When you look up “French fashion”, what you’ll often find is aimed at American tourists visiting Paris, looking to fit in and avoid being visibly touristy. Unfortunately for those of us visiting the south of France, that advice is useless. Unlike the monochrome, layered, designer look of France’s most known city, the south of France is host to a blend of Provençal and Mediterranean style, focused on the marriage of function and fashion but above all, keeping cool. Here are my top tips on what to wear to fit in and beat the heat in the south of France:
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Walk on the Light side: The sun in the south of France is constant and unforgiving, and an all-black outfit will cook you alive. Trade in the darker shades for white and lighter shades, which reflect the sun’s heat rather than absorbing it.
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Go for the Flowy: Ever tried to take off a wet swimsuit? Wearing tight clothes in the south of France is like that. Opt for loose-fitting, flowy clothes to avoid feeling like your clothes are stuck to your skin while sweating in the hot summer sun.
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Dresses to impress: With the heat, who wants to wear pants? Or even shorts? Dresses are incredibly common here, in every length from Maxi to Mini with everything in between. Add a pair of bike shorts underneath to beat the inevitable thigh chafe, and rotate between spaghetti straps and sleeves: the strappy and strapless dresses are awfully cute, but bad sunburn is just plain awful.
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Go Big & go Bold: Patterns are a MUST in the south of France, and they’re bigger, brighter, and bolder than you’d expect to wear in the United States. Embrace it, and load up on the color and patterns. Current wardrobe lacking the right flair? Head to the markets to buy some new items to spice it up.
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Hat trick: A good sunhat is an absolute must to protect your face, ears, and neck from the unbeatable southern sun. Luckily, hats are sold everywhere at the market, and in many souvenir shops. Wear a baseball cap at your own risk, though: it’ll single you out as a tourist among the crowds.
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Sneaker-ing around: A cute sneaker is a versatile option that will keep your feet comfy while taking you from the morning markets all the way to the late-night clubs. I recommend an all or mostly white sneaker, like a Nike Air Force or low-rise Chuck Taylors.
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Don’t worry, Bra!: Bra-haters rejoice: while always a personal choice, the bra is especially optional here! Plenty of French women and tourists alike choose to forgo them entirely, while some swap them out for a cute and trendy bralette. See what feels best to you, or decide based on your outfit du jour.
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Tote-ally rocking: A tote bag is the must-have accessory for any outfit in the south of France – why worry about swapping bags or running out of room when a tote bag does it all? Find a cute tote and use it for your morning-market produce, in lieu of your American school backpack, or to hold all the essentials while out to dinner with friends.
Still curious about what to wear or how to blend in? Check out some of my favorite outfits to wear during my time in Arles: