One of my tried and true personal style formulas is to dress like I am in Paris. What does that mean? Simple, classic and put together outfits.

These – what I’m calling “French Aesthetic Outfits” are tailored and made up of timeless pieces that are equal parts fashion and function. I want these outfits to hold up for a day out in the city and look appropriate for a variety of occasions. It’s my take on French fashion and French inspired style and I hope these looks will inspire you to invest in classic pieces and mix and match your wardrobe in a variety of ways.

French Aesthetic Outfits

You’ll notice a lot of repeats in the looks below. Tailored blazers, tweed jackets, ankle crop jeans, black pants, timeless shoes like ballet flats, loafers and black booties and versatile sweaters.

The Trench Coat with Black Pants

I never go to Paris without a trench coat. It’s the perfect topper much of the year when you travel to Paris and it always brings together an outfit. Pair it with a black pant, with cropped jeans or over a dress. This style is classic from J.Crew and I love that it has a hood that is detachable. Wearing above: The MM.LaFleur Jensen Trench.

Black Tweed Blazer with White Tee and Jeans

In my book you can never go wrong with a tee and a blazer and a tried and true styling for me is with high waisted jeans (these are my favorites) and a slingback shoe or ballet flat.

The Plaid Blazer

An oversized blazer in a print is such a versatile piece. I love this one (size 2) and own it in several colors. It fits well over thinner sweaters and pairs well with a myriad of jeans in my collection. 

Meeting Ready Outfit

A tailored jacket with black pants and comfortable black pumps is what I wear to dressier meetings often and you’ll see this on the streets of Paris during rush hour, too.

The Year Round Coat

This coat is a workhorse in my coat closet. I love the tailored fit of it and that you can wear it layered and accessorized in cooler months or with a more feminine blouse in warmer months. I recommend sizing up.

Colored Tweed with Little Black Pants

I don’t wear much color but when I do it is often in a moody tweed jacket because I love how it pairs with a black pant or a jean and a great pair of heels.

Leather Jacket + a Classic Button Down

Two timeless pieces in my wardrobe that I’ve had for years are my Vince leather jacket and a well-fitting button down. I love this investment leather jacket and this one as a more affordable option.

Classic Overcoat

A timeless topper – a wool overcoat elevates any outfit instantly. Wearing this one in a size 4 but you can find really similar ones by Mango. More of my favorite coats.

Cropped Tweed Jacket and Stripes and Straight Leg Jeans

These Levi’s Straight Leg jeans are a great take on an ankle crop jean. Instead of being skinny, they finish with a slightly casual distressed straight hem. I absolutely love them paired with a slingback heel. They go great with a cropped more fitted jacket and of course a solid or a striped tee is a perfect layer underneath.

Sweater Jacket

A sweater jacket is one of my favorite pieces to carry to throw on top of a tee and look instantly more leveled up. This one is my personal favorite and I own it in two versions!

Versatile Cardigan

This sweater kind of does it all. Which explains why I now own it in three colors! Wear it frontwards or backwards or with jeans, pants or with a skirt or over a dress unbuttoned.

Sleek Black Blazer with a Feminine Flat

If you don’t have a black blazer that you feel great in, there’s no time like the present. It’s an instant mood booster and can be restyled throughout the year in loads of ways.

Puff Sleeve Sweater and Tweed Skirt

I love balancing a more straight mini skirt with a puff sleeve shoulder. This is a go-to look of mine for more dressy occasions in cooler months. Pair with a beret for an extra French touch and sock booties for height.

Plaid Pants with Ballet Flats

Plaid pants are always in my suitcase to wear in Paris. You’ll see them on the streets often and they are a nice break from jeans.

Chanel Inspired Tweed Jacket

Chanel jackets aren’t in my budget for now so I always snag a lookalike tweed jacket or tweed blazer when I see one for a good price and quality. I love pairing them with cropped black jeans and a ballet flat.

Boyfriend Tweed Jacket

By now you know I love a tweed jacket – this oversized take is a nice way to balance out more feminine details.

Sweater Dress and Over the Knee Boots

Perfect for Fall & Winter, a sweater dress with over the knee boots and a good tailored jacket is a great way to look chic from day to night.

Floral Dress

Florals? For Spring? Not so groundbreaking but I always welcome a floral print dress in Spring and Summer when it comes to my French aesthetic in warmer months with a sleek sandal. In Fall I swap in leather knee-high boots.

Light Colored Tweed Blazer

This light colored tweed blazer has a great fit and is perfect to wear year round. 

 

A-Line Skirt + Sock Booties

Perfect for a night out, I love an a-line mini skirt with sock booties and topped with a feminine blouse or cropped jacket.

Striped Tee and Blazer with Loafers

You can’t go wrong with a striped tee topped with a blazer and paired with a classic loafer. I’d wear a version of this outfit every day if I could. It’s perfect for exploring, a day of meetings, coffee dates, you name it. It’s classic French girl style.

Ruffle Tee with Jeans + Heels

I love a feminine top especially in spring and summer. This one is from Hill House. Wearing a M.

Oversized Belted Coat with Ankle Jeans

A go-to Fall and Winter look for me to wear in France and in New York is wearing an oversized belted coat with straight leg ankle jeans. My favorite styles of these coats are from & Other Stories.

French Wardrobe Basics

Build a wardrobe of quality basics inspired by French style and you’ll always have a bunch of classic outfits you can wear and mix and match over and over again. These items shouldn’t be trendy versions – rather pieces that will never go out of style, make you feel great and can be worn a myriad of ways.

Here’s my handy check list for you to help build out a French Aesthetic capsule wardrobe like mine!

A Great T-Shirt

A Striped Tee

A Classic Button Down

A Leather Jacket

A Trench Coat

A Cashmere Sweater

A Loafer

A Ballet Flat

A Classic Over Coat

A Tailored Blazer

A Tweed Jacket

Hope you found these looks inspiring! You can pin them now to come back to later whenever you’re feeling lack of inspiration and want to get dressed in an outfit you love!

p.s. a Paris packing list for the Fall and the best breakfast spots in Paris.