Profile of a Vintage Fashionista: Catherine Deneuve

When we think of effortless glamour, we think of Catherine Deneuve, a megastar French film actress who first rocketed to fame in the 1960's.  It was Deneuve who practically created the image of the mysterious, sexy French woman.  

While Deneuve has starred in over a hundred films in her illustrious career, perhaps her most famous film is 1967's Belle de Jour in which she plays Severine.  Severine is a timid, proper housewife at night to her doctor husband, but works as a prostitute during the day to act out her sexual fantasies. It was complex, sexualized roles such as this that lead critic Frances Wyndham in 1968 to call Deneuve "a cool combination of the virginal and the vicious."  

Belle de Jour also began Deneuve's longtime partnership and friendship with Yves Saint Laurent. Saint Laurent created the iconic costumes for the film that are still referenced today. Most notable were military-influenced double-breasted coats in a variety of textures: fur, leather, and vinyl. These costumes added to Severine's glacial, but calculating exterior.  She is a tortured woman, but a woman in charge.

Deneuve's style has always been ultra-chic, ladylike and polished.  Her clothes were often classic and tailored and she managed to be sexy without showing a lot of skin.  Deneuve's style was less buxom than our other French favorite Brigitte Bardot.  While Bardot personified playful va-va-voom femininity, Deneuve had a darker, sleeker style.  Scroll down for a breakdown of our favorite Deneuve looks.

The 1967 film Belle De Jour began the longtime collaboration between Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent.  Her dark character Severine favored military-inspired, double-breasted coats.

Deneuve often wore her hair pulled half back, with an ultra feminine bow or ribbon. This girlish hairstyle shows how Deneuve embraced the contrast of "virginal and vicious." Other elements of Deneuve's classic style can be seen here: from her leopard coat, to toggled jacket to elegant bow dress.

Above: Deneuve is elegant in a draped pink dress, with big soft curls.  Below: Deneuve sits outside her native Eiffel tower in a classic leopard coat.

Deneuve often wore little black dresses over sleek black tights. Note how she belted the dress at her waist with a thin leather belt.  On the right Deneuve walks with David Bailey, legendary photographer and her husband from 1965 to 1972.  This time she favors a looser black dress with tights.  Note the big glamour-girl sunglasses.

Anatomy of glamour:  Big sunglasses, teased ponytail, statement earrings, vintage fur, tailored black dress, chic updo.

As the face of Chanel No. 5 in the 1970's, Deneuve further personified elegant, elusive beauty. 

Polka dot panic.

Polka dots are a timeless classic.  They are playful, yet elegant, girlish, yet womanly. There has always been something alluring about their simplicity.  Below are some of our favorite vintage fashionistas partying in polka dots.  Scroll further down for the best polka dot clothes we could find on a budget, ranging from $30 to $160.  Happy shopping!

Clockwise starting with top left: Catherine Deneuve in black & white dress, Brigitte Bardot in red & white dress, France Gall in blue & white shirt, Bardot in black & white shirt, Jane Birkin in red & white dress, Jean Shrimpton on Vogue Cover, Anna Karina in black & white hat, Shrimpton in black & white dress, Elizabeth Taylor in blue & white dress.

1. Polka Dot Bow Dress, Modcloth, $63
2. Polka Dot Calf Hair Pumps, Ann Taylor, $158
3. Pink Polka Dot Dress, Modcloth, $60
4. Split Dots Dress, Anthropologie, $70
5. Blue Smocked Dress, Urban Outfitters, $54
6. White Polka Dot Dress, South Moon Under, $30
7. Dotted Crewneck Sweater, Madewell, $80
8. Toothpick Jean in Polka Dot, J.Crew, $80

Vintage Inspiration: Brigitte Bardot Hair

'Tis the season for romance and big romantic hair.  When it comes to sex kitten, high voltage hair, no one has ever done it better than 60's icon and French film actress, Brigitte Bardot.  When down, her hair was most often in big soft curls that bounced in voluminous perfection.  Bardot was also famous for pulling her hair half-back with a small or large bouffant in the front and accessorizing her half-ponytail with a sweet bow, ribbon, or sporty headband.  Below we have a selection of Bardot's most iconic come hither hair looks.  Scroll further down for some of the best Bardot hair tutorials we could find. We guarantee you'll have a happy new year if you don this sultry look.

Tutorials

If you want to try hot rollers to further add voltage to the look, here is a basic tutorial:

If you prefer step-by-step picture directions, check out the two links below.

Guide to Brigitte Bardot Bow Look

11 Ways to Wear a Hair Bow (without looking like a five year old)

Finally, if you're the type that worries about being on trend, according to Cosmopolitan UK, bows and retro curls are part of the huge hair trends for 2014.

Let it Snow.

