I've spent a large part of my adult life essentially cosplaying a French woman. I've fully subscribed to what I admit is the cliché idea that they all dress classically, swerving trends in favour of pieces that feel more timeless and, to my delight, Parisian. Think cotton blouses with delicate embroidery, basket bags that give good Gallic girl, and jeans without rips or tears or embellishments—just jeans that look as if they were vintage and passed down by an equally stylish maman to her fille. Having written about all things French style for over a decade now, I'm pretty confident that I can pick out the sort of thing all the stylish French women I follow would wear before they even do so. When I went into Zara this week, I couldn't help but feel like things in-store were looking very French indeed.
Between fluid tailoring and throw-on dresses, in a spectrum of neutral linen and cotton, Zara's spring edit doubles up as the perfect French-inspired capsule. I see woven leather bags that are akin to those I've seen at flea markets filled with such bags, leather-bound books and mismatched glassware. Okay, before nostalgia swallows me whole, let's get back to the task at hand; what I think a stylish French woman would walk into Zara and contemplate buying, i.e., the perfect manifestation of my current shopping mood. Scroll below to see my edit of French-inspired Zara items, all of which are anti-trend and easy to wear. Parfait!
Shop My Anti-Trend, French-Inspired Zara Edit
A trench is a timeless staple in any French woman's wardrobe.
Just gorgeous.
These come in back and white, so take your pick!
If a French woman is heading on a night out, this is the exact dress she'd wear.
Surprising? No. Stylish? Absolutely.
A pretty blouse made for wearing with jeans.
You'd be hard pressed to find a Parisian who doesn't rely on great blue denim.
How cute is the belt on this jacket!
I'll be recreating this entire look come summer.
Wear with trainers, boots or ballet flats.
The French-approved way to do boho fringing.
A classic that needs to explanation.
Suede totes are everywhere, but this chocolate brown style might just be my favourite on the high street.
I have it on good authority that French women are particularly fond of slingbacks. And burgundy for that matter.
Wear this with wide-leg trousers, over dresses and with jeans.
The prettiest white midi around.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
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