Contrary to popular assumption, style matters to people of all ages. It’s true that some of the most stylish ladies over 50 are style icons, showing that elegance never goes out of style. Are you trying to convey a timeless, effortlessly stylish style with your clothing selections? If so, maybe learning how to dress like a fifty-something French woman will be the motivation you need! The way these Parisian ladies dress to seem stylish, age-appropriate, and never go out of style is really inspiring. We’re going to go into French chic style and all the greatest ways you can pull it off for yourself, using inspiration from older French women like Isabelle Huppert and Ines de la Fressange.If you found that knowing the rules of French style was too complicated, we’ll break it down into manageable steps. You will appear as though you had just exited the streets of Paris in no time. Let’s get started, so get a café and a pain au chocolat and settle in!
1. Complete Your Outfit With a Scarf
Do you want to add your own touch to classic style? It really is all in the details. And the details that complete your look are the accessories. Consider accessorising your outfits with a scarf if you want to go the French route.
A scarf will add a chic layer to your ensemble and make you seem French great, regardless of its size—it can be small and silky, large and cashmere, skilfully tied or draped, solid colour or intriguing print!
Would you consider investing in Hermès? The iconic Burberry print might be more your style. Maybe you’re most drawn to solid colours. Perhaps a leopard print design better captures your own style?
Little things, like a lovely scarf, can be styled in a variety of ways and integrated into your distinctive appearance and personal style. Consider your scarf as one option for an accessory rather than the sole item you wear if you want to add a little more style. A scarf and necklace can be layered for a stylish appearance.
Regardless of how you choose to wear it, this garment is the pinnacle of traditional French Woman fashion—especially for a woman over fifty!
2. Wear a Classic Trench Coat
It’s always a good idea to have at least one of these in your wardrobe rotation, regardless of whether you go for a variation on this timeless basic or choose one in neutral colours. Trench coats are a French fashion mainstay, worn by both French Woman and girls, despite their sometimes-cliched appearance.
A trench coat may be dressed up or down, with a little black dress and heels or worn casually with jeans and trainers. These are great for all age groups and go well with everything, such a black dress, sleek black trousers, straight-leg jeans or a traditional white shirt. Whether worn open or beret, it can elevate your appearance.
Do you own the traditional beige trench already? Then consider adding an eye-catching print, statement material, or army green coat to your collection to add that one more piece that will liven up your outfits and make dressing up enjoyable!
3. Don’t Be Afraid of Animal Print
It’s true that a French capsule wardrobe might include pieces with leopard print. It’s also not limited to the younger generation—non!—but rather to anyone who wants to give their outfit a little edge and flair. Currently 69 years old, Carine Roitfeld is often spotted donning animal designs, sometimes even paired with high heels!
Especially leopard print, animal prints may add some vibrancy to your entire ensemble. It can give some stylish flair to a basic dress paired with black ankle boots or dark jeans and ballet flats.
While a classic black coat never goes out of style, don’t let being over 50 stop you from occasionally taking risks with your appearance like wearing heels or animal print. Whether it’s a striking red lip or an elegant coat with an animal design, a French Woman always has a few statement pieces in her sleeve.
Nonetheless, it appears sophisticated rather than gaudy when fashionable over-50 French ladies apply this styling advice. How come? They never appear to be trying too hard to be young because everything is well-balanced with refined styles and neutral colours. Although they don’t feel constrained by it, stylish French women accept their age.
4. Highlight Your Shape
When they get older and find it difficult to strike the correct balance between flaunting their bodies and hiding their shapes without coming off as self-centred, many women start searching for advice on how to avoid looking ugly.
Being older doesn’t have to mean losing your style, swimming in fabrics, or hiding under big layers, whatever your motivations for maybe wanting to cover yourself. Selecting and emphasising your strongest attributes while skilfully addressing your areas of insecurity will enable you to leave the house feeling self-assured and in control. Wearing a belt is a great way to flaunt your figure even if you’re over 50!
One excellent approach to draw attention to or accentuate your waist is to belt the narrowest section of it. This small element is a terrific way to add flare to your wardrobe while enhancing your figure, whether you belt a simple denim jacket or a bulky winter coat during the colder months.
It’s crucial to understand your body type because it will assist you choose what to include in your functional wardrobe. Your physique will look best when it is accentuated with fitting dresses and bold belts if your waist is slim. Are your legs the best part of you? Investing in a knee-length dress or pencil skirt will greatly expand your collection.
5. Pair Navy and Black Together
How should a French Woman dress? Rather than wearing according to the latest fashions, they dress with an eye towards the timeless elements and building blocks of a classic wardrobe, but they also understand that style guidelines are designed to be disregarded. One example would be matching black and navy clothing.
