Your French Girl Summer Vacation Shopping List, in Just 8 Essentials

Dress or skirt—just as long as the skirt hits midi length or longer. I rarely see actual French girls wearing anything mini on the day-to-day, unless they’re influencers. Two solid examples are the Parisian brands Sézane and Rouje. In both brands’ dress collections, majority of styles fall at the knee and below, though Rouje leans more trendy. I just bought Sézane’s Nala skirt ($170—note: runs large, size down), have my eye on Gap’s barrel-sleeve shirt dress ($118; $94) and recently added Quince’s pleated midi skirt ($60) to my closet.

I used to think that a basket bag was a cliché, but during my collective two years’ living in France, I observed that it very much was not. It’s a classic market bag that is trendy in the warmer season but never goes out of style. I’m obsessed with Sézane’s basket bags—the Justine ($390) and Leonie ($285) are both on my wish list—but also found these under-$100 Anthropologie ($98) and Etsy ($35) options quite charming.

If you really want to blend in with the French girls, you’ll add a pair of ballet pumps to your packing list. Pumps or flats, really, will do, but I noticed that the pump was an easy way to elevate an everyday ensemble that would carry you to dinnertime. Spotting a red pair of Repetto on an older French lady in the 6th arrondissement convinced me that this was the way to go. I love Margaux’s Ada ($365—runs small, size up), which I find more comfortable than Repetto and about $100 less, but Steve Madden also makes a comfortable style—the Steffi ($100)—vouched for by many of my fashion-forward friends.

I know that everyone’s saying white sneakers are out, double laces are in, etc. etc., but the French people I’ve observed have never been trendy—they opt for timeless. Popular styles in Paris are the Veja Campos (from $160; $100) and Adidas Stan Smith ($100). They’re everywhere every time I go to Paris (which is once a year or every-other year for the last almost decade). My personal favorite sneakers are the Birkenstock Bend Lows ($165); last summer I walked nine miles straight out of the box, no blisters. If you really want to be Parisian, I’d opt for the Vejas, they’re in line with the French mentality of low waste, since the stores have cobblers who will replace the sole when it wears out.

You can take this in two directions. The first is a Breton shirt, called “la marinière,” which mimics a naval uniform. The stripes are typically alternating in navy blue and white with three-quarters or long sleeves. Timeless and perfect for a windy beach day. The second option is more metropolitan. Whenever I’m in Paris, it’s inevitable that I spot striped button-downs all over town. A twist on the classic. Saint James is the OG, Brittany-based (from which “Breton” derives its name) brand; the Galathee Shirt ($135) is a staple. But you can also find a $10 option on Amazon that nails the look on a budget.

Like the striped shirt, a white shirt is a closet workhorse and a must for your French summer packing list that also goes two ways. A simple white T-shirt can do no wrong, as long as it’s tucked into your pants. (I can’t recall a single instance of ever seeing a French person with an untucked shirt.) Quince makes a great cotton/modal one for under $20. And if you need something a little dressier, make it a blouse. A button-down will always be reliable, but don’t be afraid to make it fun. Sézane’s Max shirt ($125) is a popular style (most of my button-downs are from here); By Anthropologie shows that it can be flirty with this swing style ($128).

Tying a silk scarf around my head in the summer makes me feel like I’m Grace Kelly motoring down the Riviera in To Catch a Thief. But Old Hollywood theatrics aside, I think a silk scarf is incredibly handy. It keeps your hair up, works as a shawl if you’re visiting a religious site that requires you cover your shoulders and keeps you warm on cooler evenings without needing to lug around a sweater. My dream is to own an Hermès silk scarf, but I’m not quite ready to plunk down the requisite $1,000. Right now, Clementine is my go-to for silk scarves; I own several and love their lightweight breathability no matter the season. The design is also incredibly thoughtful; the silk is top-notch, GOTS-certified organic and the dyes are OEKO TEX-certified non-toxic. I’m wanting to add the Cloud Speak Scarf ($250) to my collection, as well as this $100 Etsy find in a larger (50’’x50’’) size that more closely approximates the Hermès proportions.

The French do not wear heavy makeup. Most of the French women I know don’t wear it at all, or they choose something to accentuate—either the lips or the eyes. Maybe they pat on concealer. Et voilà. That’s it. My favorite routine involves French makeup and skincare brand Typology’s serum concealer ($37), Violette_FR’s Balm Amour ($26) under the Bisou Balm in Calisson ($30) and a dot of Rare Beauty blush in Hope ($25) if I’m feeling extra.