While the locals say 'don't' to Emily In Paris, it's time to ditch your Breton top and embrace real French girl style

L'invasion des imbéciles', the Parisians call it. Thanks to the blow Netflix show Emily in Paris, the city's hotspots from the series are overrun with tourists.

Parisians are not happy. Their anger has manifested itself in graffiti – such as 'Emily not welcome' – scrawled on the shutters of cafes.

Why the anger? The performance, in which lily collins stars as an American who moves to the French capital, presenting a romanticized version of Frenchness that is far removed from the reality of most Parisians, they say.

This is especially true when it comes to Emily's cliché-filled wardrobe. Breton top, basket bag, baguette under the arm. But about as many Parisians wear berets as Brits wear bear skins.

What does real French girl style look like today? Here's our guide to the new French fashion essentials. Tip: leave the Breton at the door.

Au revoir, Breton. Bonjour, romantic blouse

At Chanel's SS24 couture show in Paris last month, Princess Alexandra of Monaco sat in the front row and Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley took to the catwalk in a cream boucle jacket – so far Chanel.

But Qualley's jacket was updated with the addition of a gloriously romantic ruffled collar blouse. No French minimalism here: this was a ruff that Blackadder would be proud of.

In a less clichéd moment, TV series Emily updates a French classic – a bouclé skirt from Balmain – in the same way with a romantic blouse.

Wear this type of blouse when you're tempted to wear a Breton blouse: Ruffled collars and cuffs peeking out from under a sweater add just the right amount of Gallic flair without veering into spoof territory.

The French-Spanish it girl Maria de la Orden is the owner of a brand that makes the best. Try their Aleria shirt for just the right amount of puff.

Au revoir, ballerinas. Bonjour, Mary Janes

Grace Kelly's granddaughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, trotted into Chanel's couture show last month and they were seen in almost every look on the fashion house's AW23 runway. Dior's SS24 show was full of them.

In short, the Mary Jane is back. French girls wear theirs the same way they used to wear ballerinas.

For the real thing, Chatelles Paris makes customizable velvet pairs (mychatelles.com), but the high street has also gotten excited.

Pull & Bear has a Dorothy-esque red pair (£34.99, pullandbear.com) with a block heel, perfect for adding some height under flared denim.

Au revoir, basket bag. Bonjour, crossbody bag

The French prefer a satchel-style crossbody bag, thanks to the cult Triomphe bag from Parisian fashion house Celine.

The good news for those who don't have the £2,950 for a Triomphe is that the next best thing is now within reach: the Bel bag from popular mid-range French brand Soeur.

It's available from the recently launched UK website and is considerably cheaper, at £390 (soeur.uk).

Au revoir, sharp blower. Bonjour, redesigned vest

Play a word association game with “cardigan” and “grandma” and “librarian” will appear. But this is not a vest as you know it.

For the new French girl, the cardigan is more of a bomb than a bibliotheque.

Parisian label Sezane has the Gaspard (£95, sezane.com) which you can wear backwards with the buttons at the back.

If you're wearing it conventionally, leave the top pair undone for a subtle way to show some skin à la française.

Au revoir, skinny jeans. Bonjour, elevated denim

Name a more French upbringing than that of fashion designer and model Jeanne Damas. She grew up in an apartment above her parents' Parisian brasserie, where Jean-Paul Gaultier was a regular.

After Damas launched her brand Rouje in 2016, French actress Lea Seydoux wore one of her dresses in No Time To Die in 2021.

But Rouje denim is also suitable for a Bond girl: their Belville jeans (£160, uk.rouje.com) are a leg-length flare with '70s-style front pockets. Their structure and flattering high waist give them a chic charm that boyfriend jeans often lack.

Trust the French to make denim elegant.