The French Style Blueprint: Fashion Icons, Signature Looks & How to Recreate Them

When it comes to global style capitals, Paris leads with enduring influence. French fashion icons are revered for their mastery of understated elegance, expert tailoring, and a philosophy that values fit and form over fleeting trends. Unlike trend-centric fashion cultures, the French approach is timeless—where every piece is chosen with purpose and every outfit feels effortless yet intentional.

In this guide, we’ll break down 10 influential French style icons, each with their signature looks, and offer detailed, technical advice on how to replicate their style—including brands they wear, essential wardrobe elements, and most importantly, how to get the fit exactly right with Tellar.co.uk.

Why French Fashion Endures

French style transcends fashion cycles by prioritising a neutral palette, high-quality textiles, and a personalised fit. The philosophy is built around versatility, restraint, and confidence.

But the cornerstone of every great French wardrobe is knowing your exact size—and that’s where Tellar.co.uk becomes essential. Our free sizing tool matches your body measurements to the correct sizes across 1,500+ global and boutique brands, taking the guesswork out of shopping.

1. Catherine Deneuve – The Embodiment of Parisian Sophistication

Era: 1960s–present

Key Looks: A-line coats, silk blouses, pencil skirts

Go-to Brands: Yves Saint Laurent, Roger Vivier, Dior

As Yves Saint Laurent’s original muse, Deneuve is the epitome of polished French elegance. Her silhouettes are defined by structure: tailored coats, cinched waists, and monochrome palettes.

Recreate the Look:

Opt for structured outerwear, preferably wool or cashmere in camel or navy. Combine with black cigarette trousers and classic courts.

→ To ensure your trousers and coats skim your frame perfectly, use the Tellar.co.uk profile tool and compare across tailoring-focused brands like Claudie Pierlot and Maje.

2. Brigitte Bardot – Sultry Femininity Meets Riviera Chic

Era: 1950s–1970s

Key Looks: Bardot neckline tops, gingham prints, cigarette pants

Go-to Brands: Repetto, Chantal Thomass, vintage Balmain

Bardot’s look is sensual and playful. The off-shoulder blouse, known as the Bardot top, is still a wardrobe staple. She famously mixed couture tailoring with countryside ease.

Style Tip:

Pair a Bardot blouse with cropped trousers and flats. Add cat-eye liner and a backcombed ponytail for authenticity.

→ Use Tellar.co.uk to find brands where the off-shoulder fit matches your bust measurement without slipping.

3. Carine Roitfeld – Editorial Edge with Parisian Precision

Era: 1990s–present

Key Looks: Sheer blouses, pencil skirts, stilettos

Go-to Brands: Givenchy, Tom Ford, Saint Laurent

Former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld is known for mixing dark romanticism with sharp tailoring. Her wardrobe is minimalist, often monochrome, and nearly always includes luxurious fabrics like silk, leather, and chiffon.

To Copy Her Look:

Invest in a semi-sheer blouse, high-waisted skirt, and patent leather heels. This look relies on flawless proportions.

→ Tellar.co.uk ensures your blouse won't gape and your skirt hugs at the waist and hips exactly as intended.

4. Charlotte Gainsbourg – The Androgynous Rock Muse

Era: 2000s–present

Key Looks: Oversized tailoring, denim, ankle boots

Go-to Brands: Balenciaga, APC, Isabel Marant

Daughter of Jane Birkin, Gainsbourg’s style is stripped-back and androgynous, often drawing from menswear. She’s been a Balenciaga muse and ambassador of no-fuss Parisian cool.

Key Styling:

Try dark-wash denim, a crisp Oxford shirt, and oversized blazer. Add leather boots and minimal makeup.

→ With Tellar.co.uk’s sizing calculator, you can shop oversize jackets that balance proportion without overwhelming your frame. Try French heritage brands like Sandro or The Kooples.

5. Lou Doillon – Boho Parisian with a Vintage Twist

Era: 2010s–present

Key Looks: Velvet blazers, flared jeans, silk scarves

Go-to Brands: Chloé, Sezane, vintage YSL

Half-sister of Gainsbourg, Lou mixes bohemian flair with 70s rock style. Her wardrobe often includes embroidered jackets, rich fabrics, and flowing silhouettes.

Dress Like Lou:

Focus on texture—velvet, suede, and silk—layered effortlessly. Match with cowboy boots or vintage-inspired accessories.

