Be Your Own Belle De Jour

It's not every day someone will tell you that in order to be more chic you should emulate a prostitute and sexual deviant from a 1960s erotic film. That said, that's exactly what I'm here to do. In an impeccable wardrobe by Yves St. Laurent, Catherine Deneuve drew sartorial attention for her classy outfits throughout the 1967 French film Belle De Jour by Luis Buñuel. In this movie, Deneuve plays newlywed Séverine who is disappointed in her blasé sex life and distracted by sadomasochistic daydreams. When she hears of the location of a brothel from an acquaintance, she pays it a visit and quickly becomes a prostitute herself. She is different from the other girls in that she is very done-up and classy, and only works during the day (when her husband is away at work), earning her the moniker Belle de Jour. She is also more adventurous than some of the other girls, and is more willing to take on domineering clients. This film is an erotic masterpiece and icon speaking to women's position as sexually free beings, sometimes with appetites exceeding that of their mate's. And it has a killer aesthetic! Here I'm going to show you a few ways to channel Catherine Deneuve's Belle De Jour look.

1) Coats

If you were to take one thing away from Belle De Jour, it is that a woman can never have too many coats. Séverine sports a new coat to match her outfit in nearly every scene, using a-line pea coats and trench coats as dresses themselves. You can pull off a Belle De Jour look by choosing a double-breasted coat that ends mid-thigh or just above the knee and pairing it with bare legs or pantyhose. Neutral colors are your best friend, in a variety of fabrics from leather to wool to wet-look vinyl. Belle wears a particularly gag-worthy über-shiny black vinyl trench coat that especially channels the kinky, BDSM themes of this film.

Black Crinkle Vinyl Trench Coat, Pretty Little Thing, $27

Trench Coat, H&M, $69

2) The Dress

One dress in particular has come to symbolize the Belle De Jour look, and that is that black midi-dress with the white collar and cuffs. This is another garment with a sexy and suggestive edge to it, just barely giving Séverine a schoolgirl or secretary air. The key is to balance this coy look with just enough of a modest length so it looks less costume-y and childlike.

Black Midi Pencil Dress, Etsy, $100

The Severine Dress, L'Ecole des Femmes, $239

3) Accessories

The key to a sophisticated Belle de Jour look is how you pair it with accessories. Séverine is often seen in dark sunglasses and a black pillbox hat. You could use a black beret and black leather gloves instead, or a string of pearls and back-seam pantyhose. As long as you keep in mind some key words (classy, womanly, and kinky) you should be able to come up with some splendid outfits. Here are some ideas!

Straw Pillbox Hat, Unique Vintage, $34

Waterlily Bag, Unique Vintage, $37.97

Putain Des Palaces Perfume, L'Etat Libre D'Orange, $149

Sam Edelman "Tamra" Heels, Zappos, $47.95

I hope this helped provide you some sartorial inspiration, or at least an idea for a cute Halloween costume! You would be surprised what a difference a block kitten-heel or a coat worn as a dress can make in the sophistication, retro style-factor, and chicness of your look. And the next time someone tells you that you're dressed like a high-class whore, hopefully you can take that as a compliment and share the beauty that is Belle De Jour!