French Capsule Wardrobe: 9 Items Parisians Always Own

I’ve spent much of my career trying to pinpoint what makes French style so alluring and covetable. Of course, a lot of what we consider to be French fashion is generalised. Basket bags (not unlike Tamara’s above), Breton-stripe tops and berets are all instantly associated with that Gallic-girl charm. But I’ve come to find that the clothes and accessories many French women gravitate towards are more subtle in their connotations.

While it can’t be said of all French dressers, there are many who subscribe to a classic aesthetic, wearing never-date items on rotation. I’ve been analysing these wares for some time and can now confidently proclaim that, to assemble your own stylish French capsule wardrobe, you’ll only need nine pieces.

As I said, these pieces aren’t necessarily what springs to mind when you think about French fashion. Still, I think that’s the secret to achieving that je ne sais quoi of dressing like a true Parisienne—not playing up to sartorial cliches and, instead, relying on everlasting staples that make it easy to look chic at all times. So without further ado, scroll on to see the nine pieces that make for a very refined French capsule wardrobe.