Fall is the season when my inner French girl comes out the most, which is why French style fall outfits are my favorite to put together. Give me a great blazer, a beautiful knit, a pair of jeans and ballet flats and I am a happy girl.

After more than 50 trips to Paris over the years, fall remains one of my favorite seasons for observing what women are wearing around the city. French style fall outfits tend to embrace many of the things I love most about getting dressed this time of year: beautiful layers, timeless outerwear, great denim and trousers and shoes that are both stylish and practical.

Of course, there is no singular “French style” and French women certainly don’t all dress alike. The outfits in this post are inspired by what I have observed during my many trips to Paris and interpreted through the lens of my own personal style, which has always leaned toward feminine, refined staples.

For me, the best French-inspired fall wardrobe isn’t about constantly buying new pieces. It’s about investing in quality staples you genuinely love and finding new ways to mix and match them season after season.

Below, I’m sharing plenty of French style fall outfits to inspire your own wardrobe, along with the staples I rely on most and some of the styling formulas I return to again and again.

I’ve also included a variety of shoppable collages throughout the post that you can use as inspiration or Pin to save for later.

Don’t miss: A Fall Capsule Wardrobe

French Style Fall Outfits: 25+ Chic Outfit Ideas

As you plan your outfits just keep thinking what makes a French Wardrobe Staple?

French fashion is intended to be unfussy, comfortable, practical and yet endlessly chic. It’s less street style forward than places like New York City, instead French women often tend to lean into silhouettes and styles that have been popular for decades.

What Do French Women Wear in Fall?

French fall style tends to be less about chasing every new trend and more about combining timeless wardrobe staples in a way that feels current. Think a great pair of jeans with a blazer and loafers, tailored trousers with a knit and ballet flats or a trench coat thrown over an otherwise simple outfit.

When I’m in Paris in the fall, I always notice how much of the style comes down to the details. A silk scarf, beautiful leather bag, great pair of sunglasses or simple gold jewelry can make an otherwise basic outfit feel much more considered.

Outerwear also does a lot of the heavy lifting. Trench coats, wool coats, blazers and leather jackets make it easy to layer for changing temperatures while still looking put together.

And perhaps most importantly, French-inspired style doesn’t need to feel overly precious. The best outfits are wearable, comfortable and meant for actually living your life in.

Of course, “French Style” is a stereotype of sorts. There is no one French style. So I want to caveat that this post and styling is through one lens of my personal style which is all about refined staples.

If you’re looking for even more pieces, don’t miss the French Staples section of The wit & whimsy Shop!

French Wardrobe Staples for Fall

If you want to build a French-inspired fall wardrobe, I recommend starting with versatile pieces rather than individual outfits. These are the pieces I find myself reaching for year after year and packing repeatedly for fall trips to Paris.

A Classic Trench Coat

Few pieces feel as quintessentially French as a trench coat. I love one with enough room to layer over a sweater or even a lightweight jacket when temperatures start to drop.

A trench works just as well over jeans and sneakers during the day as it does over trousers, a skirt or a dress for something more polished. It’s one of those rare wardrobe pieces that manages to be practical and chic at the same time.

Related: How to Style a Trench Coat

A Great Blazer

A blazer is one of my most-worn pieces during fall both at home in New York and while traveling. Black, navy, camel and plaid are particularly versatile and can instantly make even a simple tee and jeans feel pulled together.

I personally love slightly oversized or menswear-inspired silhouettes balanced with something more feminine like ballet flats, a silk blouse or delicate jewelry.

Jeans You’ll Actually Wear

You don’t need a closet full of denim to achieve French-inspired style. A few pairs that fit you beautifully will go much further.

Straight-leg jeans are forever classic, but I also love incorporating a wider-leg silhouette when I want an outfit to feel more current. Pair them with loafers or ballet flats while it’s warmer and ankle boots as temperatures drop.

Tailored Trousers

A great pair of trousers is one of my favorite wardrobe workhorses. Black, navy, camel or gray trousers can be worn with everything from sneakers and a tee to a cashmere sweater and ballet flats.

How to Style Trousers

They also make an excellent alternative to jeans when you want to feel slightly more polished without actually getting dressed up.

Quality Knitwear

Fall is when my sweater collection really earns its keep. I gravitate toward cashmere, merino wool and other quality knits in neutral colors that can easily be layered.

Crewnecks, cardigans, striped sweaters and short-sleeve knits are all staples in my wardrobe. I particularly love a striped knit paired with trousers or denim for an easy nod to French style without feeling overly themed.

A Button-Down Shirt

A crisp button-down is another year-round staple that becomes especially useful for layering in fall. Wear it on its own with denim or trousers or let the collar and cuffs peek out from beneath a sweater.

