6 Basics That Will Add a French-Inspired Twist to Your 2020 Look

Getty | Claudio Lavenia

With their quintessential brand of effortless chic — emphasis on chic — who better to inspire our latest round of outfit styling than the French? With 2020 in view, it's as good a time as any to refresh, reinvigorate, and rethink the pieces we own (or are planning to shop in the new year) with a tried-and-true formula of je ne sais quoi. We've pared down the wardrobe categories to six: the blazer, wide-leg pants, stripes, vintage-inspired bags, a low (or non-existent) heel, and the trench coat. With a honed-in focus on what makes the French tick (classic silhouettes and closet staples!) and the street style of Paris Fashion Week as our North Star, let these looks provide a fresh wave of outfit inspiration.

French-Inspired Style: Add a Blazer

From classic beige to bolder hues and updated versions in leather, pinstripe, and plaid, the blazer serves as a polished top layer.

French-Inspired Style: Add a Blazer

French-Inspired Style: Add a Blazer

French-Inspired Style: Add a Blazer

French-Inspired Style: Opt For a Wide-Leg Silhouette

Skip ultrafitted pants and head straight for a looser, wide-leg silhouette. It's relaxed but never sloppy.

French-Inspired Style: Opt For a Wide-Leg Silhouette

French-Inspired Style: Opt For a Wide-Leg Silhouette

French-Inspired Style: Opt For a Wide-Leg Silhouette

French-Inspired Style: Opt For a Wide-Leg Silhouette

French-Inspired Style: Carry a Vintage-Inspired Bag

Accessorize with a bag that evokes an old-school mood. We love these styles spotted at Paris Fashion Week, which include box silhouettes, top handles, irreverent objects, and flashes of gold.

French-Inspired Style: Carry a Vintage-Inspired Bag

French-Inspired Style: Carry a Vintage-Inspired Bag

French-Inspired Style: Carry a Vintage-Inspired Bag

French-Inspired Style: Reinvent the Classic Stripe

Stripes are synonymous with French fashion, but this set is all about reinventing the way we wear this print.

French-Inspired Style: Reinvent the Classic Stripe

French-Inspired Style: Reinvent the Classic Stripe

French-Inspired Style: Reinvent the Classic Stripe

French-Inspired Style: Reinvent the Classic Stripe

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

When it comes to adding a French twist to your look, opt for a low (or no) heel.

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

French-Inspired Style: Wear a Low (or No) Heel

French-Inspired Style: Finish With a Trench Coat

Finish off your outfit with the most timeless piece of all: the trench coat. Wear it on your shoulders, belt it to create shape, let pops of print peek through, or dress for the weather in PVC.

French-Inspired Style: Finish With a Trench Coat

French-Inspired Style: Finish With a Trench Coat

French-Inspired Style: Finish With a Trench Coat

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