Book Review!

I've read most of  the "french inspired" lifestyle books that have been released over the years. Periodically I've reviewed a few on the blog. I just finished reading 2 - one is a new release "My Paris Dream" by Kate Betts and the other other was published in 2013 (but is new to me!) "French Women Don't Get Facelifts" by Mireille Guiliano. 

I had high hopes for "My Paris Dream" and they weren't fulfilled. Perhaps they were too high?! Maybe I'm a bit jealous that I didn't hightail it to Paris after school and make living there a reality?!

Not sure of the answer to that, but I was disappointed with this memoir. Kate Betts, who ultimately became the editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar, came from a background of privilege: she was the 4th generation of her family to graduate from Princeton University. She paints herself as a fairly regular girl who bucked the system and followed her dream of living in Paris instead of becoming a New York money making machine like many of her fellow graduates. It seems a bit of a stretch (to me anyway) that she ended up working for Fairchild's Women's Wear Daily without any use of her familial connections. Fairchild himself was a Princeton grad. If I had enjoyed her writing style and her exposition more that would not be an issue, but I felt that something was missing from this retelling of her story: more detail, more honesty, more explanation of the slang words used and more juicy, insider details about, for example, Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld, both of whom she worked with. Some writers have made me drool when evoking Paris or Italy, this memoir did not.

On a brighter note, I enjoyed Mireille Guiliano's latest instructional manual much more and I can definitely tell you why. First, she is of the less is more school, very no nonsense and practical. Secondly her information is spot on! She discusses, for instance, estrogen and Vitamin C and her recommendations are the latest, most scientifically supported! I know this because, just this week, I met with the Cleveland Clinic's Holly Thacker who is one of the preeminent women's health doctors in the world and her recommendations to me were exactly the same!! 

Here's to one of my favorite things: reading. Cheers, La

Frugal French

Below is, hopefully, a link to a NYT's article I read today. It speaks to me of a difference between my American culture and that of the French, one that I write about here sometimes, thrift. When I attempt to communicate that feeling of satisfaction inherent in loving a beautiful, old object that has a history, been handed down perhaps, and IS the real thing rather than a stand in, I feel that the fact that it was also the frugal choice sometimes feels cheap.
http://tinyurl.com/y7hhhbp

enjoy,
La

The Best Margarita or wardrobe shopping at home rewards!

The sun has been revitalizing. My closet is purged and I have come up with some
good findings, one of which is I really needed sandals (and clogs, but those can
wait for fall) to update/upstyle everything I already own. I may still have the
cropped pants from Marcel tailored. Found great gladiator sandals at Target,
they were inexpensive at just about $21. including tax.
Wore them last night for
margaritas on the deck. Very wondeful.
Shopping your closet may leave money available for good tequilla upon occasion.

The best Margarita
Juice of one large orange
Juice of 2 limes
1 tea. powdered sugar
Shake together in a small jar.
Pour a shot of tequilla into lots of ice and add the lovely juice.
No salt, no blender. No headache.

SPRING WARDROBE

I have been trying to get thru my closets/drawers etc. Le printemps en Cleveland
is a wild affair. Wind, rain, sleet and possibly snow followed rapidement by sun and 80 odd degrees. It is not condusive to the seasonal switchover.
I am a layering non seasonal devotee of the silhouette. Which means I have attempted
to amass clothing that can be worn year round, even in a place with seasons. It does not absolve me of a seasonal look see, weeding out and setting up.

I prefer sleeveless or 3/4 length sleeve. Tunic length over a fitted leotard style top. Ankle length pant or knee length denim pencil skirt. Jeans, except white ones, go away till fall. A wonderful Lilly shift. Long scarf. Flat/mid sandal. Earrings, perhaps a necklace.
Short/mid natural looking nails (note that is looking, it requires time!), tousled mid length hair (layered to my chin). My silhouette is long and lean, never waist conscious!

In the winter it's dark boot cut jeans and boots and black/layers on top. Less color than my summer palate.

Now it is time to plow thru and choose only the best of the best from my closets!

This is frugal and wonderfully smart right now. I have ample reason to look for a few items and I have been dreadfully strict about any additions to my wardrobe, but am going to make it thru this spring and summer on what I have. At the most a pair of sandals if I can find the best. I saw Seiberling (?) sandals at Nordstrom and they look like what I want, but I looked at them intensely last spring and did not go for them, so they just aren't perfect and has that changed?
I don't want to add things just to add them. I want to distill my essence into about 20 great things that I can wear over and over, so retail therapy is wrong. I need a couturier. The chic and ease of a french inspired minimal/maximal wardrobe. So for now I will be as discerning with the offerings of my boudoir as I would could I choose from only the best! It is about quality afterall.
I am looking for classic summer pairings: white on white, nautical etc. And the best
outer layers - big shirts - for the transition and evenings/air conditioning. I have a great summer scarf for that job too. I may have to take a pair of ankle pants to the tailor, but they are worth it I think....

Good luck going thru your stuff too!