The Surprising Paris Fashion Week Trend We Simply Did Not See Coming

In addition to the wave of expected trends—cherry red, ‘90s influences, etc.—I saw countless Paris Fashion Week attendees sporting two-piece denim sets. To be honest, with all the inspiring street style that pops up in Paris, denim isn’t often a popular choice, even as a base for more over-the-top shirts or shoes. So to see it show up as the star of so many outfits was a delightful surprise.

But of course, these gals weren’t just going full western with a matching denim trucker jacket and straight-leg jeans. They instead put a French twist on the easy ensemble, elevating the duo beyond what I’ve seen in the states in recent years. There were denim trench coats worn over baggy jeans, numerous detailed midi skirt silhouettes with denim shirts and cropped jackets and matching distressed sets styled to the nines. There were even some showgoers who made no effort at all to attempt to match the different washes—which, when combined with that iconic French sensibility, ended up looking effortlessly cool, instead of sloppy. As for the other elements of their outfits (coats, handbags, shoes, jewelry), all opted for sleek, elegant styles that further helped to elevate humble denim.

If you want to recreate this French woman-approved spring outfit, try thinking outside the usual denim box. Look at patterned and patchwork styles, play around with less common silhouettes and don’t stress too much about whether or not your denims are an exact match. Read on for a list of our favorite new French woman denim staples.