Combining black and navy is a stylish choice rather than a bad one. It also looks fantastic on older women, since it exudes a carefree elegance and polished appearance.
This is a timeless colour combination, whether you choose to incorporate it all at once with navy blue trousers and black ankle boots or you choose to mix and match these hues throughout your entire outfit.
You should focus on wearing the pieces and colours you enjoy, just like stylish French Woman do. They won’t worry too much about current trends.
6. Consider Wearing Tights
Tights are not normally associated with American fashion; instead, they are a Parisian staple. Though their appeal fluctuates, tights are a timeless piece of clothing that is useful and practical, particularly in the winter months!
Generally speaking, French women wear less opaque or skin-tone tights than American women do. French Woman choose something sheer (or an unusual pattern) that accentuates their distinct sense of style, as opposed to American women who could choose a solid colour or something nude that complements their skin tone. One thing is certain, regardless of whether you go with a diamond pattern or black sheer: don’t wear black leggings!
Your evening gown and formal looks will be quickly elevated with the help of hosiery styles, like the ones worn by French ladies over 50. Particularly when worn with traditional stilettos, they may completely transform an otherwise basic piece, like a shift dress.
It’s acceptable that many ladies beyond the age of fifty dislike wearing stilettos. From block heels to flats, you can look just as stylish in kitten heel slingbacks. A refined ensemble can also be achieved by teaming tights with a cashmere sweater, pencil skirt and slingback heels.
7. Opt for Long Wool Coats
One of the most essential classic things that everyone should own is a long wool coat, especially if you want to dress like a French woman. A woman over 50 who dons a classic coat will look effortlessly classy and dominate street style!
The best part is that all you had to do was slip it on over your white blouse and presto—instant chicness. It’s one of those easy pieces that will give the impression that you spent a lot of time putting your outfit together. That is the strength of this kind of clothing.
When considering classic outerwear, a coloured camel coat is typically the first thing that comes to mind, but there are other options as well. Navy, black, and rich green also look stylish.
This is not the spot to cut corners if you haven’t added one to your collection yet! Well-selected pieces are the foundation of a French wardrobe, and quality should always come first. If you want a coat that is both long and thick, go for one made of wool or a wool blend.
It needs to be of a decent enough quality to not be fragile and wrinkle easily, but it doesn’t need to be thick enough to keep you warm in the tundra. Additionally, pay attention to the buttons; they should appear and feel strong.
Remember that during some seasons, your coat might be the only thing an onlooker sees of you. Purchase the because this is a fantastic chance to leave a lasting impression.
8. Wear a Blazer
Have you ever wondered what apparel is typically worn by French women? Regardless of your ethnicity, a blazer is an essential piece of clothing in the wardrobes of French women, even though leather and tweed jackets have their place as well.
For a polished but not overly forced look, jeans go best with a jacket in a neutral colour like black, grey, or navy. You can’t go wrong or mess up this classic outfit combination, regardless of whether you decide to wear heels or boots.
9. Have a Go-to Uniform
It’s not always necessary to create the wheel. Genuinely fashionable ladies are aware of what suits them, and they don’t feel pressured to follow the trends or shop all the time.
Choose a look that works for you and make small adjustments to change it up, such wearing a belt, sunglasses, or new shoes. For example, do you enjoy wearing a blazer and striped shirt together?
It may surprise you to learn that there are countless ways to reinvent this combination. To start, you can wear a statement coat, partly tuck in your shirt, cuff or roll the sleeves of the blazer, or belt the piece. Not all changes need to be significant and abrupt.
Icons of French fashion such as Carla Bruni and Charlotte Gainsbourg serve as excellent sources of style advice because, in addition to being the epitome of the French-girl look, they also know exactly what kinds of clothes they enjoy and will wear them repeatedly. It’s not dull. It’s astute!
10. Build Up a Collection of Tweed Blazers
Chanel is the expert! Although there will always be new trends in fashion, a tweed blazer, often known as a lady jacket, will never go out of style.
Tweed blazers are a major component of the ideal Parisian look, even though American females may not wear them as frequently. Celebrity French ladies with timeless looks, like as Ines de la Fressange and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, have been pictured wearing them on a regular basis.
Tweed blazers look great with fitted slacks and a clean white shirt, or they can dress up jeans and white trainers. You will seem effortlessly stylish even if you pair a graphic tee with a tweed blazer. A blazer is an essential piece of clothing for any French woman, particularly one in tweed.
