French style is chic and put-together, yet simple and laid-back. It is anything that is not American prep, British eccentricity or Italian peacockery. Whatever your take on it, it is safe to say that the French can teach us a thing or two about getting (well) dressed.

Below, we have compiled a list of French menswear brands that every stylish gentleman should know, whether that’s Danton’s workwear, fresh versions of classic pieces we know and love, chic Parisian style courtesy of SAINT LAURENT or Marine Serre’s and Jacquemus’ playful pieces.

The famous Parisian fashion house SAINT LAURENT needs no introduction. For its SS23 collection, it returned to its founder Mr Yves Saint Laurent’s beloved Marrakesh for an arresting show against the backdrop of the rocky Agafay desert. It is filled with everything we have come to expect from the label, from signature blacked-out separates, oversized coats and pussy-bow sheer blouses to sharp tailoring and plunging V-necks.

Mr Alexandre Mattiussi’s effortlessly cool brand AMI PARIS has been a driving force in uniting the rarefied world of the Parisian runways with the insouciant style that its most stylish men practise day in, day out. AMI specialises in everyday staples that eschew trends and seasons. We are particularly fond of its knits, which are woven with the Ami de Coeur heart emblem.

Hailing from the Left Bank, Officine Générale is renowned for its premium finishes and fabrics, restrained styling and an attractive price point. From relaxed tailoring to luxe takes on sweats and leisurewear, its collections are filled with elevated classics. “There is always something understated and timeless about our collections, but there are also subtle plays on shape, details, colour and texture that makes it feel understated, but with a point of difference,” says the founder Mr Pierre Mahéo.

De Bonne Facture operates less as a standalone brand and more as a collective for some of France’s best craftsmen. Its limited-edition collections are created in collaboration with ateliers that span the length and breadth of France. With an uncompromising dedication to quality, provenance and the details that matter, it’s a brand for those who appreciate the finest craftsmanship. “I imagined a wardrobe that brings back memories while always feeling up to date,” says the founder Ms Déborah Sitbon Neuberg. “A label with simple lines and quality materials that last. Clothes that can be put on, used, infused with movements, personal stories, while connecting them to the ateliers that have made them, to the hands that have assembled them.”

Armor Lux has been perfecting its take on the traditional Breton T-shirt since 1938, so it knows its stuff. Its local production (its knitting workshops are in Quimper, the ancient capital of Brittany) and decades of expertise in jersey and knitwear production have been recognised by the French state. It was given Living Heritage Company status in 2010, an accolade that recognises artisanal excellence.

The brand’s name refers to the blue workwear jacket worn by French train drivers in the 19th and 20th centuries, but it handcrafts wonderfully hardy work bags in its workshop in Aveyron in the south of France. It champions ethical production and minimises its environmental impact, with initiatives including a shorter working week, a one-line manufacturing process (all artisans are trained to master every step required to make a Bleu de Chaffe bag) and an open-access permaculture vegetable garden on site.

A clothing line, a record label, a café and something of a movement, Maison Kitsuné was launched by the former Daft Punk manager Mr Gildas Loaëc and the architect Mr Masaya Kuroki in 2002. It has since become synonymous with Parisian street cool. Its collections feature anything from sweaters to casual shirts and knits (you can’t miss its ubiquitous fox mascot), while its sister brand, Café Kitsuné, specialises in logo sweats and branded everyday essentials, such as mugs, AirPod cases and stationery.

The Provençal designer Mr Simon Porte Jacquemus launched his label in 2009 and his ironic, light-hearted approach to design has been a breath of fresh air. The latest collection features plenty of workwear-inspired staples, such as denim separates, boxy safari shirts and polo shirts, as well as playful shirts and outerwear.

Since debuting at Paris Fashion Week in 2018, Ms Marine Serre’s youthful yet responsible designs (together with her crescent moon motif) have taken the industry by storm. Her brand was built around the concept of regeneration, which means much more than a conscious approach to construction. It’s “a practice, a programme, a label, a journey, un mode de vie”. Each season, about 50 per cent of the brand’s collection is made from upcycled materials, while the remaining 50 per cent is made with biodegradable yarns and recycled fibres.

Isabel Marant’s men’s collections reflect the same quintessentially Parisian nonchalance and laid-back bohemian spirit of its womenswear. The SS23 line-up riffs on traditional sportswear and California surf culture by way of reworked track jackets, tie-dye, faded denim separates and graphic pieces. The brand is committed to preserving traditional techniques and having a positive impact on the planet. In 2021, Isabel Marant launched an endowment fund dedicated to supporting women's education and artisan craftsmanship in indigenous communities, as well as Isabel Marant Vintage, a digital platform that gives pre-loved Isabel Marant pieces a new life.

Established in 1931, Danton promises nothing more, nothing less than well-made, timeless workwear-inspired staples designed to last for years. It started off manufacturing workwear such as overalls, jackets, trousers and aprons in Châtres-sur-Cher, then went on to supply uniforms to workers on the Paris Métro and French railways. Today, it is known for its light, functional outerwear, practical accessories and everyday sweats.

Founded in 1979 by Mr Yves Chareton, Hartford’s founding mission was to reinterpret the casual stylings of the US West Coast with a European twist. Since he was sold old swatches of Oxford and chambray fabric by a New York manufacturer, Chareton hasn’t looked back. The fabric went on to inspire the first Hartford shirt. Today, the brand’s collections are filled with “alternative classics”, a mash-up of timeless cuts, premium fabrics (sourced from brands such as Albini, Maruwa and Liberty) and humorous, unexpected details such as Hawaiian dancers embroidered on a shirt or Tahitian flowers on swim shorts.

One of France’s foremost shoemakers, J.M. Weston is perhaps best known for its penny loafers, which were de rigueur among stylish Parisian teenagers, known as the Bande du Drugstore, in the 1960s. Since then, its production facility in Limoges, which uses traditional techniques and premium leather, has expanded into sneakers and lug-soled Derby shoes.

Headed by Mr Christophe Lemaire and Ms Sarah-Linh Tran, Lemaire represents a “timeless Parisian style that is cosmopolitan, sophisticated and rich in influences”. Its ethos revolves around the idea of a modular wardrobe comprising pieces from different seasons and collections that can be styled together. With an unwavering commitment to quality and local craftsmanship, Lemaire designs and develops its designs in its atelier in the Marias, the fashionable 4th arrondissement in Paris. All the fabrics for its collections are sourced in Europe (where 90 per cent of its production takes place) and Japan.