We can talk all day about how much we adore French brands, from the French styling tricks owned by the country’s chicest girls to the stars and street style gurus you should look to for excellent Parisian style. But what about the best French fashion brands that enable all the above? There are loads of them. Ranging from the super-luxe established designer fashion houses—Dior, Saint Laurent, Chanel—through to the newer, sparkier high-street startups like Sézane, there is a veritable gamut of Gallic labels to get to grips with. And that’s before we even get started on the incredible midrange section the French industry has licked. Think of some of the names you know, such as Maje, Sandro, and Claudie Pierlot. They’re just the cherry on top of a particularly tasty contemporary fashion sundae.
So to indulge your love for all things Français, we’ve brought together 35 of the most important French brands—some you’ll recognize, some you won’t. What’s key to note is that not only have we assembled the coolest of the cool, but we’re also giving you pointers on exactly what you should look out for when shopping any of these labels. For example, Maje is always a trusted go-to for sweaters, and we’ve chosen the best one to grab your attention today. Go through the gallery below to see and shop from the 35 best French fashion brands in existence.
Style Notes: Amélie Pichard is probably one of the most adventurous accessory designers in the entire world, not just France. She recently collaborated with Pamela Anderson, and her pieces are instantly recognizable for their off-kilter heel shapes and wacky finishes. What to Buy: There’s something really sassy about Pichard’s tie-dye bag.
Style Notes: Claudie Pierlot does a cute take on contemporary French style. Think sweet bows on blouses, patent miniskirts, or swing coats. It’s more youthful than its peers. What to Buy: Right now, it’s a toss-up between bags and the copious number of chic blouses.
Style Notes: Worn by Rihanna, FKA Twigs, and Alexa Chung, Annelise’s bold but refined pieces of jewelry are all handmade in her Paris atelier. What to Buy: We’re hooked on this industrial chain collection.
Style Notes: Atelier de Production et Création is loved for its utilitarian basics and has been a minimalist’s go-to since the ’80s, when the brand first launched during a time of great maximalism. What to Buy: We have it on good authority that A.P.C. is currently serving up perfect everyday bags.
Style Notes: Ba&sh, designed by the very chic Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, is for the true bohemian, a point that was proven during the summer festival period. What to Buy: We’ve noticed there’s an abundance of fabulous knits.
Style Notes: As Iro was founded by onetime music producers, it’s understandable why there’s such a strong rock-chic vibe running through each collection. What to Buy: If you don’t find a party dress you love from this brand, we’ll eat our berets.
Style Notes: Over 30 years old and now going strong again under the creative directorship of David Tournier-Beauciel, Clergerie has a host of bloggers who adore the wearable, slightly masculine styles. What to Buy: We’re seriously into these loafers.
Style Notes: Yves Salomon uses quite luxe materials and therefore comes with a rather hefty price point. Its parkas have been a smash with fashion editors over the past few years. What to Buy: This stunning shearling-trimmed hat.
Style Notes: What more can we say? Chanel is the Paris megalith that has cemented some of the most important parts of anyone’s wardrobe. What to Buy: This necklace is gorgeous.
Style Notes: Since former Valentino designer Maria Grazia Chiuri took over the reins, many women (celebs included) have enjoyed seeing her delicate style echoing through the brand. What to Buy: The fashion-editor set is smitten with the brand’s logo prints. We’re partial to this sleek iteration.
Style Notes: Lingerie connoisseurs will be more than aware that Eres makes some of the best-quality underpinnings around. They’re subtle and understated but so luxe at the same time. What to Buy: Bras, bras, bras. We know many who swear by them, no matter their size.
Style Notes: Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, the brand has always been a source of fantastic eveningwear. Alber Elbaz stepped down in 2015, when Bouchra Jarrar replaced him but recently departed. The new creative director is Olivier Lapidus, a Balmain Homme alumnus. What to Buy: A dress. Because they’re beyond stunning.
Style Notes: Maje has plenty to offer across the board, but it’s the brand’s decorative bomber jackets that have been steaming ahead—Bella Hadid has one, you know. What to Buy: We’re obsessed with this cardigan.
Style Notes: There’s something carefree and spirited about Aurélie’s ’70s-tinged, trinkety jewelry. From luxe boho festival bracelets to more delicate styles, it’s the kind of brand you can mix and match and collect throughout a lifetime. What to Buy: This beautiful ring.
Style Notes: Jour/Né essentially means “day to night,” so this brand is all about the clothes that do the job for you—with lots of humor thrown in to boot. What to Buy: One of the many pretty dresses is guaranteed to raise a smile.
