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French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (Chapter 7)

August 22, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

Chapter Seven
Confronting the Closet Conundrum


If chapter length has anything to do with it, clothing ranks right up there with skin care in the list of what it takes to be as chic as a Frenchwoman. How exactly do those Frenchwomen manage to look put together, stylish and yet give the air that it was all effortless? 
First up, and perhaps the most difficult for many of us, is attitude. The typical Frenchwoman exudes confidence. Her posture says, “Hey, I’m me and I look great.” No matter what one wears, this alone can make a woman more attractive. This is something I’ve noticed from all the people watching I do, especially on our trips to New Orleans. I can’t tell you how many women I’ve seen who couldn’t exactly be called pretty who still manage to exude a degree of confidence which makes them attractive. 
Now, getting to the specifics about clothing, here are the basics which help Frenchwomen achieve their enviable style:
Quality clothing – Their wardrobe may be relatively small but the foundation is a collection of well-made basics which they will wear for many years. They will save and splurge on that black leather pencil skirt and then continue to wear it for ages. The fact that they keep their weight steady makes this possible. 

Neutrals – French women tend to gravitate toward neutrals for the basis of their wardrobe. Black, navy, gray, brown…these form the the bulk of the Frenchwoman’s clothing purchases, particularly those quality pieces she will wear for many years. This also allows her to have a smaller wardrobe. No one is likely to notice if she wears the same black slacks 2 or 3 times a week.

Adding color – Just because she favors neutrals doesn’t mean the Frenchwoman totally eschews color in her closet. It’s just that color is added judiciously, making sure it complements the neutral base of her wardrobe. A beautiful, emerald green cashmere sweater can add a stunning pop of color in a mostly black and gray clothing collection, for instance. But she is likely to limit colorful pieces to perhaps 15-20%. 

Fit – This is the element I think many American women could use help with. The typical Frenchwoman’s clothes fit beautifully and are selected to flatter her feminine curves. Perhaps it’s because fashion is such a huge deal in France and women are surrounded with good examples, but they seem to do a much better job in this regard. 
Tish Jett, the author, devotes several pages of this chapter to detailed descriptions of real French women’s wardrobes including clothing lists. This is actually pretty helpful and has inspired me to inventory my closet and start making a list of what I’d like to add to it. 
~~~~~

You can read my reviews of previous chapters by clicking on the links below:
Chapter 1: The Allure of La Femme Française d’un Certain Âge
Chapter 2: Skin Care
Chapter 3: Makeup
Chapter 4: Hair Rules
Chapter 5: Le Régime
Chapter 6: Exercise




Filed Under: French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: book review, Forever Chic, France, French Friday, Tish Jett

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (Chapter 6)

July 11, 2014 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Chapter Six
Exercise? Bien Sur!
La Femme Française Formula:
Fitness For the Fun of It
It is a common notion that French women don’t exercise. According to Tish Jett, the author of “Forever Chic”, this is not true. Exercise classes are extremely popular in France. Pilates, yoga, tai chi and aquagym classes are are all very well-attended. Women of all ages are even taking up jogging. 
French women do, however, prefer an element of fun in their efforts to keep fit. Biking, walking, skiing, tennis, golf…these are activities which provide the French woman with exercise as well as a dose of fresh air, something considered to be very important. 

“Aeration is part of the French esthetic, another aspect of taking good care of oneself.”

One thing the French seem to do better than Americans is simply including more movement in their day-to-day life. The government gets in on the act, too. Along with messages about teaching your children not to snack between meals, the word “Bouger!” (Move!) is periodically flashed on the bottom of the television screen. It would seem that the French, as a culture, take health seriously and aren’t offended by government efforts to encourage healthy eating and exercise. If only that were true in America. 

