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There's a moment that happens when you travel somewhere new and suddenly see fashion with completely fresh eyes. That happened to me in Paris this spring.
I wasn't expecting a style revelation. But everywhere I looked, women of all ages were wearing trends — current trends — in a way that still felt completely classic and effortless. Not costumey, not forced. Just... right.
What I noticed pretty quickly is that the magic wasn't in the trend itself. It was in how they wore it: the fabric choices, the silhouettes, the way everything felt intentional without being overdone. After almost 30 years of sewing, I find myself constantly thinking about why certain things work — and Paris gave me so much to think about.
So today I'm sharing the five trends I saw most often on the streets of Paris, along with the specific Seamwork patterns, fabrics, and styling choices that make each one feel chic rather than short-lived.
Trend 1: Wide Leg Trousers
Let's start with the trend that was genuinely impossible to miss.
Wide leg trousers were everywhere — on women of every age, in every fabric you can imagine. My favorite was a woman waiting for the metro. Dark denim wide legs, a white button-up, simple gold jewelry, expensive-looking sunglasses, and grey hair swept into a perfect bun. Simple in theory. Incredibly sophisticated in practice.
There were really two distinct versions of this trend. The first is what I'd call the soft, flowy version — closer to a palazzo pant, with light fabrics and lots of air. The second is more menswear-inspired: structured, often with a pleat at the front, closer to a true trouser.
What I love about this trend is that it's genuinely comfortable while still looking polished. Think Katharine Hepburn. Think Ingrid Bergman. This silhouette has always been this good — and when you sew your own, you get the exact right pair for your wardrobe.
Here are four patterns I'd point you toward, depending on which version speaks to you:
Birch is my top pick if you want the look without any fussy construction. It's a wide-leg pull-on trouser with a pintuck down each leg, a flat-front waistband, elastic in the back, and belt loops. Both relaxed and refined — exactly what you want. For summer, try white or navy linen. For fall, a lightweight wool suiting.
Noah is the one to reach for if you want a proper zipper fly and a little more tailoring. High-rise, fitted through the hip, with front welt pockets, back patch pockets, and topstitched darts. I've been thinking about making these in a dark indigo denim this fall — trouser jeans are such a chic concept.
Here's one you might not expect: Palmer. These are technically a knit pattern, but they're the secret weapon of this trend. They feel like the world's most comfortable sweatpants while looking like real trousers. Ponte is my absolute favorite fabric for these, especially in deep navy or chocolate brown. Pair with a button-up and loafers and no one will ever know.
And if the flowy palazzo version is calling your name, take a look at Marrett. Deep front pleats that just beg for something drapey — rayon challis, silk crepe, lightweight linen.
Trend 2: The Full Skirt
I saw so many full skirts in Paris, mostly in crisp cotton poplin, and they looked so good. One look I kept seeing: a full, sweeping skirt paired with a minimalist high-neck tank. Simple, put together, completely effortless. Another version I really loved was the same big skirt with an oversized button-up on top. There's something about that slight androgyny mixed with the old-fashioned fullness of the skirt that just works.
The key with both looks was contrast — the skirt does the drama, and the top stays simple.
Now, I've mentioned before that I personally feel overwhelmed in big skirts — but seeing these outfits in Paris made me wish I did. Especially that button-up shirt combo. It was just so effortlessly cool.
For the full skirt look, here are three patterns worth your attention:
Yarrow is my first reach — a two-tiered midi with an elastic waistband, in-seam pockets, and a pleated hem that gives it beautiful movement. The rectangular panels make it perfect for border prints or eyelet. There's also a member bonus version with three tiers if you want even more drama. A simple cotton poplin in white, cream, or tan has exactly the right amount of body, especially paired with a crisp oversized button-up.
Kenzie is the one for a more tailored silhouette. Knife pleats, a fitted waistband at the natural waist, a hem that hits below the knee. Pleating is such a satisfying skill once you get the hang of it, and the results look really polished. For summer, try linen or chambray. For fall, wool suiting or flannel.
Elowen brings a more romantic take, with a shaped yoke that dips into a gentle V at the front and a gathered skirt that creates a really fluid, beautiful silhouette. It works across a wide range of fabrics — linen, cotton lawn, eyelet, seersucker, chambray, challis.
Trend 3: Navy Everything
When I first arrived in Paris, it was still cool and rainy — and everywhere I looked, people were wearing navy. I have never seen a color more thoroughly claimed by a city. The most common version was a double-breasted blazer, thrown over everything from jeans to knit dresses. People just threw it on and looked incredible every time.
Part of it is the color itself — navy is polished without being harsh, and it goes with almost everything you already own. But the real secret is the silhouette. A double-breasted blazer does the work so the rest of the outfit doesn't have to.
