If there’s one thing you should know about fashion, it’s that France is home to some of the most luxurious brands in the world.
Paris Fashion Week began in 1973 and has since helped capture many iconic looks, designs and styles that have influenced the fashion world greatly.
As Paris is considered a major fashion capital, it’s no surprise that an abundance of brands have risen in France and brought so much to the industry. You can never go wrong with the very best luxury French brands!
Whether you are looking for perfume, clothing, or accessories - they have it all. We've made a list of the best luxury French brands you need to know. For more on fashion, style and leisure, check out the Slingo lifestyle blog!
The Best French Luxury Brands
1. Christian Dior
Setting up shop on 30 Avenue Montaigne, Christian Dior was founded in 1946, where it has since completely redefined women’s fashion. Their first fashion show in 1947 unveiled the Bar Jacket with a narrow waist, round shoulders and padding at the hips. This remains one of Dior’s most iconic pieces to date and has been replicated by other fashion brands.
A lot of Dior’s early looks established Paris as a major fashion hub since World War II, creating and designing bold, powerful and seductive looks for women.
The fashion brand strives for innovation whilst honouring its heritage, as Dior has expanded into producing handbags, makeup, accessories, and fragrances. Their Miss Dior perfume was made as a tribute to Dior’s sister, Catherine, a French resistance fighter who became a florist after the war. This perfume remains a huge hit even today despite being developed in 1947.
2. Cartier
Looking more towards luxury jewellery brands and you’ll find Cartier, one of the first and most prominent premium French brands. Established in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the company immediately gained recognition for producing fashionable, expensive, and high-quality jewellery.
For some people, owning a Cartier ring, watch, bracelet, or necklace represents a family heirloom - a cherished item that will be passed down through the years.
If you wish to spoil yourself, the Love Bracelet is the brand's most well-liked item, which was created in 1969 as a response to all of the “love symbols” that were a consistent theme throughout the 60s. Designer Aldo Cipullo intended the bracelet to be functional as well as stylish to represent the strength and unity of marriage.
Cartier is the perfect gift to show your partner how much they mean to you.
3. Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent first began his career working as a designer for Chrisitan Dior as his protege. Dior was very impressed by Saint Laurent that after Dior’s sudden death in 1957, he became the creative director of the House of Dior.
With Saint Laurent at the helm, he changed the brand from Dior’s signature cinched waist to a less frigid silhouette that allowed more movement and extra flair for women’s clothes.
In 1962, Saint Laurent started his own fashion brand, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), which became increasingly popular.
Trousers for women became the must-have item alongside metallic and transparent fabrics. He also helped popularise padded shoulders, nipped waist dresses, and Mondrian dresses during the 1980s.
YSL has always advocated for gender equality - encouraging women to feel empowered and independent. The fashion brand has also been a huge supporter of the queer community, establishing more androgynous looks in each of its collections, which wasn’t common to see in other high-profile fashion brands.
As the company grew, it started offering jewellery, accessories, shoes, handbags, and perfumes. This French luxury fashion house has been a game-changer over the years.
4. Hermès
Hermès was one of the first luxury brands to be established.
When Émile-Maurice (Thierry Hermès' grandson) took over the company, he changed everything. It evolved from crafting harnesses and saddles in 1837 for wealthy carriage owners in Europe to producing bags, ready-to-wear clothing, fragrances, accessories, jewellery, and watches.
The business has produced classic items over the years, but the most well-known is the Birkin bag, which was inspired by an incident on a plane. Actress and mother Jane Birkin were sat next to Hermes CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London, where the conversation revolved around Birkin’s frustration over her bag. Their conversation inspired Dumas to design a bag that was stylish and suitable for mothers.
5. Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton, which was founded in 1854, began as a manufacturer of luggage to satisfy the demands of clients who wanted to travel in style. Vuitton was only 16 years old when he began as an apprentice box-maker and packer in Paris, and after 17 years, he established his own unique brand.
All of Louis Vuitton’s products come with their signature LV monogram pattern, which has become synonymous with luxury and wealth. One of the brand's most sought-after bags is the Lock It Tote, which first appeared in 1958. This elegant piece is spacious and perfect for those on the go.
Since Marc Jacobs became creative director in 1997, Louis Vuitton subsequently expanded into producing additional leather products, clothing, shoes and jewellery.
6. Chloé
One of the most well-known luxury labels in Paris, Chloé is particularly renowned for its exquisitely feminine luxury prêt-à-porter collections in French fashion.
Gaby Aghion, an Egyptian-born Parisian designer, founded the luxury brand in 1952. Since then, it has been led by some of the most accomplished and well-known creative directors in the business, including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and Martine Sitbon.
Chloé began making high-end handbags in the early 2000s, using the same design aesthetic as its clothing lines. The Paddington bag and the stunning Marcie saddle bag are among the most well-liked pieces from Chloé. The brand's collections have often appealed to the contemporary Parisian woman whose style is very bohemian and romantic.
7. Chanel
Chanel was established in 1910 by the amazing Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel and has become a staple brand in French fashion history. Over the years, the company has built quite a reputation.
The company initially made and sold haute couture hats. Coco was, in fact, a milliner before she became the most well-known fashion designer in the whole world. She entered the male-dominated fashion sector before many others.
