12 Gifts on Every French ‘It’ Girl’s List This Year

I know that Miss Dior and Chanel CHANCE have everyone in a chokehold, but before you cop yet another bottle, pause. May I humbly posit Chanel’s COCO instead? Not COCO Mademoiselle. No. COCO is for the sophisticated grown-up. I first caught a whiff of it on my Parisian friend when I visited in the spring, immediately taken by the notes of Sicilian mandarin, jasmine, ylang-ylang and orange blossom, with a rich, nutty undertone. Given that this woman, who was born and raised in the city (and educated at La Sorbonne), is one of the most tasteful people I know, I’ll take any page from her when it comes to beauty and style.

Simply put, the French dress smarter than Americans, and a key component of their wardrobe is a classic blazer. Peruse any number of French “It” girls’ social accounts and I guarantee you there’s at least one in their closet. (Case in point: Jeanne Demas.) The glory is in the versatility. A blazer makes things feel more formal, but it’s down to play. Whether you’re donning a full-on pantsuit or throwing it on with a T-shirt and jeans, there’s no wrong way to wear it. My favorite French brand for tailoring at reasonable prices is, who else? Sézane. As someone who’s shopped there for years, I can say the blazer is something they do very well. I’d just advise prioritizing the models that use a much natural fibers as possible, like this Chelsea jacket in camel herringbone, which is sitting in my cart.

Essayist, photographer and illustrator Garance Doré is one of the original French “It” girls of the modern era, credited with helping fashion enter the digital age with the 2006 launch of her eponymous style blog. Per her Instagram, she’s a fan of Nécessaire’s The Hand Duo, a cream and 0.25 percent retinol. The former’s ingredients include ceramides, peptides, niacinamide and marula butter/oil. The latter features peptides and AHAs alongside the retinol.

As Demas proves, a plain white tee can do no wrong. It’s the epitome of cool-girl style, thrown on with some jeans and a pair of Repettos. Sézane makes a good one I love, but I think is seasonal. However, this $10 Amazon pick works just as well. Make sure the cut isn’t overwhelmingly oversized, but still provides enough fabric to tuck into your pants. If you’re feeling a tad fancy, a button-up instantly elevates an outfit while still keeping things casual. One of my favorites is Sézane’s Bilma shirt ($125), whose exaggerated cuffs lend drama and flair to a closet basic.

Whenever I go to the market in Paris, or find myself somewhere in the countryside, it’s almost certain that I’ll run into a basket bag. Personally, I’ve had Sézane’s Justine bag in my cart forever. I’ve found that rougher straw has pilled and damaged some of my clothes, so I like the smoother, more polished weave of the raffia they use. Etsy is also a great place to find them, like this oversized number ($52) that’ll hold plenty of bread and produce. (Or, just your beach towel and a book.)

Both French TikTok and I love Typology, a Paris-based skincare and makeup brand. The French gal’s beauty secret is that she’s trying to wear as little as possible. Indeed, when I asked my French friend, Manon, what she does to her clear and flawless face, she told me that most days, she pats on some concealer, maybe blush, then swipes on mascara and is good to go. My favorite Typology product is the serum concealer ($37). I have a lot of lines around my eyes when I smile, and this is the one concealer that hasn’t caked or dried on me, staying fresh all day. The tube is tiny, but I’ve had it for about a year and a half and have yet to even go through a quarter of the tube. As a gift, however, I’d opt for the tinted skincare gift set, to allow your giftee to discover their favorite products. 

I was an au pair in Paris, and the oldest daughter in my host family often went to school in a sweater, jeans and loafers. Indeed, they’re common streetwear in the city. I just picked up a pair of Margaux’s Marlowe loafers in the color of the season, brown. However, both a France-based friend and I agreed that black is more Parisian. Either way, a pair can’t fail to make you look smart. Fit note: I've found that they run large, so order a 1/2 size down.

Per Manon, many French women will keep a candle in their bathroom. Handmade and local are preferred, but a classic heritage French brand is definitely Diptyque. The cult scent is Baies, but “Mimosa” and “Jasmin” are also quintessential scents that remind me of Provence in late winter and Paris on a hot summer night.

Sure, the French are known for the occasional pop of red, but on the day-to-day, things are understated. Manon told me that many ladies keep a bottle of good-old-Essie’s Ballet Slippers in their vanity. The sheer pink adds a gloss and gleam, but won’t aggressively show all its chips after a week.

I recently attended a beauty and wellness expo at L’Alliance New York, France’s cultural center in Manhattan. There, I discovered the French silk bedding brand Emily’s Pillow, which retails in major department stores in France. It’s no secret that silk keeps bedhead at bay—even I can attest to that after five years. Emily’s uses 22-momme mulberry silk for their pillowcases and sleep accessories. There are fun colors and patterns, plus a buy three, get one free deal.

Ever since Brigitte Bardot made Repetto a household name, they’ve been a closet staple. On my most recent trip to Paris, the style I most observed in the streets was the Camille, which styles the ballet flat with a dainty 1-inch heel for a little height and lots of polish. I’m personally eyeing this shade of wine red. Manon also has a pair she wears frequently when we're together, and says she's had them for a decade. (She just keeps taking them to the cobbler!)

If you’re feeling exceptionally splurgy, I promise it doesn’t get more French than a Chanel flap bag. Manon always shows up to lunch or dinner with it delicately and effortlessly slung over her shoulder. It’s a classic, muted look that never fails to feel fresh, even when I’m admiring it for the tenth time. I think it’s also telling that whenever she’s shopping for a new leather accessory, into the Chanel boutique she goes.