~~~~~
You can read my reviews of previous chapters by clicking on the links below:
Chapter 1: The Allure of La Femme Française d’un Certain Âge
Chapter 2: Skin Care
Chapter 3: Makeup
Chapter 4: Hair Rules
Chapter 5: Le Régime 

Filed Under: French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: exercise, Forever Chic, France, French Friday, Tish Jett

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (Chapter 5)

June 13, 2014 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

 

Chapter Five
Le Régime 
The Art of Eating Well

Ask most anyone what aspect of the stereotypical “French woman” is most envied and I would wager the #1 response is the ability to stay slim despite all that delicious French food and wine. Or is that just me? Non, I’m sure it’s not. 
In Chapter Five, author Tish Jett delves into this mystery. Yes, French women do indulge in cheese, wine, chocolate, etc. However it’s not quite as mysterious as it seems. There are any number of little tricks the average French woman uses to keep her svelte figure. 
Here are some of my favorites from this chapter:
  • Minimal snacking. The French as a whole discourage indiscriminate snacking between meals. Even children are generally expected to follow a three-meal-a-day eating routine, with perhaps a small, planned afternoon snack (le goûter). 
  • Plenty of fruits and vegetables. Healthy eating is important and by filling up on fruits and veggies, which are generally low in calories, one will consume fewer calories overall. 
  • Mindful eating. Make deliberate choices, eat sitting down, and truly focus on your meals.
  • A first course of salad or soup. This is something I’ve found to be truly helpful. We don’t do it all the time, or even most of the time, but when I serve a salad or something else as a first course, I find that we eat less overall. Tonight, for instance, I’m serving artichokes as an appetizer. Experience has taught me that we will be full on smaller portions of the main course. 
  • Enjoy your food.  This is my absolute favorite tip. Food should be delicious and it should bring true pleasure. Don’t eat just to eat. Prepare delicious meals and then take the time to savor them. And if you decide to indulge in a piece of dark chocolate, don’t feel guilty. Eat it slowly, perhaps with a cup of tea, and enjoy every tiny bite. 
~~~~
You can read my reviews of previous chapters by clicking on the links below:
Chapter 1: The Allure of La Femme Française d’un Certain Âge
Chapter 2: Skin Care
Chapter 3: Makeup
Chapter 4: Hair Rules

Filed Under: French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: book review, dieting, Food, Forever Chic, France, French Chic, French Friday, French women, Tish Jett

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (Chapter 4)

February 1, 2014 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Chapter Four
Hair Rules
Non, Non, et Non
 
Hair is the subject of Chapter Four and again, “natural” is the name of the game. No teased and lacquered hair for the typical French woman, please. Soft, shiny, and with a bit of swing…that’s the preferred look.
It may look as if it happens effortlessly but French women are willing to make a significant investment in the care of their hair. She will take the time to find just the right cut and (perhaps) color to suit her and budget for the expense of upkeep. She will pinch pennies elsewhere in order to afford professional hair care.
One thing I found interesting is that, according to the author, French women may only wash their hair twice a week. Until fairly recently, I washed mine every day and thought that was essential. However, I’ve discovered that it’s possible to cut back and have your hair actually look better.
Hair length is another consideration, especially for the older woman. At least where I live, most women my age have short hair. I am bucking that trend because I just feel more like “me” with some length. A shoulder-length bob is apparently a popular look for women my age in France but anything goes as long as it’s flattering.
Color is the next topic in this chapter and this is where do-it-yourself is not generally the best choice. This is something I discovered for myself a number of years ago. When I quit my job as a R.N. in order to homeschool our kids, our income was cut in half. In looking for ways to cut expenses I gave up having my nails done and started coloring my own hair. The discontinuation of the color I’d been using and a disastrous attempt with a new color sent me scurrying to a salon to have the damage repaired. It looked SO much better than what I’d been doing myself that David told me to just keep having it done at the salon. Money was no longer a concern but I had just gotten in the habit of doing it myself. However, he convinced me that this was worth leaving to the professionals. There is also a discussion regarding allowing one’s hair to go gray but let me just say, I’m nowhere near ready to make that choice.
Care and maintenance finish off the chapter. Other than argon oil, there aren’t any specific product recommendations. Rather, there are general tips regarding the avoidance of stripping the natural oils from one’s hair and not overusing hair products. One tip I am going to try is applying argon oil before shampooing. I am also on the lookout for a good, deep moisturizing treatment to use once a week.
I think we all feel better about ourselves when our hair looks good and it’s worth the time it takes for every day to be a “good hair day”.
~~~~~
I planned my day in order to have time to watch a French film I’ve had here from Netflix for the past 2 or 3 weeks. The film was “The Double Life of Veronique”. An interesting film and a nice way to spend a Friday afternoon.
 

