Lessons from Madame Chic : My Thoughts, Pt 1

Last fall, an Italian blogger, who has a sophisticated but youthful and slightly edgy style that I adore, said that she was going to be using the "French method" (or a French something or other) for shopping from now on. Basically, I got the idea that she was going to buy only five items per season. It didn't sound as though she made up this "method", and it sounded intriguing to me, so I went on a search for resources on the French way of dressing and shopping. I don't think I've found the ultimate authority on French style yet, but I did come across this little book, Lessons From Madame Chic. It's like a big sister who is passing down all her wisdom to you, only she's a French big sister.

The author, Jennifer L. Scott, is American, but as a college student majoring in theatre, she studied abroad in Paris in 2001. She has nicknamed the family she stayed with "Famille Chic". They were of aristocratic descent, somewhat wealthy, very traditional and well-mannered and quintessentially French. They were also intellectual, modest, and hard-working, and they seemed to live an ordered, balanced life. Their behavior was so consistent in every area of life it was almost unbelievable. I figured that this family's status would give us a false impression of the French, but then again, who wants to emulate an average person from anywhere? Ms. Scott insists that most of the French people she met follow these same "lessons" that she learned in the Famille Chic home. She shares some of the values and habits that the French have that allow them to go through life with more passion and grace than we Americans manage. There are a lot of "do"s and "don't"s in this book, but I don't mind being told what to do; I decide what to do and what to ignore.

Title // Lessons from Madame Chic : 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris
Author // Jennifer L. Scott
Year Published // 2011

Here are the first three lessons. They're pretty straightforward.

Part 1 // Diet And Exercise

• Chapter 1 // Snacking Is So Not Chic
• Chapter 2 // Deprive Yourself Not
• Chapter 3 // Exercise Is A Part Of Life, Not A Chore

The following is not really a summary of the chapters, but rather a few random new things that I learned and want to remember. This is the practical advice.

Part 1 // Diet And Exercise

• 1 // The French don't snack. They always sit down to eat, even if it's just a croissant and a cup of coffee. Allow yourself to feel hungry and build up an appetite before a meal. This sounds obvious, right? But hunger feels like such a real, immediate need that when it strikes I leave whatever I'm working on to snack. (This tends to happen when I want to procrastinate anyway). She would tell me to treat myself to a fun activity- a walk or a book- rather than snacking.
• 2 // Be mindful of what you're eating, and treat it as a delicacy. The delightful presentation of French food has a purpose. You will approach beautiful cuisine slowly and with appreciation and not eat too much. That makes sense to me. Making all my food look pretty sounds as though it would take a lot of time, but at least I sit down now for breakfast. It's a start.
• 3 // The French don't go to the gym. Walk outside and explore your own neighborhood. I live in a subdivision, so it is quite a long walk to any store or place where I'd have a real purpose for being, but I'm resolved to try! Cleaning your house is good exercise too.

Part 2 is about style and beauty. I will go on and on about that, so that will be a new post.