How to dress like a really cool French guy

Ask anyone who the best-dressed nation is, and they'll probably reply the French (as would the French). And yeah, shock. This is the country that blessed us with legends like Christian Dior and Coco Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier and Louis Vuitton and Olivier Rousteing and Simon Porte Jacquemus and Yves Saint Laurent. The French do it all. And nowhere is that prestige more apparent than at Paris Fashion Week, which, funnily enough, is considered the keynote address of show season.

And that industry has resulted in a socioeconomic trickle-down that actually works. Normal guys in Paris have a certain sense of style that's heavily copied. So, we sat down with some of Instagram's finest to chat about their favourite labels right now, pieces they can't stop wearing, and what Parisian style genuinely means (hint: it's simple, and not too put together, and all but guaranteed to make you look very good).

“I love spending time in thrift stores to find vintage treasures: pieces that have a past, and are also more qualitative compared to what you can find today on the men’s fashion market, which has been too corrupted by fast fashion.

“I also like some current brands… those that are doing great work using quality materials, and those who produce their clothes in the best conditions, while being respectful of the environment and their employees. I’m thinking of French labels like Arpenteur, Bleu de Paname, Paraboot, or Japanese brands such as Beams, Engineered Garments, and Hatski.”

Anthony Muhé, fashion content creator

“If you know me, it's easy to guess that I'm passionate about fashion. As a model and a boxer, I try to best represent my personality through clothing, in the choice of brands that I wear, as well as the colours. I really like elegant, flashy clothes with beautiful shapes. My favourite brands are Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Marni, Marine Serre, Acne Studio, and Erl.”

“Lately, my go-to jeans are the Black Mohair Denim Trousers from Marni and I pair these with black skate shoes from Louis Vuitton. After Thai boxing and modelling, fashion is the most explicit way to express myself. My role today is also to show the fusion of these two worlds, and as you can see from my Instagram, I think I'm the best-dressed fighter in the game.”

Bampara “Bambi” Kouyate, model and Muay Thai fighter

“I am a huge fan of beautiful, basic pieces with a touch of originality. Recently, I purchased a bomber jacket by Gant, and the reason why I love it so much is because of its earthy orange and brown palette that's both very unique and also easy to style. I take a lot of inspiration from brands that I can actually vibe with, such as Aimé Leon Dore and Stüssy.”

Edgar Ponson, fashion content creator

“Like a lot of French guys, my journey started with brands like Ardentes Clipei, Fursac, and Husbands Paris. In the beginning, I was a big fan of blazers with pagoda shoulders, a nipped waist, and large lapels. I also liked mid grey fresco pieces from Berg & Berg, denim from Superstitch, and vintage fatigue pants.”

“Some people call it ‘French chic’ or ‘Parisian style’, but for me, it was all about adaptability. With that said, I’m now getting older, so I'm looking for something that's a lot more comfortable and lazier. So one day, my friend introduced me to Sartoria Cavaliere: he’s Steven Seagal’s tailor. As a late ‘80s kid, I was in heaven. I came across my first Sartoria Cavaliere piece in an old shop in the heart of Paris. The rusty Glencheck was crafted with a light construction, shoulder pleats, and 3-roll-2 buttons. This was a casual piece that could be worn with more formal outfits. It's also proof that if you're into tailoring, you don't need power suits or anything like that. All you need is a little plaid.”

Gilles Andre, fashion content creator

“French style is very diverse, but if I had to choose my favourite menswear pieces right now, they would probably be chest accessories, a pair of nice shorts, and some solid boots and sneakers. Most of the pieces that I own and love are from Comme des Garçons' Homme Plus line, as I think that they're creative, original, and more similar to art than just mere clothing.”

Jean Jacques Ndjoli, founder and creative director of Ndjolijean

“In terms of shoes, obviously, my favourite brand is the one that I represent: Aubercy. It's an independent family house that has existed since 1935, and it specialises in Parisian shoes, which are a mix between English and Italian styles.”

