg or wide-leg), and statement earrings to elevate even the most casual look.
Avoid cliché combinations. One of the biggest mistakes I see people making is piling on too many stereotypes – like a beret with a floral dress or a Breton stripe top with a painter’s bag. A truly stylish French woman balances something feminine with sneakers or boots or toughens up the vibe with a structured blazer and black Ray-Bans.
Resist looking overly styled. Another misstep is trying too hard to look effortless. Authentic French style is more about balance and intuition. It’s not about dressing like you live in a fragrance ad in front of the Eiffel Tower – it’s about being yourself, just maybe a little bit more refined. French women also love oversized pieces and know how to let one trendy item shine through without overpowering the look. I’d limit trends to one per outfit. I’m personally not big on trends but when I do work one in, I stick to just one.
Find the right denim. For me, it’s always wide-leg, straight or cropped jeans – nothing too tight. Too often, people fall for the cliché of super-skinny jeans and a striped top when trying to ‘do’ French style, but the modern Parisian look is far more relaxed. While double denim is very much on-trend right now, French women have been wearing it for decades, often pairing vintage jeans with sharp blazers or statement accessories for a fresh edge.
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Pay attention to your shoes. Moccasins or vintage kitten-heeled mules, like classic Manolos, are my go-tos. They add polish and make even the simplest jeans-and-shirt combo feel intentional and styled.
Lean into tailoring. French women have a gift for making tailoring look cool, not stiff. I embrace imperfect details – half-tucked shirts, rolled sleeves, oversized fits and a masculine twist like a boxy blazer or loafers. That slightly undone silhouette keeps the look current.
Use colour in clever ways. I’ve always loved burgundy as an accent and enjoy playing with unexpected combinations like brown and pink or burgundy and dark blue. My advice? Know what flatters you, stick to two or three shades and keep the palette tight for a more elevated feel.
Let accessories tell the story. Vintage clip-on earrings, chain belts (especially Chanel-inspired) and vintage designer bags – think Fendi, Gucci or Hermès – are the pieces I reach for. They inject personality and stop a look from feeling too polished or predictable.
Invest in a timeless trench. A trench coat, ideally oversized or vintage, is the outerwear piece every stylish French woman owns. Worn over modern silhouettes or unexpected combinations, it pulls the whole look together. If you’re really refreshing your wardrobe though, start with an oversized blazer. It’s a timeless foundation that opens up endless styling options and always keeps things cool.
Incorporate subtle seasonal updates. Right now, loafers, butter yellow colours and barrel-leg jeans are all having a moment. These small touches can instantly refresh a look without straying from a timeless foundation.
Keep an eye on emerging brands. Some of my favourite under-the-radar French labels are Hod Paris, Musier Paris, Herman and Virginie Voncken. I also have to shout out my own brand, Muse Rebelle – we’re small, self-funded and make statement jewellery with a vintage-meets-modern vibe.
Take inspiration from past and present campaigns. I love older campaigns from the 90s – Jil Sander, J.Crew or Calvin Klein – but also love what Jacquemus is doing today. His work feels fresh, lively and true to his French roots. The recent YSL shows have been another standout, mixing masculine tailoring with feminine accents in a way that feels both timeless and current.
Track down the best vintage spots. I love hunting for vintage treasures at Paris markets. My top picks are Nouvelle Rive and The Statement in Le Marais – a neighbourhood full of gems to help you build a one-of-a-kind wardrobe.
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