Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon
There’s a certain style that French girls have deep inside their blood that the rest of the world just can’t get enough of. Way back in the heyday of Brigitte Bardot, bombshell curves, sexy bedroom hair and smoldering eyes were what every girl wanted. Jake Birkin not only got an iconic handbag named for her, but her signature blend of nonchalance and casual luxury made her a style icon for a whole different sort of girl. And for the prim, proper and, let’s face it, well-monied, there was always Catherine Deneuve’s razor-sharp tailoring and perfect polish to strive for. Today’s French girls — and the rest of the world — have a different generation to look to for sartorial inspiration. The new icons of French fashion are taking the style standards set by their countrywomen and giving them a spin that’s unique and utterly covetable. And best of all, the new French guard are style superstars in their own right.
Lou Doillon
For those who love Jane Birkin and her laid-back style, her daughter Lou Doillon in carrying on that legacy. Signature style moves include borrowing beat-up leather bombers from the boys and wearing haute couture thanks to her friendship with Givenchy’s Ricardo Tischi. She moonlights as a model and muse, but in her native France she’s also an actress and a singer. She’s the girl to go to if you’re style leans more towards tomboy standbys such as boxy blazers, statement hats and minimal makeup, but like her mother, she’s a master of blending couture with jeans and leather booties. You may recognize her from the Gap’s Individuals book alongside icons such as Sarah Jessica Parker and more as well as her front-row appearances at Paris Fashion Week’s hottest shows.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Jane Birkin’s got enough style cred to share, because another one of her daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg, is also a French style icon. The actress, whose father is French crooner Serge Gainsbourg, has gained critical accolades in several of her films, but on the streets, she’s applauded for her chic and timeless style. Seemingly immune to runway trends,Gainsbourg steers clear of flashy, instantly recognizable pieces and instead, chooses sheath dresses, classic blouses and traditional pieces that all fit her perfectly. Look back at photos and you could be looking at a snap from 2014 or 2010 with Gainsbourg looking polished and pretty without flashing a single designer label. She’s currently playing muse to director Lars von Trier, but she’s also releasing music and keeping cool in France. To get Gainsbourg’s signature look, keep everything minimal and polished, but add a little edge with unexpected accessories.
Clémence Poesy
She’s not quite the blonde bombshell that Brigitte Bardot was, but Clémence Poesy is the flaxen-haired girl on the French fashion scene today. You probably recognize her from the Harry Potter films, where she played the beautiful and charming Fleur DelaCour, but the actress has grown up and has fronted Chloé’s fragrance campaigns and has played muse to Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collections. She’s also known for blending high fashion with casual looks, attending fashion shows dressed in the latest Chanel tweeds paired with G-Star denim and tousled hair. And if you’re into Bardot’s signature beauty look, Poesy is carrying the torch with kohl-rimmed eyes and pouty nude lips, something her French sisters usually skip. Think of it as the new French bombshell: smoldering without going over-the-top, all while dripping in Chanel.
Images courtesy Vogue and Style
