My first summer in France, I was invited to a garden wedding in Provence. Feeling confident, I walked into a boutique and asked for « une robe… normale ». The saleswoman blinked slowly, the way French people blink when they’re deciding whether to laugh or adopt you.
« Normale comment ? Robe droite ? Robe portefeuille ? Robe trapèze ? Robe patineuse ? »
I nodded as if I understood a single word. Reader, I did not.
I left the store wearing something described as “un classique indémodable.” It was lovely. I still have no idea what style it was.
Let’s make sure you never fear a French boutique again. Here are the most important dress styles, how to pronounce them, and what they look like—all explained by a yak who has made every shopping mistake possible.
The Quick Primer
French fashion vocabulary is precise. A dress isn’t just a dress—it belongs to a silhouette, a cut, a length, and sometimes an entire style universe.
Key terms:
- une robe /yn ʁɔb/ — a dress
- une coupe /yn kup/ — a cut
- une silhouette /yn si.lu.ɛt/ — a silhouette
- un décolleté /œ̃ de.kɔl.te/ — neckline
- la longueur /la lɔ̃.ɡœʁ/ — length
Now let’s explore the wonderful world of French dress styles.
Classic Dress Silhouettes
| French Term | IPA | English |
| une robe droite | /yn ʁɔb dʁwat/ | straight dress |
| une robe évasée | /yn ʁɔb e.va.ze/ | flared dress |
| une robe trapèze | /yn ʁɔb tʁa.pɛz/ | A-line dress |
| une robe portefeuille | /yn ʁɔb pɔʁ.tœ.j/ | wrap dress |
| une robe patineuse | /yn ʁɔb pa.ti.nøz/ | skater dress |
| une robe moulante | /yn ʁɔb mu.lɑ̃t/ | bodycon dress |
| une robe ample | /yn ʁɔb ɑ̃pl/ | loose-fit dress |
A few clues:
- droite = straight, clean
- trapèze = triangular shape, narrow on top, wider at bottom
- portefeuille = wraps across the body (like a wrap-around wallet)
- patineuse = fitted top, flared bottom, very playful
Dress Lengths (La longueur de la robe)
| French | IPA | English |
| une mini-robe | /yn mi.ni ʁɔb/ | mini dress |
| une robe courte | /yn ʁɔb kuʁt/ | short dress |
| une robe midi | /yn ʁɔb mi.di/ | midi dress |
| une robe longue | /yn ʁɔb lɔ̃ɡ/ | long dress |
| une robe maxi | /yn ʁɔb mak.si/ | maxi dress |
The robe midi is particularly beloved by French women—timeless elegance without trying too hard, a national obsession.
Dress Necklines (Les décolletés)
| French | IPA | English |
| un col rond | /œ̃ kɔl ʁɔ̃/ | round neckline |
| un col en V | /œ̃ kɔl ɑ̃ ve/ | V-neck |
| un col bardot | /œ̃ kɔl baʁ.do/ | off-the-shoulder |
| un décolleté plongeant | /œ̃ de.kɔl.te plɔ̃.ʒɑ̃/ | deep neckline |
| un col montant | /œ̃ kɔl mɔ̃.tɑ̃/ | high neck |
| un bustier | /œ̃ bys.tje/ | strapless top |
Le col bardot is named after Brigitte Bardot—France sticks to its cultural icons.
Strap Types (Les bretelles)
| French | IPA | English |
| une robe bustier | /yn ʁɔb bys.tje/ | strapless dress |
| une robe épaules dénudées | /yn ʁɔb e.pol de.ny.de/ | off-shoulder |
| une robe à bretelles | /yn ʁɔb a bʁə.tɛl/ | spaghetti straps |
| une robe dos nu | /yn ʁɔb do ny/ | backless dress |
| une robe asymétrique | /yn ʁɔb a.si.me.tʁik/ | one-shoulder |
A robe dos nu will make strangers say “oh là là” under their breath. Guaranteed.
Trending & Modern Styles
| French | IPA | English |
| une robe chemise | /yn ʁɔb ʃə.miz/ | shirt dress |
| une robe blazer | /yn ʁɔb ble.zœʁ/ | blazer dress |
| une robe pull | /yn ʁɔb pyl/ | sweater dress |
| une robe t-shirt | /yn ʁɔb ti.ʃœʁt/ | T-shirt dress |
| une robe à volants | /yn ʁɔb a vɔ.lɑ̃/ | ruffled dress |
| une robe satinée | /yn ʁɔb sa.ti.ne/ | satin slip dress |
| une robe fluide | /yn ʁɔb flɥid/ | flowy dress |
In France, anything described as fluide instantly sounds chic—even if it came from a supermarket.
