Fran?oise Hardy Invented French-Girl Style

Madeline Hirsch

June 13, 2024 at 12:57 AM·2 min read

A look back at the French icon's memorable style and enduring fashion legacy.

Fran?oise Hardy, the French singer-songwriter who served as a muse for the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne and created ‘60s pop magic, passed away on June 12, leaving behind an enduring legacy as a fashion and culture icon.

Part of the yé-yé movement of the 1960s, which also includes style legends Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, Hardy’s music influenced the fashion world just as much as her effortless style and French-girl bangs. In fact, her 1963 song "Tous les Gar?ons et les Filles" inspired Rei Kawakubo to name her line Comme des Gar?ons, according to Dazed. Translating to “like the boys,” the phrase, lifted from Hardy’s lyrics, has since become a universal symbol of playful androgyny and high fashion.

Today, her style continues to inspire designers and trensetters alike. References to Hardy's quintessential Parisian chic are so ubiquitous that her image is arguably as recognizable as her name. A quick “French girl style” search on any platform will inevitably surface a shot of the ‘60s It girl, looking effortless in her thick-cut fringe and unforgettable outerwear collection. From the indelible image of Hardy on the seat of her motorbike decked out in leather to her collection of early Paco Rabanne minidresses, her style tends to stay with you, inspiring everyday outfits and ready-to-wear collections alike.

However, Hardy is more than a mood board fixture when it comes to fashion—she's a real sartorial power player. Bootcut jeans, motorcycle jackets, and even the fitted white tee would not be as popular today without her influence. Unlike her contemporaries, Hardy mixed masculine and feminine elements to create a style all her own, long before it was the norm in the industry.

From metal mini dresses to YSL’s Le Smoking jacket, Fran?oise Hardy wore it all. Ahead, take a look back at the French icon’s most unforgettable style moments.