I love both classic white button-downs and slightly oversized styles for achieving that effortless masculine-meets-feminine balance.

Ballet Flats and Loafers

Ballet flats and loafers are two of my favorite shoes for transitional fall weather. Both work beautifully with jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses and instantly make an outfit feel more polished.

If you’re doing a lot of walking, however, make sure you’re choosing pairs that are genuinely comfortable for you rather than sacrificing your feet for the look!

Ankle and Knee-High Boots

Once temperatures really begin to drop, I bring ankle boots and knee-high boots into heavier rotation. Sleek leather or suede styles are particularly versatile and can work with everything from denim to midi skirts and sweater dresses.

A Leather Jacket

I love the little bit of edge that a leather jacket can bring to an otherwise classic wardrobe. Pair one with feminine ballet flats, tailored trousers or a silk skirt to keep the overall look from feeling too tough.

Casual French Fall Outfits

Some of my favorite French style fall outfits are also the simplest. These are the kinds of combinations I reach for when I want to be comfortable but still feel put together — classic pieces, practical shoes and easy layers that can take you through an entire day.

Striped Tee with a Blazer and Loafers

Striped tees have reigned supreme in French style outfits for decades. Pull out your favorite like the French girl inspired Sézane Colette Marinière Striped Tee and pair it with a classic pair of loafers for a bit of preppy style.

Timeless Black Sweater with Ballet Flats

Simple is usually the name of the game when it comes to French Style Fall Outfits. This outfit was purely inspired by Audrey Hepburn!

Or, consider a wrap cardigan if that’s more your style.

Timeless Black Sweater with Ballet Flats

Simple is usually the name of the game when it comes to French style fall outfits. Pair a timeless black sweater with jeans or trousers and ballet flats for an easy outfit that always looks polished.

Trench Coat and Sneakers

A classic trench paired with sneakers is one of my favorite formulas for a day when I’ll be doing a lot of walking. The Sezane Clyde Trench (I sized down to a 4) is a longtime favorite of mine and works particularly well with denim and a simple knit or tee.

Above I paired my trench with a classic pair of Sambas.

Trousers with Sneakers

A comfortable pair of trousers paired with sneakers is the perfect cool girl French-inspired outfit. I like to do monochromatic looks with my trousers, but you could also add a contrasting oversized blazer for a bit more edge.

I’m wearing the Aritzia Effortless pants above in a size 8. Alongside my forever favorite white sneakers.

Converse Sneakers and Baseball Cap

For an off-duty chic look, opt for classic black Converse sneakers paired with trousers and a chic baseball cap! It’s an especially perfect look for bad hair days when you still want to look like you put some thought into your outfit.

French Fall Outfits with Jeans

Denim is a staple in my wardrobe year-round and something I see constantly on the streets of Paris. In fall, I particularly love pairing jeans with more polished pieces — a tailored blazer, beautiful knit, loafer or feminine shoe — to create that masculine-meets-feminine contrast I love so much.

Plaid Blazer with Jeans and Mules

Pull out your favorite plaid blazer (layered over my all time favorite tee) and add jeans and mules for a business casual look. You can shop all my favorite blazers in Meghan’s Closet in The Shop. 

Classic Blazer with High-Waisted Jeans and Pumps

A classic blazer, high-waisted jeans and pumps is a go-to look for me for business meetings in the fall. It’s an easy example of how denim can still feel polished when paired with more tailored pieces.

Plaid Blazer with Jeans and Ankle Boots

I have quite a collection of plaid blazers and love pairing them with jeans and suede or leather ankle boots. You can shop my favorite boots here.

I’m also wearing the Staud Wally boots I got last winter and have worn so much thanks to how comfortable they are. They have a variety of styles and colors of the silhouette for this year!

French Fall Outfits with Trousers

A great pair of trousers is one of the most versatile pieces you can have in a fall wardrobe. I love how easily they can move between casual and polished depending on the shoes, knitwear and outerwear you pair with them.

Short-Sleeve Sweater with Black Trousers

I love a short-sleeve knit for transitional weather. Pair one with classic black trousers and a darling feminine flat.

The Sarah Flint Natalie is such a feminine yet timeless style and they’re so comfortable that they’re worth the investment. I own them in several colors. 

Tweed Jacket with Black Trousers

A tweed lady jacket pairs perfectly with a classic pair of black trousers.

My personal go-to stores to look for other little jackets are Zara, Mango, Ann Taylor, Veronica Beard, and J.Crew.

Trousers, Sweater and Ballet Flats

I swear a great pair of trousers can make you feel invincible! Chic black trousers can really take you from day to night with an easy shoe swap.

