In celebration of Bastille Day, we’ve compiled our favourite French style icons who make sans effort dressing, so damn cool.
“Caroline de Maigret, the effortlessly chic, badass Parisian, author of How to be Parisian Wherever You Are, and Chanel ambassadress, is undoubtedly my favourite woman to Insta-stalk. That messy fringe! That (seemingly) unwashed hair! Everything about her just oozes cool. If you haven’t listened to Garance Dore’s Pardon My French podcast with Caroline and Isabel Marant as special guests, you simply must make it the number one thing on your Bastille Day to do list.” — Lucy Slight, features editor and acting beauty editor
“Christine Lagarde is a woman of style and substance and a true #girlboss to admire. Not only did she became the first female managing director of the International Monetary Fund in 2011, but she also boasts an enviable and covetable work wardrobe packed with Chanel! To cap it all off, she’s been featured in Vanity Fair’s best dressed list and appeared in Vogue‘s The September Issue.” — Sally-Ann Mullin, editor
“Jeanne Damas. A complete babe who epitomises the term ‘effortless’. No matter where she is she manages to pull off looking extremely appropriate for the occasion but also effortless, chic, sexy and fun. She is the modern day Jane Birkin – and I LOVE her bangs.” — Jess Thomson, fashion and editorial assistant
“Marta Cygan’s Life of Boheme blog has been a favourite for years. She is quintessentially Parisian – no makeup, no blow-dried hair, no fuss – and her wardrobe is my living, waking dream, filled to the brim with Isabel Marant, Acne Studios, A.P.C and Celine. But what I really love is the way she works that rolled-straight-outta-bed-just-threw-this-on look – and at the same time is totally the coolest girl in the room.”  — Kelly McAuliffe, digital editor
“The phrase ‘Parisian chic’ is such a cliché but there’s no other way to describe Vanessa Paradis’ effortless sense of style. She always has that beautiful but slightly off-kilter thing going on and she’s clearly a badass IRL too. Seriously, who is this woman who shacks up with Johnny Depp for the hottest 14 years of his life without ever feeling the need to lock it down? She is the opposite of basic and so above us all. J’adore.” — Phoebe Watt, features writer
“She’s always on the best dressed list and forever photographed for street style. Yes, Carine Roitfeld is the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris so that might have something to do with it, but the thing I love most about CR is her sartorial wisdom and her knowledge of what suits her. She recognises that as women we should identify our most beautiful asset and dress accordingly. Now that’s the trick to becoming a style icon, even if you do wear the same sort of outfit time and time again.” — Skye Ross, Miss FQ digital editor
