MTJ Icon: Brigitte Bardot
The screen siren's signature French Girl style is still en vogue
During her '60s heyday, there wasn't a sexier woman alive than actress/singer/model Brigitte Bardot. The enviable blond hair, the bikini bod, the insouciant cat-eye…the very French-ness of it all. Part of her magnetic allure (and the reason her style still resonates today, more than 60 years after her star-making turns in films like Naughty Girl and And God Created Woman)? She understood the power of simple-chic dressing, building looks around unfussy-but-elegant basics. Think pretty sundresses, striped Breton shirts, graceful ballet flats—and, mais oui, statement necklaces and oversized bangles.
The Parisienne-born beauty was well known for her love of Southern France, where she spent carefree days on the beach, sailing and, famously, walking barefoot around St. Tropez. Her effortless (with a squeeze of glam) seaside style is timeless and more than worthy of emulating.
On the jewelry front, minimal but memorable was her MO: Think extra-long rope and beaded necklaces, Bakelite bracelets, ethereal stone rings, and hoop earrings in gold or bronze. The overall palette is sandy-, seashell- and ocean-inspired. The feel is organic and natural. And the vibe is 100 percent ooh la la.
French Girl summer, here we come.
Editor: Rebecca Daly
Wordsmith: Gail Goldberg
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