Patterns & Fabrics (Motifs et tissus)
Motifs (Patterns)
| French | IPA | English |
| à pois | /a pwa/ | polka dots |
| à rayures | /a ʁɛ.jyʁ/ | stripes |
| à fleurs | /a flœʁ/ | floral |
| à carreaux | /a ka.ʁo/ | checkered |
| imprimée | /ɛ̃.pʁi.me/ | printed |
Tissus (Fabrics)
| French | IPA | English |
| en coton | /ɑ̃ kɔ.tɔ̃/ | cotton |
| en soie | /ɑ̃ swa/ | silk |
| en lin | /ɑ̃ lɛ̃/ | linen |
| en satin | /ɑ̃ sa.tɛ̃/ | satin |
| en dentelle | /ɑ̃ dɑ̃.tɛl/ | lace |
| en laine | /ɑ̃ lɛn/ | wool |
If you ever hear someone say “c’est très dentelle”, expect elegance… or flirty chaos.
Dress Occasions (Styles selon l’occasion)
| French | IPA | English |
| une robe de soirée | /yn ʁɔb də swa.ʁe/ | evening dress |
| une robe de cocktail | /yn ʁɔb də kɔk.tɛl/ | cocktail dress |
| une robe de cérémonie | /yn ʁɔb də se.ʁe.mɔ.ni/ | formal/wedding dress |
| une robe décontractée | /yn ʁɔb de.kɔ̃.tʁak.te/ | casual dress |
| une robe de plage | /yn ʁɔb də plaʒ/ | beach dress |
| une robe d’été | /yn ʁɔb de.te/ | summer dress |
I once wore a robe de plage to a semi-formal dinner.
I regret everything.
Region Notes
Across France, Belgium, Québec, and Switzerland, the vocabulary stays mostly identical.
A few variants:
- Québec sometimes uses robe soleil (fun, bright summer dress).
- In Switzerland, robe chemisier is more common than robe chemise.
You can safely use the standard France French terms everywhere.
Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 — In a Boutique
Je cherche une robe pour un mariage.
/ʒə ʃɛʁʃ yn ʁɔb puʁ œ̃ ma.ʁjaʒ/
I’m looking for a dress for a wedding.
Une robe longue ou une robe cocktail ?
/yn ʁɔb lɔ̃ɡ u yn ʁɔb kɔk.tɛl/
A long dress or a cocktail dress?
Plutôt une robe portefeuille.
/ply.to yn ʁɔb pɔʁ.tœ.j/
Rather a wrap dress.
Dialogue 2 — Describing a Dress
C’est une robe patineuse en satin.
/se tyn ʁɔb pa.ti.nøz ɑ̃ sa.tɛ̃/
It’s a satin skater dress.
Avec un col en V ?
/a.vɛk œ̃ kɔl ɑ̃ ve/
With a V-neck?
Oui, et des bretelles fines.
/wi e de bʁə.tɛl fin/
Yes, with thin straps.
Dialogue 3 — Shopping With a Friend
Tu préfères la robe trapèze ou la robe moulante ?
/ty pʁe.fɛʁ la ʁɔb tʁa.pɛz u la ʁɔb mu.lɑ̃t/
Do you prefer the A-line dress or the bodycon dress?
La trapèze, elle est plus confortable.
/la tʁa.pɛz ɛl ɛ ply kɔ̃.fɔʁ.ta.bl/
The A-line, it’s more comfortable.
Et très élégante.
/e tʁɛ e.le.ɡɑ̃t/
And very elegant.
Quick Reference
| Category | Key Vocabulary |
| Silhouettes | droite, trapèze, patineuse, portefeuille, moulante |
| Lengths | mini, midi, longue, maxi |
| Necklines | col rond, col en V, bustier, bardot |
| Straps | bretelles, dos nu, asymétrique |
| Modern styles | chemise, blazer, satinée, fluide |
| Patterns | à fleurs, à pois, à rayures |
| Fabrics | coton, soie, dentelle, lin |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Describe three dresses you’ve owned or seen using two vocabulary elements each (e.g., length + neckline).
- Shadow Dialogue 1 out loud, focusing on the pronunciation of robe and portefeuille.
- Practice using col vocabulary by naming five necklines with a sample sentence.
- Invent three boutique scenarios: ask for a summer dress, an evening dress, and a wrap dress.
- Match fabrics + styles: for example, robe satinée, robe en lin, robe en dentelle.
Walking Out of the Boutique Like a Fashion-Savvy Yak
Now you can confidently navigate French shopping trips without pointing vaguely at a hanger and whispering “la robe… là.” Whether you’re choosing a robe portefeuille, twirling in a robe patineuse, or eyeing a robe satinée, you have the vocabulary—and the confidence—to speak fashion in full, fabulous French.