Style Notes: Emmanuelle Alt is a big fan of this label and often wears its pieces to fashion week. What to Buy: Something cool like this leather shirt jacket.
Style Notes: This French heritage brand has become one of the most influential designer labels in the world. What to Buy: Who wouldn’t love a pair of sunglasses?
Style Notes: Kenzō Takada was born in Japan but founded his label in Paris. These days, it’s presided over by Felipe Oliveira Baptista, but there’s still an irreverent Frenchness to the sports-luxe trend it does so well. What to Buy: A logo shirt will do just fine.
Style Notes: The Kooples is all about dressing for everyone. Plus, the contemporary price point makes it easy to take part. What to Buy: We’re mildly obsessed with this floral shirt.
Style Notes: Jérôme Dreyfuss makes covetable bags and shoes, and he’s married to Isabel Marant. He’s basically the coolest man in French fashion. Oh, and he names all of the bags after boys—just another reason to buy them in bulk. What to Buy: More often than not, his creations arrive in easy styles perfect for the weekend, and these boots tick all the right boxes.
Style Notes: If you like your shoes to feature various points of difference, then L’Autre Chose should be marked in indelible ink on your shopping list. What to Buy: These heels are perfection.
Style Notes: Christophe Lemaire has been around for some time, but it’s only in the past few years that his name has shot into the mass style psyche. This is partly down to his pared-back aesthetic becoming a perfect fit for Uniqlo. What to Buy: Right now, we’re loving the bags, which sit perfectly outside the relentless trend cycle.
Style Notes: The modern high priestess of boho fans and rockers alike, Marant spans every possible department with her must-haves, from party dresses to sneakers. What to Buy: Marant is well known for her dresses.
Style Notes: Part of Chanel’s special ateliers, Maison Michel is a mighty-fine purveyor of hats. From jaunty berets to fedoras, Minnie Mouse ears to tulle veils, if there’s an accessory that changes every outfit, it can be found here. What to Buy: We love this bucket hat.
Style Notes: This Parisian designer is all about shirts—and it couldn’t have landed onto Farfetch.com at a better time considering the widespread mania for button-downs. What to Buy: A shirt, bien sûr.
Style Notes: There’s always a punky finish to everything Zadig puts into the world, whether it’s a studded bag or a slung-on velvet blazer you could wear to a concert with ripped jeans. What to Buy: This cardigan is really calling our names.
Style Notes: With Nicolas Ghesquière leading the charge, LV has become a trusted source of burgeoning trends and directional fashion, from the incredible leather jackets down to the equally intricate footwear. What to Buy: We just love the bags.
Style Notes: Thanks to and Vetements chief and Creative Director Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga is going wild on the street style circuit. What to Buy: The sunglasses are always a hit.
Style Notes: One part Parisian schoolgirl, one part retro film icon, Paul & Joe (designed by Sophie Mechaly) often references the ’70s. Somehow the brand always makes vintage style more wearable, though. Clever. What to Buy: Instant fun.
Style Notes: Anthony Vaccarello is now leaving his mark on the storied house. What to Buy: You’ll own this forever.
Style Notes: Created by French style icon Jeanne Damas, Rouje is a blogger favourite for its barely there blouses, flirty sundresses, and high-waisted denim. What to Buy: Everything sells out equally fast, but this jacket will undoubtedly soar.
Style Notes: Set up initially as an online-only fashion store in 2013 by Morgane Sezalory, Sézane has been breaking boundaries and supplying great casual clothes for the past few years. What to Buy: We’re feeling the standout vibes of these boots.
Style Notes: Sonia Rykiel’s brand DNA (knitwear, stripes, Left Bank chic) lives on via Julie de Libran’s designs. What to Buy: Stripes and knits are the main attraction—even better if it’s a knitted stripe.
Style Notes: Midpriced Sandro should be on your list for when you’re looking for staples with a twist. The brand knows what people like wearing on a day-to-day basis and gives each of those items a little extra oomph every time. What to Buy: There’s much to choose from, but this jacket is particularly lovely.
Style Notes: Naturally, we love Chloé’s mainline collection, but there’s something particularly exciting again about the diffusion collection. It has the floaty attitude of Chloé with a more accessible price point. What to Buy: If you don’t get lured in by one of the many amazing bags, we’d be surprised. Can’t get enough of French style? Then check out these eight secrets to dressing like the world’s chicest women. This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK at an earlier date and has since been updated.
