How to buy French lingerie from abroad

You want French lingerie. You're not in France. This is the practical guide — no trade jargon, just where to buy, what it costs, and what to expect, wherever you're shipping.

1. Three ways to buy French lingerie from abroad

1. Brand sites that ship internationally — Chantelle, Simone Pérèle, Aubade, Maison Lejaby, Ysé, Empreinte and Le Petit Trou all ship from their own websites, often to 50+ countries. Filter by destination on our brand directory.
2. International luxury retailers — Selfridges (UK), Journelle and Saks (US), MyTheresa, Net-a-Porter, Lane Crawford (HK), Isetan (JP) stock curated French selections. Best for Lise Charmel, Louisa Bracq and boutique-first names that don't always ship direct.
3. Local concept stores — independent boutiques in your city often carry the smaller French designers like Le Petit Trou. Many will special-order for regulars too.

2. What about customs and duties?

Rules depend on your shipping destination, but the logic is the same everywhere:

• European Union — no duties, no VAT on top. The prices listed on French sites are what you pay.
• United Kingdom — UK VAT (20%) and duties apply above £135. Brands with a dedicated UK checkout handle this for you.
• United States — orders under $800 stay duty-free under the current de minimis threshold; above that, typically 6–20%.
• Asia, Middle East, Oceania — thresholds vary by country. Good brands show estimated duties at checkout, or offer a DDP checkout (Delivered Duty Paid) that bakes them in — no surprise fees on delivery.

3. Shipping time

• Europe — 2–5 business days from France.
• North America — 5–10 business days with DHL, FedEx or La Poste/USPS.
• Asia, Oceania, Middle East — 7–14 business days depending on the carrier.
• Local retailers — faster, but narrower selection.

4. Returns

• Brand direct — most French houses accept international returns within 14–30 days. Return shipping is usually at your cost.
• Local retailers — the usual policy for your market, often more generous.
• Tip — size carefully the first time. International return shipping is slow and expensive — better avoided.

5. Shopping tips

• Sizing first — read our sizing guide before you check out.
• Subscribe to the brand — most houses email their best drops to their list before anyone else.
• Watch the season — new collections drop twice a year (SS and FW); sale seasons are late January and late July.
• Pick your checkout — many French brands run region-specific stores (EUR, USD, GBP, JPY, etc.) with your currency, language and local taxes.

Ready to start? Browse the brand directory or read the sizing guide next.