How To Dress Like A Flawless French Woman In Spring When You’re 40+
All it takes are these exact things.
Image from Sézane
by The Candidly Team
Do we not all secretly wish we had the effortless style of a chic French woman?
Ok fine, for us it’s not so secret. We’ve written exhaustively about it HERE and HERE … oh, and also HERE.
Call it what you will (obsession comes to mind), but we believe that our faith (nicer word) in the French woman’s wardrobe is completely well founded. Especially since we turned 40.
Why? Because it’s timeless and sophisticated and all the other vogue-y adjectives. But … it’s also just plain cool. Effortless. It’s built around classic pieces that fit amazing and make us look our best. So we can mix and match them daily and always come off wildly put together.
And this is as true in spring as it is in winter, fall, or summer. But what you need to make it work is this:
Staples.
Carefully selected, seasonal pieces from carefully selected, seasonal categories.
We could talk all day about why we trust deeply in these clothes. Or we could just show them to you.
Ok. Allons-y!
1. The Airy Marinière
What: Universal Standard Montauk Breton Stripe Bell Sleeve Top
Why it works so well: This boatneck, striped tee is in every French woman’s closet because it equates to instant chicness. This particular version from Universal Standard comes in a buttery knit jersey in several perfect stripe combinations, and you can even choose from a 3/4 sleeve, a short sleeve, a tank or this bell sleeve, which we adore. It’s great for thicker arms and/or wider shoulders. And it makes it so much breezier in warmer months.
Price: $88
2. The Quintessentially French Cropped Jeans
What: Sézane Le Crop
Why it works so well: Sézane is the ultimate “cool girl” brand of France. And the pieces they make are the kind of quality and design most brands are charging 3x as much for. We start with their perfect shape, cropped jean which is the daily, go-to denim cut we’ve been waiting for. Several times, we’ve asked someone where they got their amazing jeans and they’ve told us it’s this pair from Sézane. Because of their high-waisted, not-too-wide, and sliiiiiightly flared shape, they nip the tum and make legs look longer, so they really do look good on everyone.
Price: $125
3. The Light and Luxe Leather Sneak
What: Soludos The Ibiza Classic Sneaker
Why it works so well: French women wear graceful white sneakers with cropped jeans and slip skirts and floral dresses, and it somehow makes everything look more casual and more elevated at the same time. This leather pair from Soludos remains the gold standard. Check out the little leather detail on the heel. We die for it.
Use the code THECANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.
Price: $139
4. The April Showers Trench
What: Avec Les Filles Poplin Shirting Belted Trench Coat
Why it works so well: Layering is like 87% of the work to looking styled on a French lady level, but often we’re too lazy to do it in a way that comes off intentional and chic. So the attached poplin collar and sleeve peeking out of this coat is a very big win for us, On the other hand, it’s removable for anytime you just want a classic camel trench to make you look primed for a rainy May bookstore-browsing day in Paris.
Price: $188
5. The Exquisitely Tailored Linen Trouser
What: The Avery Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers by Maeve: Linen Edition
Why it works so well: A wide-leg trouser that makes your legs look 5 feet long is just something that every incredibly dressed French woman seems to have found. And yet, we struggle to find anything that goes over our butt and buttons neatly at the waist without either squeezing us in or adding unattractive bulk. Sorry to be so direct about this, but it’s the main problem we have with pants. So when we tell you these are the most narrowing and elongating pants that also happen to feel like pajamas and also happen to come in linen for spring and summer, please trust we’ve done our due diligence. And we truly believe we’ve found the best.
Price: $148
6. The Affordable And Elegant Knit Lady Jacket
What: Quince 100% Organic Cotton Sweater Jacket
Why it works so well: A tweed lady jacket will never not be elegance itself. But obviously, it can get a little heavy come April, so that’s when we switch to this light cotton knit version. It makes all our jeans and long linen pants and solid slip skirts look like they’ve just marched themselves straight off the shopping streets of the 3rd arrondisement.
Price: $60
7. The Spring Slip Skirt
What: Anthropologie The Tilda Maxi Slip Skirt: Linen Edition
Why it works so well: This is another staple that Parisians update for spring by wearing it in linen instead of silk. And this particular, ultra-flattering slip skirt from Anthropologie has a heavenly elastic waist that lays completely smooth, so nothing feels squeezy or bulges out. The floral reminds us of Provence but there are such pretty solid colors too. And the fit will make you emotional, it’s that good.
Price: $148
8. The Basket Bag
What: Sézane June Basket
Why it works so well: Sézane’s basket bags are world famous. And this is one we’d happily carry every day of spring/ summer for decades and then pass down to our daughters because nothing is this timeless or romantic … or French.
Price: $210
9. The Very Best Year-Round White Button Down
What: AYR The Deep End
Why it works so well: I doubt we need to tell you why you need to own a single, perfect-fitting white button-down, but if for some reason you don’t have one, just buy this one and be done. It’s airy and spacious, and tuckable, and works with everything. It’s one of 3 things we pack no matter where we’re going or in what season … but only when we want to look undyingly chic when we get there.
Price: $135
10. The Little Boho Dress That Lets You Eat All The Pain Au Chocolat With Zero Fear Of Le Bloat
What: Sézane Keisha Dress
Why it works so well: This might feel like a left turn but a slightly boho, printed dress that’s unbelievably easy to wear is an enormous trademark of the French woman’s wardrobe. This one is again from Sézane, because unsurprisingly their dresses are amazing. It’s just the right length to balance the fact that it’s wonderfully roomy, and the details are so beautiful, you have to see them up close.
Price: $230
11. The Camel Belt
What: Favorite Daughter The Favorite Belt
Why it works so well: A belt might be the most underestimated accessory. Add this to a tucked white tee and jeans and voila, you’re enviably put together. We go to Favorite Daughter for our favorite belts. They’ve just mastered them, and this tan color is perfection.
Price: $98
12. The Perfect-Fitting White Tee
What: Marine Layer Lexi Scoop Neck Tee
Why it works so well: White tees are not all created equal. We know this because most of them make us look like thick rectangles. The most flattering version has a scoop neck (slims shoulders and frames your chest) and ribbed fabric (smooths you out and holds you in). And so my friends, here she is: our fave tee for spring.
Price: $54
13. The Most Breathable Ballet Flat You Can Walk Miles In
What: Rothy’s The Square Mary Jane
Why it works so well: These are one of those rare shoes that look right with every length of jeans. The material breathes like nothing else. They’re washable (what?!?) and they come in a dizzying number of perfect colors though the cap toe looks very luxe.
Price: $159
14. The Irresistible Spring Scarf
What: Vera Bradley Square Silk Scarf
Why it works so well: Tying a silk scarf round our neck or to our bag (just picture this on the previously mentioned basket bag) adds a bit of detail and elevates everything we wear. Plus, it makes us happy, which is, in itself, enough.
Price: $37.50
15. The Je Ne Sais Quoi Occasion Dress
What: Sézane Layla Dress
Why it works so well: It is so rare to find a dress that’s comfortable and still makes us feel alluring - or just not like we’re in a mumu. The pleating is deeply flattering and makes the dress look twice as expensive. The back is outright show stopping. Before you ask, we wear it with this bra, and yes, it works very well. With zero self-consciousness or readjusting necessary.
Price: $240
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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