A great book for those who admire the elegant simplicity of Parisian street fashion. Furthermore, this book is not only about stylish Parisian clothing but a stylish Parisian lifestyle. Its author is a reliable source of information on the above subjects: French model and designer Inès de La Fressange, who as a matter of fact was named into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1998! The style put forth by this book is classic, understated, and timeless. What is also great is the inclusion of a list of recommended online shopping havens the reader can turn to should they wish to take the tips and ideas into consideration (though not necessarily on the cheap). I will admit I was a little surprised and disappointed to see abercrombie.com on that list in a book called "Parisian Chic", but I am willing to overlook it. In addition, there is some nice photography of various quintessentially Parisian outfits as well as lovely boutiques, restaurants, and etcetera found on the streets of Paris, all of which are delightful! Overall, a very cute book. I stumbled upon this guide in the travel section of my library. And that's where it should be, it's filled with Parisian addresses (mostly shopping & food) and a small section with style tips. Well, I call them tips, but it's nothing you wouldn't know already if you have had any interest in fashion. Proclaiming a blazer or a trench as "true Parisian style" is not exactly earth-shattering. You can pick this up in any magazine, and hopefully the magazine will also have a slightly less biased opinion. One thing the author fails to mention is that the "Parisian style" she promotes looks stunning on slim, beautiful girls (like her daughter, who's modelling here), but not everyone can just wear a navy vneck sweater & white jeans and look polished.So, the addresses then. These were nice, especially the lunch places.Still only 2 stars... I got annoyed by the author's preppy tone (so enthousiastic! being a Parisian is the best!!) and recycled expressions (bien sur!!). And didn't like the drawings.
What do You think about Se šarmem Pařížanky (2010)?
The French as a collective are bewildering. How a Germanic tribe of fierce warriors turned into the simpering sad clowns of Western Europe is a mystery for the ages. But, they do some things very well and turning out chic ladies like de la Fressange happens to be one of them. I love her easy approach to beauty. But then, it is easy to be easy about beauty when you are naturally gorgeous and have legs that go up to your neck. The rest of us can only aspire to something several floors below that. Her cure for wrinkles? Quit getting so close to the mirror. After a certain age you should focus on the big picture and not the details. The book is not just a style and fashion guide but also includes a walking tour of Paris shops. It is not meant to be encyclopedic. Just fun. And it was. I think I will return to it many times for inspiration.
—valrx
Read yesterday whilst housebound, I enjoyed this foray into Paris fashion, accessories, and others sights. There are few vegan/vegetarian options inside, so if that is key you may need to look online. Some of the advice is timeless; less is more, be comfortable, not following trends, and above all, avoid the It Bag, my personal favourite tip. Tons of online resources to keep you busy for days. Fun, tongue in cheek. Constructed much like a bible. Lots of pictures with handwritten captions to give this book a diary feel. Creative and inspiring. Check it out. Perfect summer browse.
—janey
Fashion advice, and restaurant and shopping advice for when you take your fashionable self to Paris!
—shawshank
3.5. I wanted more fashion advice (which I really enjoyed) and less advertising of french shops.
—Lol
A must if you've moved to Paris and want to look like a chic parisienne :-)
—luci2222
