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45 of the Coolest French Fashion Brands Everyone Should Know

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July 22, 2021 at 05:09AM

We can talk all day about how much we adore French brands, from the styling tricks owned by the country’s chicest 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. From the super-luxe established designer Parisian fashion houses (Dior, Saint Laurent and Chanel) through to newer and more affordable startups like SĂ©zane or The Frankie Shop, there’s 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 the cherry on top of a particularly tasty contemporary fashion sundae.

French creator of Musier Paris Adenorah carrying a Chanel bag. 

So to indulge your love for all things Français, we’ve brought together 45 of the most important French brands, some you’ll recognise and 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, Jacquemus is our trusted go-to for bags, tops and shoes, but today we’ve chosen one of the brand’s body-con dresses. As we love all the following brands, you can expect to see the pieces we want to shop right now. Keep scrolling to see and shop from the 45 best French fashion brands in existence.

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: Looking for a chic dress? Invest in this gorgeous floral version. 

Style Notes: Created by French influencer Anne-Laure Mais Moreau of Adenorah, this is everything your favourite Parisians on Instagram will be wearing this summer. What to Buy: This cute red sweater is calling to us.  

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Style Notes: Simon Porte Jacquemus is one of the most trailblazing designers on the global fashion scene. His slightly surreal clothes and concepts never fail to impress editors, but there’s something so inherently wearable and wantable about it all. What to Buy: Bags, dresses, blouses, shoes and knitwear are all very popular Jacquemus choices, but the latest dresses have caught our eye. 

Style Notes: It may no longer have the accent above the e, but Celine is still one of the most influential designer labels in the world. What to Buy: Who wouldn’t love Celine sunnies?

Style Notes: Atelier de Production et CrĂ©ation 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. We couldn’t resist this classic beauty. 

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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 luxe at the same time. What to Buy: We’re looking to sleek one-pieces for swimwear that’ll go the distance.

Style Notes: AmĂ©lie Pichard is probably one of the most adventurous shoe designers in the entire world, not just in France. She recently collaborated with Pamela Anderson, and her shoes are instantly recognisable for their off-kilter heel shapes and wacky finishes. What to Buy: There’s something really sassy about Pichard’s platforms.

Style Notes: Worn by Rihanna, FKA Twigs and Alexa Chung, Annelise’s bold but refined pieces of jewellery are all handmade in her Paris atelier. What to Buy: We’re hooked on her molten metalwork pieces.

Style Notes: Ba&Sh, designed by the very chic Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, is for the true bohemian dresser. What to Buy: Prints are a huge focus for the brand.

Style Notes: Thanks to creative director and Vetements chief Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga is going crazy on the street style circuit. What to Buy: The brand’s now-signature hourglass blazers are always a great investment. 

Style Notes: ChloĂ©’s new designer is but a few seasons in and already making a real impact on the street style scene. Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s ’70s lilt is precisely what you’d expect of a ChloĂ© girl, only her take is slightly less hippie and more city slicker. What to Buy: Any of the brand’s iconic bags. 

Style Notes: Jour/NĂ© essentially means “day to night,” so this brand is all about the clothes that do the job for you—with lots of humour thrown in to boot. However, you’ll now only find its items on places like Vestiaire Collective, as it doesn’t appear to be running anymore.  What to Buy: It has a slogan T-shirt for every day of the week—literally. Set up an alert on your favourite resale sites to find them. 

Style Notes: Claudie Pierlot does a cute take on contemporary French style. Think sweet bows on blouses, patent miniskirts and swing coats. It’s more innocent than its peers. What to Buy: Right now, it’s a toss-up between the pretty blouses and the jackets. 

Style Notes: Givenchy is now in the very wonderful hands of the American designer Matthew M Williams, taking over from Clare Waight Keller—aka Meghan Markle’s wedding-dress creator—who made this storied house look rather delicate over the past few seasons and reinvented its iconic Antigona bag. What to Buy: This dream bag will become part of your forever collection.

Style Notes: Emmanuelle Alt is a big fan of this label and often wears its bold and unusual pieces to fashion week. What to Buy: The shacket is the answer to your cover-up needs. 

Style Notes: What more can we say? Chanel is the Paris megalith that has, over the years via both Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld, cemented some of the most important parts of many people’s wardrobes. What to Buy: A pair of Chanel mules will last you a lifetime.

Style Notes: As Iro was founded by one-time music producers, it’s understandable that there’s such a strong rock-chic vibe running through each collection. What to Buy: You’ll get real mileage out of this classic sweater.

Style Notes: Balmain fans like their clothes tight, their hemlines short and their heels high. The crew that has assembled around the super-popular director Olivier Rousteing includes the likes of Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls and Kim Kardashian West. What to Buy: The blazers are always a good choice.

Style Notes: Since former Valentino designer Maria Grazia Chiuri took over the reins, many people (celebs included) have enjoyed seeing her classic and delicate style echoing through the brand. What to Buy: Anything with the Dior logo on it is golden right now, but these shoes are at the top of our list.

Style Notes: Kenzo Takada was born in Japan, but he founded his label in Paris. Sadly, he passed away in 2020. He retired in the late ’90s to pursue a career in art, and many names have led the charge at the brand over time. These days, it’s presided over by Felipe Oliveira Baptista, and there’s still an irreverent Frenchness to the sports-luxe trend it does so well. What to Buy: The label’s prints are always unique and intriguing.

