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Our editors have researched and worn sustainable fashion for decades — these are our favorite ethical brands for achieving a chic and effortless “French girl” style.
What is it about French-inspired fashion that we find so appealing? It always looks so put together, yet it’s comfortable. It’s high-quality yet simple. It’s timeless yet effortlessly chic and always of-the-moment. And French girl fashion and sustainability go hand in hand — both encouraging investment pieces made from quality materials and inspiring a minimalist wardrobe around essentials rather than focusing on the latest trends.
What is “French girl” fashion?
“French girl” fashion is all about effortless elegance with a cool, undone edge — it’s that perfectly chic vibe that looks like you didn’t try too hard (even if you totally did). Think timeless wardrobe staples like crisp button-downs, straight-leg jeans, tailored blazers, and ballet flats, all styled in a way that feels relaxed yet refined. It’s less about following trends and more about building a capsule of high-quality basics with personality — maybe a silk scarf tied just so, or a red lip for a pop of confidence. At its core, French girl style is about embracing simplicity, confidence, and a little je ne sais quoi.
Our criteria:
Our editors have worn, researched, and tested sustainable clothing for the past ten years. These fashion brands meet our rigorous qualifications outlined below. Note that we update this list frequently with emerging favorites, so check back!
- ETHICAL PRACTICES | These sustainable clothing brands adhere to ethical and responsible labor practices, ensuring their employees receive fair wages and have safe working environments. We’ve also included clothing brands that give back to their communities and prioritize size inclusivity in their clothing lines.
- ECO-FRIENDLY/SUSTAINABLE | Each of these ethical clothing brands practices sustainability throughout their manufacturing process, including using all-natural and organic materials, low-impact processes, and recycled/upcycled materials in their pieces where possible.
- DESIGN | From chic blouses to summer dresses, we’ve compiled the best sustainable clothing designs to achieve that “French girl” look.
For more sustainable styles that emulate the best of “French girl” fashion, our 99 eco-friendly clothing brands guide has you covered. And if you need inspiration for putting together seemingly effortless and undone looks, follow these steps. You’ll be in the French girl fashion mindset in no time.
1. Sézane
Best For | Button downs
Sustainability | Organic materials; boutiques powered by renewable energy; working to reduce carbon footprint
Size Range | 0 – 14
Button Downs Starting At | $125
Sézane’s colorful and timeless pieces are unique, yet versatile enough to wear everywhere from work to a night out with friends. Inspired by Paris, the brand’s collections are “a conversation with the city itself and an ode to liberty.” They have knitwear, blouses, dresses, skirts, accessories like purses and tights, and more. We love this staple button-down shirt and the incredible selection of coats made from high-quality materials to last a long time. Sézane is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint, and the brand creates its products with organic materials and uses renewable energy in all its boutiques. Read our review of Sézane for more firsthand experience with this iconic brand.
2. VEJA
Best For | Go-to sneakers
Sustainability | Made from recycled plastic water bottles and recycled polyester; upcycled materials; investing in the Amazon Rainforest
Size Range | 4 – 11.5
Sneakers Starting At | $135
The minimalist yet stylish sneakers from VEJA are the epitome of French style — they’re effortless and match everything, yet they look elevated and cool. Made from sustainably sourced materials and recycled plastic water bottles, Vejas sneakers also use Amazonian rubber purchased at five times the market price for the soles. Why? To protect and enhance the economic value of the Amazon Rainforest. The company’s commitment to social responsibility doesn’t stop there, either. They also ensure Fair Trade practices, extensively breakdown exactly what their CO2 emissions look like, and more. We’re gravitating to the classic design of the Esplar Leather White sneakers, which would match almost anything in French girl style, but we also love these V-12 Leather White Parme Magenta for a simple pop of color.
3. ALOHAS
Best For | Ballet flats
Sustainability | Crafted in Spain & Portugal, pre-order system to reduce material waste
Size Range | 5 – 14.5
Flats Starting At | $180
ALOHAS ballet flats are the epitome of French girl charm — chic, effortless, and endlessly wearable. These Spanish-made flats offer that perfect combination of sleek design and comfort with supple leather, flexible soles, and subtle feminine details. The timeless Sway Black Leather Ballet Flats feature a sleek V‑cut vamp and self‑tie bow, giving a polished but relaxed feel that slips on effortlessly for daytime errands or casual date nights. For a pop of bold elegance, the Rosalind Red Leather Ballet Flats bring soft, stretchy leather, a drawstring heel for the perfect fit, and a vibrant red hue that elevates simple jeans or a flowy dress. Both pairs capture that je ne sais quoi vibe — understated yet striking — and truly earn their spot in any French‑inspired capsule wardrobe.
