Having lived in the south of France, I am well acquainted with the French way of dressing. Every time I go back, I find myself inspired to once again bring this effortlessly elegant way of dressing into my wardrobe, and that’s exactly what happened as soon as I returned from my latest trip. The sunny days of spring and summer demand a balance of ease and sparkle, a harmony that comes naturally to Gallic dressers. From the sun-dappled streets of Paris to strolls along the beach in St. Tropez, I’ve been studying how French women achieve their sophisticated summer looks. Now, I’ve created a sleek French-inspired summer capsule entirely from Zara’s new purchases.
Rather than following trends or leaning into emerging styles, the best French dressers stick to a capsule of core purchases each year. Light jeans are paired with delicate embroidered blouses, easy linen co-ords bring a feeling of being together even when strolling to the local pastry shop, and flowing dresses are worn with simple sandals, all with a basket bag to complete. They’re the kind of pieces that can be easily mixed and matched to create a range of cute summer looks, and I’ve found lots of elegant options at Zara right now.