Channel expanded her creative abilities. She created her very first haute couture collection after gaining success in the hat and sportswear industries. Chanel began producing inspired collections of many kinds. These ranged from high couture pieces on the catwalk and in boutiques to ready-to-wear items.
Later, the Maison added cosmetics, footwear, handbags, and fragrances to their lineup. Their legendary Chanel No. 5 revolutionised the fragrance market and is still a strong favourite to this day.
8. Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy founded the House of Givenchy in 1952. He did it under the guidance of the fantastic Spanish fashion icon Cristóbal Balenciaga.
Givenchy's longtime muse and friend, Audrey Hepburn, is credited with helping the company become famous as the Little Black Dress she wears in Breakfast at Tiffany's was made by Givenchy.
He created the perfume L'Interdit specifically for Hepburn, which became one of the world’s best-selling perfumes.
The brand expanded beyond haute couture to produce menswear and women's items. It ultimately merged with the French luxury behemoth LVMH.
9. Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin founded his own company in 1991 when he established the most renowned and expensive French footwear brand.
He wanted to create something that goes against the grain. This rebellious character led him to create the legendary red-lacquered soles. These have become world-class favourites for the elites.
Louboutin was inspired to create stilettos after seeing a sign prohibiting women from wearing them in a museum because they would destroy the wooden floors.
The iconic red bottom heels, however, were created with red nail polish that he borrowed from his personal assistant. Louboutin wanted to separate himself from the rest, and what better way to do so than painting the bottom?
Since then, shoppers have flocked to stores to purchase a pair of designer shoes. Louboutin also offers men's footwear, fragrances, purses, and cosmetics, along with their iconic heels and women's shoes. This is one of those luxury French brands that you need a piece of!
10. Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the most well-known premium French jewellery luxury brands. After Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels' marriage and the merging of the Van Cleef and the Arpels families, the brand was established in 1906.
Estelle's father, Salomon Arpels, was a dealer in precious stones. Alfred was a Dutch diamond cutter, making the two of them an unbeatable team in the jewellery industry.
With the likes of Wallis Simpson (Duchess of Windsor), Grace Kelly (Princess of Monaco), Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge), Eva Perón (First Lady of Argentina), and others wearing its jewellery, the company swiftly became well-known among royalty.
The company also had the distinction of making the crowns for Queen Nazli Sabri of Egypt and Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran.
The jewellery of Van Cleef & Arpels has a particular style and features flora, fauna, and fairies. This makes them stand out against many other French jewellery brands.
11. Celine
Founded in 1945, Celine creates personalised children's shoes, but the brand didn’t start gaining notoriety for its ready-to-wear designs until 1960. Celine concentrated on creating stylish yet comfortable clothing, which appealed mainly to women.
Celine soon expanded into producing men's apparel, leather products, shoes, bags, and fragrances. Since 1996, the company has been a part of the LVMH group.
12. Jacquemus
Jacquemus is a younger luxury French brand on this list. It was founded in 2009 by Simon Porte Jacquemus. He is a self-taught French designer and started the brand when he was just 20 years old.
This emerging brand surprised the fashion industry with its distinctive collections and designs.
At the age of 22, he presented a collection at Fashion Week, thanks to his avant-garde and experimental designs that had a unique perspective. In the 2015 LVMH Prize, Jacquemus also took up a Special Prize.
He has created a number of items, but the Jacquemus tiny handbag and the Le Chiquito Noeud Satchel Bag are two of his top and well-known creations.
Jacquemus has since started making menswear items, purses, hats, and shoes. He came in and changed the fashion world as one of the best luxury French brands.
13. Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant initially developed a number of different labels before the debut of her most well-known brand, including a jewellery line and knitwear brand called "Twen" alongside her mother.
Isabel Marant debuted her first collection in 1995 at Paris Fashion Week, four years after introducing her company.
The company also developed a range of children's clothing. Subsequently, it unveiled its footwear line, which was adored by royalty. The company now sells jewellery, purses, and other items.
Marant has received many awards for her creative work with various accolades. She got the Whirlpool Award in 1998 for being the best female designer. In 2012, at the British Glamour's Women of the Year Awards, she won Fashion Designer of the Year, and in 2014, at the Elle Style Awards, she won the Contemporary Designer of the Year award.
14. Longchamp
Longchamp began in 1948 as a tobacco shop before becoming the well-known French luxury goods brand we know today.
Jean Cassegrain founded the company as a maker of leather pipes. After discovering leather's potential, he focused on high-end leather products and handbags.
When the Maison was established, Philippe, Jean's son, who was 11 years old, helped to make cigarette cases and honed his technique.
Because of the great quality and expertise of the job, the brand attracted both domestic and foreign customers.
Today, they produce shoes, ready-to-wear clothing, travel accessories, and tiny leather goods. Now they are a reputable leather goods brand in the industry. The Le Pliage handbag is their most well-known style.
FAQs
What is the most popular fashion brand in France?
In a 2021 statistic, Chanel was listed as the most popular clothing line in France, beating Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior.
Are French luxury brands cheaper in France?
When compared to other nations, particularly those outside the European Union, the costs of luxury goods from companies like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Dior are, on average, between 30% and 40% less expensive in France.
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