4. Reformation
Best For | Model-off-duty styles
Sustainability | Climate Neutral Certified, sustainable & regenerative fabrics, safe & fair working conditions, living wages
Size Range | XXS – 3X
Clothing Starting At | $38
For everything Paris girl chic, there’s Reformation. Whether you’re into polka dot patterned pieces or romantic style clothing that’ll flatter on a date night, this brand truly has all you need for the perfectly crafted French girl wardrobe. And the best part? Reformation doesn’t just look good — it does good, too. They’re fully committed to sustainability, aiming to be Climate Positive by this year and circular by 2030, meaning they’ll eliminate waste and keep materials in use — again and again. They publish quarterly sustainability reports, track progress on key pillars like People, Planet, Product, and Progress, and provide transparency through tools like RefScale.
5. Thousand Fell
Best For | Long-lasting shoes
Sustainability | Crafted in a family-owned factory; focus on circular economy; recycling program; offsets carbon and water
Size Range | 5 – 10
Shoes Starting At | $139
Thousand Fell’s mission is to never send another pair of sneakers to the landfill. The minimal design of the sneakers makes these shoes a great pick for French-inspired fashion. They’re versatile and made to last through a lot of wear and tear. The company ensures their designs have low energy, water, and carbon footprints by sourcing materials nearby their factories and designing their products to eventually be recycled, not thrown out. TF supports this with their own recycling program: If you send back your pair of sneakers, you get $20 to put toward the next pair you buy. For the classic French girl look, we’d go with the Lace Up white sneakers. See our review of Thousand Fell to hear more about why we love them.
6. Marcia
Best For | Dresses
Sustainability | Avoids overproduction; eco-friendly packaging; uses deadstock fabric
Size Range | 0 – 12
Dresses Starting At | €325
The little black dress is a must-have in French girl style, and Marcia has plenty for you to choose from, whether it’s the elegant and classic midi Taro Dress or the bold yet dainty La Nuit Mini Dress. Both are made from Italian fabric and made in France, like most of the brand’s dresses. Marcia is a Parisian brand focused on creating sustainable pieces that are both comfortable and sexy, inspired by the French artistic scene. Marcia recycles fabrics “endlessly to avoid creating any excess material” and creates regenerated nylon from waste rescued from landfills and the ocean, plus the company avoids overproduction by letting items sell out and listening to customers requests for restocking.
7. Ancosti
Best For | Knits & sweaters
Sustainability | Organic cotton; recycled materials; eco-friendly packaging
Size Range | XS – XL
Sweaters Starting At | $105
Inspired by the natural elements and the Ancosti Island in the Northern part of Côte-Nord region of Canada, Ancosti features sweaters, dresses, outerwear, and more. Most of their pieces come in contemporary neutrals, and while some have abstract patterns and unique silhouettes, they are all super wearable for many occasions. The One-Shoulder Asymmetrical Top could be worn in spring as a light sweater or layered with other pieces in the colder months, making it perfect for French girl style. We also love the Front Split Hem Cardigan, a simple yet chic sweater that is both practical for keeping warm and versatile for styling in many different outfits. Ancosti uses eco-friendly materials and in-house manufacturing for its products, exercising control over the process from sketches to the final products. The brand also uses eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and wool in a lot of their products and are working to find even more sustainable materials for their clothes.
8. Dressarte
Best For | Custom-made clothes
Sustainability | Zero waste; custom made; low carbon footprint; recycled, upcycled, and eco-friendly materials
Size Range | Custom made
Clothing Starts At | Varies
Dressarte is perfect for one-of-a-kind pieces that feel in alignment with your style and fit like a glove. One of the key elements of French girl fashion is having pieces that are well-fitting, which often means taking them to the tailor. Dressarte works with stylists and designers from Europe and the U.K. to create custom-made clothing based on exactly what you want right from the beginning. You share your vision, whether by talking with a stylist or designer, taking a style quiz, or buying a design package. Then the company chooses from their zero waste natural surplus fabrics and designs unique outfits for you. From there, it’s delivered right to your door. Dressarte designers can create dresses, blouses, tops, suits, bridal wear, and even capsule wardrobes, and the focus is to help you find your personal style and clothes that fit well, work with your lifestyle, and make you feel confident. If you need help crafting your personal style, consider these tips.
9. Loom
Best For | Basics
Sustainability | Clothes design to last a long time; locally manufactured; only uses organic cotton
Size Range | XS – 3XL
Basics Start At | 25€
Loom creates clothes made to last. The French company focuses on producing less clothing by testing their pieces and ensuring that they’re built to be staples in your wardrobe for years to come. Loom offers t-shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and more, but they only have one to three options for each. For example, check out their four sweater options, The Classic Sweater, The Warm Sweater, The Sweatshirt, and The Cotton Sweater each in only a few color options. They’re all made from high-quality and sustainable materials like merino wool and 100% cotton, and every product has information about how it will age and how to take care of it to make it last longer. We love that their white button down — a must in a French girl style wardrobe — is made of organic cotton and is naturally durable. And the single pair of jeans Loom offers are made from denim from Candiani, an Italian house known for its great environmental practices. Note: Loom doesn’t deliver to the U.S. yet, but they do deliver to France and some countries in the E.U.
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