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francofilence upon a time France was simplysynonymous with style – the language, theladies, the fashion labels. From ChristianDior to Christian Louboutin, the French have

historically done chic brilliantly – if a culturecan ooze charm, theirs did. But in recent years the je nesais quoi faded and the nation simply lost its va-va-voom.Maybe it was the competition from our 1990s Brit-cool orthe ascendancy of all things brash, bling and very un-Français – who knows? And, quite frankly, in 2009 whocares, because France is back! In the past 12 months it hasbeen reinstated as global leader of all things hot, and thefashion pack can’t get enough of it.

Following behind the kitten heels of First Lady Carla BruniSarkozy, a legion of pretty French actresses and models arenow the ones to watch. Forget Nicole Kidman (and thatexpressionless forehead). Thanks to the wonderfullyzeitgeisty film Coco Before Chanel (which will be out herelater this month), Audrey Tautou bagged the latest ChanelNo 5 ad campaign, while It-actress Clémence Poésylanded the Chloé fragrance contract and CharlotteGainsbourg scooped best actress for the film Antichrist onhome turf at Cannes. Meanwhile, Oscar-winner MarionCotillard and her handsome boyfriend Guillaume Canethave established themselves as worthy rivals to Brad andAngelina for the title of Hollywood’s most gorgeous couple.

What’s more, the French fashion houses were onceagain behind the most fêted collections on the 2009catwalk. Lacroix, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga all enjoyedcritical adulation, while hot label Balmain with its iconicpointy-shoulder jackets is being paraded by every celebrityfrom Victoria Beckham to Kate Moss.

On the British high street, French boutique labelsCharles Anastase, Maje, Isabel Marant and Zadig & Voltaireare lining the rails at department stores, and French chainssuch as Comptoir des Cotonniers are expanding rapidly.

The London and New York party scenes are throbbingwith hip Parisians. No guest list is complete without thelikes of Julia and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld (children ofCarine Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue, who is rumoured tobe next in line for Anna Wintour’s job in New York), LouDoillon (daughter of style icon Jane Birkin), and brunetteactress Camilla Belle.

Perhaps the reason we are so drawn to French talentjust now is that it is more interesting, more mysterious andmore of the moment than identikit Hollywood. The mood du jour favours dignity, class and character. And no onedoes that better than the French.

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Since Carla Bruni Sarkozy swept on to theworld stage in Dior, France has beenreinstated as global leader of all things cool.From fashion to film, the French are oncemore the flavour du jour. Lucie Greene takesa look at the crème de la crème CHIC

The film-star femmes

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ENCORE!Mode in heaven

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