On August 18, 2024, the world bid adieu to Alain Delon, the French cinema icon whose five-decade career left an indelible mark on both film and fashion. Born on November 8, 1935, in Sceaux, France, Delon’s journey to Hollywood stardom was as unconventional as his style. After a tumultuous youth that included a stint in the French Navy, Delon stumbled into acting almost by accident. His breakthrough came in 1960 with René Clément’s Plein Soleil (Purple Noon), where he embodied the charming sociopath Tom Ripley with a coolness that would become his trademark.

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At 88, Delon’s passing marked the end of an era, but his influence remains as fresh as a newly pressed shirt. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Delon wasn’t just another pretty face in the crowd of nouvelle vague cinema; he was a walking master class of men’s style. From his collaborations with visionary directors like Luchino Visconti and Jean-Pierre Melville to his off-screen romances with icons like Romy Schneider, Delon’s life was as stylish as the characters he portrayed.

Delon’s approach to style was quintessentially French—a smashing blend of understated sophistication and effortless cool that made even the simplest outfit look like it belonged on a magazine cover. He had a knack for making tailored suits look as comfortable as pajamas and casual wear appear worthy of a red carpet. It was this ability to blur the lines between formal and relaxed that set him apart and influenced generations of men to rethink their wardrobes.

What made Delon’s style truly iconic wasn’t just the clothes themselves, but the........

© Observer