PARIS
Paris clothing brands where “French Girl Style” won’t break the budget
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Paris may be synonymous with high fashion but chic doesn’t have to be expensive; affordable French clothing brands are plentiful and waiting to be discovered. Although they vary in style and approach, my favorite French brands all reflect that same Parisian “je ne sais quoi” — they make clothes that help French women look effortlessly chic.
Affordable French Girl Style - Less is More
Because the spirit of Parisian style is investing in classics, rather than something they wear for a season, French women don’t flutter in the winds of the latest fashion trends. They find the styles that work best for them. (I’ve written more about this in creating a French Wardrobe.)
And investment pieces don’t have to be pricey. These affordable brands make quality clothing at accessible prices. That said, there is nothing listed here that compares to cheap U.S. brands like Old Navy or Gap. Monoprix, shared below, is the least expensive. It’s a department store so some people compare it to Target, although I find the clothes are more curated and better quality.
I look at shopping in Paris like this: if I am buying fewer clothes items, I can spend more when I find something I love. For anyone else moving away from fast fashion, French clothing will inspire you.
French Clothing Brands, in Brief
- A.P.C. - Excellent denim, knitwear and menswear-inspired jackets. Gorgeous handbags! Also sells menswear and children’s.
- Claudie Pierlot - Whimsical casual clothing; some pieces feel boho, others feel preppy. Great prices.
- Maje - Maje calls itself “feminine, free and emotional”. Quality items with broad appeal.
- Monoprix - very affordable basics and on-trend pieces. A great place for current shoe styles at bargain prices. Also sells menswear and children’s.
- Petite Mendogote - Feminine clothing pieces that embrace color and pattern.
- Sézane - Excellent prices for the quality — buttery soft knitwear, smart blazers and a nicely curated shoe and handbag selection. Also sells menswear, childrens and home.
- Soeur - Modern femininity. Classic pieces made with beautiful fabrics that you’ll wear again and again.
- Tara Jarmon - Sophisticated statement pieces. This is where I would go to splurge.
- Vanessa Bruno - Elegant easy-to-wear clothes with a modern edge. Wonderful accessories — chic totes and handbags.
- Bobbies - On-trend and iconic shoe styles.
- Jonak - Affordable well-made styles, classics with edge.
Affordable French Clothing Stores, Le List!
Soeur
I am starting with one of my favorites Soeur. It was started by sisters Domitille and Angélique Brion, and their vision was to dress all women, regardless of age, and to simplify style. Yes please! Soeur clothing feels classic yet original, both feminine and modern with nothing that is overly fussy.
The knitwear and blouses are lovely and they also sell stylish shoes and boots. And I can attest to the quality as I regularly wear the Soeur linen-blend trousers I purchased a few years ago. They have a subtle tweed pattern, and without overstating things, they are perfect; excellent quality for the price.
Soeur styles would appeal to many women and with more than a dozen locations in Paris you will have ample opportunity to visit one of their charming boutiques. I definitely think you should! Beyond Paris, they have locations in other European cities including Madrid and Berlin.
Online Shopping: You can purchase from Soeur online — they ship worldwide (free in France and Belgium). The website is priced in euros and it costs 26€ to ship to the U.S. and Canada.
Petite Mendigote Paris
Sybille Roger Vasselin started Petite Mendigote with accessories and shoes; her goal was to make fun, stylish pieces that felt distinctly Parisian. When she expanded into clothing, she wanted to create affordable pieces women could wear to work and out afterward. Practical, effortless and charming — so very French.
Petite Mendigote embraces color, pattern and femininity. I am not sure you would be wearing Petite Mendigote if you worked as a lawyer or banker, but I’ve been buying more feminine, flowy blouses and dresses in the last few years. As I perused Petite Mendigote, it reminded me of the US brand Doen, yet feels distinctly French.
It is also budget-friendly, and I love the use of color and gorgeous fabrics. I really like their shoe collection as well, and they are well-priced.
There are six Petite Mendigote boutiques in Paris; I visited the boutique in the 6th arrondissement (23 Rue Du Dragon), and everything about it was simply charming.
Online Shopping: they do ship internationally for a fee and returns are at your expense. To the U.S. and Canada it’s 25 euros and takes about 10 days.