Filed Under: Books, Films, French Friday, French Inspiration, French Inspired Living Tagged With: argon oil, book club, Forever Chic, French films, French Friday, hair care

French Friday ~”Forever Chic” (chapter three)

January 18, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

Chapter Three
Le Maquillage
More Than Ever, Less Is More


The overall goal for the Frenchwoman is to appear natural. Hair, skin, style, makeup…a lot of effort may go into achieving it but the goal is a natural, effortless appearance. Tish Jett discusses makeup (maquillage) in Chapter Three, breaking it down into the following categories:
Foundation – choosing the right color, texture/type, how to apply
Powder – translucent powder and how to apply
Bronzer – how to apply for a sun-kissed look
Eyes – mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, highlighter, eyebrows 
Lips – the two lipsticks every woman needs
Cheeks – cream or powder?
Fragrance – No discussion of French beauty is complete without perfume.

This was my favorite part of Chapter Three. I started wearing fragrance before I was a teenager. Love’s Baby Soft, anyone? I then graduated to Charlie which I thought was quite grownup. And then during high school I discovered Shalimar by Guerlain.. Real French perfume. I was immediately captivated by it and have worn it almost exclusively ever since. It’s expensive but I consider it a necessity and wear it every day. I feel naked without it, and not in a good way. 

This was a fun chapter containing a number of helpful beauty tips. I love the quote the author uses to end the chapter:

“It’s a privilege to be a woman; every woman should abuse that privilege. Forget the past. Do everything according to love, pleasure and passion.” ~ Eric Antoniotti

Filed Under: French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: book club, Forever Chic, French Friday, French women, makeup, perfume, Shalimar

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (chapter two)

January 4, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

I am finally getting around to reviewing chapter Chapter Two of “Forever Chic”. Chapter One was way back in October! Well, better late than never, right?
Chapter Two 
More Than Skin Deep
A Celebration of La Toilette Française
In this rather lengthy chapter, the author details the methods and various products used by French woman to maintain their lovely complexions. French women take their skin seriously and are willing to spend a substantial amount of time and money on its care and maintenance. 
First of all, French women believe every woman should have her own dermatologist. And French mothers make a point of starting their daughters out with good skin care habits at about age 12. Some of the recommendations are the standard ones we all know:
  • avoid sun exposure
  • remove makeup before going to bed
  • moisturize 
Tish Jett then takes us on a detailed journey through the various products and skin treatments available to French women. Everything from cleansers to moisturizers to Retin-A to lesser known items such as pre-sun pills, Jett discusses a multitude of products and her personal experiences with each. She also covers skin procedures such as Botox, fillers, peels, mesotherapy and laser treatments.  The information on each product and treatment is concise, yet thorough. 
Skin care doesn’t end at the neck, however. Jett goes on to discuss the importance of caring for one’s entire body. French women are also diligent about keeping their bodies “soft, mostly hair-free and smelling delicious”. Exfoliation and daily moisturizing are essential. Manicures and pedicures keep nails looking attractive. 
Reading this chapter almost overwhelmed me with all the various potions and treatments available. If one has the time, money and inclination there are plenty of ways to keep one’s skin looking as good as possible, as long as possible. But even if you aren’t inclined to utilize every option, there are some basic things every woman can do to keep her skin in good condition:
  • wear sunscreen (I opt for natural mineral makeup on my face rather than chemical sunscreens)
  • cleanse skin thoroughly
  • moisturize
  • exfoliate (personally I think this can be overdone, especially if you have sensitive skin)
  • hydrate (6-8 glasses of water per day)
  • get plenty of sleep
  • avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
Several years ago I learned about a skin care method from an older French woman who was then living in Houston. Her name was Jane Sebeyran and she had her own skin care products. The key to her method was avoiding the use of soap and water, utilizing instead a tissue-off cleansing cream. It is now becoming popular to use oil to cleanse one’s skin but back when I first learned of her method it seemed rather odd. Several members of the French Chic Yahoo Group had tried her products and reported such amazing results that I finally decided to try myself. Within about a week, my formerly oily skin had regulated itself and breakouts became almost non-existent. I was sold! Sadly, *Ms. Sebeyran, who was in her 80s by that time, began having some health problems and shut down her business. I haven’t found anything quite as good as her formulas but adequate substitutes and the same basic method have kept my skin in good shape – as long as I don’t get lazy about the whole thing. 😉

