Forever Chic: Frenchwomen's Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style, and Substance

Terrific new book in the whole francophile genre. I just got it delivered to my kindle, and have skimmed thru it. Each chapter takes a look at how French women handle different aspects of feminine life from skin care to clothing, diet, exercise and far more. This is a grown up version of Helena Frith Powell's "All You Need to be Impossibly French" intended for the over 40 crowd. It is a longer version of Anne Barone's Chic and Slim Toujours; Aging Beautifully the French Way. It doesn't copy either author, it adds to the information and complements it.The preface starts by asking what age has to do with anything really? She briefly explains her move to France for 2 years that morphed into 25 and still going as she met and married a charming French man. Like others before her, she looked around her and saw a different landscape. She liked how French women around her approached life, and set out to find what they were doing that made them a bit more attractive, different, worth emulating.As she covers each subject she uses a lot of different sources from dermatologists to her French girlfriends. The information is extensive and each chapter had new stuff I've not bumped into before.. This is an excellent new book in what is becoming a crowded field. Entire books are written on the French diet, and her chapter summarizes much of that wisdom, but she gives fresh good advice.Even if you own Helena Frith Powell, Debra Ollivier, Anne Barone, Mireille Guiliano, Jennifer Scott and Marie-Anne LeCoeur you will not be disappointed in this new book.Chapter 1 begins with Allure. A very French concept and one that encompasses the whole person, brains, soul, heart and body. What goes on inside, makes a great difference to the attractiveness of the whole package. This has to do with decisions and priorities. In a sense this chapter and the ninth chapter are the bookends of this book. Chapter one is talking about moving into change from the head and heart on out, while the last chapter pulls it together discussing poise, charm and generally being fun to be around.Chapter 2 covers skin care, from face to body, including nails and feet. Some great advice aimed at over 40 women. Hopefully younger women reading this will remember that and not complain about it. She does give some advice in AVOIDING things like smoking and sun exposure. Apparently a lot of older women in France ARE quitting smoking simply for the sake of their skin. Who knew? I was fascinated by a tip, new to me, about soaking the feet in a bath of warm water, epsom salts and ASPIRINS. Yes, she adds a couple of aspirin to the soak, which soften the hard skin, and helps slough dead skin. Makes perfect sense since Aspirin is also known as Beta Hydroxy Acid or BHA for short in creams and potions that work at loosening dead skin cells. Much more in this informative chapter.Chapter 3 is on Makeup, The focus is building a light, natural look. Chapter 4 on Hair, Cut, condition and colour has some excellent tips by 2 top French colorists which I plan to try soon..Chapter 5 covers Dieting and the art of eating well. This one has a few new wrinkles to the whole French diet paradox but for the most part it's common sense and if you've read widely in this subject, it won't be much new. However it's always nice to hear it stated a slightly different way, and she does add a couple of new things from a French nutrition expert.Chapter 6 is Exercise--and she says yes, as French women age in the baby boomer generation, they have definitely picked up the exercise habits. But you still won't catch them hanging out all day in exercise gear, nor are their exercise get ups baggy, loose or in loud screechy colour combos. As always, they fit well, show off the body that took so much effort, and announce quietly with conviction that this person maintains her style and chic always.Chapter 7 On to the closet and the fabled French wardrobe. Less about the minimalist wardrobe and more about dressing well to suit yourself. Chapter 8 Accessories. How to deploy them effectively. This is another chapter worth the price of the book just for the tips alone.Chapter 9 pulls it all together. I'd call it being fun to be around but the author talks about poise and charm. It's something that is often lost in a white knuckle drive to succeed here in North America. Just how much fun ARE you just to hang out with. Do you put your career and your goals so far in the front that your friends, husband or kids feel they come a far second. She gets into something I've really only heard Anne Barone get in depth with and that is the intellectual legacy of the salonistes. The art of conversation, the development of the intellect as essential to the whole package as laughter and a warm smile.The epilogue is aptly titled La Nouvelle Moi, A Work in Progress.Great book, loved it, and I'm glad I bought a copy. It is a complement to the authors above, and is a welcome addition on my bookshelf.

Having recently visited France, I was struck by the grace and style of French women "of a certain age" (as the book puts it). This means those over 40. Unlike the average woman in the US over 40, the average French woman that I observed seemed stylish -- even when running errands. I saw no "schlep-a-dinkas" in sweatpants sans makeup and wondered why. I wanted to emulate them, so upon returning to the US, I browsed Amazon for books that may help and came upon this one. Written by an American-born journalist and blogger who has lived among the French for years, it is a compendium of their secrets. Some are easy to adopt, such as ritualistic skin care, twice daily that includes deep cleansing and moisturizing. Others are tougher. For example, plastic surgery is like a sacrament in France. It seems everyone has her own plastic surgeon -- or, at the very least, a dermatologist who is visited religiously. Easier to emulate is the French woman's attitude about hair and wardrobe. First rule: use both to show strengths and hide weaknesses -- and keep them timeless! Better to own a few pieces of well-made clothes than to own a wardrobe of rags. Because all their clothing works well, they dress with confidence and carry themselves proudly! No need to hide or apologize, because they always go out looking their best. That doesn't mean gobs of make-up, either. Instead, they go for the minimalist, fresh-faced look -- and they can do it because the dermatologist keeps their skin healthy. Beyond outer appearances, the author shares secrets for being a better person on the inside, too. Her breezy writing style includes sprinkles of French phrases and colorful anecdotes. This makes the reading fun and entertaining while also enlightening. Take the advice or leave it. But, I recommend this book to any woman of a certain age who wants to look better and feel more confident than she does right now. In the end, a better you is a gift to yourself and to your loved ones.

This is a lighthearted book, written in a conversational style. The central message, however, is essential--that a woman matters. I appreciate the advice, however difficult to integrate into a busy & overwhelmed American life, that it is important to take time for one's self. A few extra minutes each day, to look after one's appearance and health, make the difference between what the average American woman presents to the public and what a French woman does. There is nothing wrong with dressing the part, making the effort, and presenting one's self to society in the manner in which one wants. Quality definitely does trump quantity; take care of your possessions and they will repay you a million times over. Perhaps the most important advice in this book is the power to say "NO." Eliminate what is not important (or is toxic) in your life and spend time only on what and who is important to you.

Reminded me of so many things that I was taught as a young girl and forgot as I aged. Now as a mother, I can forward on to our daughters the same nuisances

I love trying to base my personal style on the classic French style and this book covers everything you need to know about how to attempt to be chic. I found it informative and in fact have given it a second read using it almost like a reference book. A great way to base your style on the ultimate French way of presenting yourself whilst staying authentic and true to yourself.

Forever Chic e' uma leitura interessante. Ao escolher este livro eu estava a procura de novas informacoes. Como nao me foi acrescentado muita coisa do que ja conheco sobre os segredos de beleza e estilo das mulheres francesas, eu o classifico apenas como uma leitura interessante.

Really good.

I had a ball reading this book! It's entertaining and offers a little peak into a culture that we don't see anywhere else. I think this is a must gift for all your special girlfriends to be enjoyed with a little lunch and a glass of wine.