French Style
Jan 3, 2024

Here's How French Women Are Styling Their Loafers Right Now

by Maxine Eggenberger

I am always open to discussing French style at length, but in the interest of keeping things on track, let’s cut to the chase: French women love wearing loafers. I see it on my feed every day. It’s also evident in real life, should you find yourself on the streets of Paris any time soon. However, I didn’t quite realise just how much they loved wearing them until recently. Having bought a fresh pair of loafers myself, I was looking for inspiration to style them—cue my favourite françaises, all of whom seem to know exactly how to wear their classic loafers chicly.

Like the rest of us, French women rely on basics to help elevate their looks and give them timeless appeal, so naturally, jeans are a recurring theme when it comes to styling their loafers. Other Gallic girls are serving up combinations involving skirts, leggings and even joggers, confirming just how versatile loafers can be.

So if you ever wondered how French women style loafers, well, wonder no more. I’ve whittled down seven key looks that demonstrate this perfectly—scroll on to see them and to shop any pieces you might need to re-create them should they not already feature in your wardrobe. Vive la loafer!

How French Women Style Loafers: @vikilefevre wears a pair of burgundy loafers with a pair of flare jeans and a green cardigan

Photo:

@vikilefevre

Style Notes: French women love their knitwear, which is something I can appreciate given the fact I live in Scotland where the word “cold” takes on new meaning. Paired with flares and, yes, loafers, this is a look I can (and will) wear on repeat this autumn.

Shop the look:

American Vintage Cardigan

American Vintage

Fashion editors love to wear American Vintage knitwear.

Arket Lupine High Flared Stretch Jeans

Lupine High Flared Stretch Jeans

Flares are going nowhere. Plus, they're so easy to dress up or down.

Le Loafer YSL-Logo Leather Loafers

These are right at the top of my wish right now.

How French Women Style Loafers: @juliesfi wears a pair of chain-embellished loafers with a checked mini skirt

Photo:

@juliesfi

Style Notes: Loafers are ideal for layering with miniskirts as they provide a less-flimsy footwear solution than, say, ballet flats. Just add chunky socks, and this is a look you can legitimately wear when it’s freezing.

Shop the look:

Sezane Gaspard Cardigan

Gaspard Cardigan

A cult knit by French retailer, Sezane.

H&M Leather Loafers

Leather Loafers

The chunkier the better in my books.

How French Women Style Loafers: @lenafarl wears a pair of loafers with navy joggers and a matching jumper

Photo:

@lenafarl

Style Notes: It should come as no surprise that French women can even make loungewear look smart, chic and polished. Wearing said comfies with loafers? Inspired!

Shop the look:

H&M Loose-Fit Jumper

Loose-Fit Jumper

A navy sweater is a wardrobe hero. I love to wear mine with black but this will also look great with white denim.

Autograph Pure Cashmere Tapered Ankle Grazer Joggers

Pure Cashmere Tapered Ankle Grazer Joggers

Did you know Lululemon's infamous align pants are available in jogger form?

Gucci Jordan Horsebit Loafers

Jordan Horsebit Loafers

Classics you'll love forever.

How French Women Style Loafers: @frannfyne wears two-tone loafers with a black blazer and grey tailored trousers

Photo:

@frannfyne

Style Notes: You can never go wrong with a blazer-and-tailored-trouser look—add loafers into the equation, and you’ve got the ideal look to take you from your desk to dinners out.

Shop the look:

Arket Oversized Wool Blend Twill Blazer

Oversized Wool Blend Twill Blazer

Regular readers will know how much we love Arket's blazers.

COS Wide-Leg Tailored Wool Trousers

Wide-Leg Tailored Wool Trousers

Wear with shirts, knitwear, blazers and more.

Reformation Agathea Chunky Loafer

Agathea Chunky Loafer

I love the contrast stitching on these.

How French Women Style Loafers: @lefevrediary wears loafers with straight-leg jeans and a black biker jacket

Photo:

@lefevrediary

Style Notes: Leather biker jackets never truly go out of style, but they've been back in a big way this year. French women have been wearing theirs with a throwback flair with straight-leg jeans and chunky loafers.

Shop the look:

ACNE Studios Leather Biker Jacket

Leather Biker Jacket

~~£1350~~ £945

Leather jackets are fast becoming the fashion girl's favourite jacket again.

COS Leather Loafer

Did you know that COS has a great footwear offering?

How French Women Style Loafers: @camillecharriere wears Prada loafers with a camel coat and satin skirt

Photo:

@camillecharriere

Style Notes: A cool take on a classic shoe style, Prada’s stacked loafers will give all your wardrobe staples a fresh overhaul—just look to Camille’s camel-coat-and-black-skirt pairing for inspiration.

Shop the look:

Anine Bing Dylan Double-Breasted Wool and Cashmere-Blend Coat

Dylan Double-Breasted Wool and Cashmere-Blend Coat

A camel coat adds polish to even the most casual of looks.

Vince Hammered Silk Skirt

Hammered Silk Skirt

Dress it up with heels or down with a trainer and a knit.

Triangle Logo-Plaque Patent-Leather Loafers

No doubt you've seen these all over your Instagram...

How French Women Style Loafers: @leiasfez wears loafers with split-hem leggings

Photo:

@leiasfez

Style Notes: Give leggings an instant polish with a pair of loafers. Leia styles her split-hem pair with chunky white socks and chain-embellished loafers—a common theme amongst the French fashion set.

Shop the look:

Arket Bouclé Wool Coat

Bouclé Wool Coat

Oh Arket, you never fail to impress us with your outerwear selection.

Norma Kamali Spat Split-Hem Leggings

Spat Split-Hem Leggings

Leggings are the ultimate cool girl staple.

Arket Ribbed Socks

For added warmth on cold days.

G.H. Bass Weejuns 90 Larson Loafers

Weejuns 90 Larson Loafers

Try a burgundy pair of loafers if you're looking to avoid black.