Today the land of wine, cheese, and impeccable style celebrates Bastille Day, commemorating both the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789 as well as the unity of the French people in 1790. We’re celebrating by naming our favourite French contributions to the fashion world. Merci beaucoup!
1 Chanel
The matriarch of modern fashion, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was born in 1883 in Saumur, France. Arguably the most influential fashion designer of all time, Chanel gave us the LBD, women’s trousers, suntans and more!
2 Ballet flats
Where would we be without these comfortable shoes? These babies became a wardrobe staple after Marie Antoinette wore a pair of high heels to the guillotine in 1793, sending women everywhere scrambling to look as little like the queen as possible.
3 Those red soles
But even Marie Antoinette couldn’t keep women away from heels forever – and for that, we have French fashion genius Christian Louboutin to thank!
4 The bikini
Yip, the modern two-piece swimsuit comes from France! French engineer Louis Reard created the bikini in 1946, naming it after the Bikini Atoll where nuclear weapons tests were conducted, reasoning that its emergence would cause a burst of energy similar to a nuclear explosion – and he was right!
5 Louis Vuitton
Legend has it, Vuitton walked 402km from his hometown to Paris to begin his apprenticeship to a trunk maker in the 1850s. Over 150 years later, the iconic luggage is still coveted by fashionistas around the world.
Looking for more? Check out the 7 French beauty products we’re loving right now!
