French Fashion Houses Find a Home in the City of Angels
Los Angeles, February 15, 2025 – los Angeles, long celebrated as the “historic capital of hippie fashion, denim and streetwear,” is now witnessing a surge in the presence of French fashion labels across its diverse neighborhoods. The city’s fashion landscape is evolving,embracing the elegance and sophistication of french design.
Currently, over thirty luxury, premium, and mainstream French fashion houses have established boutiques in Los Angeles. This notable figure is further amplified by the presence of approximately fifty French labels distributed throughout various multi-brand stores. The allure of the Los Angeles market is undeniable, drawing in some of the most prestigious names in the fashion industry.
Beverly Hills, in particular, has become a battleground for prime retail space, with “almost all of the major luxury brands” vying for coveted square footage. The competition is fierce, reflecting the immense value placed on having a presence in this iconic location.
Louis Vuitton has emerged as a leader in this sector, boasting nine boutiques, including department store locations. In 2022,[[1]], the brand solidified its commitment to Los Angeles with the opening of the “world’s largest two-storey men’s store on Rodeo Drive.” This meaningful investment underscores the importance of the Los Angeles market to louis Vuitton and its continued growth strategy.
Explore the world of luxury fashion in Los Angeles. Visit Rodeo drive and discover the latest collections from renowned French designers.
French Fashion Houses Expand Their Presence in los Angeles
Los Angeles continues to solidify its position as a global fashion capital, with French luxury brands making significant investments in the city’s retail landscape. From Rodeo Drive to West Hollywood, the presence of these iconic houses is reshaping the luxury shopping experience.
Isabel Marant store at 8454 Melrose Place, West Hollywood – Alexis Chenu
Chanel set a high bar in 2023 with the opening of a stunning five-story boutique dedicated to its fashion collections, jewellery, and accessories. Bruno Pavlovsky, speaking at the cruise collection show in Los Angeles in May 2023, described it as “the most stunning store ever imagined by Peter Marino.” He further elaborated, “It manages to incarnate all that is best in our brand. What is it today – luxury, sensitivity and beauty. We erased our old store and reconstructed the best we could from scratch.” This bold statement underscores Chanel’s commitment to providing an unparalleled luxury experience.
Rodeo Drive has seen even more activity. In the summer of 2024, Givenchy unveiled its new boutique in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building. [3]. the area is already home to Hermès, Saint Laurent, and Celine, solidifying Rodeo Drive as a premier destination for luxury shopping.Dior is also preparing to reopen its department store, complete with a café, after extensive renovations.
West Hollywood is another focal point for French brands. Ami, Balmain, Chloé, and isabel Marant have all established a presence in the area. Isabel marant, led by CEO Anouck Duranteau-Loeper, first opened a boutique on Melrose Place in 2013 and expanded to Palisades Village a year ago.
Duranteau-Loeper explained, “The brand has always had an American bias. After New York, Los Angeles quickly became the obvious choice. The brand’s cool, luxury image fits perfectly with the city, and our style is very much in tune with the LA casual vibe. After Melrose Place, Pacific Palisades enabled us to offer our products to another customer zone.”
This continued investment by French fashion houses demonstrates Los Angeles’s growing importance in the global luxury market. The city’s unique blend of style, culture, and discerning clientele makes it an ideal location for these brands to showcase their latest collections and connect with a wider audience.
Explore the latest collections and experience the luxury firsthand. Visit these boutiques and discover the allure of French fashion in Los Angeles.## French Fashion Brands Expand U.S. Footprint, Face Setbacks
French fashion continues to make inroads into the U.S. market, with several brands establishing a retail presence in key locations. However, recent events and economic uncertainties are causing some to re-evaluate their expansion strategies.Officine Générale, a French brand, has been making significant strides in the United States. Founder Pierre Mahéo opened two boutiques almost concurrently in Los Angeles in 2023, specifically on Sycamore Avenue in Hollywood [[number]].According to Mahéo, “The United States is our biggest export market today.” The brand had previously opened in Soho,New York,in 2021,marking a strategic expansion into the American market. The sycamore Avenue store has proven especially triumphant, with Mahéo noting, “Our Sycamore Avenue store has always had the best results.”
