If we could immortalize the style icons of the 1960s, the list would be legendary: Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Jimi Hendrix, Cary Grant, Anthony Perkins, The Beatles, Jim Morrison - the names go on. And then, there’s Alain Delon.
Alain Delon in Plein Soleil, 1960.
Alain Delon wasn’t just another face on that list; he was different. At the height of his career in the '60s, few actors could match his swagger. From playing Tom Ripley in Plein Soleil (1960) to Jef Costello in Le Samourai (1967), Delon mastered every role, and his image became inseparable from the sun-drenched beauty of the Mediterranean.
Delon and Brigitte Bardot in Saint-Tropez, France, 1968.
His career could have exploded in Hollywood, but Delon had no interest in that. He famously refused to learn English and kept his career rooted in France. It was a rebellious move - a golden opportunity left on the table - but it wasn’t his first act of defiance. Delon’s younger years were just as rebellious. Expelled from countless schools and eventually thrown out of the military after spending a year in prison, Delon wasn’t exactly a model of discipline.
Yet while his lifestyle could be wild, his sense of style was anything but chaotic.
Delon embraced nonconformity, both in his life and his wardrobe, yet never indulged in outlandish fashion. Instead, his style was strikingly simple, made iconic by his unmistakable air of cool indifference. It wasn’t about what he wore but the effortless way he wore it. While others went for flair - think silk shirts and flared pants - Delon stuck to understated basics: short sleeves, rolled-up shirts, and a carefree attitude.
When it came to suits, he kept it classic - gray or blue, with ties reserved only for formal events. His signature accessory? A cigarette, casually dangling from his lips. For everyday wear, he often leaned into cozy sweaters, trousers, and slip-on shoes, embodying a laid-back sophistication.
There’s no magic to Alain Delon’s style; it’s all about clean lines, flattering cuts, and pieces that don’t shout for attention. In Plein Soleil, there’s a scene that sums him up perfectly: strolling through a marketplace, jacket slung over his shoulder, cigarette in mouth, shirt open at the collar, gray trousers skimming his slip-ons, and those exposed ankles. It’s effortless style at its peak - just like the man himself.
The marketplace scene from Plein Soleil (1960) encapsulates Alain Delon's essence.
“It’s not what you wear, but how you wear it.” If anyone proves that to be true, it’s Alain Delon.
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