Whether you are looking to treat yourself to a chic pair of boots, are in the market for a pair of comfortable flats (think loafers, sneakers, ballet flats), or are after a pair of espadrilles for your next summer getaway on the Côte d’Azur, in today’s article, I’ve gathered a complete list of the best French shoe brands to have on your radar. Many may be names you are already familiar with: Christian Louboutin, Saint Laurent, Repetto, and Veja, but in this round-up, you will also find lesser-known labels that specialize in footwear and new names to know in the world of French shoe brands. Also, if you’re looking for more affordable brands, I have got you covered, too. Keep scrolling to discover the twenty best French shoe brands to revamp your footwear collection ;).
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1. Chloé
Founded in 1952 by Egyptian-born Gaby Aghion, Chloé was one of the first luxury ready-to-wear houses in the world. Chloé has defined the Parisian style with its chic and confident designs for over half a century. Today, the label is best known for its bohemian dresses, effortless tailoring, instantly iconic bags, and gorgeous shoes. If you’re looking for a chic and versatile pair of ankle boots, I’m a huge fan of Susanna ankle boots.
2. Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant has aestheticized Parisian cool-girl chic by, paradoxically, reaching all corners of the globe for inspiration—from the American West to the French Riviera. Cultivating what Vogue describes as a “nomadic” look, the design house has accrued a cult following among fashion’s elite. Parisian designer Isabel Marant creates pieces and shoes for women in real life and tries on everything in her collections before they leave the studio.
3. Chanel
Chanel is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. It all started when Coco decided to open a hat-making shop in Paris. In the 1920s, Coco Chanel became a true style icon, known for her simple but sophisticated outfits, styled with great accessories. She introduced the perfume Chanel No. 5. in 1921, the Chanel suit in 1925, and the little black dress in 1926.
4. Saint Laurent
Founded by legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1961, it quickly revolutionized the way fashion and society intertwine with the launch of its iconic “Rive Gauche” collection, becoming the first couture house to launch ready-to-wear. When it comes to shoes, Saint Laurent has beautiful pairs to suit every style!
5. Roger Vivier
Ever since the opening of his inaugural Paris boutique in 1937, Roger Vivier has designed footwear for the emancipated woman. The French cordwainer, whose delicate and sumptuous footwear had already made his renown, pulled off a masterstroke in 1954 by elevating the stiletto heel to the ranks of iconic fashion. The Maison created heels for Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, and Queen Elizabeth II. More creations were to follow, all equally spectacular: The Choc heel in 1959, the 1963 Virgule heel, vinyl thigh boots in 1966, and then leather versions in 1967. It’s one of my favorite French shoe brands!
6. Christian Louboutin
Known for his iconic red-soled shoes, Christian Louboutin is synonymous with fashion and luxury. When working in his studio in the ’90s, he grabbed a bottle of red nail polish from his assistant Sarah and painted a shoe’s sole. The brand’s signature style now extends to distinctive shoes and accessories for men, covetable handbags, and irresistible cosmetics.
7. Souliers Martinez
French shoe designer Julien Martinez launched his eponymous label, Souliers Martinez, in 2017 following a career spent studying the art form of Italian shoemaking. Drawing from styles his Spanish grandmother used to wear, Souliers Martinez’s founder has achieved a sophisticated yet bohemian aesthetic imbued with Mediterranean elegance.
8. Carel
Carel is first and foremost a family history. In 1947, Georges Carel left his hometown of Grenoble and moved to Paris with his wife Rosa. They opened their first shoe store for women in 1952 at 29 Boulevard Saint-Michel. Thanks to a discreet and elegant sense of style, the brand was able to make classic shoes into durable must-have pieces. Today, among Carel’s flagship models, you will find the must-have Kina with its vintage twists, the timeless Estime, the discreet yet feminine Alice shoe, and the Caren, a daring 60s-inspired model with a more classic design.
9. Repetto
Repetto is a French ballet shoe company founded in 1947 by Rose Repetto. She created her first ballet shoes in her small workshop on the Rue de la Paix in 1947. Her first boutique, opened in 1959, quickly became the place to go for prima ballerinas to get top-quality dancewear and shoes. The company gained fame from creating the for a French ballet dancer and actress Brigitte Bardot’s 1956 film Et Dieu… créa la femme. Repetto provides ballet shoes for the National Opera of Paris and many other well-known French ballet companies. One the most iconic French shoe brands!
