What do Parisians wear in autumn?
Roughly the same thing every day, which is the point. A French autumn wardrobe is a short list of good pieces in a few colours that all go together, so that getting dressed in the dark at seven in the morning takes no decisions.
The weather helps. Paris in October and November is rarely cold and often grey and wet: highs around 16°C (61°F) in October and 11°C (52°F) in November. That is coat weather, not parka weather, and it rewards layers you can take off in a heated metro.
The coat comes first
In autumn the coat is the outfit. It is what people see in the street, in the café and on the platform, so it is where the money goes. A single wool coat in camel, navy, grey or black, cut straight and long enough to cover a jacket, will do five months.
For October, when it is too mild for wool, the French wear a trench. Beige is the classic. It works over a sweater now and over a T-shirt in April.
Buying one good thing instead of five is the first of the twenty French style rules, and nowhere does it matter more than with the coat.
The ten pieces
A French fall wardrobe, in full. Everything below goes with everything else.
- A wool coat, camel, navy, grey or black.
- A trench, for October.
- Two fine knits, one crew neck and one V-neck or cardigan, in grey, navy or cream.
- A striped top, the marinière, for under the knit.
- Dark straight jeans, no rips.
- Wool trousers, grey or navy.
- Leather ankle boots, black or brown, with a low heel.
- Loafers, for dry days.
- A large scarf, wool or cashmere.
- A leather bag, plain, that goes with both shoes.
New · free guide
The French Fashion Field Guide
Twenty rules, from the coat to the hem. The last three are for him.
See the rulesAnkle boots and dark denim
If there is a French autumn uniform, it is dark jeans, ankle boots, a knit and the coat. The jeans are straight or slightly cropped and sit just above the boot. The boots are plain leather, polished, with a heel you can walk in all day, because in Paris you will.
Trainers are fine, as long as they are clean, white or neutral, and look like shoes rather than equipment.
How the French layer
Thin layers, rather than one thick one. A striped top under a fine knit, under the coat, with a scarf. Indoors the coat and scarf come off and the outfit underneath still works.
The scarf is the French layer that Americans skip. It goes on in October and stays on until spring, wrapped once around the neck, and it does more for warmth than a thicker coat would.
What the French skip in autumn
Sportswear outside sport: leggings as trousers, fleece, hoodies in the city. The puffer jacket exists in France, but mostly for the weekend, the mountains and the school run in real cold.
Seasonal prints are the other thing. There are no pumpkin sweaters in a Paris autumn and no plaid with a turkey on it. Decorating the wardrobe for the season, like decorating the porch, is American, and we have a whole article on why.
Fall wardrobe, two countries
| Paris | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| The outer layer | A wool coat or a trench | A puffer or a fleece |
| The sweater | Fine merino or cashmere | A chunky knit or a sweatshirt |
| The colours | Navy, camel, grey, black | Orange, rust, plaid |
| The shoes | Leather ankle boots | Trainers or duck boots |
| The accessory | A scarf | A knit hat |
All of it, with the reasons and three things to try, is in the free French Fashion Field Guide.
Questions, answered
What do Parisians wear in the fall?
A wool coat or a trench, dark jeans or wool trousers, a fine knit, a striped top, leather ankle boots or loafers, and a scarf, in navy, camel, grey, black and cream.
What coat do French women wear in autumn?
A long, straight wool coat in camel, navy, grey or black, and a beige trench in October, when it is too mild for wool.
Do the French wear sneakers in the fall?
Yes, if they are clean, plain and white or neutral. Running shoes and hiking boots stay for sport and the weekend.
What is the weather in Paris in October and November?
Mild and often damp: highs around 16°C (61°F) in October and 11°C (52°F) in November. Layers and a coat, rather than a heavy jacket.
How many pieces is a French fall wardrobe?
About ten: a wool coat, a trench, two fine knits, a striped top, dark jeans, wool trousers, ankle boots, loafers, a scarf and a leather bag.
Still wondering?
Ask my French husband.
A short ruling in a few seconds. Written by AI from our Journal, in his voice.
He judges America weekly on Instagram, and Le Bulletin collects the best of it.
Before you go
Which Parisienne Are You?
Saint-Germain, Marais, Montmartre or Neuilly-Auteuil-Passy. Eight questions, one arrondissement.