Pair them with a simple sweater and ballet flats during the day, then swap in a heel for dinner.

Monochromatic Tones

I love pairing monochromatic tones, plus it’s something you often see women in Paris doing. When in doubt, pick a color palette and select pieces within it.

French Fall Outfits with Skirts & Dresses

Dresses and skirts don’t have to disappear once temperatures drop. I love pairing them with boots, tailored jackets and fall textures like tweed, suede and leather.

Matching Tweed Skirt Set

Consider pairing a tweed skirt with a matching tweed jacket for a polished take on fall dressing.

Add ankle boots or knee high boots (as seen above). This tweed set is from Veronica Beard. While their price point is a bit higher, the quality reflects it!

Slip Skirt with Leather Jacket and Boots

A classic slip skirt is so versatile. In fall, I love topping one with a leather jacket to contrast the femininity of the skirt.

I paired mine above with these sleek Sarah Flint boots.

Mini Skirt with Knee-High Boots

I love pairing a mini skirt with chic suede knee-high boots that work just as well with skirts and dresses throughout fall.

I like to find my mini skirts at & Other Stories.

Use code MEGHAN15 for 15% off at Inez.

Sweater Dress

Perfect for fall and winter, a sweater dress with knee-high boots and a good tailored jacket is a great way to look chic from day to night.

I also love pairing a sweater dress with sleek sneakers.

Related: How To Style Sweater Dresses

Shirtdress with Mules

The excellent Tuckernuck Chloe dress is perfection for year-round wear, but I particularly love it in fall.

I’m wearing a size L. So many colors are available.

Styled with these Manolo mules.

Polished French Fall Outfits

When I want to feel a bit more dressed up, I still rely on the same foundational pieces — blazers, beautiful outerwear, trousers and classic accessories — but add richer textures, feminine shoes or more tailored silhouettes.

Navy and Black

Navy and black is one of my favorite color combinations. It instantly looks expensive and is a particularly chic combination for fall.

Try pairing an oversized blazer with an oversized button down like the Jenni Kayne oversized boyfriend shirt (S).

Code MEGHANDONO10 for 10% off your first Jenni Kayne order.

Classic Button-Down with Chanel Slingbacks

A button-down is a wardrobe staple for French women. You can pair it with jeans, printed pants or black trousers — the styling options are endless.

I have gotten more wear out of my Sézane button down (size US 8 / FR 40) than I could have ever imagined. It is so timeless in style and such high quality that it wears well time after time. I love it tucked into jeans, midi skirts or work pants.

Also very French in style is this oversized button down that goes so well with jeans and ponte pants but also layers under sweaters and blazers well. I sized down to a S in it.

I also really this silk blouse I own (size M) is so beautifully made and extremely versatile. And With Nothing Underneath does so many chic styles! I recommend sizing up in the brand.

Wool Blazer and Striped Knits

And of course, you know by now that I love a striped knit! All my favorites are by the brand La Ligne. I love wearing a heavy wool blazer over one before the weather arrives when you need a heavier coat.

I believe in investing in quality cashmere sweaters that you can wear over and over again without much upkeep (poor quality cashmere will pill easily).  And I recommend the quality of the Jenni Kayne Cashmere sweaters and I have a lot of Sezane’s affordable knitwear, too.

Remember every Fall to use a little fabric shaver to make your knits seem like-new.

Shop My Knitwear Collection.

Oversized Coat with Slingbacks

This & Other Stories coat is so French-inspired – timeless and classic. & Other Stories does such good coats!

I size down to a small in nearly every style I own from them. I own this coat in both black and navy and they are hands down some of my most-worn Fall and Winter Coats.

Paired with my favorite Chanel Slingbacks.

Plaid Blazer and Loafers

Perfectly preppy and a very French-inspired take on masculine meets feminine.

Trench Coat with Stripes

A timeless trench will always be a good investment.

I like to layer mine over my leather jacket when I am in Paris to handle the unpredictable weather in fall, but I wear my trench coats all the time in New York as well, both in spring and fall.

This style is classic from J.Crew as is this one from Sézane both of which I own (I’m wearing the Sézane one above in a size 6).

If you’re on the taller size and like a bit more masculine cute, this one I just got from Sézane is also very cool and on trend. I sized down to a 4. 

Pair your trench with the timeless French girl inspired Sézane Colette Marinière Striped Tee.

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How to Dress French in Fall

One of the reasons I’m continually inspired by French style is that the individual pieces themselves are often quite simple. It’s how they’re combined that makes an outfit feel special.

