Sweatpants and leggings, though popular with the athleisure trend, are generally not thought of as sophisticated and chic and this is why they are just some of the things French women don't wear.
Along with short shorts, leggings are equally banished to the back of a French closet. There is a reason that Lululemons are not big in France. Leggings are and should only be worn at the gym. And I mean at the gym, not on the way to the gym!
They are not a huge part of European fashion and are normally only used for exercise or going to the gym. So If you want to wear leggings during your trip, I would say it totally depends. If you are planning to walk or do something active, they are perfectly acceptable.
While French women love their tights, Americans love their leggings. Enter Hipstik: tights that have the so comfortable* feel of leggings, but look so stylish (think French!) on all women.
It's not typical to wear yoga pants or running style leggings to walk in Paris. It's comfortable for sure, but not what a Parisian would wear (unless they are actually running or going to their yoga class of course…) Fancy little tennis shoes like “Bensimon” or “Converse” are quite trendy for any age group.
13% of French women under 25 go braless, according to a poll* in June 2022, a stunningly higher figure than Spain (3%), Italy (2%), the United Kingdom and Germany (1%.). The figure falls to 6% when women of all ages are included.
To avoid looking like a tourist, you'll want to know what to wear in France. Our advice? Skip the baseball caps, white socks, sneakers, large colorful backpacks, and fanny packs. Instead, opt for dark skinny jeans, plain shirts without logos, and leather shoes.
Despite Paris being considered one of the fashion capitals of the world, French people are a lot less likely to jump on fashion trends because of our culture around style. One of these trends is athleisure – athletic clothing worn in leisure settings.
Skinny jeans are not in style in France but the exception to this rule is a simple solid black pair of black skinny jeans which are exclusively worn under knee-high boots (the cut must be skinny so they don't bunch up around the knee).
Thermal Stockings are super common in Paris during springtime. You can wear them with your short skirt, your cute dress or even under your jeans to keep warm. And since these stockings are known to preserve heat, they are perfect even on a cold spring day.
Are leggings okay to wear in Italy? Some travelers love wearing leggings for comfort, but they're often too casual looking as pants for Italy. If you're a big fan of leggings, consider pairing a black pair with long tunics during the spring, or wearing them under dresses and skirts in fall and winter.
They're the obvious comfy choice of clothing for a long flight - but next time you're heading on a break, you should think twice about wearing leggings for your flight. According to one aviation expert, they are one of the most dangerous things a passenger could wear if an emergency occurs onboard.
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way to wear leggings. If it looks and feels right for you, then that should be enough. But if you want your leggings to take the place of your regular trousers, they can do that as well—as long as you know what you're doing.
You can French tuck with any top, but best used with T-shirts, blouses, button down shirts, and sweaters. This works with different thickness of tops too. You'll find you can half tuck a sweater as easily as a blouse with your denim, skirt, pants, shorts and leggings!
No push-up bras
Anyone who has walked around Paris will notice that Parisennes simply don't do big boobies. In the fashion capital of the world, the locals have gotten used to seeing tiny models wear clothes that hang straight.
The “French girl look” is a popular style trend that is often characterized by effortless, natural beauty. French girls are known for their classic style and simple elegance. They tend to dress in neutral colors and seem to always look put-together, even when they're not trying too hard.
The most popular jean style you will see in Paris is straight-leg denim. Parisians love to wear this style of denim because it's the most classic. Other styles you will see are flare and wide-leg denim. Skinny jeans are not common and Paisian women tend to go for a high waist which helps to lengthen the legs.
You'll see a red dress or yellow top, but not plaid on plaid or a full pink look. During the day, you can't go wrong with stylish jeans, nice sun dresses and classic jackets. French women love a blazer day or night. Same with a button down shirt, pretty and simple blouses and cozy, chic sweaters.
If you were wondering if French women wear sneakers —and even in the streets of Paris, the answer is: yes, definitely! Sneakers or trainers are an essential shoe style that is found in every French woman's closet. If you went to Paris, you might have seen that uncomfortable high heels are not very “French”.
“French-girl hair” has become an idea in and of itself, describing an artfully rumpled head of hair that appears to have magically air-dried to a soft, wavy mass—no texture spray required.
Clubs/High-End Outings
Jeans (besides dark or black-wash) are usually safest to avoid. I'd recommend a skirt, tights, and a nice blouse—paired with either boots or heels. If you're ever unsure of what would be allowed, opt for semi-formal attire: a dress or skirt (always with tights) or slacks.