FIVE FRENCH BRANDS TO BUY NOW
I recently wrote a piece for Who What Wear UK (you can read it here), musing on what I've learn about style from the French. In a nutshell, a lot. Over the five years I've been living in Paris, my personal style has morphed into something that I now feel very comfortable with, curtesy of the French. It's gone through a lot of transition, and I've come a long way from my days living in Dalston, East London and even from the first two years of living in Paris, where I was petrified of wearing too much colour and sticking out like a sore thumb. These days I'm very happy with the way I dress. Of course I owe that to getting older and feeling more confident in my own skin, but it definitely has something to do with living in Paris and being surrounded by a very different sense of style, one I feel much more at home in.
Now I love the likes of Chanel, Hermès, Isabel Marant and Jacquemus (who doesn't?!), but I wanted to talk about five affordable French brands, because ya'know, we don't all have bottomless pits filled with money, and these have become a few of my go-to, everyday favourites.
Keep scrolling down for my favourite five.
1. CLAUDIE PIERLOT
First up, Claudie Pierlot. If you've been following me on Instagram for a while, you would have seen that I took a little trip to Île de Ré in March with the brand, to discover its inspiration and history, the former home of Claudie (who sadly passed away 10 years ago) and their new Île de Ré collection. Claudie created her namesake fashion brand in 1984 and it has been dressing Parisian women well ever since. The brand mixes classic preppy with girly detailing, which gives it that je ne sais quoi. Inspired by her love of travel and her home on the beautiful Île de Ré, Claudie’s clothing boasts colour and uniqueness. Ruffles with buttons, tailored blouses and romantic flirty styles make Claudie Pierlot a favourite of French woman and a closet must-have.
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2. ROUJE
Run by the model, designer and photographer Jeanne Damas, Rouje is a clothing line that expertly reimagines classic French style - think Jane Birken and Brigitte Bardot. Floral dresses, silky camisoles, vintage-inspired knits, and kick-flare jeans; Rouje perfectly blends vintage with modern, to make a look that is perfectly Parisian. Feminine details and playful patterns combine with effortless glamour and sophistication to create a cohesive and current brand that is incredibly easy to wear. But hurry, these clothes are selling like hotcakes.
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3. MAJE
Maje was created by Judith Milgrom when she realized there was a need for a mid-range clothing brand to bridge the gap between luxury brands and mass market stores. Good thinking batman. Since its inception in 1999 the clothing brand has expanded to include 150 stores across the globe and continues to meet the needs of women everywhere. Maje is known for its boho style, and is best-described as feminine and understated. Lace, ruffles and expert tailoring all have their place in this brands repertoire. I particularly love this linen dress, which is perfect for taking you from spring to summer.
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4. LEON & HARPER
Leon & Harper was created in 2010 by Philippe Corbin and has now grown to have 5 separate boutiques in Paris. This brand loves to play with the classics and give them an updated twist. Inspired by the unpretentious, creative, unique and seductive femme fatales that make Paris their home, Corbin strives to make clothes that empower women to be free-spirited and their most authentic selves without being snobbish. I love, for example this cotton white shirt with flower embroidery, which is perfect for spring paired with white jeans, or what it with the sleeves rolled up in summer with a denim skirt.
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5. SÉZANE
Sézane is a personal favourite. Morgane Sezalory launched the first French, solely online brand in 2013. It has since ballooned and there's a brick and mortar store in Paris, New York and soon to be London. Sezalory began her fashion career by selling vintage clothing on Ebay (just like Nastygal's Sophia Amoruso), until she decided to create her own website where she sold customized pieces. She quickly turned that business into today's incredibly successful French brand. The feminine and flirty pieces fly off the racks, so if you like something, be quick! I also love their lifestyle collection (lots of lovely bedlinen) and collaborations, notably Holiday, which they brought out last year.
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Photos by Monika Varšavskaja, edited by Marissa Cox. Words by Amanda VanOsdol & Marissa Cox.
