The French New Wave (La Nouvelle Vague) was more than just a cinematic revolution—it was a movement that redefined fashion, femininity, and effortless style. In the late 1950s and 1960s, directors like Jean-Luc Godard and Jacques Demy captured women in ways that felt natural yet impossibly chic, turning actresses such as Anna Karina, Brigitte Bardot, and Catherine Deneuve into eternal style icons.
One of the most enduring elements of this era’s aesthetic was hair accessories, namely Bows, headbands, and ribbons became defining details. These pieces were a dance of innocence and rebellion.
Anna Karina – The Muse of Godard
Jean Luc Godard’s leading lady, lover, and muse, Anna Karina, embodied the Nouvelle Vague spirit with her expressive eyes, gamine charm, and an innate sense of style. Her characters often balanced between lighthearted coquetry and deep melancholy. Anna was a wearer of hair accessories on and off screen. She deserves an article of her own. If there was a single muse who defined the essence of French New Wave style, it was Anna Karina—our first and perhaps most enduring inspiration.
A Woman is a Woman (Une femme est une femme, 1961)
Anna Photographed by Willy Rizzo 1965.
Vivre Sa Vie (My Life to Live, 1962)
This photo was the inspiration for our MOD Headband. Karina’s look in Vivre Sa Vie is minimalist yet striking. Her character’s journey from hope to despair is reflected in these small but poignant details. Can hair accessories can add emotional depth to a performance? Can they add a cinematic beauty to the character you play in life? We say yes.
Brigitte Bardot – The Eternal Icon of Glamour
Bardot’s beauty was effortless, sensual, and completely captivating. Her thick blonde locks became legendary, often styled with bows or ribbons that added to her allure.
Contempt (Le Mépris, 1963)
Bardot’s blue satin ribbon in Contempt is the epitome of nonchalant glamour. Tying back her tousled waves, the ribbon creates a hint more drama pair with her minimalist wardrobe. The look is refined and intentional. Simple and dreamy.
Beyond the screen, Bardot’s style of adorning her hair has since become unwavering inspiration from the 1960s to today’s modern It-girls.
Catherine Deneuve – Poised Elegance
While Karina embodied whimsy and Bardot exuded sensuality, Catherine Deneuve defined polished, classic beauty.
Bows and hair accessories can be found in excess in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, 1964). Deneuve’s pastel-colored ribbons in this visually stunning musical are as soft and romantic as the film itself. Tied into her perfectly blonde ponytail, these bows enhance her character’s innocence and dreamlike presence. They seamlessly blend into the movie’s candy-colored aesthetic. She seems to have a new bow for every scene.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, 1964)
The Enduring Legacy of French New Wave Hair Accessories
The influence of these films extends far beyond cinema. Decades later, designers continue to reference the effortless femininity of French New Wave actresses in fashion collections, street style, and editorials.
Runways have repeatedly revived bows, headbands, and ribbons, from Chanel’s romantic hair bows to Prada’s sleek satin bands. Fashion icons like Alexa Chung and Lily-Rose Depp embody the spirit of Nouvelle Vague with their modern takes on these classic accessories.
Arc and Bow’s collections embrace this same timeless elegance, reinterpreting the simplicity and charm of French New Wave hair accessories for a new generation. Whether through a minimalist black ribbon or a playful pastel bow, these pieces continue to evoke the same sense of individuality and allure that defined a cinematic era.
The women of the French New Wave were more than just actresses—they were icons of effortless style. Their hair accessories were not just embellishments but extensions of their characters, adding depth, rebellion, and romance to their on-screen personas.
