Sylvie Vartan is a French "ye-ye singer;" ye-ye was a style of pop music that emerged in France, Italy, and Spain in the early 1960s. The name was derived from "yeah! yeah!" a fairly common hook in the songs of the day (compared to today's "throw your hands up in the air" etc). Most of my knowledge of Vartan stems from an obsession with her hair and subsequent interest in pictures of her. Anyway, after her debut in 1961 the French press dubbed Vartan la collégienne du twist or "the twisting schoolgirl,"a suitable nickname given her penchant for peter pan collars and classic plaid. Her style evolved over the years into something more sexy--longer hair, tighter skirts, etc--but it was this period in the 60s epitomized by her bouncy bob, pleated skirts, and ankle-skimming trousers that I'm addicted to.
CONVERSATION