Tips for Love, Style and Bad Habits
I just finished reading a cheeky book How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits written by four French girlfriends who currently live or have lived in Paris. They live life large. Their experiences are a moveable feast that you can take with you wherever you go. (Links to Canadian Amazon and US Amazon at the bottom)
From fashion clothing, to conversation, food and affairs. It’s funny, frank and sometimes outrageous. It’s full of contradictions, but I guess that’s what makes Parisian women endearing – you can’t pigeon-hole them.
Here are seven tips and advice that I wanted to share from the book:
Parisian women on –
Imperfection advice
1 – “The Parisian retains her little imperfections, cherishes them even (the gap in her smile or her slightly crooked tooth, her prominent eyebrows or strong nose): these are the signs of a certain strength of character and allow her to feel beautiful without being perfect.”
2 – “In short, you’re not a slave to the cult of the perfect body—so learn to make the best of what nature gave you.”
Nail tips
3 – “Short, clean nails, sometimes worn with nail polish—but not always.”
Aging Advice
4 – “Enjoy the face you have today. It’s the one you’ll wish you have 10 years from now.”
Signature Items
5 – “You don’t have to spend a decade’s worth of salary on your wardrobe, or flaunt designer brands the whole time. All you need is one signature item: the one you wear when you need to feel strong.”
Plastic Surgery Advice
6 – “A measure of its success is that it is undetectable. You don’t talk about it, you don’t tell people. The main thing is to avoid any operation that distorts or that might turn a woman into a statue or a doll.”
Words to live by
7 – “Parisian women never try to appear to be something other than what they are. In truth, more than wanting to look young—which is but a fleeting illusion—they want above all to become the best possible version of themselves, outside and in, at any age.”
Caution
Even if you can’t get to Paris, you can add a little Paris to your everyday life.
I’d just be a little cautious with their advice on affairs. My Terry can be very jealous. 🙂
How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret & Sophie Ma
Links to Amazon Canada or Amazon USA