Essentially, my skin care routine (when I’m doing it right) involves a tissue-off cleanser before bed and a good nighttime moisturizer. In the morning, something like witch hazel on a cotton ball to refresh the skin and then a daytime moisturizer. I use mineral makeup which is a natural sunscreen. And that’s it.

Well, I’ve got a party to go to so I’ll have to wrap this up. Leave me a comment if you have a skin care method or product to recommend. 

*Update: I was in a hurry as I wrote this post last night and didn’t have time to include links. I just Googled Jane Sebeyran and am sad to report that she died a few months ago. 

Filed Under: Books, French Friday, French Inspiration, French Inspired Living Tagged With: book club, Forever Chic, French women, skin care

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (chapter one)

October 25, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

Today is the first “meeting” of the French Chic book club. We are reading Tish Jett’s new book, “Forever Chic: Frenchwomen’s Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style and Substance”. We are on our way to New Orleans today so this post was written last night, before any actual discussion on our group site.

Tish Jett moved to France “for two years” for her job and more than 25 years later, she’s still there. “Forever Chic” is dedicated to women of “a certain age” (over 40) and is a distillation of what she has learned from close observation of those legendary French women.

The first chapter is: The Allure of La Femme Française d’un Certain Âge


As one who falls into the category of a woman “of a certain age” I’m most definitely interested in how French women remain stylish and alluring no matter their age.

As I read through the chapter I highlighted the following words:

1. Self-confidence
2. Pragmatism
3. Simplicity
4. Quality over quantity
5. Natural
6. Informed
7. Discipline
8. Priority
9. Self-respect
10. Discretion

I now have this list of words written a small piece of paper (in pink ink) by my computer to serve as a reminder.

Tish, who teaches adult English classes, asked her French students (age 44-75) what keeps them young. No one mentioned a facial cream or beauty trick. Here is their list:

Things that keep you young
  • travel
  • classes (everything from painting to yoga)
  • annual museum memberships
  • children and grandchildren
  • entertaining
  • fresh air and long walks
  • eating lots of fruits and vegetables
  • sex
My children are grown and I don’t have grandchildren but I can certainly pull off the rest of that list. In fact, most of those things are already part of my life. 
I enjoyed this first chapter and have already gleaned some helpful advice. I look forward to what the rest of the book holds. If you have the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you don’t but are interested, consider ordering a copy and joining the discussion here in the weeks to come. 

Filed Under: Books, French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: aging, book club, Forever Chic, French Chic, French Friday, French women, style, youth

French Friday – Book Club

October 18, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

New book for online book club!
Forever Chic by Tish Jett
The French Chic group I belong to decided it would be fun to do an online book club. As we were discussing which book to read first one of our members humbly mentioned that she had a book coming out. Parfait! Several of us pre-ordered and it began shipping this week. 
I received my copy a couple of days ago and I’m really eager to begin reading it. We will probably cover a chapter a week and my plan is to share some highlights here on “French Fridays”. If you’d like to join in, you can order your own copy here. It’s available in hardback and Kindle versions. I have a Kindle but I opted for the hardback so it can take its place amongst my collection of French-themed books. I’m so glad I did because it’s absolutely gorgeous with quality binding and darling illustrations. You should also check out Tish’s blog, A Femme d’Un Certain Age.

