The 12 French Fashion Essentials (No Berets Included)
From straw market bags to that ubiquitous striped shirt.
AUGUST 31, 2025
The 12 French Fashion Essentials (No Berets Included)
I recently entered a season of life focused on lists of French fashion essentials — and I did not always like what I saw. I have seen more trench coats on these lists than on the streets of Paris. I don’t think that many people are walking around Paris in ballet flats, unless they like being as close to dirt as humanly possible. I once spent hours recording all the shoes I saw worn by the super-stylish women walking down my street — and an hour could pass between high heels.
Here, you’ll find my highly researched list of 12 top French fashion essentials, from the straw market bag to oversized white button-downs and androgynous black blazers:
I. Straw Market Bag
2. Cool Sneakers
3. A Slouchy Coat
4. The Marinière
5. French Denim
6. An Androgynous Black Blazer
7. An Oversized White Button-Down
8. A Sexy Cardigan
9. A Perfect White V-Neck Tee
10. The Milo and Its Dupes
11. The Pretty, Vintage-y, Floral Dress
12. Le Petit Bateau Underwear
The normal French rules apply: Dressing here is much more conservative than in similarly fashionable cities, and success is often awarded to looks that master a specific style of dressing than in purely out-there looks (like those that might win the day in New York, London, or Tokyo). There’s very little here that’s purely sexy, since the dominant vibe of self-aware androgyny, and really judicious sex appeal, is deeply entrenched. I’ve tried to mix French brands with U.S. ones — the latter are decidedly less expensive but in my experience often less well made as well. If you’re not doing it already, I really want to suggest Google’s image search if you’re looking for similar pieces at a different price point. They tend to buy “less but better”, with fewer, pricier staples versus more, trendier pieces.
I admire how the French dress, and the pieces below are a good place to start.
1. Straw Market Bag
A straw market bag is a hallmark of French accessories. It’s nearly as much a cliché of French style as a beret — yet unlike a beret, these bags are, indeed, a style staple, and a common sight at Sunday markets and summer beaches.
The price differential here is tremendous. I’ve yet to meet a straw market bag that’ll last for generations — a few seasons of good wear is probably more realistic — and a perfect, iconic tote can be found in France for under $40. That hasn’t stopped luxury brands from creating their own takes — and charging nearly into the four figures for them. Spending more will get you tighter, more durable weaves, an increasing amount of leather trim, and that all-important designer logo — with that last item definitely not a generally desirable element in France, a culture as branding-averse as I’ve ever visited. This is absolutely a case where cheaper is better, within reason.
Do consider whether you want the handles long enough to slip over a shoulder (yay!), rather than a shorter style meant to be held by hand (boo!).
2. Cool Sneakers
This is pure research, friends: I sat on a bench for three hours one warm morning in June and counted up the shoes passersby were wearing. Nikes (specifically the Blazers below), New Balances, and Stan Smiths took the top three spots — Vejas actually might not have made the top five, but I account that to their priciness.
3. A Slouchy Coat
I was having trouble defining the slouchy coat outside of a “you know it when you see it” context until I found this definition from Vogue, which labeled it “the it-piece of the season” (in 2019). I would argue that especially in France, this style is durable and remains as popular deep into the 2020s as it was five years ago. (For the record, Vogue’s description pegged a slouchy coat as one with “rounded shoulders, baggy sleeves and an overall relaxed fit.”)
I find it irritating that Aritzia trademarked “The Slouch™ Coat” (seen at left) but it is nonetheless a good example of the type.
4. The Marinière
The classic, inspired by the central garment worn by sailors in the French navy. (Many of them were seafaring men from Brittany, which is why this is also known as a Breton top.) Of all the selections here, this is the one I’ve seen most often at vide greniers and the like — I think every French person has a St James (seen at left) or Petit Bateau top somewhere in their closet. You can decide whether you like the classic shape (quite fitted) and colors (always navy and white) or want to mix it up with slightly outré colors (you know, white and navy) or more relaxed shapes. And while these aren’t cheap, a long-sleeve striped top from Old Navy can get the job done nearly as well.
5. A Very Specific Kind of Denim
French denim is so its own thing: high-waisted, and straight-legged — it really runs right down that line between sort of desexualized but never sloppy. Also: never embellished, never ripped, never bedazzled — just classic denim, usually in medium to dark rinses, and often more cropped and/or tailored than you’d expect from a pair of American jeans.
Anecdotally (though not surprisingly) I’ve found French denim to be stiffer/less jegging-y than US brands, since comfort there is not such a priority.
6. An Androgynous Black Blazer
Wear it with nothing underneath, obviously! A slightly (possibly) less itchy option than the slouchy cardigan below! I’ve prioritized relaxed but dramatic shapes and full (not overly fitted) cuts.
7. An Oversized White Button-Down
“Oversized” is a key element in French fashion essentials — proportion and fit are everything, and at least in my experience, they take some practice in perfecting. It is wild to me how similarly these three pieces are styled; best only button that middle button I guess??
8. A Sexy Cardigan
Your typical grandpa’s cardigan, with something extremely minimal beneath. I like to keep these a little on the long side, so you can choose where you’re showing some skin and where you’re not.
This category was the one with the most competitive options from U.S. brands
9. Perfect White V-Neck Tee
My personal favorite French fashion essential of all time is a white linen tee from Soeur, which I absolutely murdered over a single summer and wore to death. There’s nothing better for your summer Euro vacation than a slubby, nubby tee worn into transparency. Just get the right cut: I personally prefer something boxy, so there’s no need to tuck, with a generous v-neck, and relaxed (but not sloppy) short sleeves.
10. The Milo (And Its Dupes)
The Milo is the perfect French handbag: restrained, classic, useful, possibly overpriced but also made to last (one hopes). If you don’t feel like shelling out in the mid-three figures, try a reseller (Poshmark usually has a few, though they’re not always deeply, or at all, discounted) or one of its many dupes, there are enough out there. See here for a round-up of all of Sézane’s bags.
FWIW the previous version of this post paid homage to a different bag: Vanessa Bruno’s Cabas tote. It’s definitely not as ubiquitous as it once was, but it still qualifies as a staple.
11. The Pretty, Vintage-y Floral Dress
Demure and feminine, the pretty, vintage-y floral dress comes straight out of Amelie.
12. Petit Bateau Cotton Underwear
After a few years terribly devoted to the garbage underwear (4 for $12 or whatever) at mall shops like Aerie, I picked up a set of three Le Petit Bateaus this summer and was reminded why this brand is such a mainstay of French closets: It’s well made and soft, and it feels like a proper textile, rather than made the same substance as a black plastic spatulas from Target.
Unfortunately, this product more than most seems to be a victim of heightened worldwide tariffs: The sets of three, shown below for a mid-two-figure price, is only €18 in France — not cheap at all, but not extortionate, either. I guess I’m glad that it’s possible to shop Le Petit Bateau in the U.S; I would wait until a trip to France to stock up.
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