A summer style guide to the French Riviera

The French Riviera exudes a casual elegance that is unlike anywhere else – think Grace Kelly, Jane Birkin, and Audrey Hepburn. I’ve always appreciated the chic style & glamour of the French Riviera (and I love all things rosé). During 2020 in Europe, we were lucky enough to travel. We cautiously started with a weekend trip to Bruges, and then booked a last minute trip for a week to the South of France – but I had almost forgotten how to pack for a trip that long! With that in mind, I wanted to share a summer style guide to the French Riviera with the must-have items I’m packing in my bag. I ended up with casual, elegant outfits that are practical enough to wear in the heat. And even if you aren’t traveling this summer, these are sophisticated yet simple looks that will work anywhere.

Blue & white stripes

This one is first because I’m packing a crazy amount of blue & white stripes… they’re timeless and iconic for the French Riviera. There are some great matching sets. I also pair striped tops with beige or white shorts for a casual look, and striped pants with a white crop top and wedges for evening.

Ruffled tops

Ruffles are a great choice for summer, but need to be in subdued florals or refined color palettes to avoid looking too childish. They look great paired with wide leg pants or high-waisted shorts.

Neutral espadrilles

Since there is a lot of walking on older cobblestone streets, comfy shoes are essential. I recommend a neutral pair – I always pack these wedge Soludos. These Steve Maddens are a good afforable sandal version, and these from Sezane would go with everything.

Puff-sleeve white dresses

White dresses have always been in style for summer. The puff-sleeve trend hit it huge last year, and they’re making a return this season. It’s an easy way to look chic without trying too hard.

Wide-leg pants

I’m bringing a blue linen pair that I got in Positano, but tan or white are also good choices. I like adding a bold stripe for pants and a high waist. Choose materials that will hang well, like a casual linen blend or a satin if you want to dress up for dinner.

A straw shopper bag

When it comes to accessories, straw pairs perfectly with blue & white and is definitely the way to go. I usually wear cross-body bags when I travel, but have recently shifted to shoppers like this structured inexpensive option from Amazon because they are more practical for beach vacations. I also love this classic French sihouette from Etsy.

White crop tops

Not the crop tops you wore in your early 20s – the more sophisticated version your mother would approve of. They pair perfectly with a satin midi skirt or wide-leg pants, so they’re an essential French riviera wardrobe element.

A satin slip skirt

A slip skirt is perfect for warmer evenings, and can be dressed up with a blouse or dressed down with a white t-shirt. A dusty blue will coordinate well, but you can also go bolder with a neutral animal print.

Coral red lipstick

YSL Rouge Couture in Le Orange (EU link) is my absolute favorite lipstick. Le Orange is a coral red shade that works everywhere from Singapore to Greece – mine has been around the world with me. It’s a splurge, but well worth it – the formula is really creamy and easy to apply. It lasts ages and it works perfectly with blue & white stripes.

A stylish wide-brim hat

Boaters like this one are a good choice. This is a really cute version that you can wear tied around your neck as well.

A classic white jumpsuit

I got my low back jumpsuit ages ago from Revolve, but I like this one which incorporates the 90’s trend. I also found several long sleeve plunge versions below, which are perfect when the weather turns cooler in the evenings.

Sunscreen

And lastly… sunburns are never in style, so remember to pack an excellent sunscreen. I love French beauty brands, and La Roche-Posay also makes great body sunscreens. For my face I try to wear SPF 50 if I’m at the beach, and SPF 30 daily. Here are my favorite facial sunscreens.

• SPF 30 or 40 Goop Unseen Sunscreen (EU link) – great under makeup as a primer
• SPF 50 La Roche-Posay mineral sunscreen – safe to wear over your eyes, so it’s perfect for the beach
• SPF 50 Skinceuticals tinted suncreen – ideal if you want a tinted version
• SPF 30 Drunk Elephant Umbra (here’s an EU link – I have a travel size from their Littles kit, EU link)

I’d love to see outfits that were inspired by this post. Be sure to share your outfits with me on Instagram & tag me in your stories!

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