What To Wear In The South Of France In Summer (All My Outfits With Photos)
We love France and we visit all the time, but this summer we visited the South of France for the very first time: and we loved every minute! Of course before the trip I googled “what to wear in the South of France in summer” and got some great outfit inspiration, but if I’m being honest none of the women looked like me. Or had my lifestyle.
I wanted to know what to wear a busy mum with two boys who were going to want me to play football, dig on the beach, go into every single body of water they saw, and clean them up after they eat ice cream. And I wanted something that would work on a mum in her 40’s with a bit of meat on the bones, rather than an Instagram model in her 20s (which I didn’t look like, even when I was in my 20s!)
For me dressing for comfort in the heat was important, but so was looking stylish. But my overarching need was for every outfit to be practical! In the same boat? Here’s my guide to what to wear in the South of France in summer, based on my own outfits (with photos of what I packed and how I put it all together!)
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Outfit Breakdown
A Day on the water (Sete)
I love beachy dresses like this (this one was from Zara, but sadly it’s out of stock) because they’re so easy to throw on without thinking about when we’re on holiday. No need to match them to anything, just wear and go!
I teamed this with my favourite cognac leather Big Buckle Birkenstocks (buy these here) and my trusty Lanvin sunglasses (you’ll see these in every photo – they were a splurge but I wear them everyday). To match the beachy feel of the environment I added shell themed jewellery, which the 90s child in me loves and that I’ve been wearing since I was a teen. My shell anklets are so cheap (buy here) but I wear one every day from April – September! They look like summer to me.
Exploring in the city (Montpellier)
I tend to wear trousers or long shorts when we’re doing a lot of walking on city days, because they’re more comfortable and practical (to prevent the chub rub!) These are 100% linen. I know the white colour is a risk with kids, but black and white is my favourite colour combo to look chic without any effort.
I teamed this with my favourite cognac leather Big Buckle Birkenstocks (buy these here) a simple black vest top and my tan leather handbag, which is big enough for snacks! I got this from TK Maxx but I found a similar version here.
Ice Cream on the beach (Agde)
Two things I will never go on holiday without? My trusty denim shorts and an oversized shirt. I love these striped cotton shirts which are the perfect beach cover up and can also be used as a dress with big jewellery or tucked into a skirt. Look for a shirt that is 100% cotton for the most breathable and comfortable experience.
Woven beach bags are big business in France: Almost every family on the beach was carrying one. This one says ‘Saint Jean De Monts’ on it, which is a beach resort we went to last summer. It’s such a practical bag that gets a lot of use! We saw these in every single resort town we visited this trip and last, so you could consider not packing a beach bag and then buying one as a cute souvenir.
Walking In The Countryside (La Grau Du Roi)
Le Grau Du Roi is famous for the Flamingos that live in its waterways: this is what I wore to go and look for them. I love these shorts, which have an elasticated waist making them so comfortable, and I always pack black and white t shirts (my go-to) because they match literally everything! It might not be high fashion, but it works!
Tip: Bring a travel jewellery case packed full of all your favourite costume jewellery. This will be light and small in your luggage, but changing your jewellery is an easy way to make an outfit feel different if you’ve already worn something similar.
Building Sandcastles (Le Grau Du Roi)
This is what I wore to dig sandcastles on the beach – an outfit I didn’t get a photo of without the boys in, which shows what a busy day we had! The T shirt is from ASOS and the short is from River Island: It’s still in stock here in some sizes. I’m currently obsessed with skorts. The look of a skirt with the comfort of shorts, what’s not to like?
Outfits like this are perfect for beach days because they’re so easy to throw on and off. To be honest I spend most of this day on the beach in my swimmers, only getting dressed for lunch and to walk to and from the car!
Another City Day (Dijon)
OK so Dijon isn’t technically in the South of France, but we visited on our way back up to Calais, so I thought I’d share my outfit. No your eyes don’t deceive you, that’s another black T shirt! I did say this would be realistic, and I tend to have a ‘uniform’ that I wear versions of most days!
This was a chillier day, so I have a Zara linen jumper tried around my waist (which isn’t the most stylish look I know) but I do love this skirt, which was a Vinted bargain.
Packing Tips For The South of France
- Pack cotton and linen where possible. Breathable fabrics are best when the weather is hot in the South of France. Breathable blends and loose fits are going to be the most comfortable option for you.
- Stick to a single colour palette. If you’re trying to pack light then sticking to a cohesive colour scheme will allow everything you pack to mix and match! I do this no matter where we travel to.
- Don’t pack too many pairs of shoes! I can be so guilty of this and actually packed 3 pairs of shoes for this trip but, as you can see from these photos, I wore pretty much the same pair of shoes every single day of the trip! Don’t waste the suitcase space (and you’ll have more room to bring souvenirs home) Flat, comfortable shoes are key.
- Pack your sun essentials. It’s not included in these photos but I always have a hat in my bag as well as my sunglasses and sunscreen. We all wear spf 50+ because you can’t be too careful!
- Pack plenty of swimwear. I didn’t wear a bra this whole trip! Because my boys will jump in any water whenever they find it with me right behind them (and because its more comfortable anyway) I tend to wear a swimsuit under my clothes when we’re in France.
Further Reading
Planning your own perfect trip to the South of France? Here’s some of the things we got up to on our visit to help you plan your own trip:
🧱 Exploring The Medieval Walled City Of Aigues-Mortes In France With Kids
🐟 Seaquarium Grau-du-Roi, France: What To Expect On Your Visit
🐘 Everything You Need To Know About The Wonder Of Nantes Giant Elephant
🚗 Planning a Road Trip to France With Kids: What To Pack
🏛 5 Things to Do In Rouen With Kids: What to do, Where to Stay in This Underrated French City
Do you have any packing tips to share for the South of France? Are you planning to visit the South of France any time soon? And what would you wear? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
