Catherine Deneuve

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld has a style of her own, a bit like her mum but a bit rounder. Carine edges towards angular modernity, nearly androgynous in spots. Julia herself acknowledges that she is curvier than Carine and dresses to celebrate her shape. She has a more girly, flirtatious approach, influenced by her style icons such as Brigitte Bardot, Romy Schneider, and Catherine Deneuve.

Myself, I prefer Deneuve in her most angular and modern role, the title character in Belle de jour directed by Luis Buñuel. This beauty of the afternoon is thusly limited in her hours of prostitution by her husband's prompt arrival home each evening. The best part of the film is the wardrobe made entirely by Yves Saint Laurent for whom Deneuve was a lifelong muse. Also note the fabulous pilgrim pumps by Roger Vivier that she wears. Saint Laurent dressed Deneuve for other films including La chamade (The Parley), La sirène du Mississipi (Mississippi Mermaid), and Un flic (Dirty Money) and he named a brand of perfume for her.

Other notable films in Deneuve's oeuvre include Les parapluies de Cherbourg (Umbrellas of Cherbourg), Repulsion, Tristana, Le dernier métro (The Last Metro), The Hunger, Indochine, and Dancer in the Dark. She has two children, son Christian (his father is Roger Vadim) and daughter Chiara (her father is Marcello Mastroianni). She has also designed her own glasses, shoes, jewelry, and greeting cards.

Catherine Deneuve in Belle de jour photographs © 1967 Miramax Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Brigitte Bardot

Among her style inspirations, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld lists Brigitte Bardot: "I’m a big fan of Brigitte Bardot, who represents my perfect woman, not so much for her clothes but for her attitude." Here is Julia at a party for Repetto, posing playfully with wall-size murals featuring Brigitte (along with Serge Gainsbourg on the opposite wall). If you have seen Bardot in her movies such as Et Dieu créa la femme or Le Mépris, perhaps you were inspired by her style as well.

I know that I wore a navy headband (wide) and cardigan for weeks after seeing Le Mépris for the first time. Of course the effect wasn't half as striking against my chestnut locks. Sigh... Is there anything like Bardot's hair for setting fire to men's souls? And that pout...

Here Bardot is pictured in the film Et Dieu créa la femme. I'd give anything to know who made the shoes she is shown in along with the simple chambray shirt dress that she actually wears as she bikes around St. Tropez. Only she could make flats look so very chic. 

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld at Repetto party with Brigitte Bardot wall mural photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot
Brigitte Bardot in Le Mépris photograph courtesy of Internet Movie Database
Brigitte Bardot in Et Dieu créa la femme photograph courtesy of Internet Movie Database

Update on vendredi 2 octobre 2009 by kellina

If you are in Paris, don't miss the Brigitte Bardot Retrospective at Espace Landowski through January 31, 2010. 28 avenue Andre-Morizet, Boulogne-Billancourt. Among other interesting archival pieces, you'll have a chance to see her 1959 wedding gown designed by Jacques Esterel.

Update on mardi 10 novembre 2009 by kellina

Visit Juliet's blog to read her wonderful description of the Brigitte Bardot exhibit.