‘French girl style’ is often cited as the pinnacle of effortless chic. However, true French style is far from homogenous, going beyond crisp white shirts, blue denim, breton stripes, cigarette trousers, and red lips. When it comes to the best French clothing brands, there are a few that grab the lion’s share of attention. On the luxury end of the spectrum, fashion houses like Celine, Dior, and Louis Vuitton dominate conversations, while on the contemporary side of things it’s the likes of Sézane, Rouje, and The Frankie Shop that have managed to cut through in the international market.
However, there are a number of French fashion brands beloved by stylish locals that have remained relatively unknown outside the Gallic region, like Tara Jarmon, Petit Mendigote, and Vanessa Bruno. The majority of our favourite French fashion brands reside in the mid-range category, offering stylish cuts and premium quality without the luxury price tag.
Spanning ready to wear, handbags, and accessories, we’ve compiled our Albert Review-approved guide to the best French fashion brands to have on your radar. Shopping can be a minefield at the best of times, so to make it easier to navigate, we’ve included the best styles and categories from each brand (e.g. we love Vanessa Bruno and Gerard Darel for their handbags, while Sandro is a favourite for its wool and tweed pieces) as well as the types of materials commonly used by each brand (i.e. whether they predominantly use natural or synthetic materials).
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Without further ado, our favourite French fashion brands for stylish clothing and accessories.
1. Sandro
Sandro was one of the first brands to carve out a space in the—now saturated—mid-high luxury sector. The French fashion brand excels in creating staples with a twist, with its pieces managing to incorporate trends without falling victim to them. Expect to find the quintessential hallmarks of French girl style—think tweed skirt suits and dresses, white shirts, overcoats, and printed dresses—each with their own idiosyncratic touch, whether it be in the form of cropped hemlines or the addition of studs or a ruffled neckline.
Established in: 1984
Founder: Evelyne Chetrite
Best for: woollen coats, wool and tweed skirts and jackets, interesting knitwear
Materials: used to be mostly natural materials, but now a mix of natural and synthetic. Sandro still has some predominantly wool pieces across its outerwear and skirts, so look out for these as they truly last the distance. The brand’s handbags and footwear are crafted from leather.
2. Maje
Fun fact: Maje founder Judith Milgrom is the younger sister of Sandro founder Evelyne Chetrite. In many ways, Maje is also the little sister to Sandro, offering a colourful, punk rock take on classic French staples. Expect tailored tweed separates accented by sparkly thread or sequins, asymmetrical hemlines, tonal experimentation, and knitwear adorned with rhinestones for a fresh, youthful interpretation of French girl style.
Established in: 1998
Founder: Judith Milgrom
Best for: tailored sets, statement dresses, suit trousers
Materials: mostly synthetic with some cotton and natural fibre blends (e.g. wool and acrylic). The brand’s handbags and footwear are crafted from leather.
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3. Sézane
One of the most popular French fashion brands, Sézane has received international acclaim for its romantic, slightly bohemian take on archetypal French girl style. The brand is lauded for its knitwear (the Othello, Gaspard, and Betty styles are among the most popular pieces), feminine shirts and blouses, and trousers; each can be mixed and matched to create outfits suited to both office and casual wear. Sézane’s outerwear is also an underrated high achiever in terms of its chic, colourful coats.
Established in: 2013
Founder: Morgane Sézalory
Best for: embroidered cotton shirts and blouses, statement outerwear, everyday knitwear, printed dresses
Materials: mostly natural and synthetic blends with some pure wool and cotton pieces, leather handbags and footwear
4. Gerard Darel
Gerard Darel may be best known for its iconic 24H bag; a gathered elongated style that’s served as a hardworking daily staple in many a French woman’s wardrobe. That said, the brand’s ready-to-wear line is not to be overlooked. Styles are elegant and sophisticated, with collections often suffused with a touch of boho-chic or a rebellious energy care of leopard print, exposed pocket details, and monogram print. We’re particularly partial to the brand’s Anna jeans (another iconic style), coats, and knitwear in natural fibres.
Established in: 1971
Founders: Danièle and Gérard Darel
Best for: 24H bag, corduroy and denim jeans, coats and jackets, printed shirts and blouses (good for work)
Materials: lots of natural fibres with some natural and synthetic blends; it’s pretty easy to find pure wool, cashmere, and cotton pieces. The brand’s handbags are also made from leather or suede.
5. Petite Mendigote
Petite Mendigote may be French for ‘little beggar’, but its clothing lineup wants for nothing. Pieces are designed with the very 2000s magazine concept of ‘desk to dinner’ wear in mind, with classic styles dressed up by way of interesting materials and details. Case in point: the Octavia jacket, which takes the iconic lady jacket style and renders it in sequins for a holiday-ready look.
