5 French-Approved Ways to Amp Up Your Outfit

Go bold or go home.
By: Molly Miller

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The French consistently rely on classics when building their outfits. And while classics never go out of style, they can feel stale. Take note of how these stylists, bloggers, editors and buyers from Paris Fashion Week make ruffles and stripes look cool and modern.

 Wear plaid or check patterns head to toe.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Kristi Gogsadze, fashion blogger from La Georgienne, wears an Anna October purple checked dress, a Karl Lagerfeld clutch, and Christian Louboutin red shoes, outside the Dior show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Kristi Gogsadze, fashion blogger from La Georgienne, wears an Anna October purple checked dress, a Karl Lagerfeld clutch, and Christian Louboutin red shoes, outside the Dior show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Photo by: Edward Berthelot

Edward Berthelot

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Chriselle Lim wears a white top, a long jacket, white shoes, black and white pants, outside the Paco Rabanne show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Chriselle Lim wears a white top, a long jacket, white shoes, black and white pants, outside the Paco Rabanne show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Photo by: Edward Berthelot

Edward Berthelot

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Veronika Heilbrunner wearing a checked Chloe suit, brown leather boots outside Chloe on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Veronika Heilbrunner wearing a checked Chloe suit, brown leather boots outside Chloe on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A guest wearing a striped button shirt, checked skirt outside Chanel on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A guest wearing a striped button shirt, checked skirt outside Chanel on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

 Opt for not-so-stiff stripes.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Thassia Naves wearing a striped coat outside Balmain on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Thassia Naves wearing a striped coat outside Balmain on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: A guest is seen in the streets of Paris after the Chloe show on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: A guest is seen in the streets of Paris after the Chloe show on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Photo by: Timur Emek

Timur Emek

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Kate Foley Osterweis wearing a red white striped button shirt dress outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Kate Foley Osterweis wearing a red white striped button shirt dress outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

 Choose classic separates in voluminous shapes.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Caroline Duar wearing high waisted pants, Dior bra outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Caroline Duar wearing high waisted pants, Dior bra outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 06: Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz wearing a pink jacket, pruple dress outside Hermes on March 6, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 06: Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz wearing a pink jacket, pruple dress outside Hermes on March 6, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Rachael Wang wearing a white top, brown bucket bag, wide leg black pants outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Rachael Wang wearing a white top, brown bucket bag, wide leg black pants outside Dior on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

 Give ruffles an edgy upgrade.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 06: Melanie Darmon wears a Zara pink top with ruffles, a Zara bag, a Jacquemus black ruffled skirt, Asos black tights, an Asos headband, Louboutin heels shoes, outside the Valentin Yudashkin show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 6, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 06: Melanie Darmon wears a Zara pink top with ruffles, a Zara bag, a Jacquemus black ruffled skirt, Asos black tights, an Asos headband, Louboutin heels shoes, outside the Valentin Yudashkin show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 6, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Photo by: Edward Berthelot

Edward Berthelot

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A guest wearing a blazer jacket, ruffled sleeves outside Ellery on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A guest wearing a blazer jacket, ruffled sleeves outside Ellery on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Photo by: Christian Vierig

Christian Vierig

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Chiara Ferragni seen wearing a jacket and shoes from Chanel before the Chanel show in the streets of Paris on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Chiara Ferragni seen wearing a jacket and shoes from Chanel before the Chanel show in the streets of Paris on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Photo by: Timur Emek

Timur Emek

 Trade basic leather for patent leather or vinyl.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Fashion blogger Miu wears a red top with stripes, black vinyl pants, and red shoes, outside the Balmain show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 02: Fashion blogger Miu wears a red top with stripes, black vinyl pants, and red shoes, outside the Balmain show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Photo by: Edward Berthelot

Edward Berthelot

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 05: A guest is seen in the streets of Paris before the Valentino show during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 5, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 05: A guest is seen in the streets of Paris before the Valentino show during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 5, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

Photo by: Claudio Lavenia

Claudio Lavenia

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Yoyo Cao wears a red vinyl coat, and a black hoodie sweater , outside the Moncler Gamme Rouge show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Yoyo Cao wears a red vinyl coat, and a black hoodie sweater , outside the Moncler Gamme Rouge show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Photo by: Edward Berthelot

Edward Berthelot

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