Sézane
Sézane was born of founder Morgane Sézalory’s love of vintage clothing and it retains that whimsical vibe. Sézane’s pieces are more colorful than many other French clothing brands; they feels creative, feminine and fun. It’s perhaps the most similar to Claudie Pierlot of those shared here. Casual yet stylish, just like Parisian women.
It’s also amongst the most affordable of the French clothing brands. The knitwear is especially gorgeous (I own several sweaters), and there are lots of fun denim pieces and gorgeous shoes and handbags.
I also own a trench coat, a dress, tees and button-up shirts. The quality is excellent for the price. For more on this popular French brand, read my story: Sézane Paris Stores.
There are nine stand-alone Sézane stores in Paris, or “appartements” as they are called, as well as a Sézane boutique in the iconic French department store, Le Bon Marché.
Online Shopping: Sézane’s online shopping is as easy as it gets for international shoppers. They offer free shipping over $200 to the U.S., Canada and Australia and free returns, regardless the amount of your order. I have ordered several things online and made returns — the service is seamless. Sézane also has US retail locations in New York, Washington DC, Austin, L.A. and San Francisco.
ba&sh
ba&sh I step into a ba&sh boutique in Paris knowing I am going to find things I love. Their items are consitently excellent.
The name refects its co-founders, Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief. A lifelong friendship and shared love of fashion led them to launch the French clothing company in 2003.
The fabrics are wonderful and clothing chic and a little romantic. ba&sh does gorgeous dresses which I especially love for travel. I recently bought a pair of light cropped trousers (pictured above) and the cut and quality are both terrific.
Even better, they have a place on the website to buy and sell pre-loved ba&sh items.
Online Shopping: ba&sh offer complimentary shipping to North America. Allow 3-10 days, once shipped.
Claudie Pierlot
Claudie Pierlot is one of the more affordable French brands on this list. The clothes are fun and whimsical, but still feel chic. Claudie Pierlot, the founder of the same name, has been dressing Parisian women since 1984 and says she created her company “for the women of Paris.”
Today it is a part of the SMCP group, which encompasses other affordable French clothing brands, Sandro, Maje, and Fursac (the latter is menswear).
Trying things on in Claudie Pierlot is always great fun. The clothes are items I would wear often and prices are great for the quality.
SMCP is expanding quickly and there are more than 30 Claudie Pierlot boutiques in Paris, with new ones opening regularly.
Claudie Pierlot, Maje and Sandro - Three style stories
As mentioned, Claudie Pierlot is a sister brand to other Paris favorites, Maje and Sandro.
Sandro creates more elevated fashion — the most “dressy” of the three brands and typically the most expensive.
Meanwhile Maje brands itself “feminine, free and emotional”. When I popped into a Maje store in the Saint Germain area of Paris, I got a little emotional — over a pair of blue tweed trousers and matching blazer. What is it with me and tweed?
I think Maje is the perfect intersection of casual and put together. I highly recommend it when people ask for a Paris favorite as I think their pieces appeal to a broad range of women.
Claudie Pierlot is considered “preppy, free-spirited and modern”, which might explain why it is my favorite of the three – my style is also both preppy and modern. Currently Claudie Pierlot retail stores are only found in Europe.
Maje has locations in Toronto, New York, L.A. and Miami. While Sandro is found in Toronto, New York, Houston, L.A., Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Online Shopping: All the brands offer free shipping and returns to the U.S.
Tara Jarmon
Tara Jarmon feels very elegant, very Parisian. It is probably the most expensive of the boutiques listed here. But I decided to include it because they offer great sales and discount racks can be found in-store beyond traditional sales season.
If I wanted to splurge on something, I would shop here. The store I visited in Saint Germain in September had a significant inventory of sale items from summer, and I fell hard for a black jumpsuit (sadly not available in my size).
The pieces are beautifully made, and it has a level of sophistication that sets it apart from some of the French clothing brands I like. The founder, Tara Jarmon, is a Canadian Parisian and midlife woman. The 63-year-old launched her line more than 30 years ago!
Tara Jarmon retail stores are located only in Europe.
Online Shopping: Tara Jarmon has a U.S. website with prices in U.S. dollars. Free shipping over $350.
