I've spent a large part of my adult life essentially cosplaying a French woman. I've fully subscribed to what I admit is the cliché idea that they all dress classically, swerving trends in favour of pieces that feel more timeless and, to my delight, Parisian.
Think cotton blouses with delicate embroidery, basket bags that give good Gallic girl, and jeans without rips or tears or embellishments—just jeans that look as if they were vintage and passed down by an equally stylish maman to her fille. Having written about all things French style for over a decade now, I'm pretty confident that I can pick out the sort of thing all the stylish French women I follow would wear before they even do so. When I went into Zara this week, I couldn't help but feel like things in-store were looking very French indeed.
Between fluid tailoring and throw-on dresses, in a spectrum of neutral linen and cotton, Zara's new spring arrivals double up as the perfect French-inspired capsule. I see woven leather bags that are akin to those I've seen at flea markets filled with such bags, leather-bound books and mismatched glassware. Okay, before nostalgia swallows me whole, let's get back to the task at hand; what I think a stylish French woman would walk into Zara and contemplate buying, i.e., the perfect manifestation of my current shopping mood. Scroll below to see my edit of French-inspired Zara items, all of which are anti-trend and easy to wear. Parfait!
Shop My Anti-Trend, French-Inspired Zara Edit
A trench is a timeless staple in any French woman's wardrobe.
The chic Mary Jane meets a modern mule.
Surprising? No. Stylish? Absolutely.
Just gorgeous.
Perfect wide-leg trousers that will take you from day to night with just a change of a shoe!
Simply gorgeous.
You'd be hard pressed to find a Parisian who doesn't rely on great navy blazer.
A pretty blouse made for wearing with jeans.
For the evenings that call for a little extra sophistication.
Through all the denim trends, wide leg jeans will forever remain a staple.
A step above a T-shirt, but equally as versatile.
Suede flats are everywhere, but these might just be my favourite on the high street.
Wear with trainers, boots or ballet flats.
I'll be recreating this entire look come summer.
Wear this with wide-leg trousers, over dresses and with jeans.
This whole outfit screams Parisian to me!
I have it on good authority that French women are particularly fond of flip flops. And suede ones for that matter.
A denim cape? Yes please!
A classic that needs no explanation.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
-
European Women Have Convinced Me That This Is Spring 2025's Most Elegant Jacket TrendAnd it goes perfectly with jeans.
-
I've Worked It Out—These Are the 7 Colour Combinations French Women Wear to Look ElegantI'm inspired.
-
I've Done The Research—These 21 Trench Coats Are The Epitome Of LuxurySpring into action.
-
Jeans, Skirts, Shorts, You Name It—This Elegant Top Will Elevate Them AllFrom high street to high end.
-
I'm Building a French-Inspired Spring Wardrobe—These Sézane Pieces Impressed Me MostPrintemps in Paris.
-
Here's Everything Our Editors Wore to Paris Fashion WeekStraight from the streets of Paris.
-
I've Noticed That Fashion People In Paris Can't Stop Wearing This Chic Trench CoatThe very definition of an elevated basic.
-
This Overlooked Jeans Trend Is Back for Spring—French Women Have Already Started Wearing ItTrès chic.