“For made-to-measure suits, I just discovered Fratelli Mocchia Coggiola. All my shirts comes from Howard's Paris, and for real bespoke tailoring, I would recommend Florian Sirven from Berluti. In my opinion, he is best tailor in the world because he is very demanding with his work and he perfectly represents the French tailoring style: very structured, a Parisian notch on the lapel, and a perfect silhouette balance.”

Quentin Planchenault, shoe care specialist at Aubercy

“I have a few favourite menswear pieces that I own and wear. The most recent purchase would be a 1960s U.S. tanker bomber from the 3rd Armored Division with the original Spearhead patch. This holds a lot of history and is therefore quite special, as it carries the marks of time, sun-faded fabric, and rugged repairs. Generally, I appreciate pieces with a narrative, a story that has survived decades of challenges, and can now still be worn in the modern day. Another one is the 1992 C.P. Company aviator jacket. This was designed by the master, Massimo Osti, and it portrays his creativity and ingenuity.”

“Moving into the late '90s, another Italian designer that we know very little about, Lorenzo Piazzi. The story goes that, while working for Stone Island as Osti's style assistant, Piazzi was so innovative that he was given a line to fully express and explore. These were produced in small quantities, which makes them hard to find nowadays. I was lucky enough to come across this incredible trench coat, unlined, made entirely of PVC. It features so many cool details.”

Lancelin, head of sportswear & leather outerwear design at Dior

“I often dress in made-to-measure and second-hand clothes, but if I had choose my favourite piece in my wardrobe, it would probably be the tuxedo. No other outfit will ever surpass it in making a man look good and elegant. I'm a bit old school on the subject, as I like to wear my tuxes with stiff, starched detachable collars.

“Another piece that is dear to me is my black suit. I like the idea of a well-tailored suit, sobre in colour, solid without playing on patterns. The black suit can be challenging, so I wanted a unique one with an aggressive look, and it was Yves from the brand Les Franc-Tireurs who made it for me."

Sasha Leboeuf, gallery owner

“Aside from my love for footwear, one thing I've been collecting for a long time is jackets. I have a few cupboards full of them, and I have a story for every single one. For me, a jacket really gives the tone to the entire outfit. There are three styles of jackets that stand out for me and that I believe we should all have in our wardrobe.”

“First, there's the classic biker. Whether it is in full black leather or with a crazier design that we've been seeing many brands make, this style of jacket always makes a strong statement. Secondly, the bomber is a sportier and more street-oriented silhouette. It's such a versatile type of jacket that I can style in so many different ways. And lastly, the denim trucker. To me, it's comparable to a classic white tee; we all need one.”

Thierry Tek, creative director at Beautifully Said

“When it comes to Parisian style, what I prefer above all are jackets. Long or short, it doesn't matter to me as long as they are original and spectacular. It's the first thing that people will see when they meet you, and I when I look for one, I tend to go for one that's based on my DNA: a mix between French chic and hip-hop.”

“If I have to choose a second thing, it would be shoes. Judging by the fact that I have more than 700 pairs in my collection, my tastes are very broad, but they include everything from classics and luxurious models, all the way to big streetwear grails.”

Tonton Gibs, fashion content creator

“I believe that there's no single way that you can define Parisian style. To start off, I want to talk about the Socially Down Jacket from Heliot Emil. You can wear it in a bunch of different shapes thanks to the two-way zipper and the extended sections that you can pin in various positions depending on your mood. If you like oversized pants, the black heavy cargo by No/Faith Studios is the one I'd recommend. They're extremely functional with plenty of pockets.”

“Balenciaga's Santiag Harness leather boots have also been my go-to lately. They can either give you a classy vibe or a more Western cowboy one, which is becoming more and more popular this year. And finally, we have to talk about jewellery. I believe that this is a very overlooked part when it comes to building an outfit, but from my point of view, it can make a lot of difference."

Victor Dao, fashion content creator