Vanessa Bruno
Vanessa Bruno believes the key to feeling great is knowing what flatters us. We are not all going to feel our best in the same outfit; it’s very individual. I love this wisdom, trés French.
Her French clothing feels very sophisticated, yet somehow carefree. These are investment pieces for someone who knows what works on them. Vanessa Bruno is also on the more expensive end of those listed here, but I think her items are beautiful. I loved her sequin-trimmed canvas totes and beautiful handbags.
Vanessa Bruno has a boutique in L.A. on Melrose Avenue, so check it out if you have the chance.
Online Shopping: She has a US website that is priced in US dollars and offers free shipping to the US on orders above $250.
Monoprix
Monoprix is a French department store with a long history and many locations in Paris. Much of the clothing is “nicer” essentials, perhaps comparable to Uniqlo, but with some fun French-themed tops and tote bags. The essentials are of the French chic variety: cashmere sweaters and trés cute beige trench coats. The cashmere was very soft and well priced; I don’t know firsthand about the quality but Monoprix is very popular so it must be quite good. I also liked the shoes, so much that I bought a pair and they have held up very well over several years.
In the summer and spring instead of cashmere you’ll find lots of very nice linen pieces at Monoprix. Monoprix is the most affordable of the French brands here so if the others are not a good fit for your budget, head straight to Monoprix. I visited the Champs-Élysées location but there are a dozen stores in central Paris.
Online shopping: Monoprix has partnered with Amazon to deliver its cosmetics and skincare products within France and abroad. That does not seem to be available on the US Amazon site. (If you know otherwise, please leave in the comments below and I will confirm and update this info.)
A.P.C. (Atelier de Production et de Création)
I already knew about A.P.C. because they are in New York and I own a pair of jeans I’ve had for fifteen years. They aim to “perfect, unostentatious clothes”. We might call them basics that are anything but basic. They would call it minimalist style.
I think of A.P.C. as a place for denim and loved an adorable denim skirt and also tried on a pair of jeans I was very tempted by. But a deeper dive in Paris reminded me what a gem it is for other classic pieces as well. You won’t find frilly blouses here. But there may not be a better example of French casual cool, which is why it’s been so successful in New York. It’s not cheap, but based on the state of my 15-year-old jeans, these pieces are made to last.
Shopping Online: They have a U.S.-version of their website.
Affordable Shoes in Paris - Bobbies
Cute and affordable Bobbies is a gem for classic shoes and boots. And the gentleman who helped me was a delight. They wanted to practice their English, I wanted to practice French and a fun “Franglish” conversation was had. I also tried on some very cute shoes. I didn’t need flats, but if I did, I would have bought the Beryl loafers or the Poppy flats. Manufactured in Portugal and Spain.
Online shopping: They ship worldwide – free over US$200 and offer free returns.
Jonak
Jonak opened its first Paris boutique in 1964 in Saint Germain. I pop in here every trip to have a look at their selection. I like that they have both classic shoes like loafers and two-tone pumps and a selection of “of-the-moment’ styles such as the red ballet flats and Mary Janes, pictured above.
Quality is great for the price with the majority of their shoes produced in Europe — in Portugal, Italy, and Spain.
French Clothing Brands & Seasonal Sales
If you are serious about Paris shopping and keeping it affordable, consider visiting during the months of January or July when the entire city goes on sale.
For four weeks French clothing is progressively marked down and you’ll have the chance to shop at up to 70% off. These biannual sales are known in France as “Les Soldes”.
Great news — many of these sales now also take place online. And brands with a US audience, like Sézane and Maje, also mark prices down for the big U.S. sales like Labor Day and Black Friday.
I hope you have enjoyed this petit voyage to visit some affordable French clothing brands. I think the most important style lesson I have learned from French women is that we all deserve to feel good about ourselves and the right clothing can do that. At its best any fashion is an extension of who we are.
With this list of my favorite French clothing I know exactly where I will shop on my next trip to Paris, in September 2024. These beautiful, inspiring (and almost all women) designers are one more reason to J’adore Paris!
If you enjoyed this story about French clothing stores, you might also enjoy my story, Creating a French Wardrobe. French women have inspired me to prioritize investing in classic pieces rather than following trends.
And if you’re interested in learning more about Sézane, I’ve written a separate story about shopping at Sézane Paris stores.
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