Many years ago, I spent three weeks in August traveling from Paris to Carcassonne with two French girlfriends. We made our way slowly through France, stopping in small villages, enjoying long lunches, and exploring along the way.
With France once again enduring record summer temperatures, I often find myself thinking back to that August journey and the practical lessons those two French women taught me about staying comfortable in the heat.
What I remember most, however, wasn’t where we stayed or even what we ate.
It was the heat.
This was before air conditioning was as common as it is today, and our little car certainly didn’t have it. Day after day, temperatures climbed, yet somehow my French companions always appeared calm, cool, and completely collected. Meanwhile, I was constantly searching for shade, wishing for a cold shower, and wondering how they managed to look so effortlessly comfortable.
Over the course of that trip, they began to share their secrets for staying cool and they weren’t complicated. Their wardrobes—and beauty routines—were thoughtfully designed for summer. Years later, I still think about those lessons whenever temperatures soar.
Here are five French-inspired tips for staying chic during a heat wave.
Choose Natural Fabrics Head to Toe, Inside and Out
The women I traveled with wore linen and cotton almost exclusively. Their dresses floated away from the body, their blouses felt light and breathable, and nothing was synthetic.
What surprised me most was that this philosophy extended to what no one could see. Cotton lingerie was considered just as important as the dress itself. Natural fibers breathe better, absorb moisture, and simply feel more comfortable when temperatures rise.
Wear Looser Silhouettes
I noticed that neither of my friends wore anything tight or restrictive during the trip. Instead, they favored relaxed trousers, oversized shirts (sometimes worn open over a cotton tank top), flowing dresses, and unstructured skirts. Loose silhouettes allow air to circulate and prevent clothing from clinging to the body in humid weather.
To this day, I reach for simple linen shirt dresses and wide-leg trousers when the weather becomes oppressive. Comfort and elegance do not have to be opposites.
Embrace Lighter Colors
White, cream, pale blue, soft pink, and natural linen shades dominated their wardrobes.
Beyond looking beautiful, lighter colors reflect heat rather than absorb it. They also create that timeless French summer look that never feels trendy or overdone.
A white linen blouse paired with simple sandals remains one of the chicest combinations I know.
Keep Accessories Minimal
Summer was never the time for heavy handbags or layers of jewelry. My friends carried lightweight straw bags, wore a simple necklace or pair of earrings, and often topped everything with a woven hat for protection from the sun.
The result looked effortlessly chic rather than overly styled.
If there were ever a time to remember Coco Chanel’s advice about removing one thing before leaving the house, it’s during a heat wave—elegance often comes from simplifying rather than adding more.
Lighten Up Your Makeup Routine
Another lesson I learned was that French women tend to wear less makeup when temperatures rise.
Heavy foundation, layers of powder, and elaborate beauty routines can feel uncomfortable during extreme heat. Instead, focus on healthy, natural looking skin, a tinted sunscreen, a touch of mascara, and a favorite lipstick. The goal wasn’t perfection—it was freshness.
Even today, I find that simplifying my makeup routine during the summer leaves me feeling far more comfortable.
The Takeaway
The Takeaway
Looking back on that August journey from Paris to Carcassonne, I realize those two French women taught me something far more valuable than how to dress for hot weather.
They taught me that elegance should feel easy.
When temperatures rise, the answer isn’t to suffer for style. It’s to choose natural fabrics, embrace simplicity, and allow comfort to become part of your personal style.
One account I’ve long admired, and which perfectly captures this philosophy, is @dearcharlotteparis, who is featured in the photograph accompanying this post. If you’re not following this account, you should be.
The creator behind this account, Vanessa, seems to embody every aspect of what I learned that summer. There is a lightness to her style—natural fabrics, understated accessories, and a quiet confidence—that feels very true to that idea of French ease. She is featured in the photograph accompanying this post.
After all, true French chic isn’t about looking as though you’ve made an effort.
It’s about looking as though you never had to.
Bon été !
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