I Gave Myself a French-Girl Makeover—See the Pics

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

I’m enamored with French-girl style. It’s been written about on the internet countless times. There are many articles that I’ve contributed, from where Parisians get their inspiration to the coolest French brands and more. I’m heavily influenced by the fashion choices of French women, which I trace back to my time living in Paris when I would walk down the streets of the Marais and Saint Germain, utterly fascinated by their outfits. And really, it’s the simplicity of them more than anything else. They have a knack for choosing timeless pieces but style them in a way that always feels cool.

Now that I follow a number of French girls on Instagram, I’m constantly reminded of their flawless looks, and it’s inspired me to incorporate some of their wardrobe essentials into my own closet to inch my way closer to Parisian style. So I decided to take some of their fashion teachings and apply them to my own outfits for a French-style makeover. Ahead, see how I did.

Step 1: Wear a bucket bag on repeat.

Jeanne Damas is my ultimate muse when it comes to French-girl style. She consistently wears this bag from Staud, and it feels so French.

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(Image credit: @jeannedamas)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Step 2: Mix in some pink.

This is a more surprising trend recently among French girls, and pink seems to be the color they're all wearing.

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(Image credit: @sabinasocol)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Step 3: Don't forget the gold jewelry.

Classic French-girl style involves lots of gold jewelry—especially layered necklaces.

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(Image credit: @claire_most)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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Step 4: Invest in a printed dress.

A printed dress is just so Parisian. Go for patterns like polka dots or dainty florals.

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(Image credit: @rouje)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Step 5: Learn to love cardigans.

I've never thought of cardigans as especially cool per se, but after seeing Brigitte Bardot and countless Parisians wearing them, I've realized they're a French-girl essential.

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(Image credit: @adenorah)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Step 6: Leopard, leopard, leopard…

Leopard is the French-girl piece of the season. Anything from swimsuits to tops to this Réalisation skirt.

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(Image credit: @lifeofboheme)

Here's how I'm wearing it:

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Next, read about the biggest shoe trends of the the summer.

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Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.