There is no magic formula for achieving that effortlessly chic French look - but buying clothes from the same shops as the Parisian it-girls is a good place to start.

Paris is famous for its fashion houses - Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant, to name but a few - but there is also a crop of French clothing labels that successfully bridge the gap between high-end and high street.

Key to achieving Gallic style is shunning loud trends in favour of well-fitting, flattering items - investing carefully in pieces that will remain chic, cool, elegant for years. As Paris Fashion Week gets in full swing, we've gathered 11 French brands that offer clothes with that je ne sais quoi, without couture prices. Don't get us wrong, many items (£70 t-shirts, £230 dresses) may be posh payday purchases, "investment pieces," or items to put on your wish list, but these French retailers provide the kind of clothes that will still be favourites for years to come.

SANDRO

Injecting a dose of Sandro into your wardrobe is not likely to be an investment you'll regret. An 80s-born label intent on making French fashion more affordable than the offerings of high-end fashion houses, wife and husband duo Didier and Evelyne Chétrite are behind the brand's timeless offerings.

11 brands that will make you look like a Parisian style icon