Though, not all locations have been as successful. The Officine Générale boutique in Palisades Village is “now temporarily closed due to the January fires.” This location catered to “the customers based in Malibu, Venice or Santa Monica,” a more local clientele.
Despite the successes,the current economic climate is causing some brands to pause further expansion. “Stable results added to a geopolitical and economically uncertain context, is putting the brakes on our desire for further developments in California, and in the U.S,” according to Officine Générale.
Isabel Marant,another prominent French brand,views the United States as its “biggest market in terms of business” and will likely continue to explore opportunities. Though, Duranteau-Loeper noted, “We’re always on the lookout for other developments, outside the customary luxury zones. But our timing today is more focused on consolidating the network of boutiques than on further openings.” The brand has experienced significant growth,expanding from 10 to 100 boutiques worldwide in the last five years.The expansion of French brands in the U.S. demonstrates the appeal of French fashion to American consumers. While challenges remain, the long-term prospects for these brands appear promising.
French Fashion Finds a Home in Los Angeles: A Retail Renaissance
Los Angeles is experiencing a surge in popularity among French fashion brands, marking a significant shift in the retail landscape. From contemporary and accessible fashion to established luxury names, French labels are strategically planting their flags across the city, catering to a diverse clientele.
One notable example is the rise of boutiques in Venice.Manai-Platt, who opened their first boutique in Venice in 2017, noted that it was initially because they “lived just a few steps away.” They added, “Then, Abbot Kinney became the coolest street on the west Coast according to GQ magazine.” Despite challenges like “rising rents and the arrival of mass-market brands to which tourists didn’t really respond,” Manai-Platt believes “the neighborhood is making a comeback today.”
Sézane, Morgane Sézalory’s brand, exemplifies this trend. After experimenting with pop-up shops, including one at the Platform shopping center in Culver City, Sézane established its first permanent “Sézane Apartment” at Brentwood Court Mart. This location is ideal, attracting “many mothers and fashion-loving women” and situated near other popular stores like Goop, Jennifer Meyer, and Clare V.
other French brands are also making their mark.Zadig & Voltaire, Thierry Gillier’s brand, boasts a strong presence in the United States with approximately 60 boutiques, including four in Los Angeles. Iro, created by the Bitton brothers and now under the control of Chinese group Fosun, operates two stores in Venice and Beverly Hills. Maje, from the SMCP group, has five boutiques, primarily located in shopping malls, while its sister brand Sandro can be found at The Grove and Westfield Century.
American Vintage recently opened its first Los Angeles store on Abbot Kinney boulevard in Venice.This move is part of a broader expansion strategy in the American market, with owner Michael Azoulay aiming for “a stated objective of 15 extra stores in the country by 2025, including Los.
explore the latest French fashion arrivals in Los Angeles and discover yoru new favorite style!
French Fashion Finds a Home in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has become a key destination for French fashion, with multi-brand stores showcasing over fifty French labels.This embrace of French design highlights the city’s growing influence in the global fashion scene [1].
Multi-Brand Boutiques Lead the Way
several boutiques are at the forefront of this movement. Just One Eye, founded by paola Russo, who was raised in France, features brands like Lemaire, Louboutin, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, rabanne, and Sylvie Corbelin jewelry.Maxfield focuses on luxury brands, carrying Celine, Chanel, Courrèges, Casablanca, Isabel Marant, and recently adding Louis Gabriel Nouchi, Salomon shoes, and Le Gramme jewelry. H. lorenzo offers collections from Coperni, Jacquemus, Jean paul gaultier, Marine Serre, Vaillant, and Lorette Colé Duprat jewelry. Culture Edit carries Carne Bollente, while Departamento stocks Salomon Advanced shoes and Lemaire.