11. Experiment With Sheer Elements
When it comes to her evening attire, a fifty-year-old French woman is anything but dowdy. She would much prefer wear something sheer to provide coverage and leave some things up to the imagination than to expose all of her flesh because she is conscious of how much of it is visible.
You may still appear strong and age-appropriate, even if you don’t find yourself dressing to the nines on the red carpet like some of these French women do. Have you been considering giving a sheer top a try? Wear it with a crimson lip and a fitted black jacket. You get to wear the bold heels!
Are you not a fan of a totally sheer top? Fear not. Try a top with sheer details, like sheer sleeves or a sheer neck, to achieve the same effect while still feeling good about yourself.
Putting these fashion advice to use for yourself is the finest approach to feel good about yourself!
12. Style an All-Black Outfit
Days all black are stylish days. It’s well known that French ladies prefer neutral colour schemes over vibrant ones. Neutral colours are not only easier to dress, but they also seem more refined and slimming—a fact that French ladies are aware of!
You may achieve a chic monochrome look by combining different fabrics and patterns for outfit appeal. If all black seems too intimidating or unflattering for your skin tone, you can still incorporate the colour and pattern with accessories and footwear selections.
It’s not necessary to be a French model to dress entirely in black. Whatever your choice for an all-black attire, don’t forget to layer for a chic and unique look!
The ideal method to wear trousers (or jeans), a tee and a jacket would be to start with this ensemble suggestion. This is how real French women start to accessorise their looks with major style.
13. Embrace Different Styles of Jeans
While some consider skinny jeans to be a classic, there are a tonne of other jean designs that can help you update and modernise your appearance!
Having several distinct styles in your wardrobe is always a smart idea, regardless of your preference for straight, slim, bootcut, crop, or flare cuts. Not only can distinct jeans go well with various shoe designs, but they also match well with various seasons. When you pair your jeans with a chic jacket or blazer, you’ll feel and look incredibly put together.
Accompany your appreciation of varied jean designs with an embrace of fitted trousers! Wearing a tapered pair of black trousers and flat shoes, such as loafers or ballerina flats, is a classic Audrey Hepburn look that’s ideal for capturing Parisian flair.
14. Style Oversized Sunglasses
If you’re over fifty, you can still look great with huge sunglasses. As a matter of fact, it might distinguish you as a stunning lady of elegance!
Though you should try with different forms, a cat eye style is traditional and vintage, and an enormous design is everlasting. Maybe you’ll go back to round lenses or vintage aviators, or maybe you’ll discover something else that truly speaks to you.
Even something as seemingly insignificant as sunglasses can have a significant impact on how your own style and trademark appearance are developed!
15. Wear a Knee-Length Dress
Though we know a French woman over 50 isn’t dowdy (and neither are you), she knows that a mini dress is definitely not the perfect piece for her. Younger French ladies (like Jeanne Damas and Clémence Poésy) have been known to wear a cropped cardigan and mini dress in the spring and summer. (However, if she so desired, she could wear one!)
What does she wear in its place, then? For the rest of her life, Maxi dresses? No! Even though a maxi dress or skirt can be stylish, an older French lady is aware of how much skin is suitable for her age. An ideal starting length? midi or kneeling
This length may be worn all year round with a few styling adjustments, whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter. Wear flats, sandals, or slingback heels with your knee-length dress throughout the warmer months. Ankle and knee-high boots can be added to the mix during the cooler months and worn with the previously stated tights.
This dress style is stylish and appropriate for a variety of settings, including the workplace and weddings.
16. Invest in Boots
Boots are a wardrobe must for French women and are a shoe you’ll wear for a long time! Especially ankle boots! These are very helpful for elderly women who don’t want to wear espadrilles, heels, or strappy sandals (as the younger Parisian girls wear).
If you want to upstage your appearance, search for boots with a small block heel. Your boots will look perfectly elevated and transition from “equestrian to chic” with the addition of a heel. Naturally, confirm that the heel is one you can truly walk in!
You may be wondering, when it comes to boots, should you buy short boots or tall boots? Both – as your budget allows. You’ll find that both styles have a place in your wardrobe and with both, you’ll have shoes that will work for all seasons.
Ankle boots can be worn with pretty much anything, from slim/straight jeans to cropped flared jeans to skirts to dresses. Tall boots would look best with skirts, dresses, or bottoms with a slim leg (so they don’t make your pants bunch up awkwardly).
Given how frequently you’ll wear them, boots qualify as “investment pieces.” When in doubt, choose leather material in a neutral hue. Genuine leather will look fantastic right away and even better as it ages.
Naturally, check that it fits and is comfortable. After adding these timeless black or brown leather boots to your collection, you can consider investing in more striking varieties, such as those with a leopard or snake print.
