The French Girl is a long-standing aesthetic and cultural trope based on a stereotypical image of a chic, sophisticated, and effortlessly "cool" Parisian woman. Rather than reflecting the reality of all French women, it is a highly specific and influential cliché perpetuated by film, fashion media, and popular culture. The aesthetic draws on the concept of nonchalance: a studied carelessness that suggests an innate sense of style without visible effort.

The idealized "French Girl" look is often described as "natural and effortless, achieved with effort." It involves a minimalist approach to fashion, typically with a neutral color palette, classic garments like trench coats and Breton striped shirts, and simple accessories. Beauty is similarly understated, emphasizing healthy skin, tousled "just-woke-up-like-this" hair, and either a bare face or a single bold element, like red lipstick.

The modern archetype of the French Girl was crystallized in the 1950s and 1960s, heavily influenced by the actresses of French New Wave cinema and the icons of the yé-yé music movement. Figures like Françoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, Jeanne Moreau, and Brigitte Bardot established a look that was both intellectual and alluring, romantic and moody. However, the aesthetic has faced criticism for promoting a narrow and exclusionary standard of beauty that is typically white, thin, and of a specific hair type, failing to represent the diversity of modern France. As noted by critics, the image was largely constructed and popularized by a historically male-dominated media and advertising industry.

The first wave of the French Girl aesthetic began around 1957 with the popularity of the Left Bank "Beat" style worn by artists and poets, and lasted to the 1970s.

A second wave of the French Girl aesthetic began around 2014 with Vogue magazine producing tons of articles on the habits, food, makeup, and clothes loved by French Girls. The articles went beyond images and brand names and many offered "secret tips". Emphasis was placed on the effortlessness of French Girl style, in contrast to the more American obsession with perfection achieved through layers of makeup, complicated diets, and extensive workout routines.

Traditionally, the French Girl is famous for being thin despite not utilizing intense workouts, although it is extremely important to note that all bodies are welcome in the French Girl aesthetic! French Girls participate in light, fun activities to stay healthy, such as: