Around that time of year...

Bonjour, mes amies!

I've been insanely busy lately, I'm afraid... no time to write little posts for you. :(

But I thought I would give you a Christmas present.

1. Style this time of year

Depending on where you are in the world, it's more or less cold. But if you (like me) are sitting looking out of the window at piles and piles of snow, you're going to need something warm to put over that little black dress when you go out.

Here in France, doudoune (or down jackets) are very frequently encountered in the street. Despite the popular theory that they make one resemble a snowman (which is what I thought until I tried one on in a store a couple of weeks ago and realized that it looks fabulous) they're actually quite flattering. The trick is not to get one that is over-stuffed, lest you end up looking like the turkey that you'll be preparing for Christmas dinner. If you get a slightly thinner one, it's just as warm, and makes you look seasonally gorgeous, with a hint of that just-off-the-ski-slope looks that's so appreciated this season. Top it off with some sunglasses in the right weather (yes, I always fall back on my sunglass trick) and voilà!

Otherwise, fur (either fake or real) keeps one amazingly warm. But if you feel that a fur coat is too ostentatious (which it often is in any daytime event, depending on the type of fur) then go with a furry scarf with the staple black wool coat. It adds a true touch of class to any outfit.

Then there's the timeless and beautiful cashmere sweater and scarf. No need for elaboration here. It speaks for itself in any color. (And you can always add a loosely knotted silk scarf with such a sweater. Elégance absolue.)

Bear in mind that all of this extends into January and February until March, when the weather gets warmer, so it's a good investment. Besides, these are things that don't go out of style, so they're re-usable from year to year.

2. Food

My sympathies to those who say that they don't have time and just buy some sort of frozen turkey at the supermarket, add some mashed potatoes and call it a Christmas dinner. Maybe that would fly at Thanksgiving (for some people, at least) but this is Christmas! The season of all of those clichés that we pretend to disregard but really love deep down. So make a little effort, people!

If a whole goose, duck, turkey, etc. seems a little too ambitious, or a little too much if you have a small family, then go with parts of the animal! Turkey breasts are delicious, and so are the wings and legs. Get a few of each (with the bones still in) and bake them in the oven with some white wine for about 45 minutes (adding the wine around 10 minutes before the end) and you have your dinner. It's really that simple. You can even bake the potatoes in there with them.

As far as dessert is concerned (ah, my specialty) you can employ the same principle as for Thanksgiving. A couple of apple, chocolate or pumpkin pies really do that trick. If you feel like having diversity but not like making too much dessert (we must, after all, watch the figure) then why not make mini-pies? They look a lot more complicated and intricate to make, so you have a better chance of impressing guests without a lot of effort. Otherwise, there's the timeless ginger-bread. It really isn't that difficult to make - any Joy of Cooking recipe would easily do the trick, and you can serve it with warm cider or mulled wine. (Which just involves cinnamon, crushed cloves, and a little bit of ginger in both cases.)

Tip: Serve dessert and drinks in the living room next to the tree. That way people will be a lot more comfortable (a sofa is better than a dining-room chair any day) and can enjoy the glow of the decorations. Turn off the over-head lights for extra atmosphere.

3. Presents

Late in getting your gifts? I always am. In fact, it's four days before Christmas and mine still haven't been purchased! Here are a couple of last minute ideas for important people in your life that you can later elaborate on.
(Warning: do not have these be the only gifts you get these people. That may be a little insulting, especially if they get you something really dramatic and big.)

Father - deluxe Swiss army knife (sounds a little odd, but trust me, they love it), scarf (ever noticed how they never have any but always think that they look nice?), nice bottle of red wine (red is better than white when it comes to men), cuff links (classy yet simple)

Mother - first edition book of poetry (preferably 19th century - Baudelaire is always a good idea), nice bottle of white wine (go into the plural with this one - women tend to go a little crazy with this, as you all know), sweet liqueur (such as raspberry-flavored Absolut Vodka or eau de vie), box of chocolates (make sure they're good quality), set for learning a new language (they always say they wished they had - show them it's never too late to learn French or Italian and then take a vacation there!)

Boyfriend - a very nice watch (classic), a bottle of Bordeaux or some champagne (that you will, of course, help him with), a designer shirt (why waste the opportunity to tell men how to dress?)

Best friend - jewelry (earrings, bracelet, etc. from a Joallier such as Thomas Sabo or Swarovski - great quality but not obscenely expensive), champagne (as she often shares your taste), chocolate (that you will help her with), designer accessories (like that purse she's been eyeing forever or that little scarf that would work with so many of her favorite clothes)

Yourself - everything you've been putting off buying, like the new face-products, the the clothes, the liqueur, etc. You deserve it!

Merry Christmas, mes amies! I'll be back before the New Year with tips on how to celebrate!

A la Russe

As you might have noticed, Russia is very à la mode at the moment. With Chanel doing the Paris-Moscow collection and Abramovitch's girlfriend all over the pages of Vogue, the country is bound to draw some attention.

But I have actually been intrigued by Russia for quite some time. I have relatives over there, so I'm primarily drawn for practical purposes.

Aside from the beautiful architecture and vibrant ambiance of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia has an immense and interesting history that one can easily draw from.

Literature...

Don't be daunted by the size of most of the classical Russian novels. Wading through War & Peace can take a while, but one often gets caught up in the story and forgets that it's supposed to be difficult.
The same goes for more of Tolstoy's books. Anna Karenina, though tragic, is completely engrossing and at times quite pleasant and entertaining.
For those who are looking for something a bit shorter but a little darker and more sinister, Dostoevsky also has unbelievable novels.
Hint: if you want to go a bit more modern and humorous, try Nabokov. Lolita is psychologically complicated and completely wrong in many ways, but nevertheless a great read.

