French Girl Fall Is My Favorite TikTok Trend—Here’s Everything You Need to Know, Plus 17 Items to Shop

From Bratcore to Amalficore, TikTok stirs up some of the most interesting, creative and (yes, even) nonsensical aesthetics to the forefront of our FYP. One TikTok trend I, a self-proclaimed Francophile, can certainly get behind is the French Girl Fall. It’s classy, stylish and all about investing in French capsule wardrobe pieces. When TikToker @jennatropea shared a video of a recent French-inspired shopping haul last fall, it quickly went viral on the social media platform. The trend embraces pieces that abide by the fashion rules all French women live by while embodying minimalism and sophistication in one breathe. Think: flats, striped T-shirts, knit cardigans, trench coats…you get the picture. With the help from French style expert Pauline Argenson, I broke down everything you need to know about French Girl Fall, including 17 sophisticated must-haves to add to your closet.

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Pauline Argenson is the deputy head of events at the Consulate of France, residing in New York City. Previously, Argenson was a marketing, events and VIP influencer relations consultant and resident ‘French It-Girl’ for The Kooples, a luxury French fashion brand.

To create this list of the crème de la crème French Girl Fall wardrobe pieces, I spent hours reviewing and reading customer reviews, as well as searching for items with specific qualities, like impeccable craftsmanship, timelessness and sophistication in mind. I also considered each piece’s comfort, price, sizing and styling versatility. Of course, I sourced recommendations and French pointers from the French style expert herself, Argenson. Now, amusez-vous as you browse the 17 French Girl Fall fashion essentials, below.

TikTok user @jennatropea’s French Girl Fall capsule wardrobe haul–which garnered more than half a million views on TikTok last year–featured plenty of elevated basics and styles that err on the side of timelessness from some of our favorite (and budget-friendly) stores like H&M, Mango, Everlane, J.Crew and more. There’s certainly a sense of accessibility to the je ne sais quoi French aesthetic that, until now, felt like you had to be born with. “As a French woman, I think the ‘French Girl Fall’ is about embodying the art of effortlessly blending timeless elegance with a touch of casual chic,” says Argenson. “It's a style that captures the essence of autumn with its distinctive fashion choices. Think of cozy yet sophisticated outfits that exude confidence and relaxed sophistication.”