Parisian Chic

Parisian style radiates an air of self-assuredness, that indefinable je ne sais quoi that initially seems so elusive, and yet at the same time almost appears simple, uncontrived, perhaps effortless. Inès de la Fressange, the premiere model for Chanel in the 80s and currently the brand ambassador for Roger Vivier, has graciously decided to share these coveted Parisian secrets of style in her new book Parisian Style: A Style Guide which is officially available Tuesday, April 5th. I must confess, I was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to take in her tips, ideas and expertise for more than just a few months, and upon the delivery of my copy, it barely left my side until I was finished. First of all, while the cover alone is captivating and impossible to miss with it's scarlet red jacket and gilded font, the contents are just as creatively and vivaciously presented. With the feel of a large Moleskine journal, ribbon bookmark and all, additionally all of the photography of shops, products and destinations are by Inès, as are the drawings and hand-written lists. The the layout as well is playful, easy to read and unpretentious unlike what one might expect due to the topic at hand. Inès has clearly taken special care to create guide for all of us who are short on time and thus sometimes imagination, being sure to help us create a style that appears effortless, yet is full of great thought. The Magnificent Seven are what is defined as the brilliant basics that are key to creating Parisian style in any scenario. Modeled by Inès' daughter Nine, each of these items are demonstrated as part of a complete outfit in order to better exhibit how to incorporate exactly what she is suggesting must be in our closet: The Magnificent Seven: 1. A Man's Blazer 2. The Trench 3. The Navy (cashmere) Sweater 4. The Tank 5. The Little Black Dress 6. The Perfect Jeans 7. The Leather Jacket While this may be where many style books cease in their guidance, Inès has only just begun. For each of the Magnificent Seven she shares more ideas on how to meld it into anyone's wardrobe, a list of fashion faux pas, a lux celebrity style idea and a hall of fame reference which in the case of the navy sweater was Eric Bompard's cashmere company. She is spilling the beans so to speak, sharing the secrets and letting us all in on where one can acquire the look of Parisian style. And be sure, after sharing her tips on fashion, she continues on to accessories, the five essential bags, shoes, beauty, entertaining, and home decor. Having lived in Paris for most of her life (although not born there, further proof that one does not need to be a born and bred Parisian to possess such style), she also takes her readers through her recommended shops, boutiques, hotels, restaurants, spas, and hot spots that would take more than a few travel guides to figure out when attempting to plan their next trip to the City of Light. It is without reservation that I highly recommend Parisian Chic: A Style Guide as an informative, delightful and forever resourceful book that I am sure to pack for my next trip to Paris and have already begun to tweak my wardrobe accordingly - navy cashmere sweater, white jeans and ballet flats - my new go-to chic outfit. Thank you Inès!

OK. First of all this is the book to read not only if you are taking a trip over the ocean to France, but to read at ANY time!! Ines de la Fressange is definitely a woman with style and panache. I would compare her to a modern-day Audrey Hepburn! A true fun guide rather than a "book" per se, it is a delight to open--the luxe red and gold cover is like the pretty box to a home of chocolate truffles! She writes in a fun and cute way--not at all "preachy" or condescending. She's you bff from across the way, not some snobby, stuffy matron. Her advice is great. Really. It is. She is spot on when she suggests mixing high end with inexpensive--and you don't need to be a Parisian to take that to heart...who hasn't gone into NM, purchased a pair of Tory Burch Reva's then high tailed it to Forever 21 for a cheap shirt?? Right?? Her illustrations are cute and charming and fun--and her daughter is photographed throughout the book. Oy, I should be so thin! If you are taking a trip to Paris for the first time, or even after many visits, the guide is great for shopping at shops you may have not known about or missed on prior visits. I'll tell you, the stores she mentions are great finds. I was a little bit upset when I came to the page in which she wrote about Jean D'Anjou, a cute little jewelry store that is incredibly inexpensive, off the Pont Neuf--I've been going there for many years and she's right. It is a great find! Forget about all those other style guides that take themselves wayyyy too seriously. This is the guide to by. It is written with a common sense of humor and fun! I'm only hoping she writes another book/guide!! Thank you for reading my review and I really promise, if you make this purchase, you will be reading it with a smile on your face!

I've been using this book for inspiration since I ordered it, and after reading it several times, and browsing through it regularly, I still find "hints" that help me to dress better and look better on a daily basis. Some reviews have stated that it is more a travel guide than fashion guide. And it IS a travel/shopping guide to fashionable stores in Paris. And so? In the second half of the book, the travel guide section, we find chapter like: "Venerable Bookshops", and quotes like this one: "The Parisian buys plenty of books, but never has time to read them!" I can relate! On my reviewer profile, I state that "browsing old bookstores is a treat anytime." I often buy old books for their beauty, their history, and because they ARE BOOKS, as in: they are NOT electronic. Okay, I digress here, but the point is, the travel guide/shopping part of this book is delightful. It is an armchair traveller's delight. With a little imagination, you will find yourself on the streets of Paris, window shopping. As for the style part of the book (the first part) --just looking at the pictures of the author's daughter (much younger than this reviewer!) and the stylish sketches (by the author) will give any reader an idea of what looks classy, timeless, and chic, always and forever. Even the back cover photo of the author, with her "casual" hair, and simple blouse (with just enough cleavage for her age) is a way to imagine a better way to dress ourselves. If you read the book with an open mind, and study the photos and illustrations, you are sure to find something that will give you an "Ah-Ha!" fashion moment. Now, I'm off to order the 2013 Parisian Chic Day Planner/Calendar. I'm a little late with this order, but the best of the year is still to come!

I have a copy of this in French, but wanted to be able to share the great advice with English-reading-only friends. In actual fact, however, the format is different - the English book is wider so that the text is less cramped, and it's all-in-all easier to read. However, it shares with the French version the ultra-feminine, slightly luxurious red-and-gold faux-leather cover, making it a tactile delight! I have read a few negative comments here about the book being too Paris-centric. But surely that's inevitable?, given the very nature of the book - from it's clearly stated title, to it's Paris-based author, and her reason for writing it: she was being deluged with e-mail requests to share her "carnet de bonnes adresses å Paris" - so it seems somewhat disingenuous to complain that she has done EXACTLY THAT!! However, much of the style advice is pertinent to shoppers everywhere, and on every budget. The photos of Inès' beautiful daughter Nine, and her own whimsical sketches make this book an absolute delight. A blend of refreshing style sense and a soupçon of Gallic decadence make for a great read - highly recommended!!

Buenas recomendaciones para poder coordinar el guardarropa sin tanta "existencia" utilizar piezas claves puede ayudar a verse y sentirse diferente.

Love it. Really parisian

My family loves to vacation in France and I am fortunate enough to have experienced French food, fashion and their fabulous lust for life, first-hand. This book brings me there by opening its pages. Inès de la Fressange has written about time-tested Parisian principals of style; that will allow the reader to develop a wardrobe fit for all occasions. This is something that I have tried to emulate, but could not quite achieve, until now. I consult my guide constantly. Merci, Inès!!

bel libro e ottima idea regalo. consiglio a tutti di regalarlo alle proprie figlie, nipoti, cugine ecc. . Ines de la Fressange da ottimi consiglio ma soprattutto un po' di buon gusto nel vestire