8 Cool Dress Trends French Women Are Wearing This Season

Woman wearing a strapless polka-dot dress.

(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Ah, dresses and French style—two subjects I love to talk about. Since I'm an avid fan of the French aesthetic and forever inspired by their effortlessly chic style, I did a deep dive into the dress styles French women are loving this season in the hope to inspire my own warm-weather wardrobe and perhaps yours too! After all, if there's one item that's racking up a lot of miles on the style odometer this season, it's a versatile one-and-done dress.

Keep scrolling to see eight dress trends that are getting the French-girl stamp of approval this summer, from timeless silky slip dresses to pretty floral prints.

Silky Slips

Woman wearing a slip dress.

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

Simple slip dresses are a dress style practically every French woman wears in the summer. They're easy to style for both day and night. Whether you opt for a vintage-inspired one with lace trim or a simple midi silhouette, the versatile dress always looks chic.

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Pretty Prints

Woman wearing a yellow floral-print dress.

(Image credit: @sabinasocol)

From classic polka dots to delicate florals, the French adore pretty printed dresses. Whether you go for a slip-style silhouette or a long-sleeve mini, these options exude the effortlessly chic aesthetic the French are known for.

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Minimalistic Low Backs

Woman in black dress with low back.

(Image credit: @tamaramory)

One dress style I've noticed a lot this summer is alluring open-back dresses—some with delicate tie details, others bare and low. So chic.

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Fit-and-Flare Dresses

Woman in fit-and-flare dress.

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

A more recent trend I'm seeing French woman embrace this season is dresses with fuller skirts. Whether it's a drop waist or fit-and-flare minidress, I'm spotting this trending silhouette on the streets of Paris and beyond.

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Leopard Print

Woman in leopard print dress.

(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

While leopard print is certainly trending this season, the French consider it a classic in their year-round wardrobes. Touches of leopard print via a bag or shoes reign supreme, but we're also seeing plenty of leopard-print dresses this summer in sleek silhouettes such as slips and shift minis.

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Sheer

Woman in black maxi dress with sheer detail.

(Image credit: @vikilefevre)

Subtle-meets-sexy sheer dresses are having a moment this season in France, ranging from lace maxi dresses to ethereal and breezy transparent fabrics in neutral and black hues.

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Crochet

Woman wearing a crochet dress.

(Image credit: @tamaramory)

The French are all about Jane Birkin–inspired crochet and open-knit dresses, especially when it comes to vacation dressing. Opt for versatile neutral colors to keep the look polished.

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Stripes

Woman in striped dress and ballet flats.

(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Yes, it's true—the French love their stripes. This summer, the fashion set has been reaching for casual styles in the classic print, from tank dresses to T-shirt dresses styled with ballet flats and sleek sandals.

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Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith Jones is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.