Favourite Childrenswear brands in France

As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I was excited to be purchasing cute baby outfits. I picked up some pieces in Marks & Spencer but soon found that all my favourite baby clothes were French. The quality looked good and I preferred the design. I also knew we wanted to have a second child and was looking for pieces which could be passed on. I found the clothes for sale in Ireland to be very gendered and hard to pass on.

Childrenswear in France is all about comfort and style in an easy way with quality being a key factor at the heart of the product. Cotton is the most used fabric, I would not purchase any children’s clothes with polyester or a polyester blend. Check labels, some clothes feel like cotton but it is mixed with polyester. This is can be an issue as it is a petroleum derived product but also it is not breathable.

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The colours are more subtle without being bland, forget about those beige tones which I don’t think look great on a baby, and embrace navy blues, red, ochres, stripes and stars.

We are less about the bold colours and definitely not about princess or tractor prints which means the clothes are much easier to mix together. I have also heard mums at the playground or at my kid’s school (A maternelle for ages 3-5) teaching their kids about styling and how to mix and match clothes. That means the kids slowly learn how to get dressed well in the morning.

My daughter now knows which colours look good together and what would be too much and not very elegant. She is still a 5 years old so she does gravitate towards her Elsa dress but she knows which prints she can mix and what colours would be too much of a clash. My 3 years old son is also very aware and knows what he wants to wear in the morning to look “cool”.

Here is a selection of my favourite French brands and their aesthetics.

Cyrillus

One of my favourites, I always turn to them and try to buy the pieces in the sale. The quality is excellent, most of the clothes have gone from my daughter to my son and then on to other children in perfect condition.

I love their baby outfits as presents and the onesies were perfect, very easy to put on and always with a little detail, like a frilly collar or a detailed cuff. For older kids, their coats and parkas are excellent as are their sweaters. Occasion wear is also very strong, I sourced wedding outfits for my children there.

Petit Bateau

Probably some of the best quality, their slogan in the 90’s was “What’s the point in making clothes if you can’t do anything in them?”

Great for pyjamas, all the baby vests that will really last, winter onesies and their famous raincoats. The best underwear too, try to find on sale, this has been recommended by our paediatrician as it is 100% cotton, thread included and is best to avoid any skin irritations.

Monoprix

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Great for all the basics and the design is always a little bit cool. I love their leggings for my daughter, little sweatshirts and t shirts. They also made the cutest baby dresses with built in bloomers. We have bought a lot of summer clothes from Monoprix. They also do great collabs with iconic French brands. The quality is really good and much higher than other supermarket brands in my opinion as the clothes have been passed on to now 4 children and from what I hear, are still in great nick!

Tajine Banane

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The brand originated as a breastfeeding ally to women, allowing them to discreetly and stylishly feed their babies any time any where. It was only natural they evolved into childrenswear as well with fresh, cool style for little ones. The slogans are all play on words and they bring out cool colours.

Apaches

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This is a beautiful brand, famous for its prints and cool cuts. The clothes are all about stylish comfort, perfect for kids who want to explore the world in the coolest clothes. My daughter is a big fan! I really like their padded jackets for Autumn and Spring and chilly summer nights. Their bathing suits are also very cute, and have that classic look, which looks very sweet on the beach.

What are your favourite childrenswear brands? What do you think is the most important thing when selecting pieces?

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