A Guide to Elegance by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux is a little elegant book that provides an A to Z guide on how to be and how to look elegant at all times. It is a light read, packed with do's, don'ts, and reminders, about topics from accessories to jewelry to shoes.One would definitely find the book to be enjoyable, though at times one might feel that the guides are too strict or too outdated, especially if the reader has embraced a little bit of bohemian style. Yet, the reader would in the end understand that this book goes beyond fashion and trends. It is clearly about style, and as the title implies, about elegance.
The book may look elegant, the text well-written, but the question is, will you learn something from it? Yes, of course. A lot actually. For example, to have a small wardrobe with high quality and classic items is better than having a big one full of items that you would care less after a use or two. Another example, which serves as a reminder really, is that using a finger to dislodge a particle between your teeth is a serious crime against elegance. So yes, you will learn a lot. But you have to read the book twice or more in order for the do's and don'ts to sink in.
Some Quotes from the Book
On Chic
The essence of casual refinement, chic is a little less studied than elegance and a little more intellectual. It is an inborn quality of certain individuals, who are sometimes unaware that they possess it. Chic is only perceptible to those who have already acquired a certain degree of civilization and culture and who have in addition both the leisure time to devote to improving their appearance and the desire to be part of a particular kind of elite, which might be called the "aristocracy of external appearance."
On Discretion
A person who has really succeeded in life no longer feels the need to attract attention, and perhaps this is why so many very wealthy and prominent women become more and more conservative in their dress.
On Fashion
No woman can be elegant if she tries to combine in a single outfit the inspirations of several different designers. A fashion ensemble is not the Reader's Digest.
On Luxury
It may be interpreted to mean superfluous, expensive, refined, extravagant - in any case, it is a word that caresses the ear as well as the imagination. Its sense is therefore completely subjective. perhaps the idea of luxury stems basically from a comparison between the minimum standard of living of one group and another. For many women, the sensation of luxury comes simply from the possession of an object that her friends do not own.
Rate: 4 out of 5.
Where to Buy:
- Amazon.com
- Powerbooks
- Fully Booked
Other Books to Read:
1. Entre Nous by Debra Ollivier (A Must Read! 5 out of 5)
2. Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke Keogh, Hubert de Givenchy (A Must Read! 5 out of 5)
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