Bastille Day 2012: The Most Stylish French First Ladies Of All Time (PHOTOS)

Happy Bastille Day! Americans may have had their day to watch fireworks and eat barbecue on July 4th, but now it's France's turn to celebrate national pride with parades, parties and plenty of red, white and blue.

After taking a look back at American first ladies on our independence day, we decided to take a closer look at some of France's very stylish first ladies today, le quatorze juillet. From former models to political journalists to French Resistance officers, the women who have stood beside French presidents have given the rest of the world plenty of fashion to admire, whether they're wearing a feminine ball gown or a sleek pantsuit. As expected, these strong women have taken tailored, streamlined looks to a very (très?) chic level.

In honor of Bastille Day, we suggest that you eat a baguette, wear a beret and click through to see some of France's élégant first ladies. Which are your favorites?

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• Michelle Aucouturier

  Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

• Yvonne de Gaulle

  AFP/Getty Images

• Yvonne de Gaulle

  AFP

• Danielle Mitterrand

  Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

• Danielle Mitterrand

  AFP/Getty Images

• Danielle Mitterrand

  Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

• Danielle Mitterrand

  AFP/Getty Images

• Cécilia Attias

  Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

• Cécilia Attias

  Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

• Cécilia Attias

  Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

• Cécilia Attias

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• Cécilia Attias

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• Cécilia Attias

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• Cécilia Attias

  Getty photo

• Cécilia Attias

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

  Getty photo

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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• Valérie Trierweiler

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Comments

[claireaufr]

06:50 AM on 08/07/2012

American expats can be very "chic" as well for Bastille Day (google: Bastille Day - A french moustache misadventure)... sometimes people let themselves go !

[Saxton]

08:15 PM on 07/16/2012

Carla Bruni's style is very chic.

[bob40wil]

01:43 PM on 07/15/2012

Sarkozy's wife was the pick of the litter.

[Red45]

01:39 PM on 07/15/2012

Carla Bruni wins! Hands down.

[Alette]

11:22 AM on 07/15/2012

All fine women with the exception of the vapid Carla. Not a neuron in sight. Just a hangar in search of a dress.

[SonyaInTx]

10:29 AM on 07/15/2012

Hands dowen Carla.....but then again, she was a professional model....

[skyecaitlin]

07:16 AM on 07/15/2012

Bastille Day~Marat/Sade; A Tale of Two Cities, and our everlasting fascination with French culture's fashion and design.

[Joyce70]

08:00 AM on 07/15/2012

Thanks a lot!
My everlasting fascinating with American culture is also true!

[skyecaitlin]

08:22 AM on 07/15/2012

Wonderful! You are French?

[World Citizen]

06:11 AM on 07/15/2012

Cecilia Attias, Sarkozy's wife prior to Carla Bruni was never a first lady since she was not with Sarkozy when he was president.

[Joyce70]

08:12 AM on 07/15/2012

You're almost right, as far as she was present with her children on May 16, 2007, when Sarkozy took office at a ceremony in the Elysee Palace.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zth7_passation-des-pouvoirs-tf1-et-franc_news

PS: I 'm fond of your avatar!

[World Citizen]

09:19 AM on 07/15/2012

Yes, it was a small arrangement to save face and to get votes. But she was already living with Mr. Attias at that time.

[GLCarmine]

01:30 AM on 07/18/2012

Love your micro bio!!!

[Bafun]

10:57 PM on 07/15/2012

She was 4 month First Lady.

[Promise]

12:30 AM on 07/15/2012

Valerie T. looks great---tough, smart, beautiful and independent.

[Highball]

09:22 PM on 07/14/2012

Cecillia Attias was always very fashionable. And of course, Carla. As for Valerie, we'll have to see, but she is known for her style.

[Joyce70]

08:16 AM on 07/15/2012

Indeed, as a French, I find her much more classy and natural than Carla Bruni, much more concerned with plastic surgery...

[Highball]

10:33 AM on 07/15/2012

:)

I'm sure we'll get to see her style here as time goes by.

[Alette]

11:24 AM on 07/15/2012

Yes, if I were a French woman, I would hardly be complimented to have that vacuous Carla as my first lady. Attias was miles ahead of that cupie doll.

[Sid Harth]

07:08 PM on 07/14/2012

1

Comments

bakulaji
6:58 PM EDT
Vive la France

En ce jour, 14 juillet, je souhaite a tous mes de lecteurs de tres bon vacance. En ce jour, 14 Juillet, je souhaite à tous mes lecteurs de très bonnes vacances. Célébrez la naissance d'une nation qui est si célèbre pour sa devise, liberté, d'égalité et de fraternité. Rien m'inspire plus que ces trois mots simples.

Fais les bons mots. Nous devons aimer et à chérir les pensées, les actions et les valeurs dont alla derrière eux.

Vive la France.

... et je suis Sid [e-mail]

[jerryjtb]

04:38 PM on 07/14/2012

Valérie Trierweiler and France’s new president, François Hollande, are the first unwed couple to occupy the Élysée Palace. First lady NOT really..... They should refer to her as the first French Paramour !

[Matt Blanc]

11:10 AM on 07/15/2012

Didn't the French kings have designated official mistresses (Madame du Pampadour, etc.)? Maybe this is a cultural motif that is coming back into fashion. But can you have a mistress when you're not married? So confusing to us non-French.

[Bafun]

11:06 PM on 07/15/2012

She was his mistress as he was still with Segolene Royale and their 4 children...

[KS7]

04:15 PM on 07/14/2012

BAStille Day when the mob stormed the Bastille for weapons. The people wanted to be able to defend themselves. Imagine that. And then they went on a murderous rampage over the next few years - innocent people executed in brutal manner. The mob raging and murdering the 1%.

[skyecaitlin]

07:19 AM on 07/15/2012

Yes, indeed, but if you compare that with so many other things; it basically delineated the truth; the tortured underdog takes action, and we cheer, until the maligned victors repeat the same actions, but worse, and it goes on and on and on....

[cmarie972]

03:06 PM on 07/16/2012

The mob raging and murdering so much more than the 1%! A lot of people were killed, from every situation in life.

[theredqueen]

02:52 PM on 07/14/2012

They mostly look awful. So much for the phrase "look for the woman". French style is often better and certainly more attractive than these pictures would claim.

[skyecaitlin]

07:19 AM on 07/15/2012

I agree----think of Anouk Aimee!

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

03:20 PM on 07/15/2012

Oh dear yes, some of them could never be allowed on the cover of a magazine.

[DonBlv]

02:02 PM on 07/14/2012

Happy Bastille Day to all w/ French connections!