Style Lessons From The Late Jean-Paul Belmondo
by Ben St. George
We're mourning the passing of Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of 20th century cinema’s most stylish and influential actors. An early star of French New Wave, Belmondo made a searing first impression with audiences as the charmingly laissez-faire, doomed Michel in Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. His deep well of charisma and rugged-to-the-point-of-crumpled good looks made him a star, reteaming with Godard for A Woman Is A Woman and Pierrot le Fou, playing opposite the likes of Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale, and teaming up with Alain Delon in the crime caper Borsalino (yes, the films’ hats are by Borsalino.)
Like Delon, Belmondo was also a star with an innate sense of style - one he brought to bear both on and off-screen. Effortlessly blending chic sartorial codes with hardy workwear, he made European elegance feel wearable and thoroughly modern. His unique knack for merging the classic and the casual has never felt more relevant - and his wardrobe will undoubtedly continue to be the inspiration for many a new made-to-measure tailoring project.
Let’s explore some of his most valuable style lessons.
Workwear And Tailoring Mix, Actually
The original high-low dresser, Belmondo was teaming casual work shirts with suiting and tailored trousers nearly half a century ago, such as in That Man From Rio, pictured above.
A T-Shirt With Tailoring Can Be Done Right
But the trick is to tuck it in, and wear a separate jacket and trousers, like the white, navy and beige combination here.
Brown Tailoring Looks Great
So often overlooked for more demure grey and navy tones, brown and earth-tone tailoring has always looked great, and is finally getting the reappraisal it deserves. Whether in plain cloths or, especially, smart checks like this one, it’s a smart and versatile option that flatters most complexions excellently and pairs well with a huge swathe of shirting.
Own A Good Tuxedo
Whether on the red carpet or in films from The Lovemakers to Borsalino, Belmondo knew his way around a good tuxedo. Sometimes it’s enough just to get the classics right. Look at that lapel!
Roll Necks Are Always Stylish
Chic, versatile and just plain useful on a colder day, the roll neck should have a place in every serious wardrobe. If Steve McQueen in Bullitt somehow wasn’t a strong enough argument for you, well, Belmondo should be the last word.
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