15 French Fashion Finds Under $100

Even before spring officially began, I was packing up my thick knits and ski gear and making room for a spring wardrobe that would take me from the streets of Paris down to the beaches in Southern France. Parisian apartments are small (and that’s being generous), so the use of space is crucial. While a walk-in closet is a dream, a wardrobe that deserves to fit in one isn’t.

As a travel writer who has lived in France for more than a decade, I’ve discovered that the trick to dressing like the French is shopping like them—on a budget, that is. I’ve curated the ultimate list of French-girl fashion finds guaranteed to get you through any occasion, all season long, including tailored trousers, a cashmere dress, and a boxy linen top. From a morning perusing the Louvre to an afternoon lounging at the Luxembourg Garden—plus a day trip to Champagne or a weekend away in Burgundy—these 15 items embrace French chic. The best part? Everything is under $100 at J.Crew, Madewell, Nordstrom, and more.

My Favorite Parisian Spring Fashion Finds

Tailored trousers add the perfect amount of polish to any ensemble, whether you’re donning a simple tee or tank or going more formal with a matching blazer and scarf. My friends working in fashion in Paris sport a pair similar to these high-waisted jeans that they wear year-round, tweaking the look for the season with the right bag, belt, and shoes. This neutral apricot tone will shine all season long and can be paired with simple tennis shoes or dressed up with slingback heels and a low-back black body suit (I love this one from Skims or this affordable version at Amazon) and a matching leather belt. The only accessory you need? Red lipstick, of course.

Spring is a great occasion to sport prints, and while Parisians venture out in the tiniest of fashions (such as a simple scarf), I love going with a balanced mix of stripes and playful silhouettes like this tiered popover dress from J.Crew. In Paris, I’d sport it with navy or noir ballerina flats and a trench coat on rainy or windy days. As the weather warms, this will be the first piece I pack for long stays down in Nice, where I can guarantee I’ll wear it on rotation with camel-colored leather slides or sneakers when I’m planning a full day of strolling and sightseeing in medieval villages like Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

One pair of shoes that can take you practically a whole trip are bleach-white sneakers—and even better if they’re leather like these minimalist Keds. Super comfortable thanks to soft lining and a foam footbed, you’ll be able to don these from the flight all the way up the 222 steps leading to the ivory Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The streamlined silhouette is flattering on practically every foot and matches everything, too, from breezy summer dresses to jeans, a T-shirt, and an oversized blazer. They’re also my workout dupe when I don’t want to lug gym sneakers while traveling.

A slouchy tote is a year-round staple, but this cognac style couldn’t be more perfect for spring in Paris. When the weather is unpredictable and days can go from coffee to cocktails, a purse that can hold it all—yet looks like it’s hardly holding anything—is the go-to bag of the season. Spacious without being bulky, this style can double as a personal item on a plane, saving space in a carry-on. Throw in a Kindle if you’re planning to read in the Tuileries or an umbrella just in case there’s a slight sprinkle while you’re sprinting around the city. Even better, there’s an interior keychain to keep your house or car keys safely in place.

One category of clothing I’m always trying to navigate is outerwear, especially in a shoulder season like spring, where one day can feel like winter and then it’s nearly summer the next. The hottest look of fall was funnel necks, a style I’ve been sporting on safari trips in South Africa. The high-collared jacket doubles as a windbreaker and a more polished version of a trench, plus it’s easy to layer over a light knit or long-sleeve linen top. Sandstone is perhaps my favorite neutral shade, and nothing could be chicer than an all-white look with a straight pair of denim.

Forgiving knit is great for spring since it’s breathable, flattering, and suitable for whatever the weather’s giving that day. This boatneck adds a touch of sophistication that can make this Quince midi dress a great backup for a spring wedding if you pair it with strappy leather heels and an Italian-inspired thin cashmere shawl. The French don’t heed trends—they invent most of them. Neutral colors like the oatmeal shade are always chic, but one color that’s shining for spring is an icy blue, and I couldn’t be more on board with this toned-down take that’s sharp enough to go from day to night.

While summer shades gravitate from oversized aviators to Jackie O-inspired frames, spring is much more subdued. This is Paris, after all, where the idea of “less is more” applies to practically everything. Nodding to the ‘90s, these oval shades are the perfect pair to throw in your purse and pull out when Paris has one of those beautifully sunny days that practically beg for an entire afternoon sunbathing on a café terrace with a glass of rosé in hand.

