Earlier this summer, my sister and I took a trip to Paris during which I had two major goals. First, to eat as much cheese as possible, preferably outdoors and accompanied by a glass of rosé. And second, to scope out exactly what the average Parisian woman was wearing on any given day. I am happy to report, I succeeded on both fronts with the added bonus of discovering at least one incredibly simple outfit formula beloved by French woman of all ages and sizes. Because if the women of Paris know anything, it’s how to look put together and chic with bare minimum effort. And for an easy summer look, that translates to pairing together a basic cotton T-shirt and floaty midi skirt.
The Super-Simple Outfit Formula I Saw *All* Over Paris This Summer
& it works for any season
•
Published Aug 5, 2025
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
Paula Boudes for PureWow
Paula Boudes for PureWow
Walking around the first morning of our trip, I paid special attention to the women who appeared to be on their way to the office. It was a wildly hot Monday, a combination that, for me at least, usually results in the a low-effort, highly functional outfit. And for scores of Parisian women that low-key ‘fit turned out to be a cotton tee and midi skirt.
On every block we passed women sporting some combination of a simple T-shirt, usually solid colored but sometimes with a logo or graphic, and a skirt that hit about mid-calf. The skirts varied in fabric too—some silk, some cotton, some polyester—but all had a sort of Goldilocks-level of volume and movement. They weren’t pencil skirts or bodycon styles, nor did they have an A-line silhouette. Instead, they sat somewhere in the middle, providing just enough movement and airflow.
Paula Boudes for PureWow
As for the rest of the look, it varied from woman to woman. Some carried a cardigan, blazer or cropped jacket in their hands to layer over top should they get cold. And almost every single one had a tote bag slung over her shoulder, though they ranged from the simple canvas kind you get with an order from Sézane to sleek leather varieties. Being summer, footwear mostly consisted of flat or kitten-heel sandals, but I also spotted ballet flats and loafers.
Just like any outfit formula, the real nitty-gritty details—tucked or untucked, cropped tee or full-length, plain white or graphic design, the fabric of the skirt—differed depending on each woman’s personal taste. But overall, this is a combination I find incredibly easy to recreate. You may even already have the pieces in your wardrobe as you read this. It’s also super simple to transition from season to season. Sandals and sunnies for summer, followed by ankle boots and a cropped jacket for fall, knee-high boots and a wool blazer for winter and a chic cardigan with ballet flats for spring—voilà!
Merci beaucoup to the women of Paris for demonstrating all the gorgeous ways the duo of a T-shirt and midi skirt can make me look fabulous while feeling comfortable.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
