8 French-Girl-Approved Outfits to Copy This Fall
Try these easy looks from real French girls.
Photo credit: @juliettemalerbi @elodieromy
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog.Fall is probably my favorite season to get dressed in France. The weather finally gives you an excuse to pull out boots, sweaters, and scarves, but it's not cold enough to disappear under a giant puffer every day.
Honestly, this is when French style can become really fun.
But don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest that you get a full wardrobe revamp.
That’s completely unnecessary.
So today, I pulled together eight fall outfit ideas that feel very French to me and are totally wearable. These are the kind of combinations I'd actually save for inspiration and recreate myself.
Some are classic, and some are a little more unexpected, and that’s the beauty of French style: you can adapt it and make it your own.
1. Trench Coat + Grey Pants + Sneakers
A trench coat is one of those pieces that can make a very ordinary outfit feel instantly more put-together. (If you’re shopping for one, here’s my roundup of budget-friendly trench coats under $85!).
I love it with a simple top, straight-leg jeans, and sneakers. Nothing particularly complicated is happening here, and that's kind of the point.
It's an outfit you can wear to run errands, go to lunch, or spend the day wandering around town without feeling overdressed.
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2. Barn Jacket + Jeans + Chuck Taylors
The barn jacket trend has been everywhere lately, and I'm not mad about it.
It's a little more relaxed than a traditional trench or wool coat, but pairing it with jeans and Chuck Taylors keeps the outfit from becoming too outdoorsy.
This is also a good example of something I like about French-inspired dressing: Not every piece of an outfit needs to have the same personality.
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3. Long Skirt + Fitted Sweater + Tall Boots
This might be one of my favorite fall combinations.
A long skirt makes an outfit feel elegant, while a fitted sweater and tall boots keep it balanced.
If you're not sure what to wear with long skirts once temperatures drop, this is an easy formula to keep in your back pocket.
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4. Sweater Dress + Boots
I'm always a little suspicious of outfits that require six different “rules” to make them work.
This one doesn't.
A sweater dress and boots are comfortable, warm, and still look intentional. I mean, look how @vie.de.lisa pulls this outfit off.
It’s beautiful, but also surprisingly simple.
The trick is keeping the proportions in mind. With a sweater dress, I’d recommend wearing tall boots to keep things balanced.
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5. Dark Jeans + Plaid Coat + Boots
There’s a reason some outfit combinations never really go away.
Dark denim, a plaid coat, and boots just work.
Plus, it’s an ideal outfit for late fall when the temperature really drops and you want to stay cute without freezing. I really like how @juliettemalerbi styled this outfit here.
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6. Red Cardigan + Checkered Pants + Slingbacks
This is where fall clothes get fun.
A red cardigan adds a pop of color to your outfit, and checkered pants make it original.
It's also a nice alternative if you tend to live in jeans all fall and want to wear something a little different.
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7. Leather Jacket + Dark Jeans + Boots
Leather jackets are a great fall staple, and they pair really well with dark jeans and boots. Jackets can also be worn with dresses or skirts, so you can wear your summer favorites a bit longer.
The easiest trick for extending your wardrobe into another season? Change the shoes and outer layer first.
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8. Red Sweater + Jeans + Leopard Ballet Flats
This is a very easy everyday look, but the details make it.
A cardigan, jeans, and ballet flats are nothing revolutionary. But if you go with a colorful top (red is my favorite for fall) and leopard flats, suddenly, it’s a really fun outfit you can wear on repeat in the in-between season.
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The French-Girl Fall Formula
If you’re ready to spruce up your wardrobe for fall, here’s what I’d recommend: Start with a basic French wardrobe, and then add a few fun pieces to spice things up, like leopard-print flats or checkered pants. Once you find outfit formulas you like, you can just repeat them over and over.
That's probably the part of French style I appreciate most after living in France: You don't need a new outfit every time you leave the house.
So take whichever of these looks actually feels like you, recreate it with what you already own, and then — if there's a piece missing — that's when I'd go shopping.
Much more fun that way.
What’s your favorite look? Let me know!
Xoxo,
Luba