If I had to choose one staple top to last me all season, this boxy linen crop shirt from Banana Republic would be it. The versatile staple can be paired with practically anything, from cigarette high-rise pants to high-waisted shorts or even a leather skirt for something on the dressier side. One of my favorite ways to wear it is with a wrap-style maxi skirt and fisherman sandals for a look that feels just at home on the banks of the Seine as well as the markets in the South of France. In summer, it’ll be the first piece thrown into my beach tote to wear over a bikini with shorts.

I probably haven’t seen the word skort since I was in second grade, but this Quince skort dress is a much more stylish version of a romper (a look I love but one that’s tough to make chic). There’s no denying linen is summer’s celebrated fabric, and this feminine mini dress can take you from day to night, and you’ll never have to worry about a Marilyn Monroe moment when the wind picks up. Perfect with simple leather slides for drinks on a terrace or lunch at ever-popular Mokonuts (just getting a reservation here feels like a victory alone), you can also spruce this style up with chunky heels and a boxy leather jacket, and you’re ready for an evening vernissage or date night.

The quickest way to make an ensemble feel more French? A scarf. Not just any foulard will do, but you also don’t need to shell out hundreds for a designer equivalent. Embrace seasonal prints in subtle shades like salmon and clementine, like this version from French brand Sézane. The simple style requires no skill to tie it seamlessly around your neck and makes everything from a simple cashmere sweater to an A-line linen dress look chic. And when you’re ready to take it off, just tie it to your purse strap, and it becomes an entirely different accessory.

The celebrity off-duty ensemble very much takes a cue from the Parisian effortless chic aesthetic. You know the look I’m talking about: casual jeans, simple sneakers, a white tee, and a baseball cap—an outfit that seems vague enough to throw off paparazzi but ever-so-stylish in case they snap a photo on your way to Starbucks. This everyday look starts with a T-shirt, like this cropped crewneck from Madewell. It’s a classic look in Paris (no one dresses up during the day) that can take you from shopping in Le Marais to a fashionable lunch at Sushi Park Paris and even on to craft cocktails somewhere like the sleek new Abstract Bistrot.

The right skirt can serve as a statement piece, the focal point of your ensemble. Case in point: this rouge faux leather mini at Amazon. The textural design offers enough pizzazz while still being flattering—not an easy goal to achieve. Since the color and silhouette are striking enough, keep the rest of the outfit simple so it won’t outshine the pencil mini skirt. My pick? A cream, ribbed long-sleeve V-neck with a pair of black or cognac pointed-toe flats and a shoulder bag. 

Spring is one of my favorite times of year for several reasons, but the main one is that the season is the ideal excuse to invest in new sandals. As a Florida girl who spent years living in the South of France, sandals are my version of the perfect footwear—although many don’t feel like it. There’s nothing worse than having to break in new shoes, and some will never quite feel like they were made for your foot. These crossover leather sandals at Everlane are the exception. Designed with a slightly raised sole in a wider fit, these mold to your feet while still maintaining a sleek silhouette. A versatile pair to throw on day or night, you won’t have to worry about blisters since the thick, super-soft leather straps will keep your feet in place without digging in the way strappier sandals would.

Ballet flats for $23? This chic pair from Amazon Essentials looks as sharp as anything from pricier brands like Repetto, but the price point is one you won’t cringe at when adding to your cart (and maybe even splurge on a second pair in a poppy pastel like dusty rose). I can count on my two hands the number of times I wear heels in a year living in Paris, and while traveling, nothing is worse than popping into a pharmacy for Band-Aids because your feet are aching. Available in regular and wide widths, this super-luxe vegan leather goes with practically anything (I love a pair of dark denim and a white button-down shirt) and can even be stuffed into a travel tote if you want to switch your shoes later in the day.

As if we needed another reason to bring the ‘90s back, “Love Story” and all of the Caroline Bessette Kennedy-inspired ensembles have proved these looks stand the test of time. While I don’t like anything that feels too dated, these slim straight crop jeans from Gap exude vintage vibes while still feeling very much of the era. When I’m looking for a grab-and-go outfit for a coffee date with friends or lunch meeting, this is the ideal pair since you can dress it up with slingback heels and a cropped cardigan or keep it casual with a loose gray tee.

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