French Clothing Vocabulary and Useful Expressions to Use in a Fashion Store
French fashion is internationally famed for its elegance and excellence.
From Coco Chanel to Jean Paul Gaultier, French designers have paved the road to trends worldwide. When you are learning French, knowing the name of clothing in French, the fabrics, the style but also being able to speak with sale assistants in a fashion store is part of the essential French vocabulary.
In this week’s post, I share with you the names of clothing in French, useful vocabulary to speak about the style, the cut of the clothes with the English translation.
Here is also a typical conversation you may have with a sales assistant in France if you are looking for clothes or would like something to try on. Finally, I will also list 7 tips to dress like a Parisian.
Name of Clothing in French
Un haut – top
Un t-shirt – t-shirt
Une chemise – button-down shirt
Un débardeur – tank top/singlet
Un blouson – a thick jacket (usually used when talking about bikers)
Une veste – a jacket
Un gilet – a cardigan/sweater or vest/waistcoat.
Un pull – a sweater/jumper
Un sweat – a sweatshirt
Un sweat à capuche – a hoodie (hooded sweatshirt).
Un manteau – a coat/overcoat
Un imperméable – a raincoat/mackintosh
Un pantalon – pants/trousers
Un short – shorts
Une jupe – skirt
Des collants - stockings
Les tenues (f)-outfits
Une robe – a dress or gown.
Un costume – a suit, usually for a man
Un tailleur – a women’s suit
Un pyjama – pajamas/pyjamas
Patterns
A carreaux - checked
A pois – polka dot
A rayures-striped
A fleurs - with flowers
Uni- one color (flat color)
Des couleurs vives - bright, vivid colors
Des couleurs / tons neutres - neutral colors
Des couleurs sombres - dark colors
Assorti avec - that matches with « un pull assorti à un pantalon » « un pull qui va avec le pantalon »
The Style
À la mode - fashionable
Tendance - trendy
Ringard ( e) – old-fashioned
Classique - classical
Elegant(e ) - elegant
Chic - chic
Retro -retro
Retro-chic - chic retro
Vintage - vintage
Hippie - hippy
Rock -rock
Glamour -glamour
Simple-casual
Confortable-confortable
Sophistiqué(e)- sophisticated
Une coupe - cut
Fluide - fluid
Déstructuré(e) - deconstructed
Ajusté(e) - fitted
Moulant(e) – close-fitted
Ceinturé (e)- belted (noun : une ceinture)
Boutonné (e) - belted (noun : un bouton)
Retroussé(e) (manches / pantalon) - rolled up
Brodé (e)- embroidered ( la broderie : ambroidery)
Evasé (e) - flared (jupe, robe)
Ample – baggy or comfortable
Décolleté (e) - neckline
Plissé (e)- pleated
Drapé (e)-drapped
Materials*
La laine - wool
Le coton - coton
Le lin - linen
La satin - satin
La soie - silk
Le cuir - leather
Le daim - suede
Le velours - velvet
Le velours côtelé - corduroy
Le cachemire - cachemere
Le lycra -lycra
Les matières naturelles - natural materials
Les matières synthétiques - synthetic materials
Les matières bio - organic materials
*Always use the preposition en when you talk about materials “ un pull en cachemire” “une veste en cuir”
Dialogue with a Sale-Assistant and a Client in a Fashion Store
La vendeuse
Je peux vous aider ? can I help you?
La cliente
Merci, pour le moment, je regarde seulement - Thank you, I am just looking for the moment
A few minutes later…
La cliente
Est-ce que vous avez ceci en taille 36 - 38 - 40 etc ? - Would you have this in a…(you mention your size)
J’aimerais essayer ceci- I would like to try this on
Est-ce que je peux essayer ça? - Can I try this on ?
Où sont les cabines d’essayage? - Where are the fitting rooms?
Est-ce que vous avez ceci dans la taille au-dessus ? - Would you have this in a bigger size ?
Est-ce que vous avez ceci dans la taille au-dessous ? - Would you have this in a smaller size ?
Est-ce que vous avez ceci dans une couleur différente ? - Would you have this in a different size ?
After trying on a close….
La vendeuse
Alors est-ce ça va ? How is it going?
La cliente
Ca me va - it suits me -it looks good on me
J’aime bien - I quite like it
La coupe est parfaite - the cut is perfect
C’est trop grand- petit -it’s too large, too small
C’est trop serré versus c’est trop large - It’s too tight versus it’s too large
C’est la bonne /mauvaise taille -It is the right / wrong size
Je n’aime pas la coupe - I don’t like the cut
Ce n’est pas mon style- It is not my style
Je n’aime pas la couleur sur moi - I don’t like the color on me
La vendeuse
Ca vous va parfaitement : it looks good on you
La coupe est parfaite : the cut fits well on you
Est-ce que vous voulez essayer la taille au-dessus, -au-dessous ? - would you like to try on the size above / below
La cliente
Je le/la prend : I take it
Je ne suis sûre, je vais réfléchir: I am not sure, I will think about it
La vendeuse
Vous voulez régler comment? - How would you like to pay?
Par carte bancaire- by credit card
En espèces, en cash -in cash
The Essential Tips to Dress Like a Parisian
Parisians tend to look for timeless high-quality clothing. Shop less but shop better!
Clothes should be comfortable. Your capsule wardrobe should not only be stylish but also practical so that you can wear it often.
Wear clothes appropriate for your body shape. Yes, you must know your body shape, and choose the right cut. Clothes should fit you perfectly. That relates to the point above.
Avoid flashy colors and extravagance.
Appreciate the simplicity. Wear minimalistic, simple clothes. Don’t overload your outfit with delicate pieces.
Wear neutral tones. If you want to dress like a Parisian girl, your clothes shouldn’t be in more than three colors. For an elegant night outfit, wear only two colors maximum. And remember, that all black is your always-safe outfit.
Avoid showing off and brand exposure. Again, it’s all about subtle details, simplicity, and modesty. Modest dressing is key; it’s not tasteful to show off one’s wealth.
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