I spend a lot of my work time analysing the wardrobes of French women. From the microtrends they adopt each season to the brands they shop most regularly, there's so much we can learn from our Parisian counterparts, and there's nothing I love more than decoding what's currently making them tick. Today's focus? Colour!
Newsflash: French women wear colour. The French aesthetic is often portrayed as one centred around staples and a largely neutral palette, and this is definitely the case—most of the French women I religiously follow rely on classic, everyday pieces to build their outfits—but they do still make room for colour. It just comes with a bit of nuance.
On the cusp of a new season, I was eager to see which shades my favourite French fashion people were already wearing, so I scouted their most recent looks, and soon, a pattern began to emerge. There were five distinct fashion colour trends that I kept seeing over and over, and unsurprisingly, they were particularly elegant. French women have a knack for unearthing items with longevity, and that can certainly be said for the colours I'm about to talk you through.
Avoiding the anti-trend likes of black, white and navy, scroll on to see the five elevated colour trends French women are wearing for 2024.
5 French-Woman Colour Trends to Try in 2024
1. Pale Yellow
Style Notes: French women always manage to look rich, and I truly believe this comes down to their collective preferred palette. Even when they do "colour" it's with nuance, and this pale yellow shade is the perfect example of their ethos.
Where bright yellow might be overpowering, this muted tone works just like a neutral—think a variation on warm beige or taupe—to lift darker colours without jarring the overall look.
Shop the Colour:
This vintage-looking jacket will earn you so many compliments.
Just add a grey knit and ballet flats.
V-neck jumpers are having a moment.
2. Rich Brown
Style Notes: Brown was one of the biggest colour trends last year, but French women have long been wearing the versatile tone, cementing its relevance for 2024 as well.
From top-to-toe trouser-and-jacket looks like the one above to easy, throw-on brown dresses, French women use this shade as a soft alternative to black and navy.
Shop the Colour:
I own this coat in grey, but the brown is very tempting indeed.
These come in a slew of chic colours.
This Aspinal bag has gone straight to the top of my wish list.
3. Cool Grey
Style Notes: All-grey outfits were core to the 2023 aesthetic, with French women continuing to show their appreciation for the cool shade as we head further into 2024.
Match your grey tones to make your look cohesive, or layer charcoal with dove to create a subtle clash. Note: grey also makes a great base for brighter hues such as red. Speaking of which…
Shop the Colour:
Such a great jacket shape (one that'll layer even over the chunkiest of knits).
Your favourite Skims dress in a mini hemline.
Pencil skirts are another major French-girl 2024 trend.
4. Fiery Red
Style Notes: Red might be on trend for 2024, but this bright, tomato-red shade is actually very timeless and never really falls out of favour. Hence why it proves ever popular amongst French women who embrace classic style.
Red accessories are an easy way to nod to the trend, as is a red jumper, which you can throw on with everything from jeans to miniskirts.
Shop the Colour:
There's nothing more luxurious than a cashmere jumper.
So elegant—I'd wear these with on-trend pedal pushers.
I just know this Mango jacket will fly.
5. Chic Olive
Style Notes: When it comes to shades of green, olive is perhaps the most versatile to match to, which is precisely why French women have zeroed in on it.
As seen here, olive green is another colour that creates an ideal base for brighter hues you might want to experiment with, making it a handy addition to any wardrobe.
Shop the Colour:
Arket's best-selling blazer now comes in this khaki colourway.
Roomy enough for all your essentials, but still very chic.
Zara always does this colour especially well.
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