Style Icon: 1960's Yé Yé Girls

In the 1960's, Yé Yé was a movement in France mostly based on youth and pop music being produced at the time. The term derived from "Yeah Yeah" and was a reaction to Mod in England and Rock 'n' Roll and Girl Groups popular in the States. Pulled by Svengali strings, most notably, from famed songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, several hits were produced. 

The popular Yé Yé girls of France were sexy in a naive way and most often sang songs of innocence with undertones of sexuality and even sadness. France was, after all, still recovering from the War and the youth had a very different reality than those in America. Yé Yé Girls have always been an inspiration to me. I love the music and the Nouvelle Vague movies from this time period in France. I love their style too! Unlike their American counterparts, think Motown, these girls have Gallic pouts and slightly disheveled hair with bangs. They were not overly styled. 

Françoise Hardy

That face! Françoise's career is still going strong. She is probably the most popular of the Yé Yé girls. Her style has often been imitated. 

Chantal Goya

Chantal is adorable! She also starred in Jean-Luc Goddard's Masculin Féminin which is full of great fashion and French ennui. 

France Gall

France was 16 when her first single got airplay. 

Sylvie Vartan

Sylvie brought more rock 'n' roll to the genre and had a tougher sound than her peers. She even married French Rock Star, Johnny Hallyday. They were the "it" couple of the time.