The Webster: A french Touch in Beverly Grove
The Webster, located in Beverly Grove and founded by French entrepreneur Laure Hériard-Dubreuil, features designers such as Ester Manas, Etudes Studio, Givenchy and Ouest.
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“Angeles and Austin,” said Azoulay.
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French Fashion Finds a Home on LA’s East Side: Golden Age Hollywood Leads the Charge
Los Angeles’ East Side is becoming a hotbed for French fashion, with brands like Kitsuné and A.P.C. already drawing in a creative crowd. Now, locals can find Jacquemus and Lemaire at Mohawk General Store, further solidifying the area’s reputation as a style destination. But one store, in particular, is making waves with its unique blend of vintage and Hollywood glamour: Golden Age Hollywood.
Inside Golden Age Hollywood store in Silver Lake, Los Angeles – Golden Age hollywood
Founded in 2016 by Frenchmen Ludvic orlando, a former footwear production manager for H&M, and Jesse Bardy, a vintage specialist, Golden Age Hollywood quickly gained a following.Initially located on Melrose Avenue, the store mixed rare vintage finds with shoes inspired by Hollywood’s golden age. The concept resonated with press, celebrities like lily Rose-Depp and Vanessa Paradis, and fashion icons such as Hedi Slimane and John Galliano. This success led to expansions, first to Silver Lake in 2018 and then to Marseille.
But what makes Golden Age Hollywood so special? According to Orlando,”today,50% of our offer focuses on French workwear,with the remainder dedicated to military and American vintage.” He emphasizes their pioneering role in bringing workwear to Los Angeles, noting that their “‘bleu de travail’ jackets branded Le Mont Saint Michel, Lafont, Le Laboureur have become our signature, with models sometimes over 100 years old and others pulled out of deadstocks.”
The store’s appeal extends beyond everyday shoppers.Orlando reveals, “In addition to customers, stylists and designers from LA, Milan and Paris come to us, as do hollywood costume designers, musicians, actors, actresses and the whole fashion world.” Even Angelina Jolie has been spotted stepping thru the door.
golden Age Hollywood isn’t the only French influence on the East Side fashion scene. Clémence Pariente, a former assistant to Benedikt Taschen, founder of the Taschen publishing house, opened her boutique in Echo Park just over two years ago. Her concept focuses, in part, on French lingerie. “French lingerie evokes savoir faire and a sense of effortless elegance,” Pariente explains. “Alongside the French brands Cadolle and Jasmina, I now offer my own brand.”
Explore the allure of French fashion in Los Angeles! Visit Golden Age Hollywood in Silver Lake and discover unique vintage pieces and workwear staples. Or, indulge in the elegance of French lingerie at Clémence Pariente’s Echo Park boutique.
French Brands Eye Los Angeles Expansion, jacquemus Reportedly Secures Location
Los angeles is poised to become a new hub for French fashion, with several brands reportedly planning to open stores in the coming months. Among them, Jacquemus, the label founded by Simon Porte Jacquemus, is rumored to have already secured a location.
One brand representative noted, “I’m not reinventing the wheel, but I put a lot of thought into the fit, especially the shape of the panties, and the response from customers has been amazing.” This highlights the attention to detail and customer satisfaction driving the success of French brands.
Jacquemus is indeed expanding its physical presence. In February 2025, the brand is set to open a new store in Los Angeles [2]. The store, designed in collaboration with Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ OMA agency, will span 3,445 square feet and feature a dedicated menswear floor [2]. This marks a significant step for the brand, offering a comprehensive retail experience.
The move to Los Angeles aligns with Jacquemus’ broader strategy to reach new markets and sustain its growth. The brand recently partnered with L’Oréal in an exclusive beauty deal [1]. While a 2022 projection estimated revenues of 500 million euros by 2025, that target now appears enterprising [3].
Explore the latest Jacquemus collections and discover the brand’s unique vision. Visit their website or find a retailer near you.