The 2021 French Wardrobe: 7 Items Chic Women in Paris Will Wear

We're always enamored with French-girl style. What can we say? This set just perfectly masters that "je ne sais quoi" approach to dressing. So naturally, we're always intrigued at the items chic women in Paris gravitate towards. On that note, we thought we'd tap one of our favourite Parisian follows, Aïda Sané, to learn about some of the pieces she thinks will help make up the ultimate 2021 French wardrobe.
That's right—the mastermind behind @basicstouch thinks the seven items coming your way will be front-runners in the wardrobes of many women in Paris (herself included). "So to be fair, French women have such a classic style that it doesn't really change radically with trends, but here are some items that I might think French women would wear in 2021," Sané said.
With all that in mind, keep scrolling to uncover an edit of a few pieces to consider this year. Oh, you'll also uncover visual inspo of Sané and other French women, along with inspired shopping picks in case you're ready to try any of the looks in question.
Maxi Coats
"I've personally always been a fan of big oversized coats, but back then, it was not a big thing. However, I started to see more of this maxi coat trend in the streets (between two lockdowns). The long maxi coat might be huge in 2021 as it's warm, cosy, and chic at the same time. Nothing is better than being wrapped in a big long coat on a freezing day."—Sané
Faux-Leather Separates
"Faux leather is still popular with French women, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the classic biker jacket style. It's all about a long trench coat style, shorts, or in an oversized blazer for a '90s vibe."
Puffer Coats
"A puffer coat is the perfect item for cold winter, and it can be worn in a very chic way with a nice wool or cashmere sweater and a chunky scarf with boots. I do think that there's nothing more elegant than being dressed appropriately, according to the weather."
Loungewear and Matching Sets
"Loungewear has been one of these essential must-haves this year with lockdown. It's now part of our wardrobes for the good—not only for home but also for casual days and errands. The little chic touch that I've noticed with French women is to wear matching sets—sometimes with a long oversized coat in the same colour as the set or in a coordinated colour palette, so you look more put together without even trying."
Knee-High Boots and Chunky Flat Boots
"Boots are a must-have for every autumn and winter season, so it's no surprise they're still on the list, especially high knee boots or biker boots."
Plaid Outerwear
"Mostly with outerwear, check prints can instantly add a sophisticated touch to an outfit."
Masks
"Wearing a mask is no doubt part of our new routine now. I've seen a lot of us styling their mask in more classic colors (like I did) and more colorful ones as well."
Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2021 fashion trends to know.
This piece originally appeared on Who What Wear U.S.
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent 10 years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises.
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