Ask any fashion editor and they will tell you, the best kind of wardrobe is a streamlined, curated closet of effortless and elegant key pieces, and nobody does that quite like the French. I recently asked Ba&Sh co-founder Barbara Boccara for the secret behind chic French styling and she assured me that there is no difference between how British and French women approach dressing. “French women used to dress up for all occasions, but really there are two kinds of French woman—those who are polished and ultra-feminine and those who wear jeans and sneakers and still look great”, and while that is a statement I’m sure a lot of us can identify with, the French do know how to add a little je ne sais quoi to bring even the most simple look to life.
Take for example the stereotypical Parisian wardrobe: bouclé jackets, Breton tops, skinny jeans, ballet pumps, and the ubiquitous Chanel bag; you will no doubt come across them all on the streets of Paris, but there’s another classic French piece that until recently hadn’t been getting enough airtime—the bardot neckline.
This chic, off-the-shoulder style shows the just the right amount of skin to be alluring and still modest at the same time. And whether you’re wearing a bardot top, jumper, dress, or jumpsuit, the scooped or folded over neckline is one of the most universally flattering shapes this side of the V-neck, and take that from someone who has spent her life in the safety of crew necks.
A cursory glance through Instagram and I spot minimalist bardot jumpers, elegant ruching, ruffled bardot tops and cosy knit dresses, something that us Brits have yet to fully embrace. Did I immediately head out and try on the next bardot jumper I could find? Yes. And were the results as chic as I had imagined? Of course. There’s just something instantly expensive-looking about this torso-elongating, waist-minimising silhouette. Well, if it’s good enough for Brigitte Bardot…
Need further proof that the bardot neckline deserves a spot in your wardrobe? Keep scrolling. These are the very best bardot tops, jumpers, dresses and jumpsuits on the market right now. Happy shopping.
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