Our favorite vintage fashionistas show us not to be afraid of a little snow.  From Hepburn to Monroe, these girls made bundling up look oh so glamorous.  Below check out our favorite winter fashions, from faux fur trimmed hoodies to fur cossacks to warm handknit sweaters. Being cold, never looked so hot.

1. Hoodie, Anthropologie, $194
2. Handknit Sweater, J.Crew, $148
3. Pullover, Free People, $128
4. Gloves, Anthropologie, $32
5. Hooded Scarf, Saturday, $80
6. Hearth Hoodie, Anthropologie, $168
7. Fur Cossack Hat, Topshop, $44
8. Faux Fur Loop, Free People, $68

Get the Look: Jane Asher

Though Paul McCartney wrote "I'm Looking Through You," about Jane Asher, we choose instead to look at her clothes. And while McCartney ultimately ditched her as his rock & roll muse, she will always be one of our favorite fashion muses.   Here we attempt to give a modern take on her silk tie blouse: ultra-feminine and cute.  Now if only we could find a way to get her hair!

1. J.Crew, $54.50

2. Victoria's Secret, $39.50

3. Ann Taylor, $59

4. H&M, $24.95

Dress Like Jane Birkin

 Jane Birkin, English actress and style icon from the swinging 60's, was so admired that Hermès named his "Birkin bag" in her honor.  Here is our interpretation of just one of her looks. We think it would look oh so glamorous for holiday parties: A lux combo of faux fur and sequins.

1. Anthropologie, Faux-Fur Hooded Swing Coat

2. Free People, Sun-Kissed Sequin Dress

Faux fur, darling

We are in love with Anna Karina's winter chic style.  For those of you who don't know, Karina moved to Paris from Denmark when she was 17, in 1957.  She was discovered by Coco Chanel and soon became an icon of the French New Wave films.  She was like the indie, brunette version of Brigitte Bardot, and though not as popular, she was just as stylish.

Inspired by this photo, we are all about faux fur scarves and cowls this season.  Here are two of our favorites:

Jcrew Factory Faux Fur

Anthro Alesund Cowl

Play like Peggy

Peggy Lipton was a popular actress in the 1960's and 1970's, best known for her role as a flower-child on hit show The Mod Squad.  She is also the mother of Rashida Jones, the actress from Parks & Recreation.  Her fashion was laid back and simple, as evident by this blue and white rugby shirt.  Below is an update on the style, with a slightly more high voltage color scheme:

 

Jcrew Neon Stripe Turtleneck, $45

Keep it loose, keep it tights

There is something delicately feminine about tights. They are not only a necessity as the weather turns cold, but also manage to strike just the right note between baby doll and seductress.  Inspired by Catherine Deneuve and Anna Karina,  we tiptoed through the web for the sweetest tights we could find.

 UO Opaque, 2 for $22

Anthro Color Palette Tights, $15

Anthro Shimmered Twilight Tights, $24

 

Jcrew Ribbed Tights, $26.50

Kidman vs. Bardot

In the Jimmy Choo Cruise 2014 campaign, Nicole Kidman channels Brigitte Bardot.  (Elle)  While we think Nicole is always a stunner, we are not sure how successful she was in this endeavor.  To us, her hair looks like it veers too far in the mullet direction.  We prefer Bardot's sexy bedhead to Kidman's mane.  Judge for yourself below:

   

Coats Galore

Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve rocked pea coats in the 1960's.  Scroll down for our modern take on this classic style.

ASOS Pink Mohair Coat, $213.58

ASOS

French Connection Wool Coat, $299

French Connection

French Connection Wool Flared Coat, $348.00

French Connection

Madewell Mod Coat, $298.00

Madewell

Madewell Promenade Coat, $295.00

Madewell

Original High Voltage Dolls

High voltage is when you look in a mirror and feel dangerous.  Whether it's a new shade of lipstick, a body-hugging dress, or a good hair day, feeling high voltage is the idea of giving everyone an electric shock as you walk by them.  To begin the blog, we nod to the original goddesses of high voltage.  Just try to look away.

Brigitte Bardot, the darling of French cinema of the 50's through 70's, was always high voltage.  Her big blonde hair, love of hair bows and barettes, baby doll style, and body-hugging dresses made her an undeniable fashion icon.

Catherine Deneuve, another French siren of the 1960's rocked the half-ponytail.  Less buxom than Bardot, Deneuve was an arbiter of elegance.  

Jane Asher, girlfriend of Paul McCartney in the 60's until he infamously cheated on her, made red hair sexy.

Jean Shrimpton, supermodel of the 1960's, was a brunette stunner.  Decked out in jewels, she gave sultry a new meaning.

Ms. Hepburn needs no introduction.  She gave sexy a whole new meaning.  With her elfin face and sleek figure, she represented a whole new type of classic, delicate femininity.