A few styling principles I personally come back to again and again:

• Build your wardrobe around neutrals. Black, navy, camel, cream, white, brown and denim all mix beautifully together and make getting dressed easier.
• Invest in outerwear. In fall, your coat or jacket is often the first thing anyone sees. A beautiful trench, blazer or wool coat can make even the simplest outfit feel intentional.
• Mix masculine and feminine pieces. Try an oversized blazer with ballet flats, trousers with a silk blouse or loafers with a skirt.
• Don’t underestimate simple outfits. Jeans + sweater + ballet flats can be every bit as chic as a more complicated look when each piece fits beautifully.
• Add one thoughtful accessory. A silk scarf, leather bag, sunglasses or simple gold jewelry can finish an outfit without overwhelming it.
• Repeat your clothes. One of my favorite things about building a wardrobe around staples is that you should be able to wear them over and over again. The goal isn’t an entirely new outfit every day!
• Choose shoes you can actually walk in. Particularly if you’re dressing for a trip to Paris, practicality matters. I always prioritize shoes I know I can comfortably spend hours walking in.

Most importantly, don’t feel as though you need to dress like someone else to achieve “French style.” Take the elements that speak to you and incorporate them into your own wardrobe.

What Shoes to Wear with French Fall Outfits

Shoes can completely change the feel of a simple fall outfit, which is why I like having a few different silhouettes in rotation.

Ballet flats: One of my favorite choices with cropped jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses, particularly during early fall.

Loafers: Perfect when you want something polished but practical. I especially love them with straight-leg jeans, trousers and a blazer.

Sneakers: Yes, sneakers absolutely have a place in French-inspired outfits! Keep the rest of the look polished with trousers, a trench or a great coat.

Ankle boots: Once it gets colder, a sleek ankle boot is one of the easiest shoes to wear with jeans and trousers.

Knee-high boots: I love these with midi and mini skirts, sweater dresses and dresses topped with a tailored coat.

Kitten heels and slingbacks: For dinners, meetings or days when I’m not walking quite as much, a lower heel or slingback adds a beautifully feminine finish.

 

Shop French Inspired Fall Staples

 

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French Fall Outfit FAQs

What colors do French women wear in fall?

There isn’t one prescribed French fall color palette, but I tend to see and personally gravitate toward plenty of black, navy, camel, cream, brown, gray and denim. These neutrals also make it incredibly easy to mix and match your wardrobe.

I particularly love navy and black together in fall — an often overlooked combination that always feels expensive and chic.

Do French women wear jeans?

Absolutely. Denim is something I see constantly in Paris and it’s one of the easiest foundations for a French-inspired wardrobe.

Rather than worrying about one specific “French” denim silhouette, I’d choose a pair that fits you beautifully and works with the shoes and jackets already in your wardrobe. Straight-leg, relaxed and wider-leg styles can all work. Shop denim I own and love here.

What shoes do French women wear in fall?

You’ll see everything from sneakers and ballet flats to loafers and boots on the streets of Paris in fall. Weather and lifestyle matter just as much as aesthetics, so I always recommend choosing shoes that are appropriate for the temperature and comfortable enough for your day.

If you’re packing for Paris specifically, don’t miss my guide to The Best Shoes to Wear in Paris.

What should I wear in Paris in October?

October weather in Paris can vary quite a bit, so layers are your friend. I typically pack a combination of blazers, sweaters, trousers, jeans, a trench or other versatile jacket and comfortable closed-toe shoes.

Get my Guide: Paris in October Packing List

You’ll want pieces you can easily add or remove throughout the day rather than relying on one very heavy layer.

What should I wear in Paris in November?

By November, I generally plan for colder temperatures and bring warmer knitwear and outerwear along with boots or other closed-toe shoes. A wool coat, cashmere sweater, trousers or jeans and comfortable boots make an easy outfit formula.

Don’t miss my Paris Packing List for November

As always, check the forecast immediately before your trip. Paris weather can be unpredictable and what I pack for an early November visit may be different from what you’ll need toward the end of the month.

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The thing I love most about French style fall outfits is that they aren’t about reinventing your wardrobe every season. In fact, it’s almost the opposite.

A great blazer, trench coat, pair of jeans, trousers, beautiful knit and a few pairs of versatile shoes can create dozens of different outfits when you buy pieces you genuinely love and aren’t afraid to repeat.

Use the outfits above as inspiration rather than a rulebook. Take the combinations that feel most like you, reinterpret them with what you already own and invest thoughtfully when you identify a true gap in your wardrobe.

For me, that’s when getting dressed feels the most fun — and when a wardrobe really starts working for you.

And are you looking for even more French Girl Style outfits? I have a Paris Fall Outfit Ideas board on Pinterest!

You May Also Like:

• The Best Fall Arrivals from French Brand Sezane.
• French Wardrobe Staples for Fall.
• The Best Shoes To Wear In Paris.

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