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Parisian style has arguably been pored over more than any other. The artful insouciance of French women has served as inspiration for many of us who have woken up not knowing what to wear. Of course, the truth is it all comes down to attitude - it might have taken an age to create your perfectly messy hair or to find a navy jumper that is oversized without being too big - but it should look effortless, even if it wasn't. French style is about having a uniform, and sticking to it, where understatedness and restraint are the stars of the show. It isn't the most creative of looks, but it's enviable in its timelessness and apparent ease. Here, we look at the women who have made French chic one of the most famous terms in fashion history.
Juliette Gréco
Legendary jazz singer Juliette Gréco impressed Jean-Paul Sartre with her poetic voice and wooed Miles Davies so much so that they fell in love. Muse to Paris’ Left Bank in the 50s, Gréco was drinking partner to Orson Welles and party guest of Truman Capote. In 2014, Hedi Slimane shot her as his Saint Laurent campaign star. Her style is just as distinctive as her voice – a typically Beatnik look of a black roll neck and slim-cut black trousers, cropped above the ankle, and always kohl eyeliner.
