Wardrobe

As a devoted sun seeker, I always feel a pang around this time of year as the air begins to cool. But if anything can soften the blow of parting with my favourite summer pieces, it’s the freedom that comes with building autumn outfits and the endless opportunities to experiment with fabric, silhouette and proportion.

Having studied French style for two decades, I’ve come to recognise the staples most often favoured by French women, along with the subtle seasonal updates worth noting. As with most seasons, a French woman’s autumn capsule wardrobe is made up of carefully chosen items. It’s versatile, streamlined and cut to embody the effortless look the French are known for.

Although the core capsule remains steadfast with seasonal classics (a blazer, column silhouettes and anti-trend footwear, for example), there are a few seasonal updates that may appear each autumn, should French women choose to adopt them. This season, I’ve witnessed the popularity of capri pants first-hand, and the longer, ankle-skimming iteration is an autumnal approach to the trouser trend I know we’ll continue to see through to autumn, for example.