10 French Girl-Approved Outfits to Achieve That ‘Je Ne Sais Quoi’ Look

French girl style is both easy to identify and tricky to define in concrete terms. Yes, it’s totally the platonic ideal of a trench and ankle boots and undone hair, casually thrown together for a day wandering around the flea market. But it could also be a sparkly micro mini-shift dress, nonchalantly teamed with ballet flats and a bright red lip. Even baggy jeans and a hoodie would fit right in on the cobblestone streets of Paris if the pairing was tailored and accessorized just right.

The actual clothes at play are so much less important than the way they are worn, which for Gallic women, is most often with a certain effortless flair. Je ne sais quoi, if you will. A lucky few are, enviably, born with this très francais ability to throw on clothes in a way that looks like it was lifted from a Jean-Luc Godard film (or, at least, a Sylvie-centric scene from Emily In Paris). But for the rest of us mortals? It helps to study some good source material.

You’ll find plenty of it ahead, where I’ve gathered inspiring outfits from some of the best dressed women to come out of France—past and present—and broken down each look.

Dressed Up Denim

While actress Clémence Poésy’s wide-leg jeans would fit in perfectly fine with a T-shirt and sneakers, she managed to make the casual piece feel fancy with a long flowy blouse and cropped jacket. Meanwhile, the contrasting silhouettes and textures of these two tops beautifully complement each other (and her coordinating ring handle bag).

Strong LBD Game

There’s a reason why people still look to mid-century photos of actress Brigette Bardot for style ideas today. Her outfits from decades past feel more relevant than ever. Just take this sleek little black shift, complete with T-bar sandal heels—doesn’t it look like it was lifted straight from a Netflix star on her way to the Dior show?

Proportion Play

While the color scheme and rich fabrics of influencer-turned-designer Jeanne Damas’s outfit make it stand out, the long-line blazer takes the whole thing to another level. Note how the exaggerated hourglass shape masterfully plays up her curves, while the darted details elongate her figure—a true fashion coup.

White Done Right

Model and former Karl Lagerfeld muse Inès de La Fressange has built a career around making simple garments look wildly fabulous. A pair of white jeans has always been one of her signature pieces; she has a way of making them feel so sleek and polished. Case in point: These optic trousers would read resort-ready with a bright top, a matching button-down, and black accessories making the style elegant enough for an evening event.

That Me Espresso

Sure, rising actress Thalia Besson’s boxy jacket and midi skirt set would be plenty pretty in a classic black or navy. But her savvy choice of rich cocoa brown—still neutral, but less expected—makes the overall vibe softer and more romantic.

Annie Hall Takes Paris

When a French girl goes for menswear, you better believe she’s going to pull it off in an unbelievably sexy and cool way. If you’d like to as well, just follow actress  Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu’s lead with relaxed tailoring that has been accessorized to the hilt with tinted sunglasses and a thick belt. The cheeky intentionality of the tucked-in tie is the cherry on top.

Rad In Plaid

French fashion designer Marine Serre has become one of the buzziest names in the business thanks to her edgy approach to sustainable clothing (cue the fitted half-moon print tops and sultry draped skirts). But her personal style is also worth a closer look—especially this particular punky plaid blazer dress situation, aptly teamed with chains and blunted-toe black boots.

Elevated Schoolgirl

There’s something very soft and sweet about actress Lea Seydoux’s flouncy blazer dress here. But because she’s expertly layered it with a crisp button-down and added high-heeled boots (very of-the-moment slouchy ones at that) the overall look is quite sophisticated.

Jean Queen

The dark indigo jumpsuit actress and director Aissa Maiga is wearing here is simple enough on the surface, but she’s orchestrated all of its details just right. The length is just long enough to slouch around her shoes without dragging; the cut is relaxed but still body-skimming. Plus, her subtle gold jewelry is just eye-catching enough to visually break up the big swath of blue.

Meet the Little Black Jumpsuit

It’s downright cinematic the way actress Stéfi Celma has turned head-to-toe black into a statement merely by way of a well-placed sheer panel and an asymmetrical neckline. Consider this the ultimate option for those who gravitate toward minimalist garments, but still want to stand out.

Read the original article on InStyle