French Girls Are All Over These Under-$100 Trends
Lately, I’ve noticed a bit of a style shift among the French women I follow on Instagram. The classic items we know as quintessentially French are still present—think striped shirts and ballet flats—yet, there’s something new added to the mix. Yes, I think the French set is getting trendy up in here. What I have fondly dubbed “trend spread” is bound to happen when we’re all drinking from the same Instagram fashion well. Yet there are still French nuances to the expression of the same trends we’re seeing stateside. There’s a slightly subtler approach, whether they’re taking on bold trends like color clashing and leopard or more understated ones like polka dots and basket bags. Scroll down to see what I mean and shop the affordable pieces I’m snapping up to try trends the French way.
Bold Color Pairings
A discret color palette is no longer the epitome of chic, as French women are experimenting with the bold color trend. We love power clashing stateside, and it seems to be catching on there too.
Shop the trend
Leopard
Leopard is a pretty in-your-face trend, but that isn’t stopping many French women from trying the look. It seems the cult status of faux French brand Réalisation Par’s slip skirt may have had something to do with the popularity. The now sold-out piece was just restocked days ago!
Shop the trend
Square Neckline
We are obsessed with square necklines in the U.S., and it makes perfect sense that the French are too. After all, there is a Marie Antoinette sensibility to the style.
Shop the trend
Contrast Buttons
This is a bit more of a sleeper trend, but it seems to have captured the imaginations of France’s most stylish set. You can get the look easily yourself by swapping out understated, tonal buttons for larger contrasting ones.
Shop the trend
Basket Bags
A basket bag on a French girl is a tale as old as time. There’s nothing new here, but we included it to remind you that they’re still trending.
Shop the trend
Polka Dots
It seems the French are just as susceptible to the trends Jacquemus sets as we are in the U.S. It’s confirmed that the polka-dot renaissance sparked by the French designer is still going strong.
Shop the trend
Next up, 98 items in my cart that are under $100.
Kat Collings has over 15 years of experience in the editorial fashion space, largely in digital publishing. She currently leads the vision for editorial content at WhoWhatWear.com as the site's editor in chief, having risen through the editorial ranks after joining the company in 2012. Collings is a Digiday Future Leader Awards nominee, was named Buzzfeed's best fashion Instagram accounts of the year, and is a member of the CFDA Awards Fashion Guild. Prior to Who What Wear, Collings worked on styling projects for brands such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, and Oliver Peoples. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in communications and calls Los Angeles home.
-
I'm Sad Too, But According to Parisians, These 7 Trends Aren't Making the Cut in 2025
Plus, the seven that are.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
People in Paris Wear These 4 Elegant Items, and They'll Be Essentials in 2025
Chic staples ahead.
By Bobby Schuessler
-
IG Has Billions of Accounts, But These 6 French Creators Will You Teach You Everything to Know About Style
Let them transport you straight to Paris.
By Emma Spedding
-
5 Affordable Wardrobe Investments French Women Are Making in 2025
On y va!
By Ana Escalante
-
This French Brand Has the Perfect Anti-Canvas Tote—and It's Already Trending
It's time to say goodbye to that scruffy old canvas shopper.
By Emma Spedding
-
6 Winter Accessory Trends All the Chic French Women Are Suddenly Into
The easiest outfit upgrades.
By Natalie Cantell
-
I Haven't Shopped at Old Navy in 10 Years, and Now I'm Back—25 Finds That Look So Expensive
Everything is under $100.
By Michelle Scanga
-
I Sniffed Out All the Chicest Under-$100 Pieces From the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale so You Don't Have To
BRB, adding them to my cart.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes