From the runway to our social feeds, French fashion trends are taking center stage. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Home to one of the fashion capitals, France has long been a launchpad for desirable new fashions that the rest of the world can’t wait to adopt. There’s no shortage of influential women who have pioneered the “Parisian Chic” style through the decades, from silver screen icons like Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve to runway legends like Constance Jablonski and Noémie Lenoir. The aesthetic is characterized by a cool simplicity and an effortlessly-sexy vibe — exactly the energy you’ll want to channel in 2022. Below, CR breaks down the five classic French girl fashions that are having a moment.
The Beret
Popping up in Philosophy’s Spring/Summer 2022 show and polarizing Netflix series Emily In Paris, the beret proves itself an always-in-style winter staple. The classic cap has come a long way from its revolutionary roots in the mid-20th century, with Parisian Chic adopters finding that bright colors and oversized shapes keep the hat from feeling cliche. The rise in oversized berets in particular opens the door to increased customization using enamel pins and other bling. Matching your beret to your coat and bag like in the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 menswear show is optional, but a big plus.
Ballet Flats
Boasting humble beginnings in ballet schools, ballet flats gained a mid-century boost in popularity thanks to starlets like Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn donning these shoes in their films. More recently, the shoe has seen a resurgence as part of the revival of Tumblr’s Twee aesthetic (think classic Zooey Deschanel style). Celebrities like Emma Roberts and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt make the case that ballet flats are equally worthy of going shopping and strutting down the red carpet. On the catwalk, Chanel and Dior are two of many big names incorporating ballet flats in enviable high fashion ensembles.
The White Button-Down
Whether paired with straight-leg pants or layered under a slouchy jacket, the white button-down shirt is a timeless staple of French It-girls everywhere. This basic has been all over #parisianchic Instagram, with trendsetters like Zoïa Mossour demonstrating its versatility. A Fashion Week favorite, you can spy white button-down blouses in 2021 shows from heavy hitters like Etro and Jonathan Simkhai. Styling this top is easy — the real challenge is finding one that can resist wrinkling after a few wears.
Cardigans
Coco Chanel was one of the early originators of the women’s cardigan in the 1920s, putting her signature French flair on the English invention. Today, everything from cream-colored to striped and even multi-colored cardigans are taking over. Just last month, the trendy outerwear was featured at the Chanel Metiers D’Art 2022 show. Gucci’s headline-making “Love Parade” runway show put a twist on the sartorial standard by heaping on black fur trim. Wear your cardigan stylishly unbuttoned, or snag one designed to be 99 percent open a la the famous Jacquemus cardigan.
The Pilgrim Collar
Mom-and-daughter label MaisonCléo is at the fore of modern, sustainable French fashion. One thing the duo includes in almost every collection they drop: the pilgrim collar, often paired with blouses or throwback dresses. As the name suggests, the collar originated with the fashion of early pilgrims, but there’s nothing matronly about modern adaptations of this classic accessory. The designers at Gucci and Chanel used unique pilgrim-style collars to elevate looks during fashion week in Milan and Paris.