Check back next Friday for the first chapter of “Forever Chic”. Bonsoir, mes amis!

Filed Under: Books, French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: book club, Forever Chic, French Chic, French Friday, French women

French Friday ~ Take a Walk

September 21, 2013 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

I’ve been so pleased with the increased participation on the French Chic Yahoo Group. I wish I had taken steps to jump-start things long ago. It seems many were quietly waiting in the wings, eager for a return to our more active days. I learned something from this: Don’t wait for someone else to do it.

In addition to plans for a group book discussion, we are also selecting a group challenge each week. This week many of us committed to walking each day. Some of us use a treadmill, others aim for a certain number of steps per day, and still others are enjoying walking with our dogs.

Last week I saw my doctor and we discussed my exercise challenges. I am anemic and asthmatic which means I am short of breath with exertion. He recommended starting slowly, stopping just short of breathlessness, then maintain that level for a full two weeks before adding a bit more. He said it takes about two weeks for one’s body to adjust to a certain level of activity. I’m taking his advice and am determined to increase my endurance.

It’s a bit discouraging at times when I see friends on Facebook sharing how many miles they ran. Actual, honest-to-goodness running. I tell you truly that if you see me running I hope you’ll try to head off whoever is chasing me. But the fact is I can only start where I am and it does no good to compare myself to others. That’s what I love about our French Chic ladies. We are there to encourage one another and the only competition is with ourselves, not each other.

If you could use a little exercise I encourage you to join me in a daily walk. Leave me a comment and tell me your walking goal. Mine is 10 minutes on the treadmill at a 5% incline, plus several walks with Shiloh each day. We can do this!

Filed Under: French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: exercise, French Chic, French Friday, walking

French Friday ~ Designing My Life

September 13, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

I’ve long been a member (and moderator) of the Yahoo Group, French Chic. Participation has slowed in recent years, probably because of Facebook and other social media options. But several of us are hoping to revive the group because it has, in the past, served an important role in our lives. 
I’ve been doing some thinking about our group motto:
A French woman consciously designs her life, and makes daily choices to carry out that design. 

I need to give some thought to consciously designing my life and I definitely need to be more intentional about those daily choices. You’ll no doubt be hearing more about all this but for today I’m going to be “consciously” cleaning my house. 😉
I’m one of those who functions best and is happiest in a clean and tidy environment. Not obsessively so – I’ve learned to live with less than perfection. And I’m in no way a minimalist. I like to see evidence of life being lived in a house. But this week has involved way more than my usual amount of time away from home and it shows. This was also a poor time for me to take on the project of washing and ironing my kitchen curtains. I’ve only got one of the three windows done. 
So I’m going to put on some music – probably my French music Spotify playlist, La Musique, to start. Then I’ll go about bringing order to my home. I’ve also planned a nice dinner:
Aperitif
First course: tossed mixed green salad with homemade vinaigrette 
Main course: baked chicken breasts with herbs de provence, garlic mashed potatoes, whiskey-glazed carrots 
Dessert: something made with apples (perhaps an apple tarte?) and French press coffee
David has had a crazy week and we are both looking forward to a peaceful evening together. We are going to watch “The Great Gatsby” and then perhaps do a little stargazing before retiring for the night. We’ve had a lot of fun trips, activities, parties, etc. recently but both of us are (more than) ready for a quiet evening alone! 
*Picture at top of post used to be on the French Chic home page before Yahoo changed the page layout requiring a horizontal photo. I don’t know who to credit for the photo but I’ll try to find out. 

Filed Under: Films, French Friday, French Inspiration Tagged With: conscious living, dinner, French Chic, French Friday, French music, POW, The Great Gatsby

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Welcome to Life With Dee! I'm a Francophile with a hippie heart, trying to create a beautiful life in the country while dreaming of Paris. Join me as I share inspiration to help you create your own "beautiful life".

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