It’s stereotyped and perhaps contrived, but I adore the French Girl aesthetic. Countless books and blogs dedicate their time to defining the elusive ‘je ne sais quoi’ of these mysterious women. Mainly, the ones in Paris who walk about looking so effortlessly chic and cool. Sexy, without trying too hard. To dress like a Parisian girl on a date means to look polished but undone –a formula perfect for any date night outfit. Yes, I’ve made an effort but no, I haven’t spent all afternoon getting ready for you.
For those wondering what French/Parisian style exactly is, you could summarise the look as classic, minimal, comfortable. Parisian women wear what makes them feel good. They’re not ones to follow the trends or squeeze their bodies in some tight mini dress. In a society that encourages girls to buy more products and make more effort, their simplicity feels refreshing.
French wardrobe essentials
To dress like a Parisian girl on a date, you can either wear typical French girl essentials or adopt the supposed French girl rules on dressing. Wardrobe pieces include:
- Camel coats/trench coat
- Ballet pumps
- Cami top
- Oversized blazer
- Little black dress
- Oversized jumper
- Straight leg jeans
- White button-down shirt
Rather than going out and trying to buy all these pieces, you can dress like a Parisian girl on a date by remembering a few of their style tips. According to Who What Wear, Parisian women focus on a ‘50/50 ratio’ – they wear flirty items like mini skirts with relaxed, loose tops, they don’t wear impossible to walk in heels and they balance their accessories with their clothes, like a colourful bag with a neutral outfit.
Frenchstyle.co say Parisians avoid impulse purchases (which include trends), ‘wear colour sparingly’ and shop based on their body type.
Here are 3 looks I put together for creating that Parisian date night look. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Find out more on my privacy policy.
Silk cami and jeans
Vogue lists a cami top as a staple every French girl has in her wardrobe. To me, it’s the perfect evening piece. It’s sexy, sultry, adds a little glam to a pair of jeans. I would pair with an oversized blazer and strappy shoe for a true Parisian chic look. You can of course wear standard blue jeans but I love the idea of wearing white – unless I’m going out for dinner where I’ll inevitably stain them with food! This is my ideal bar outfit.
Plain top and patterned trousers
Ever since seeing Audrey Hepburn wear cropped trousers in Funny Face, I’ve decided I love them. If I’m going out to a restaurant, I much prefer wearing trousers as oppose to jeans. They feel comfier and more forgiving when dealing with food bloat. While typically, a Parisian look would style plain black, I like breaking away from block colours with check pattern. The pair I’m wearing are from Uniqlo and are ultra-stretchy so they feel super comfortable and fit my body well. To make this outfit fancier, I paired with a classic French red lip and messy ponytail. I propose styling with black midi heel and a black wrap coat to let the red lipstick do all the talking.
Oversized jumper and tailored skirt
Coffee shop date…? The thing I find with skirts – too long and it feels too formal/work, too short and I’m forever panicking about my underwear being on show. When I went to drop clothes off at a charity shop, I came across the skirt I’m wearing and decided it was my ideal length. Thinking about the Parisian girl style, I chose to pair with a loose jumper to ensure I didn’t appear too overdressed. The jumper helps make the skirt more casual. To me, this outfit goes best with a pair of ballet shoes and maybe some stud earrings.
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