12 French Girl Style Icons

French model and actress Brigitte Bardot has lived a boisterous life. She was first hired as a model at 15 where she earned her first cover for Elle. Two years later she landed her first acting job in the film Les Lauriers Sont Coupés. Bardot"s style was arguably one of the best and most influential during her time. She could be seen with a winged kohl cat liner and a messy updo or blowout. Her style was often described as playful and feminine. She wore dresses that accentuated her figure. Due to her background in ballet, she also styled pieces that reflected ahead-of-her-time balletcore  

Vanessa Paradis is a ‘90s style icon in her own right. Paradis first started out as a singer at the young age of 14. She quickly rose to fame due to her hit song Joe le Taxi. A short time after, the singer started modeling for high-end names like Chanel. A true It girl of the ‘90s. Who would’ve known years later that her daughter Lily-Rose Depp would be in the very same place? For red carpets, she wore bodycon dresses and chic gowns. In her downtime, she took a more bohemian approach—ankle boots, t-shirts, and embroidered jackets.

Camille Rowe is only 33 years old but she has definitely made her mark as a Parisian style icon. Rowe’s style is reminiscent of rock n’ roll icons. Many of her notable ensembles are of vintage graphic tees and boots. The French model is known for her work with Victoria’s Secret and Playboy. Others may recognize her from years ago when she was seen out and about with British heartthrob Harry Styles.

A muse amongst rock stars. Françoise Hardy was the opposite of women of her time. She spent most of her days in the ‘60s music scene where she made quite the impression on notable rockstars like David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Jagger described Hardy as his "ideal woman." She was also the muse of designer Rei Kawakubo. While the model effortlessly exuded femininity, her style was mainly androgynous. She wore shaggy fur coats, mini dresses, trench coats, and ankle boots. 

Juliette Gréco was a notorious French jazz singer. The vocalist had an extremely distinctive style. Usually all black with a roll neck, trousers, and bold kohl eyeliner. Her classic bobbed hairstyle has influenced many. 

Charlotte Gainsbourg was destined to be a French style icon. Gainsbourg is the daughter of fashion icon Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. The actress and singer take a minimalistic rockstar approach to fashion. Her wardrobe consists of t-shirts, leather jackets, and ankle booties.

France Gall was a yé-yé French singer from the ‘60s. Known for her colorful and eclectic style, she often sported retro prints and bold accessories. She also had infamous beauty styles. She often wore bobbed hairstyles and heavy fringe. 

While she doesn’t like to be referred to as a muse, her style influenced a lot of Yves Saint Laurent's early works. Betty Catroux was known for her masculine and androgynous style. The former Chanel model could be found attached to YSL’s hip in the ‘60s and ‘70s. She initially started her modeling career at the early age of 17. Some of her memorable looks are of her at the Grand Prix, her safari suit, and a biker jacket and jeans.

Known for her effortless Parisian style, designer and creative director Jeanne Damas takes minimalist fashion to a different level — receiving a well-deserved place in the French Girl style icons family. She often takes the less-is-more approach. A modern take on Bardot's chic style.

The French cinema icon is one of many Saint Laurent muses, and one of pop culture's biggest French Girl style icons. Popularized by her part in Belle de Jour, Catherine Deneuve solidified her role as a '60s French style icon. The costumes in the film were designed by YSL himself. The duo met when YSL was still an unknown name and Deneuve needed a dress for an event. The rest is history. YSL later went on to create more looks for her throughout their friendship including sleek pantsuits and beaded evening dresses.

Also known as YSL’s right hand, though she was an England-born designer, she definitely made her mark in the fashion industry and resultantly one of the biggest French Girl style icons. Loulou de la Falaise was a model, editor, and designer. She is one of the very few people that YSL identified as a collaborator within his work. Her style was reminiscent of her personality — sporadic and easygoing.

Farida Khelfa is an ‘80s French Girl style icon. Heavily immersed in Parisian nightlife and fashion, Khelfa took the runways by storm. The French model has walked alongside other legendary names like Naomi Campbell. She has walked for Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, and even had a budding friendship with Christian Louboutin. Khelfa was also a prominent muse for the late designer Azzedine Alaïa. Her style was effortlessly chic.