Whether they are fashion designers, stylists, actresses, models, singers, they all are renowned for being French style influencers. They have their very own style signatures and are admired for it. Let’s make a tour among 8 very Parisian women and try to understand why they are « French Style Icon » labeled.
FASHION DESIGNERS
1/Coco Chanel
No need to introduce her. She almost invented the whole « Parisian » and « French Chic » concept.
What makes her style unique?
– She introduced black as an everyday color (black was only worn for funerals at her time)
– She was the first to liberate women from the confines of corsets and to dress elegantly in « masculine » clothes (woman were not supposed to wear pants at her time)
– She was the first to use jersey fabrics for women suits
Shop Gabrielle Style
2/ Isabel Marant
A totally different approach to dressing quintessentially Parisian.
What makes her style unique?
– Effortlessly chic in a way that manages to be both romantic, bohemian and a little rock ‘n’ roll.
– Strong ethnic elements and a mix of ease and attitude: artfully messy top knots, slim jeans and ikat print tops, shorts, peasant blouses and lace mini-dresses, fringed boots and bags.
– She never designs what she wouldn’t want to wear herself.
Shop Isabel Style
FASHION MODELS
3/Ines de la Fressange
The iconic Chanel’s model of the 80’s became a timeless French style ambassador.
What makes her style unique?
With her slender silhouette, she wears anything and everything with a natural relaxed elegance.
– She mixes with ease masculine wardrobe with a feminine touch
– She can wear both casual and sophisticated clothes in the same outfit
– She’s chic even when she wears simple cuts
Or a simple white t-shirt during her holidays
But she never forgets any telling details
Shop Ines Style
4/ Loulou de la Falaise
Known as the longtime muse of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, Loulou de la Falaise represents another French Chic embodiment. She had a very personal signature aesthetic.
What makes her style unique?
She almost invented Glam Boheme.
She used to mix a lot of crafted and tribal pieces of jewelry
« If you have a dinner and no time left to come back home to get dressed, you can wear a jewel. It’s way easier than wearing an evening dress in the metro. »
She chose precious fabrics (velvet, silk, leather) in bold colors
Shop Loulou Style
SINGERS AND ACTRESSES
5/Françoise Hardy
This name might not tell you anything unless you knew what the French « Yéyé » era was… Françoise Hardy was a famous singer during the 60’s, a muse for Mike Jagger, Bob Dylan and French designer Paco Rabanne.
She has a very personal androgyne style that still inspires IT girls as Caroline de Maigret, Lou Doillon or Alexa Chung.
What makes her style unique?
Long tousled hair and a sweeping fringe in her youth years
followed by not colored short hairs
Effortless elegance, whatever she wears
A Paco Rabanne dress,
a jeans jacket
or a motorcyclist suit…
Shop Françoise Style
6/Vanessa Paradis
She started a singer career very young (14 years old), won several awards for Best Actress in France.
became Chanel égérie for Coco fragrance and make-up
What makes her style unique?
Romantic and rather natural, she’s never overdressed or too made-up. She’s not perfect but she doesn’t try to hide it! At the opposite, she plays with her imperfections; her tooth gap is quite famous…
She likes to play with looks from classic eras: Victorian lace and bodices, 1920s dress with sheer fabrics and embellishment.
Shop Vanessa Style
7/Isabelle Huppert
This beautiful red hair French actress made her movie debut in 1971 and soon became one of the top actresses of her generation. Among her most famous movies : Jean-Luc Godard’s « Sauve qui peut (la vie) », Maurice Pialat’s « Loulou », Michael Cimino’s « La porte du paradis » and a lot of collaborations with Claude Chabrol. More recent good films include Michael Haneke’s controversial « La Pianiste ».
What makes her style unique?
Very feminine
Even in a man suit
Relaxed elegance in all circumstances
And a strong sense of colors combination
Shop Isabelle Style
8/Brigitte Bardot
She became the sexiest icon in 1956, as a screen goddess in the classic « Et Dieu créa la femme » (« And God created woman »). Even if she left her youth years behind, she invented a lot of French Chic codes that are still fashionable today.
What makes her style unique?
The BB top: no need to wear a deep cleavage to be sexy, an off-the-shoulder shirt will do
The midi skirt (in Vichy fabric) with a large belt and Repetto ballerinas
Short high waist jeans, to underline her waist and show her ankles
Messy hairs and black eyeliner
Boots over the knees
Capeline, hats or head scarves
Shop Brigitte Style
Before Christmas Holidays, I would like to thank you all for being there, reading EtVoila!
To do so, I organize a little contest with a make-up reward to be « la plus belle » for the New Year’s Eve evening!
It’s a whole bareMinerals Chandelight Glow set
This 7 pieces radiant light collection includes:
– Chandelight Glow Illuminator in Luminous Pink
– Morning Glow Eyecolor
– Nightfall Eyecolor
– Round the Clock Intense Cream-Glide Eyeliner
– Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara in Intense Black
– Marvelous Moxie Buttercream Lipgloss in Sassy Sorbet
– Soft Focus Eye Shadow Brush
To enter the contest, it’s super easy.
Before Sunday 12/11
1/ Follow EtVoila! on Instagram
2/ If you’re not already signed up to our newsletter, go to the « Get Inspired »form to receive it and be part of the EtVoila community
3/Leave a comment below explaining in few words who is your favorite French Style Icon. Why is she the one who inspires you the most? + add your age
The winner will be drawn by lot and announced here, in the comments section.
Enregistrer
Coco Chanel is of course wonderful, as are all the talented women you have mentioned. I would add Jane Birkin to the list, I love her effortless look and style and love her daughter’s style as well. I am 50 years old.
I like Jane Birkin style very much! Even is she is not French but British she is a real « French Style icon » too ;)
This is a very enjoyable article – brief and informative. I am a 46 year old Australian and my pick is Ines de la Fressange. Merry Christmas.
Bridget Bardot such a style icon I think Audrey Tatou always looks effortlessly stylish. I am 47
Francoise Hardy makes me want to cut bangs. Perfection.
Ines de de la Freesange. Beautiful but then she is slim and young, I loved the shirt dress but they way she wears the slightly more masculine style. Very chic.
Sorry I meant to add my age I am 68 next week. Regards jan
I like elements of all of them, but my favorite is Ines de la Fressange for the simplicity, beauty and feminine details. I especially like the Navy Blue dress…my age is 60.
I wish I was French, to be born with that ‘effortless cool’. However I am not, that’s why I use all the tips I can from this blog to try & fake it. Love this selection of timeless icons! I’d pick Isabel Marant for being so modernly bold.
Alexandra, 22
Congratulations Ellie!! You have been drawn by lot! (see the drawn on Instagram)
Please send me your postal address by email (postmaster@etvoila.info)
And thank you all for your answers ;)
Emanuelle Alt should be on the list too:)
You’re right! But I had to make a selection, I couldn’t pick them all ;)
sorry, Emmanuelle.