Bernadette Lafont and Claude Chabrol at Cannes

Every summer, we are inevitably greeted by innumerable magazine spreads promising swimsuit inspiration: how to find the perfect suit for your figure, which suit to wear for which occasion—it can all get a little boring. So, rather than rehash all of that, we’ve decided to offer some more highbrow swimsuits to inspire. Behold, some of the most memorable suits of French cinema. Here you’ll find all manner of insouciant beach fashions, and films to add to your watch list to boot. What more could you ask for on a summer day?

THE GREEN RAY,  Éric Rohmer (1986)

CLAIRE’S KNEE, Éric Rohmer  (1971)

Available to watch on Hulu +

THE GIRL IN THE BIKINI, Willy Rozier (1952)

PAULINE AT THE BEACH,  Éric Rohmer (1983)

A NOS AMOURS, Maurice Pialat (1983)

Available to watch on Hulu +

DAY FOR NIGHT,  François Truffaut (1973)

Available on iTunes

LES BONNES FEMMES, Claude Chabrol  (1960)

Available on Amazon

A SUMMER’S TALE, Éric Rohmer (1996)

Available on Netflix and iTunes

LA COLLECTIONEUSE, Éric Rohmer  (1967)

Available to watch on Hulu +

BONJOUR TRISTESSE, Otto Preminger (1958)
*Not exactly a French film, but close enough.

Available on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video