10. Michel Vivien
Michel Vivien created his eponymous brand in 1998, focusing exclusively on this essential item. A true footwear craftsman, he shares his passion by creating elegant and feminine models, combining timelessness with a bold approach. From boots to ankle boots, sandals, and pumps, the heels are reasonably high and stable, with straps crafted to support the foot.
11. Veja
Since 2005, Veja, through its social and environmental commitment, has made it possible to wear shoes that are designed to last. With carefully chosen materials such as natural rubber and fish skin leather, Veja puts innovation at the heart of its production. The label offers stylish, well-thought-out sneakers designed to last long-term. With a distinctive V on the side, the sneakers in the Veja women’s collection are French girls’ go-to shoes to wear every day.
12. Sézane
The story of Sézane begins with a forgotten suitcase and a love for vintage. Upon discovering an abandoned collection of vintage clothing, Morgane Sézalory began making slight adjustments to the pieces, and selling her finds online under the name “Les Composantes”. By 2013, Morgane realized she had found her calling: she began supplementing her vintage pieces with her designs, and Sézane was born! It is one of the French fashion brands that offer really good quality shoes at affordable prices.
13. K Jacques St Tropez
If you’re looking for a great pair of sandals for your next getaway this summer, look no further than the French label K Jacques! Founded in 1933 by Jacques and Elise Keklikian, it has been a family-run business ever since. All of their designs are assembled in the label’s St-Tropez workshop using leather from prestigious tanneries across Europe.
14. See By Chloé
See By Chloé is the playful, youthful sibling of renowned fashion house Chloé and is known for its carefree and spirited take on luxury. Launched in 2001 by Pheobe Philo, the label’s influences vary by season —gallery girl, hippie-traveler— but the spirit remains consistent: fun, romantic, and global.
15. Clergerie
Founded in 1981 by Robert Clergerie, Clergerie produces everything from boots to slides in its French production house in Romans-sur-Isère. Balancing a masculine-feminine aesthetic, Clergerie brings a sense of understated avant-garde to women’s footwear.
16. Bobbies
Founded in 2010, Bobbies is a French shoe brand that produces exceptional shoes and leather goods. Designed in Paris, their creations are developed in Portugal from raw and noble skins of Italian origin. Bobbies create unique models that are easy to wear, timeless, yet fashionable and iconic. The Parisian shoe brand is reinventing the basics, such as desert boots, ankle boots, pumps, slippers, and, of course, moccasins, bringing originality and character to the world of shoes. It’s one of my favorite French shoe brands!
17. Patricia Blanchet
Patricia Blanchet launched her eponymous brand in 2009. The Parisian label’s shoes can be recognized by their retro overtones and elaborate finish. Some of the brand’s designs feature curved cut-outs, enhancing the top of the foot with gorgeous motifs. Other pieces are covered in glitter and sparkle in the light. I love Patricia Blanchet’s shoes, which are just pieces of art!
18. J.M. Weston
J.M. Weston is a French luxury shoe company founded by Édouard Blanchard in 1891 in Limoges. Specialized in the production of men’s shoes for more than a century, J.M. Weston blurs the boundaries between genders for its women’s collection. Using noble materials such as calfskin, the label regularly unveils daring creations, such as their iconic “Le Golf” loafers or exclusive collaborations.
19. Minelli
Minelli Paris is a French shoe brand that offers low-to-mid-priced basic and trendy footwear. It is the go-to brand for men and women looking for original and bold styles adapted to real life. Minelli embodies the classic with a twisted philosophy and designs models adapted to every occasion.
20. Jonak
Jonak Paris was created by Joseph Nakam back in 1964. By combining high quality with competitive prices, Jonak offers an urban style for active and sophisticated women, with an emphasis on comfort and simplicity. The shoemaker’s preferred materials are natural and unrefined but elegant nevertheless.
I own 7 pairs of westin loafers and boots. in NYC, that is pretty much what I wore for casual wear and French people would stop
me and talk to me on the street. same thing happened in Dublin Ireland.