Look good and feel great with our complete guide to clothing in French

Look good and feel great with our complete guide to clothing in French

Paris is often considered the capital of fashion: la capitale de la mode. Who hasn’t heard of “haute couture”? So it made sense to dedicate an entire article to clothes in French.

But even if you're not a fashionista, it always comes in handy to know the basics, such as “dress” or “underwear” in French. For the latter, you never know what situation you might use it in ;-)

So here are more than 160 words and sayings to add to your clothes in French vocabulary. If this is overwhelming, keep your shirt on and take French lessons!

Clothes in French

The French word for clothes in French is “vêtements” (plural) and “vêtement” (singular). The slang term “fringues” is also widely used.

Here are a few examples of typical situations where you need to be able to talk about clothes.

When trying clothes in a store.

• Vous avez ce jean en taille 40 ?
  Translation: Do you have these jeans in size 40?
• Où sont les cabines d’essayage ?
  Translation: Where are the fitting rooms?

When complimenting somebody on their apparel.

• J’adore ta robe !
  Translation: I love your dress!
• Où as-tu acheté ta chemise?
  Translation: Where did you get your shirt?

When asking a friend for her/his opinion on your outfit.

• Que penses-tu de ma tenue ?
  Translation: What do you think of my outfit?
• Tu aimes ce pantalon ?
  Translation: Do you like these pants?

When inquiring about the dress code for an event or a job.

• Que dois-je mettre ?
  Translation: What should I wear?
• Quel est le code vestimentaire ?
  Translation: What’s the dress code?

Download our FREE activity poster

For a great way to memorize the most common clothing types in French, make it interactive. Download our printable activity poster today, it's sure to pay off. Let's go!

Dress codes in French

Although dress codes in France are less common than in the US, here is a little guide to avoid any faux-pas. Quelle classe !

Underwear in French

Oh là là, voici les sous-vêtements en français !

Outerwear in French

French might be the language of love, but it doesn’t mean you only need to learn underwear in French! Whatever your style, we have you covered. Literally..

Dress in French

Shorts and pants in French

Shirts and tops in French

Jacket or coat in French

Skirt in French

Shoes and boots in French

No style would be complete without an awesome pair of shoes. Time to step up your vocab and learn shoes in French!

Hats in French

Other important clothing-related terms

Clothing-related French idioms

• Tirer son chapeau

  Literal translation: To pull one’s hat
  Actual meaning: To congratulate

• Avoir le moral dans les chaussettes

  Literal translation: To have the mood in one’s socks
  Actual meaning: To be down

• Être à côté de ses pompes

  Literal translation: To be on the side of one’s shoes
  Actual meaning: To be out of it

• Retourner sa veste

  Literal translation: To flip one’s jacket
  Actual meaning: To be an opportunist (usually regarding politics)

• Se serrer la ceinture

  Literal translation: To tighten one’s belt
  Actual meaning: To save, to avoid spending

• L’habit ne fait pas le moine

  Literal translation: The outfit doesn’t make the monk
  Actual meaning: You can’t judge a book by its cover

• Aller comme un gant

  Literal translation: To fit like a glove
  Actual meaning: Well… to fit like a glove

• Prendre des gants

  Literal translation: To take gloves
  Actual meaning: To act carefully, to be gentle (usually not to hurt someone’s feelings)

• Lâcher les baskets

  Literal translation: To let go of sneakers
  Actual meaning: To leave alone

• Gros bonnet

  Literal translation: Big winter hat
  Actual meaning: Someone important

• Lécher les bottes

  Literal translation: To lick the boots
  Actual meaning: To suck up

• Tailler un costard

  Literal translation: To tailor a suit
  Actual meaning: To criticize

• Se faire remonter les bretelles

  Literal translation: To get one’s straps rolled up
  Actual meaning: To get in trouble, to be scolded

Clothes related verbs in French

Clichés when it comes to clothing in French

Cliché #1

Everyone wears a striped shirt, a beret and a red scarf.

Even though it’s a cliché, A LOT of French people LOVE white and blue stripes — marinière style — and beret fashion comes and goes. Most men and women also wear a foulard or scarf, when not too hot obviously. Check out this article to know more about French fashion clichés!

Cliché #2

French people are always elegant and in-style.

In large cities, you’ll see a lot of elegant and stylish people. But I think this applies to most countries. I’ve personally seen more sleek looking people in cities like London or Stockholm than in Paris, for example.

French people are not overly formal, so as long as your outfit is “correct” and respectful, don’t worry! Québécois tend to be a bit more relaxed when it comes to clothing, and in general actually.

Calling all fashionistas: Check out this video to learn the French style wardrobe essentials!

10 wardrobe essentials for French style | "Parisian chic" | Justine Leconte

Can you remember all these new words and expressions? Je vous tire mon chapeau ! If you dream about French clothing while watching Emily in Paris, find out how Parisians react to the show in this fun video. You are now ready to conquer French fashion… and French vocab!