Established in: 2003
Founder: Sybille Roger Vasselin
Best for: workwear with a twist — try the Paris pants, pure merino wool skirts and dresses, and sequined jackets
Materials: mostly natural and synthetic blends or all synthetic, however there are a few pieces that exclusively use natural fibres.
6. Tara Jarmon
Preppy, bold, and playful, Tara Jarmon offers a colourful and feminine take on dressing that’s something of a breath of fresh air in a time where neutrals all too often reign supreme. There’s a slight retro mod undercurrent to many of the pieces, with the styling alone making Tara Jarmon well worth a look in (if only for inspiration on how to add colour to everyday outfits). Our favourite staple pieces are the coats, knitwear, and midi skirts, however there are also several eye-catching seasonal pieces on offer.
Established in: 1986
Founders: Tara and David Jarmon
Best for: funky coats, merino wool and cashmere knitwear, trousers
Materials: lots of natural fibres (including pure cashmere and merino wool knitwear) with some natural and synthetic blends.
7. Rosaé Paris
For environmentally minded shoppers who tend to gravitate towards natural materials, Rosaé Paris is something of a saving grace. Making use of upcycled fabrics and natural materials such as wool, silk, and leather, Rosaé Paris covers all bases when it comes to quality wardrobe staples. Styles lean more minimalist and err on the conservative side, however the brand makes for a good starting point for those looking for a ‘timeless’ capsule wardrobe.
Established in: 2019
Founder: Claire Teixeira
Best for: understated knitwear, trousers, shirts, and coats in natural materials
Materials: lots of natural fibres, with some natural and synthetic blends.
8. Musier Paris
While Musier Paris describes itself as boasting a timeless, feminine aesthetic, we find the brand leans more edgy and contemporary — somewhat akin to the Parisian version of an Insta baddie. Expect to find ultra-short hemlines, low rise denim, statement tops, and bodycon dresses with cutout details.
Established in: 2018
Founder: Anne-Laure Mais
Best for: cute ‘going out’ tops, slinky dresses
Materials: mostly natural and synthetic blends, some dresses and tops are all (recycled) synthetic.
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9. Gaâla Paris
Parisian label Gaâla Paris places an emphasis on slow fashion, with its designs taking on a feminine, romantic aesthetic that’s removed from ephemeral trends. The brand often sources leftover fabrics from luxury fashion houses, with collections making use of luxurious materials like heavyweight silk and delicate chiffon silk alongside material innovations such as rose petal cellulose fabric and wood pulp viscose. Styles are classic and sophisticated, marking a welcome departure from the trend-driven pieces commonly found today.
Established in: 2019
Founders: Kelly de Gaalon and Alexander Zhalezka
Best for: elegant dresses and skirts, tweed suit sets
Materials: mostly natural materials with some natural and synthetic blends. The brand also makes use of interesting eco-friendly material innovations such as fabric crafted from the cellulose of rose petals and wood pulp viscose.
10. The Frankie Shop
Those dramatically boxy blazers you’ve spotted on the likes of Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, and many an influencer? They’re likely from—or, trying to replicate the aesthetic of—The Frankie Shop. Known for its muted neutral colour palette and oversized suiting, The Frankie Shop blends elements of Parisian insouciance with New York cool. One of the best French fashion brands for edgy minimalist pieces.
Established in: 2014
Founders: Gaëlle Drevet
Best for: oversized suiting, tailored trousers, voluminous coats
Materials: mostly natural and synthetic blends with some pieces using exclusively natural fibres.
11. Rouje
Founded by blogger and style icon Jeanne Damas, French fashion brand Rouje has long been a default brand for chic summer and evening dresses. Drawing inspiration from vintage pieces, Rouje exudes a distinctly retro sensibility, with its styles managing to look on trend while without being rooted in a specific time period. Its dresses and embroidered and patterned knitwear pieces are a delight, but the brand’s handbags are also underrated gems (the rose hardware is oh so chic).
Established in: 2016
Founder: Jeanne Damas
Best for: flirty summer and evening dresses, structured mini skirts, midi slip skirts, knitwear
Materials: mostly synthetic blends for the dresses and skirts, though some of the shirts and knitwear pieces use natural fibres.
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12. Vanessa Bruno
French fashion label Vanessa Bruno is best known for its iconic Cabas Tote, however its romantic yet relaxed take on everyday wear make its ready-to-wear collections well worth a look in. The brand boasts a plethora of staple pieces executed with statement-making twists, whether it’s an ombre take on classic knitwear or a classic jacket with elevated hardwear. The brand ‘s cuts are conservative without being staid, making it an ideal option for sourcing workwear staples.
Established in: 1996
Founder: Vanessa Bruno
Best for: handbags (particularly the Cabas Tote), skirts, knitwear
Materials: mostly natural and synthetic blends or all synthetic. The brand’s handbags and footwear are crafted from leather.
Words by Arabella Johnson & T. Angel
