Paris Fashion Week is kicking off next week, which means we’ll be devouring runway looks from the likes of Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel… from afar.
While we won’t be in Paris absorbing all the sartorial happenings in person, we will be partaking via our social media screens and our streaming accounts.
Yep, come the evenings, when we weren’t invited to party with Zendaya and Rihanna, we’ll be parked at the cinema or in front of our screens to live vicariously through the best French fashion films.
The Most Stylish French Films
We spoke with the Artistic Director of the Alliance Française French Film Festival and Cultural Attachée to the French Embassy in Australia, Karine Mauris, for her top French style films.
Breathless (À bout de souffle) – Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, 1960
This quintessential French New Wave film not only revolutionised cinematic techniques but also set new standards in fashion. Jean Seberg’s effortlessly chic style, characterised by her pixie haircut, striped tops, and cropped pants, became synonymous with French cool.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg) — Directed by Jacques Demy, 1964
This romantic, opera-style musical is unique in its cinematic achievements and its aesthetic style. With its dazzling costumes by Pierre Cardin, fashion lovers will walk away feeling well-fed. Starring Catherine Deneuve in one of her earliest films, the vibrant colour palette embodies the elegance and charm of 1960s French fashion.
Amelie – Directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet, 2001
This offbeat film enchanted people worldwide, encouraging a generation of women to try a bob with a micro fringe. Audrey Tatou’s charming Amelie is a style queen to those who adore offbeat, autumnal-toned style.
The Swimming Pool (La Piscine) – Directed by Jacques Deray, 1969
Set against the backdrop of the French Riviera, this stylish thriller oozes with Mediterranean glamour.
Romy Schneider and Alain Delon exude sophistication in their chic resort wear, epitomising the effortless chic of 1960s jet-setters.
Yves Saint Laurent – Directed by Jalil Lespert, 2014
Of course you’ve heard of Yves Saint Laurent. This 2014 film is a dramatisation of the designer’s life. Through breathtaking costume design and meticulous attention to detail, the film offers a glimpse into the world of haute couture and the enduring legacy of one of France’s most revered fashion icons.
Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) – Directed by Anne Fontaine, 2009
This biographical drama traces the early life of legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel, from her humble beginnings to her rise to prominence in the fashion world. Through exquisite costume design and meticulous attention to detail, the film captures the evolution of Chanel’s iconic style and the enduring influence of her revolutionary designs.
Belle de Jour – Directed by Luis Buñuel, 1967
Another Catherine Deneuve film, in Belle de Jour she portrays Séverine, a bored housewife who leads a double life as a high-class sex worker. The film’s costumes, designed by Yves Saint Laurent, offer sleek silhouettes, luxurious fabrics, and sophisticated accessories.
Paris Frills (Falbalas) – Directed by Jacques Becker, 1945
Jean Paul Gaultier said about this movie : “My vocation was born out of this film. I didn’t go to fashion school and, watching this film, I said to myself that this was exactly what I wanted to do. It featured a fashion show, which I saw as a form of spectacle.” The film is about a love triangle between a narcissistic fashion designer, his client and her would-be husband.