Style Notes: JĂ©rĂ´me Dreyfuss makes covetable bags and shoes. (He’s also married to Isabel Marant.) He’s basically the coolest man in French fashion. What to Buy: More often than not, his creations arrive in easy styles that are perfect for the weekend. This bag ticks all the boxes. 

Style Notes: The modern high priestess of boho girls and rock chicks alike, Marant spans every possible department with her must-haves, from party dresses to sneakers. What to Buy: I always head to Marant for structured knitwear or blouses. 

Style Notes: When The Kooples first landed in the UK a few years back, it was all about “his ‘n’ hers” dressing. While tailoring is still key, you’ll find more feminine pieces in the mix these days. What to Buy: For that rock ‘n’ roll edge, try this blazer. 

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: Ankle boots that will last and that you can wear with plenty of different outfits. 

Style Notes: If you feel like all of the brands in this gallery are too expensive, French catalogue La Redoute will be your savior. Full of classic pieces at a much lower price point (its in-house labels are really quite good), this website also stocks other designer brands. What to Buy: It’s where I’ll be stocking up knitwear that won’t break the bank. 

Style Notes: Clergerie shoes are well known for being beautifully made and very practical in their design. As such, you’ll find an array of influencers who adore the wearable, slightly masculine styles. What to Buy: You can’t put a step wrong in pared-back mid-heels like these, but the flats offering is always strong too.

Style Notes: Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, it has always been a source of fantastic evening wear. When Alber Elbaz stepped down in 2015, Bouchra Jarrar replaced him but has since departed. The new creative director is Olivier Lapidus, a Balmain Homme alumni. What to Buy: It’s a brand known for its glam, so this dress still lives up to the spirit of the name.

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 our collective style psyche. This is partly down to his pared-back aesthetic becoming a perfect fit for Uniqlo. What to Buy: Knitwear, always.  

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: The Archlight sneakers are still going strong.

Style Notes: Part of Chanel’s special ateliers, Maison Michel is a mighty-fine purveyor of hats. From jaunty berets to fedoras and Minnie Mouse ears to tulle veils, if there’s an accessory that changes every outfit, it can be found here. What to Buy: Trade in your straw chapeau for a chic black hat for autumn. 

Style Notes: Maje has plenty to offer across the board, but we often gravitate toward the more rock-chic pieces the brand specialises in. What to Buy: Try a piece of tailoring with a twist. 

Style Notes: This Parisian model turned designer is all about shirts, and they couldn’t have landed at a better time considering the widespread mania for button-downs. What to Buy: A crisp white shirt, bien sĂ»r.

Style Notes: Mid-priced 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 so much to choose from, but the ruffle dresses are particularly fresh. 

Style Notes: Saint Laurent is designed by Anthony Vaccarello, and boy, is he bringing the sensual Parisian out of us all or what? Thigh splits, plenty of leather and all of the vital accessories to be our most glam selves 24/7. What to Buy: These are bound to suit everyone. Well worth the investment, merci.

Style Notes: Naturellement, we love ChloĂ©’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: An entry-level designer handbag with all the traits of classic ChloĂ© arm candy. 

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: Its knitwear is often oversize and great for wearing with jeans. 

Style Notes: The Frankie Shop is the boutique to visit in Paris these days. It stocks other brands, but its in-house label has all of the trend-setting tailoring, separates and dresses that you’ll find dotted around the hippest Instagram feeds. What to Buy: It started the whole shoulder-pad T-shirt thing.

Style Notes: This conscious sneaker brand has really boomed in the past few months, with celebrities and influencers flocking to Veja’s pared-back (and super-comfy) styles. What to Buy: Literally any pair.

Style Notes: There’s always a punky finish to everything Zadig puts into the world—whether it’s a pair of rock-star boots like these or a slung-on velvet blazer you could wear to a concert with ripped jeans. What to Buy: Chunky ankle boots you can style all year round. 

Style Notes: French dressing doesn’t just stop when it comes to workouts. Ernest Leoty brings a fresh perspective to gymwear, and it’s incredibly chic.  What to Buy: The two-tone bodysuits. 

Style Notes: One of the cooler under-the-radar bag brands around right now, Elleme has a new take on bag silhouettes that is a welcome change.  What to Buy: Any of the top-handle totes. 

Style Notes: There’s a common misconception that French fashion isn’t particularly sassy, but Alexandre Vauthier proves otherwise. From dresses to boots, this sharp take on French dressing really gives the wow factor.  What to Buy: A pair of spiky boots. 

Style Notes: The iconic Breton tees (originally worn by the French navy) come from Saint James. If you want the ultimate striped T-shirt, then you have to go for this brand.  What to Buy: A Breton, bien sûr. 

Style Notes: A more laid-back brand, Corrèges offers up cool separates that are ideal for everyday.  What to Buy: These high-shine trousers get our vote. 

Style Notes: It’s more streetwear than haute couture, and you don’t want to dismiss AMI Paris.  What to Buy: A grey sweatshirt. 

This piece was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next up, the biggest autumn/winter 2021 fashion trends to know.

Opening images: @claire_most, @sabinasocol, @leiasfez, @basicstouch

Author Hannah Almassi | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC

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