Dame Joan Collins, the legendary actress and style icon, has opened up about the extraordinary history of Club 55, the Saint-Tropez beach club that became synonymous with jet-set glamour and Hollywood decadence.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Glamour
What began as a simple snack bar for the crew of Roger Vadim's 1955 film And God Created Woman soon transformed into the world's most exclusive beach destination. Founded by Bernard and Geneviève de Colmont, Club 55 started with nothing more than a makeshift counter and a few basic provisions.
'It was incredibly primitive,' Collins recalls. 'Just a plank on two barrels where Geneviève would prepare simple salads, tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs.'
The Birth of a Saint-Tropez Institution
The club's fate changed forever when Brigitte Bardot, the film's star, became a regular visitor. Her presence turned the modest establishment into an overnight sensation, attracting celebrities, artists, and the international elite who flocked to see and be seen.
'Suddenly, everyone wanted to go there,' Collins remembers. 'It became the place where you could be free, take off your top, and enjoy the simple pleasures of sun and sea.'
Decades of Star-Studded Memories
Collins has been a regular since the 1970s, witnessing the club's evolution while maintaining its bohemian spirit. She shares intimate memories of long lunches stretching into evenings, where the boundaries between day and night blurred in the best possible way.
'We'd arrive at 1pm and still be there at 7pm, ordering more rosé and enjoying the magical atmosphere,' she confesses.
The Unchanging Magic of Club 55
Despite its global fame and the passage of time, Collins insists the essence of Club 55 remains unchanged. The same family still runs it with passion, preserving the rustic charm that made it special.
'It's still the same simple, rustic place it always was,' she affirms. 'The same plastic plates, the same delicious food, the same magical feeling.'
Today, Club 55 stands as a testament to timeless glamour, having hosted everyone from Hollywood legends to fashion icons while maintaining the simple, bohemian spirit that captured Joan Collins' heart decades ago.
