I Went to a Parisian Friend's Birthday Party—7 Trends I Saw Among the Crowd

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

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(Image credit: @discodaydream)

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

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(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

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

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

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

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(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen)

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

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(Image credit: @bettinalooney)

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

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(Image credit: @nnennaechem)

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

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(Image credit: @endlesslyloveclub)

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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Associate Editor

Sierra Mayhew was always destined to work in fashion, but she didn't know it at first. Growing up with no choice but to wear a rotation of school uniforms and activewear, her love for fashion really blossomed when she moved away for college and was able to finally define her very own personal style. Shortly thereafter, she interned at Elle magazine and instantly knew that editorial was for her. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she worked for ShopBazaar, contributing regularly to Bazaar.com, and finally made her way to Who What Wear, where she is an associate editor. When she’s not working, you can catch her always trying to catch a flight, trying the latest fitness craze in New York City, or exploring luxury vintage boutiques.