Embrace your French side with these 4 stylish capsule wardrobe ideas
French women carry themself with that elusive quality of “Je se ne quois.” Call it the It factor, or just a general sense of style. They always manage to look chic without looking like they are trying too hard. With the right capsule wardrobe, you can achieve that amazing French style.
The coolness and the “joie de vivre,” I’m sure you will bring with your personality.
4 different French women – 4 different styles
Of course, not all French women dress the same, so in this capsule building, I chose 4 “stereotypes” and gave them all a functional wardrobe.
I chose to do a 10-piece capsule wardrobe.
It’s the perfect amount to get a good sense of the versatility of a capsule wardrobe. I also imagined spring or autumn as the season.
If you want to take a look at a French summer capsule wardrobe, read my article The ultimate French summer capsule wardrobe.
4 versatile French capsule wardrobes
As you will see, this wardrobe works for most seasons, just add a warm coat and stockings in the winter. Or if it’s summer, add the same type of clothes but lighter, for example, shorts or more skirts. The principle stays the same.
Keep on reading and I will explain how I created these wardrobes. I will also give you all my best tips for creating your own French capsule wardrobe.
Top layer: Camel blazer. White shirt. Camel coat. Camel structured top. Red camisole.
Bottom layer: Dark grey flared jeans. White jeans. Black silk midiskirt. Gingham short skirt. Black polo sweater.
The classic French woman
This wardrobe is full of classics, it is also perfectly well-balanced. If you have a bunch of neutral-colored clothes, there is no problem adding something colorful, such as a red camisole.
With two pairs of jeans in different shapes and colors, she can warry her way of dressing. She might be classic, but she still likes to keep it casual.
Adjust it to your taste
You don’t need to rigidly follow this capsule wardrobe; just adhere to the principles, and you will get a great result. If you don’t want to show too much skin, make the camisole into a red silk blouse. The short skirt could be a pair of pants.
Extend the wardrobe
You will get the maximum wear out of these clothes by adding a couple of more neutral tops.
The sensual French woman
Sensual doesn’t mean vulgar, or even showing too much skin. This is just a woman who enjoys al fresco dinners, skinny dipping, and reading erotic literature. She is in contact with her sensual side and that shows in her wardrobe.
Top layer: Denim jacket. Knitted top. Wrap blouse. Black camisole. White peasant top.
Bottom layer: White linen pants. Jeans. Long flower skirt. Short black lace skirt. Sexy bodycon dress.
How to dress sensually
Both the pair of jeans and a denim jacket are a nice contrast to the more sensual clothes, giving this girl that French carefree vibe. Denim is a good way to balance your wardrobe. Sensual clothes are more about good draping than about wearing as little as possible.
This woman is sipping her cappuccino while catching up on a newly realized poetry collection.
Choose a color palette
The easiest way to create a French style capsule wardrobe is to start with the color palette. Here I wanted to use light beige, since it is a color that compliments many skin tones, just in different ways. Since this wardrobe consists of neutral colors, everything matches.
The tomboy
Not all French women are fans of overly feminine dressing. In fact, most French women get their cool-girl style by borrowing fashion ideas from the boys.
Classic style
This wardrobe consists of classic items, just with a boyish twist. When you create a capsule wardrobe, working with the classics makes it versatile and functional. If you want, you can always add some original clothes later on. Just make sure you have your basics covered first.
This girl is fuss-free and practical, yet she always manages to look like she is in a band.
Choose your favorites
Achieving this effect has a lot to do with the cuts of the clothes, since this will be your basic wardrobe it can be worth investing a bit extra and getting exactly the item you want.
Accessories make the outfit
As you will see below, well-chosen accessories make these “basic” clothes into outfits that are both realistic for everyday, yet very French.
The feminine French woman
French style is also synonymous with embracing your feminine style.
When you are wondering how to create a French style capsule wardrobe, take a look at these pictures.
Embrace your romantic side. Wear red lipstick, get a french manicure. Dainty jewelry also helps elevate your looks.
For more inspiration, read my article How to dress like a French woman over 50.
Choose prints in your color palette
Here, I chose a couple of printed items.
As you can see, those might not be possible to wear together. It’s important to have enough basic clothes so that you can wear your printed items. I would also recommend the jacket to be in a neutral color.
Keep it cohesive
When you choose prints, it’s a good idea to stick to your color palette.
Red is such a feminine color. A pair of black jeans are always a good idea. A trenchcoat will make you feel like you stepped out of a Film-Noir movie.
Tips for creating your own French style capsule wardrobe
- Choose a color palette
- Decide on the number of clothes to include
- Decide which clothes you want to include. Skirts? Jeans? Dresses?
- Consider if you want a theme for your style, such as feminine, sensual, or tomboy. A theme will help you achieve a cohesive capsule wardrobe
- Decide if you want to include any prints
- Make sure that almost everything can be worn together
- Find accessories that complement and highlight your style
- Create outfits from your capsule wardrobe and make sure those are what you want to wear to your different activities.
- If you need more inspiration, take a look at my chosen activities and ask yourself how you would want to dress when doing those activities. You can find inspiration on Pinterest.
A final note on creating a French style capsule wardrobe
Are you interested in learning more tips and tricks for creating the ultimate capsule wardrobe, make sure you read my article Fall capsule wardrobe for women over 40, fall 2023.
Taking inspiration from your favorite French girls is a good starting point for creating your own capsule wardrobe. Take a close look at a couple of pictures and ask yourself what you would need to re-create the outfits.
Maybe you already have most of the things that you need, just buying a few key pieces can often help you achieve that perfect capsule wardrobe.
Moa Ailert is the founder and editor-in-chief of Her Brilliant Friend.
She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and plenty of insight into human psychology from traveling and living in different places around the world.
Moa is currently based in Portugal where she has a guesthouse; Villa dos Irmaos.
She has various websites, among others Ericeira Insider, but Her brilliant friend is her true passion project.
