You dream of strolling around the port of Saint-Tropez in a linen dress, of an aperitif in Cannes with a sea view, all the while knowing that your credit card has not moved from the city. Good news: the new Zara products of the season incorporate all the codes of the chic Côte d’Azur without the palace budget. We’re talking about sober silhouettes, light materials and details that give the illusion of a yacht wardrobe.
Between sailor stripes, impeccable linen and very clean accessories, the Spanish label has clearly studied the French Riviera style. And some pieces really stand out, with this famous “quiet luxury” effect which makes you believe that everything comes from a small boutique on the Croisette. Nine purchases are enough to recreate this atmosphere, even if your vacation is spent on your balcony.
Côte d’Azur fashion codes: stripes, linen and quiet luxury at Zara
Stripes remain the pattern most linked to the Riviera. Originally reserved for the French Navy with 21 lines to celebrate Napoleon’s victories, the sailor top went from the deck of boats to chic beaches when Coco Chanel adopted it in Deauville. Later, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot reinforced this image of relaxed elegance, between cinema and yachts.
Today, it is no longer the logo that is rich, but simplicity: linen, cotton poplin, fine knit, off-white, cream and navy blue palette, very sober golden touches. This “quiet luxury” clothing language is found in several Zara pieces which seem straight out of a dressing room in Nice or Cannes, without exceeding an accessible budget.
I dream of the French Riviera: 9 Zara purchases with a luxurious look
As for dresses, the “Midi Linen Blend Dress With Belt” ticks all the boxes for dinner on the port, with its defined waist and its linen blend that fits well. The “Striped Jumpsuit With Belt” offers a chic alternative to the dress, perfect for a walk at the Nice market or a drink on the terrace. The “Zw Collection Poplin Dress” in structured cotton gives a very clean jet-set feel, while an “Oversize Linen Blend Blouse” worn over shorts or white jeans instantly evokes vacations.
To complete, the “Linen Blend Halter Top With Beads” focuses on the discreet backless style of a Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat sunset, while the “Belted Midi Skirt” lengthens the silhouette effortlessly. The “Linen Blend Straight Trousers” provide a chic base for the office as well as for an aperitif. On the feet, the “Flat Toe-Post Sandals” advantageously replace the square-toed mules considered heavy in several fashion selections, and the structured “ZARA Handbag” really gives the impression of a much more expensive designer bag.
How to wear these Zara pieces in town or on the French Riviera
For a fake Saturday in Nice, the “Zw Collection Poplin Dress” with the “Flat Toe-Post Sandals” and the “ZARA Handbag” is enough to create a terribly photogenic market-cafe look. During the week, the “Oversize Linen Blend Blouse” slipped into the “Linen Blend Straight Trousers” works with low-heel sandals or wedge espadrilles, for an office style that maintains the softness of the Côte d’Azur.
In the evening, the “Midi Linen Blend Dress With Belt” or the “Linen Blend Halter Top With Beads” + “Belted Midi Skirt” duo go very well with fine gold jewelry, a blurred bun and a line of eyeliner. And then these pieces remain easy to recycle from September with a linen blazer, making these purchases a real core of a chic French Riviera wardrobe all year round.
Which Zara pieces best give a rich Côte d’Azur look?
Belted linen dresses, striped jumpsuit, midi skirt and straight linen pants, combined with a structured bag and thin sandals, create the best French Riviera chic effect.
How to wear these Zara purchases if you’re not going on vacation?
Mix linen dresses and tops with a light blazer, raw jeans or a light trench. The structured bag and minimalist sandals immediately elevate a very simple city outfit.
Do you absolutely need sailor stripes for a chic French Riviera style?
Stripes remain iconic, but an all white, cream or navy blue look, in beautiful materials and a simple cut, gives just as much that Côte d’Azur look without appearing disguised.
