Upon a recent viewing of “Rebel Without a Cause” it completely struck us at E.O.F. that there was a certain style divinity that doesn’t recieve enough attention for his incredible panache, and undoubted influence on men’s style and fashion. Call him France’s own James Dean– Alain Delon may just write the books on how to be a truly stylish and effortless specimen of a man.

 

In history, the legend of James Dean was born on the faithful day of September 30, 1955 causing an international frenzy- and in moments, an idol of rebellion and male beauty was born that seemingly grows stronger everyday. There is no doubt, the rebel icon has paved the way, but it is an individual like Alain Delon who triumphantly carried the torch onward. And while James Dean’s memory lives on, this week’s profiled style star literally lives.

It’s everything to do with everything; his French charm, a je na sais quois, that particular brand of swag and easiness the French seem to bring to anything. Whether dolled up in a suit, or stripped down to the bone, Delon delivers his unique brand of masculinity. Perhaps it’s all in the eyes. People always seem to look better smoking cigarettes.

 

 

Dean was an eagear student of Sade, as should be any fallen angel-boy, but it seems Delon took a more jovial path in life following more in the footsteps of Casanova! He worked the screen with leading ladies like Marianne Faithful, Jane Fonda, and Brigitte Bardot. Better than that, his real-life romances were with some of the world’s most gorgeous faces- Romy Schneider, Mirielle Darc, Rosalie Van Breeman, Nathalie Barthelemey, and a love-child with none other than Nico herself. Quite the busy boy.

Discharged from the navy in 1956, Delon would be discovered by legendary producer David. O. Selznick (Yes, of ‘Gone with the Wind’ lore) who would kick off his career provided he learn English. Delon would stay in France and in 1960 would star  in a dandy adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, in a French picture by the name of “Purple Noon”.

This film is one of the singularly most stylish films you might come across when it comes to men’s fashion. Delon’s Ripley is a tour-de-force in quiet angst and alienation, not to mention practically picture perfect, and would pave his way in the limelight as one of the world’s most enigmatic and dashing leading gentlemen.

 

The dapper Delon would continue to grace the screen in other groundbreaking and style-wise pictures as Luchino Visconti’s “The Leopard”, Michelangelo Antonionni’s “Eclipse”, Jack Cardiff’s “The Girl on a Motorcylce”, Jacques Daray’s “Le Piscine”, Louis Malles’ , Roger Vadim’s, & Fellini’s “Spirits of the Dead”, and of course, the ultimate embodiment of loner, drifter, outsiderness in Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samourai”, a dark crime film fusing film noir with samurai and fantasy notions. Each film is rich in style inspiration and fashion and film history.

Delon was an instant smash and a puller of all heart strings. With his dashing looks, and unapolgetic demeanour, his rebel attitude gave French luxury a brand new flavour, as well as giving us here at the EOF plenty of amazing pictures to share with you! Use these as inspiration for a lifetime.

Keep it classic, keep it fresh, and keep it fun inside. Adapt a closet full of leisure, that make you feel comfortable, while at the same time easily make you the Prince of the Party. The secret to Delon’s success really lies deep within his own core. An unwillingness to be anything but true to himself. That is ultimately what reads through most, and is an important lesson to being the ultimate you.

So rent all his movies today, and show the world how dashing, dapper,  and ultimately divine a bad boy can really be! As an E.O.F. Style Idol, Alain Delon’s timeless style is  definitely here to stay.

Sincerely,

{theEye}

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