Mélanie Thierry Is Bringing Understated French Girl Style to Paris Fashion Week

Understated elegance is the key to French style, but it can be hard to come by during Paris Fashion Week. With larger-than-life spectacles on the runway and most everyone dressed for the street-style cameras, few are focused on simplicity. But this season actress Mélanie Thierry has brought a bit of quintessential French charm to the front row. At shows like Chloé, Celine, and Stella McCartney, Thierry made the most of her time in the spotlight by staying true to herself and embracing the appeal of the effortless.

A household name in France, Thierry now has a César Award and a lengthy filmography behind her, but she actually got her start as a model when she was just a teenager. Despite being a petite 5’3, Thierry was in high demand in the fashion industry, working with many of its top photographers. Her big break came thanks to Peter Lindbergh, who photographed her for an Italian Vogue story in 1996. The soulful black-and-white images captivated Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore, who sought her out for his period drama The Legend of 1900. A first-timer opposite established stars like Tim Roth, she held her own and the film helped to launch her into European cinema.

Now 38, Thierry s style retains a bit of the model off-duty aesthetic. A fan of jeans, tailored trousers, and crisp white shirts, she keeps things simple—but always adds a twist. At Chloé, her cuffed denim shorts and blouse combo was elevated by the addition of glossy burgundy boots that helped to take her summery separates into autumn. Celine meant another great pair of boots, this time paired with Hedi Slimane’s retro A-line skirts and polka-dot pussy-bow top. Even her olive Stella McCartney jumpsuit, the ultimate do-it-all piece, received a tweak thanks to vegan leather heels. Uncomplicated and elegant, Thierry’s looks were the antidote to a week filled with ostentatious style.