One of my friends is a proud French woman who spends her time floating between New York City and Paris. Her style is impeccable, and although she's spent a lot of time in the U.S., she definitely has not lost that French-girl flair. She invited me to her birthday party, and the crowd's sense of style absolutely exceeded my expectations.
If you ever have the opportunity to attend a French person's birthday party, expect the unexpected. Did I think I'd spot a poplin shirtdress on her maman? Absolutely not. Did I expect leggings paired with a sequin top? Of course not. Is my shopping cart filled to the brim after this party? You guessed it. Below, find the seven trends I saw among the crowd at this birthday celebration.
1. Classic Black Dresses
You're never over- or underdressed in a classic black dress, so if you're headed to a fancy soirée and aren't sure what to wear, you probably already have this staple that does it all. French women would definitely approve, and I saw multiple people wearing black maxi dresses to the party I attended.
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2. White Tank Tops
Sometimes, all you need is a classic white tank top. Pair it with a leather jacket and denim or a strong blazer and you're good to go. It's the most effortless staple of all time.
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3. Leggings as Pants
Attending a Parisian's birthday party made me think I'd see nothing but wardrobe staples among the crowd, but this up-and-coming trend came to me as a surprise. French people aren't afraid to take risks with fashion as an expression of individualism, so go for the no-pants trend if it interests you.
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4. Timeless Watches
A good watch goes a long way. In the past years, timeless timepieces have sprung up as the investment of the moment, and that's not changing anytime soon.
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5. Blazers
A blazer for a night out is still a relatively new concept. College me would never, but now, fashion people everywhere want the corporate siren vibe that's all over TikTok. No complaints from me about this one.
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6. Denim on Denim
Whenever I don't know what to wear, you'll see me in a denim-on-denim look. It's one of my go-tos during fashion week. There was also a time when I didn't think of this as a night-out ensemble, but things have changed rapidly.
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7. Cotton Poplin
A cotton poplin daytime dress is not something I expected to see at a birthday party, yet somehow, it effortlessly fit in among the crowd at this soirée. Styling a poplin top or a poplin dress will do in any setting if you want the chic French-girl vibe.
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