→ To avoid swamping your figure in wide-leg trousers or flowy blouses, input hip and chest measurements on Tellar.co.uk for size suggestions across multiple brands.

6. Emmanuelle Alt – The Queen of Elevated Basics

Era: 2010s–2020s

Key Looks: Skinny jeans, structured blazers, white tees

Go-to Brands: Balmain, Frame, Acne Studios

Emmanuelle Alt makes the case for uniform dressing, usually pairing black denim with statement jackets or boots. Her genius lies in proportions: fitted jeans + voluminous top, or vice versa.

How to Emulate Her Style:

Invest in a pair of black skinny jeans (Frame or Acne Studios), a sharp shouldered jacket, and luxe T-shirts.

→ Find your ideal denim fit—waist to inseam—with Tellar.co.uk. Whether you need a 28W/30L or 26W/32L, the algorithm handles it.

7. Jeanne Damas – Instagram’s French Fashion Darling

Era: 2016–present

Key Looks: Wrap dresses, red lips, espadrilles

Go-to Brands: Rouje (her own brand), Musier Paris, Sézane

Jeanne’s romantic French-girl aesthetic is widely copied. She wears cinched waists, button-front dresses, and dainty accessories, blending vintage with modern flair.

Recreate Her Look:

Look for midi wrap dresses in floral prints, tucked blouses, and cropped cardigans.

→ Tellar.co.uk ensures wrap dresses don’t gape or pull—our size algorithm takes bust and waist into account for flattering, secure fits.

8. Inès de La Fressange – Chanel’s First Muse

Era: 1980s–present

Key Looks: Breton stripes, tailored jackets, loafers

Go-to Brands: Chanel, Hermès, her own label Inès de la Fressange Paris

Inès personifies effortless elegance. She famously said, “The essential thing is to dress with intelligence and refinement, not excess.”

Style Tip:

Build a capsule wardrobe: navy blazer, striped tee, high-rise trousers, and polished flats.

→ Use Tellar.co.uk to match sizes in heritage brands like A.P.C. and modern tailoring houses like Claudie Pierlot.

9. Isabelle Huppert – Sartorial Power with Feminine Flair

Era: 1990s–present

Key Looks: Double-breasted blazers, pleated skirts, velvet suits

Go-to Brands: Lanvin, Dior, The Row

Huppert wears statement tailoring and embraces luxurious textiles—her formalwear includes velvet suiting, bold shoulders, and immaculate fit.

To Nail Her Style:

Go for tailored ensembles in rich jewel tones, and balance with a classic blouse or shell top.

→ Tailoring requires precision—Tellar.co.uk makes sure shoulders, bust, and hips align perfectly with high-end brands.

10. Garance Doré – Digital French Minimalism

Era: 2010s–present

Key Looks: Cropped trousers, white shirts, loafers

Go-to Brands: Lemaire, COS, Céline (Phoebe Philo-era)

As a writer and creative, Garance’s style bridges professional chic and creative cool. She favours neutral tones, structured basics, and refined accessories.

Steal Her Look:

Stick to a palette of taupe, off-white, navy, and olive, with high-waist bottoms and tucked shirts.

→ Find the perfect ankle crop based on your height using Tellar.co.uk.

How Tellar.co.uk Complements French Dressing Principles

What all these icons share is an unshakeable understanding of proportion and fit. At Tellar.co.uk, we’ve designed our sizing platform to decode this principle for modern wardrobes.

Tellar.co.uk Helps You:

✔ Match your exact body measurements to the correct size in over 1,500 brands
✔ See recommendations in CM or Inches
✔ Download a free printable measuring tape
✔ Stay consistent across stores like Zara, Sézane, & Claudie Pierlot
✔ Shop without guesswork

Create your free profile now:

🔗 https://www.tellar.co.uk/create-profile/

Final Word: Dress Like a French Icon—But Make It Yours

You don’t need to live in Paris or speak fluent French to channel that elusive, elegant aesthetic. You just need a smart wardrobe, careful curation, and precision sizing.

Let Tellar.co.uk remove the friction from fashion, so you can shop smarter, dress sharper, and always get it right the first time.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.

👉 Tellar.co.uk

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The French Style Blueprint: Fashion Icons, Signature Looks &amp; How to Recreate Them