A Breakdown of Alain Delon's Iconic Style

alain delon
A Look Over Alain Delon's Iconic Style Alamy

When you think of actors from the Sixties that have left an indelible mark on menswear, the likes of Sean Connery, Paul Newman, James Dean, and Gregory Peck will likely come to mind. And for good reason. But the French film legend Alain Delon, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88, is more than deserving of a place in that pantheon – and he didn't need the weight of Hollywood behind him, either.

That's not to say he didn't try to make it work across the pond, but it was in Delon's homeland that his talents and wardrobe flourished. He famously played the icily beautiful Tom Ripley in René Clément's Plein Soleil (Purple Moon), based off Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley (a story that has repeatedly inspired stylish on-screen moments, from Jude Law in the 1999 English-language adaptation to Andrew Scott's monochromatic Netflix show Ripley). He could play a tough guy, too – like in Jean-Pierre Melville's neo-noir thriller Le Samouraï – but it was his debonair, otherworldly looks that entranced the filmgoing public. The fact that he dressed incredibly well was the icing on the cake.

As time went on, that picture of Delon grew far more complicated; controversy was never far behind him, and he would go on to espouse some deeply objectionable views. But his film legacy lies in the Sixties, when he was arguably the most magnetic presence in cinema.

As is the way with French style and timeless icons, the key to recreating his outfits is to focus on fit and silhouette. Delon was a big advocate for great shirts, swapping between cotton chambray or linen styles for more formal Oxford shirts, which never clung to his body but draped closely to it. While his styling was never particularly out there, he often flung a knitted piece over his shoulders in a preppy, intentional way. Ensembles were considered without looking fussed over.

Take a look through some of his iconic outfits for inspo below.

1982

Alain Delon with Romy Schneider

alain delon
Alamy

1964

Alain Delon with producer Raoul Levy at New York International Airport

french actor alain delon right with producer raoul levy 1922 1966 at new york international airport, having arrived from paris, circa 1964 they are about to start production on the film marco the magnificent, a biopic of marco polo, but delon later pulled out of the project photo by archive photosgetty images
Archive Photos - Getty Images

1988

During the filming of the television miniseries 'Cinéma'

alain delon au bord dune piscine lors du tournage de la miniseacuterie teacuteleacutevisieacutee cineacutema en italie en mai 1988 photo by daniel simongamma rapho via getty images
Daniel Simon - Getty Images

1968

With Brigitte Bardot

brigitte bardot avec alain delon g photo by james andansonsygma via getty images
James Andanson - Getty Images

1964

french actor alain delon, circa 1964 photo by screen archivesgetty images
Screen Archives - Getty Images

1963

Celebrating his 28th birthday during the filming of 'Les Félins'

alain delon fecircte ses 28 ans lors du tournage sur la cocircte dazur du film les feacutelins reacutealiseacute par reneacute cleacutement le 5 septembre 1963 france photo by reporters associesgamma rapho via getty images
REPORTERS ASSOCIES - Getty Images

1972

On the set of 'Un Flic'

french actor alain delon on the set of un flic dirty money, written and directed by jean pierre melville photo by michel artaultapissygmasygma via getty images
artault erwan - Getty Images

1968

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider during the filming of the film 'La Piscine'

alain delon et romy schneider lors du tournage du film la piscine le 19 aout 1968 à saint tropez photo by patrice picotgamma rapho via getty images
Patrice PICOT - Getty Images

1969

During the filming of 'The Sicilian Clan'

french actor alain delon stands in fiumicino airport, rome, during the filming of the sicilian clan, 1969 photo by archive photosgetty images
Archive Photos - Getty Images

1962

Filming in Venice

16th march 1962 french actor alain delon filming on location in venice photo by keystone featuresgetty images
Keystone Features - Getty Images

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