Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris
Jennifer L. Scott
Language: English
Pages: 304
ISBN: 1451699379
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Inspired by Paris, this lighthearted and deceptively wise contemporary memoir serves as a guidebook for women on the path to adulthood, sophistication, and style. Jennifer Scott’s self-published success is now a beautifully packaged and fully illustrated gift book, perfect for any woman looking to lead a more fulfilling, passionate, and artful life.
Paris may be the City of Light, but for many it is also the City of Transformation. When Jennifer Scott arrived in Paris as an exchange student from California, she had little idea she would become an avid fan of French fashion, lifestyle, and sophistication. Used to a casual life back home, in Paris she was hosted by a woman she calls “Madame Chic,” mistress of a grand apartment in the Sixteenth Arrondissement.
Madame Chic mentors Jennifer in the art of living, with elegance and an impeccably French less-is-more philosophy. Three-course meals prepared by the well-dressed Madame Chic (her neat clothes covered by an apron, of course) lure Jennifer from her usual habit of frequent snacks, junk food, sweatpants, and TV.
Additional time spent with “Madame Bohemienne,” a charming single mother who passionately embraces Parisian joie de vivre, introduces readers to another facet of behind-closed-doors Parisian life.
While Francophiles will appreciate this memoir of a young woman’s adventure abroad, others who may not know much about France will thrill to the surprisingly do-able (yet chic!) hair and makeup lessons, plus tips on how to create a capsule wardrobe with just ten useful core pieces.
Each chapter of Lessons from Madame Chic reveals the valuable secrets Jennifer learned while under Madame Chic’s tutelage—tips you can master no matter where you live or the size of your budget.
Embracing the classically French aesthetic of quality over quantity, aspiring Parisiennes will learn the art of eating (deprive yourself not; snacking is not chic), fashion (buy the best you can afford), grooming (le no-makeup look), among other tips.
From entertaining to decor, you will gain insights on how to cultivate old-fashioned sophistication while living an active, modern life. Lessons from Madame Chic is the essential handbook for a woman that wants to look good, live well, and enjoy that Parisian je ne sais quoi in her own arrondissement.
seek out a massage school near you and get one from a student at a discounted rate. Consult Professionals When it comes to your skin, consult professionals regularly. Dermatologists, estheticians, and other skin care professionals will guide you in solving your skin problems. I started to get regular facials once I created room for them in my budget. Getting facials on a regular basis has done wonders for my skin. The exfoliations, the peels, and the regular extractions have improved the
at room temperature or a bit warmer, and pat gently with a dry facecloth that I use only for my face. I find this detail to be very important. Wherever I go—whether I am at home, staying with family, or in a hotel—I always designate a towel just for my face. By doing so I can ensure that there is no shampoo, conditioner, or other residues on the towel that could clog my pores. After I gently pat my skin dry with my face-only towel (I warned you I was neurotic), I usually apply a toner, an alpha
took her an hour to do her makeup and flat-iron her hair. Pas du tout. She had her look down so well, she could put together an outfit quickly without agonizing over what to wear. She had a simple haircut that was easy to style and wore very little makeup. Back in the days when Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn were the most famous movie stars, everyone used to dress up—during the day, for evening, for travel, for sleeping, and even for a quick jaunt to the corner store. What happened to our
just buffed and filed or elaborately polished. • Healthy hair in an attractive style does wonders for femininity. • The intangible aspects of femininity, like self-confidence and a sense of humor and adventure, are the most important. Never lose sight of these things. Chapter 10 ALWAYS USE THE BEST THINGS YOU HAVE I have already described what happened my first night in the house when Madame Chic caught me sneaking off to the kitchen to grab a nighttime snack. She also gave a
“Oh, nothing.” He will be intrigued. When grooming and taking care of personal matters, always do it behind closed doors. Your lover does not need to be privy to your daily use of the neti pot, nor does he need to see you plucking your eyebrows. I know couples who brag about how they pee in front of each other (I shudder to even type this). That is not intimacy, that is just gross. Maintain an air of mystery with your lover and keep the romance alive. Be Yourself Cultivating an air of mystery