My first recommendation for this trend is the Keaton blazer — because it's exactly the silhouette I kept seeing in Paris. Double-breasted with a slim, relaxed fit, notch collar, two-piece sleeves with staggered decorative buttons, lightweight shoulder pads, and a fully bagged lining. There's some soft tailoring involved, which gives it that substantial, considered feel. You sew it once, you wear it for the next ten years. For the full Parisian effect, make it in a deep navy wool suiting with gold buttons.
If blazers aren't your thing, the Maple peacoat is another option — I definitely saw plenty of peacoats too. Double-breasted front, oversized collar, a single back vent, fully lined, with functional welt pockets. Go heavyweight — melton wool, cashmere, bouclé, or boiled wool — and make it in navy for something absolutely timeless.
For something more relaxed, Rhoda is a boxy, lined jacket with a high round neckline, a slightly cropped length, and a three-button closure. Really clean, modern shape. I'd do this one in a navy wool tweed with big gold buttons.
Trend 4: The Slip Skirt
Now here's a trend I could completely get behind — the slip skirt.
Sleek little slip skirts were everywhere in Paris. Worn soft and low on the hips, with tops loosely layered over them. Very relaxed, very unconstructed. And if that specific styling isn't your thing, a slightly longer or looser top gives you the same easy feeling without baring any skin.
The whole vibe is effortless. Like you got dressed in two minutes and somehow looked exactly right.
What I love about sewing this trend is that you get complete control over the fabric. I saw versions in silk, satin, and sometimes trimmed with lace — and when you sew your own, you can create something totally unique. The bias cut and elastic waist do all the work, giving you movement, drape, and a silhouette that looks expensive without being complicated to sew.
My personal favorite for this look is the Dezi skirt — one I've made twice now. It's cut on the bias, which gives it this really beautiful fluted, fluid shape, with a diagonal seam across the middle that creates a silhouette unlike anything else. My last version was in a silk-cotton blend with scalloped lace at the hem, and I swapped the encased elastic for lingerie elastic at the waist to really lean into that slip skirt feeling. Reach for light to medium weight wovens — linen, chambray, rayon challis, rayon blends. I especially love this skirt in silk and silk blends.
For a cleaner, more minimal line, Pauline is a lovely option. It's a midi-length straight skirt with princess seams and a small front vent that makes it easy to move in. A flowing Tencel version in a beautiful color would be absolutely stunning.
Trend 5: Long Bermuda Shorts and Culottes
Long bermuda shorts and culottes were everywhere in Paris — and what surprised me was how sophisticated so many of the interpretations were. I'll be honest: I thought bermudas were too trendy for me. Paris made me reconsider.
What I loved was how intentionally the Parisians wore them. Belted, tucked in, with great jewelry. Every version I saw felt put-together rather than thrown on. I saw them in every length from just above the knee to mid-calf, in black, white, denim, and a few brighter colors. And some of the outfits were genuinely chic and timeless.
Longer styles like culottes are more my thing, personally. I'm glad those are coming back — they're so easy to wear in the heat.
Here are three patterns depending on what length and silhouette you're after:
Elaine Version 2 is the culotte — pant legs constructed from two panels with a seam slit from just above the knee to the hem, which gives it a really interesting shape. Slant pockets, side zipper, and a notch detail at the center back waist that I love. I'd make these in a chino-type stretch woven.
For a true bermuda short, Heidi is the one. High-waisted, pleated, relaxed fit, with a side seam invisible zipper. The pleats are really what elevate this beyond a basic short — you can lengthen the pattern to bring the hem down toward the knee for a proper bermuda length. Fabric options are wide open: cotton, seersucker, rayon, linen, twill, chambray. A white linen version, belted and tucked in, would look exactly right.
And if pleats aren't your thing, take the member bonus version of Lars and crop it down further. It's a cropped wide leg pant in stretch wovens with waist darts, a facing finish, and an invisible zipper. Crop it to culotte or bermuda length and you've got something really unique. I think a stretch denim with some fun topstitching would be great.
Bringing It All Together
What struck me most in Paris wasn't any single trend — it was the confidence behind how people wore them. Nothing felt like a costume. Everything felt considered.
The good news is that sewing gives you exactly that kind of control. When you choose your own fabric, your own fit, your own details, you end up with something that feels genuinely yours — not just a trend you grabbed off a rack. That's what makes a handmade wardrobe so powerful.
If you're looking at these patterns and already thinking about how to fit them into your wardrobe, be sure to download the free Seamwork Wardrobe Planning Kit — it includes our wardrobe planner plus all the tips you need to build a cohesive sewing plan for the season, so you're making things that actually work together. It's completely free, so definitely grab it.
And if you want to see how I actually planned and packed a handmade travel wardrobe for this Paris trip — what I made, how my plans stacked up against what I actually wore, and what I'd think about differently — watch this video next.
Have you been inspired by any of these Paris street style trends? Which one are you most excited to sew first?