Culture...

Not many people know that it was the Russians who were at the origin of ballet. In fact, some of the best ballet dancers today are still Russian. If you get the opportunity, go and see a production of the Russian Ballet Theater. It is not to be missed.
Otherwise, Russian art is currently flourishing. The avant-garde artists are becoming more and more known, and the prices of their work is rising. It would make a very good investment at the moment...

Gourmet...

The cliché is correct: caviar, caviar, caviar. To be served in a chilled bowl or on little blinis or mini buttered toast and to be accompanied by champagne on ice. Nothing more classy.
Impress your guests with Beluga caviar (which is the little black one and the best you can buy) or with the less expensive salmon variety (which is large, pink and delicious).
Easter is the most important Russian holiday, and they take advantage of the occasion to develop delicious deserts to go with it. A lot of the cakes, cookies and mousses involve honey, and this can be a good tip to pick up when cooking. Even adding honey to a simple glaze or batter can give it a delicious tang.

Style...

In general, Russian women have quite good taste.
Granted, their style may be a little more ostentatious than that of the French (makeup a little heavier, logos a little more on display, colors a little darker and/or more prominent, heels a little higher, skirts a little shorter, etc.) but it's still a certain type of confidence and dignity that can be admirable.
Adopting something a little more daring from time to time can add personal flair to any style.
(Besides, it's perfect for a night on the town, especially if you're going dancing.)

Drinks...

To re-evoke the cliché: vodka, vodka, vodka. But not just plain - lemon, cherry, apple, anything goes. Absolut (which is not Russian, but is still delicious vodka) even makes a pepper vodka, which has quite a kick.
Some people, like myself, enjoy throwing back a straight shot, but for the slightly less daring, a cocktail is the perfect way to go (which I happen to love almost as much as the straight).
Light and icy drinks being more appropriate for summer on the beach, one should go with something darker and with a deeper taste. A perfect example that I found is a White Russian.
**You pour a shot-glass full of vodka into a martini glass, then add two shots of Kahlua (coffee liqueur). Finish off with a considerable amount of whipped cream (or even liquid cream) and voilà! I admit, this drink sounds quite strange to those who haven't tasted it, but it's absolutely fabulous.**
Otherwise, you can go with the classic vodka martini or other drinks like it.

So there you go, ladies. Some tips for living it up à la Russe.
Enjoy!

Nouvelle Elegance

Bonjour, les amies!

I have recently had an inspiration for a new style for this season.
It actually started when I took up ballet again - I used to do a lot but then I stopped for a while, forgetting how much I loved it (something that I regret horribly now). The grace and elegance you witness during a ballet class or performance is unequaled by anything else. But the aesthetic effect of black leotards going up and down in unison and pink tights gently curving into pliées is truly something remarkable.
So we should take inspiration from this phenomenon invented by the Russians centuries ago.

Attitude:

A teacher of classical dance always demands perfect posture: one is told to imagine that there is a string extending from the base of the spine to the top of the head and being pulled by something in the sky.

This, as well as the light, controlled and breezy way of moving, is something that can give us grace in our daily lives, especially when trying to walk without stomping in a pair of four-inch heels.

But the most important thing that I have learned from ballet is confidence: think that you are beautiful and gifted, and other people will thing that, too. Ballerinas make it look easy when it actually takes an unbelievable amount of effort and muscle-work: that's where the true beauty is.

Reflections on clothes:

First of all, let it be noted that I am not in any way condoning pink tights in daily life. It's all right up until the age of ten, but after that it just starts to look bad.

But the contrast between an attractive shade of pale pink and the sensual mystery of black creates a striking effect.

A black-based outfit with a splash of pink (for instance adding a pink scarf to a simple black dress and boots) is one of the easiest and most simply chic things you can do in this season. According to the October issue of French Vogue, fire-engine red is the color-of-the-month, but that is something that will eventually go out of style, so spending money on an expensive silk scarf in bright red is not the best possible investment.

A pink-based outfit with black additions (like a pink shirt or suit with a black belt) can also be beautiful, but it isn't quite as universal as having the greater part of your outfit be black, or as having an equal balance of the two (for instance black pants or a skirt with a pink shirt).

Nota bene: be sure to choose the right shade of pink. If it's too bubble gum or two fluorescent, it just looks tacky. Also, avoid bows in pink at all costs. A discreet black hair-ribbon can add just the right touch, but pink hair accessories are very difficult to wear correctly.

Je suis désolée!

All right, ladies, I get it, I haven't updated forever.
I'm truly sorry about that, but in my defense, I've been unbelievably busy.
Now if you're wondering what could have kept me occupied for almost a month, don't worry, I'll fill you in.

Not that I'll have time to tap out all of the things I have to say at once, but I hope you'll all forgive me. I'm finally adjusting to the unpleasant ordeal of getting back to work, which has been taking me a while.

I'm sure you've all had that sensation at the end of the day - the one where you feel too tired to do anything besides eat, shower and go to sleep. I have recently discovered that this is mainly because I have trouble dealing with the three things that make me exhausted, which I will tell you how to make easier.

1. Dragging yourself out from under your duvet at six in the morning.

We've all had trouble with this - all you want to do is hit the Snooze button of your alarm clock and go right on sleeping, especially when it's colder outside.
What I do now, is that I keep a small (and surprisingly inexpensive) heater right next to my bed. I set the alarm ten minutes early, then when the beeping sound that everyone dreads wakes me up, I simply hit the snooze for no more than ten minutes and slowly coax myself out of bed while making sure that I'm not too cold.
Otherwise, I sometimes set my alarm up to half an hour earlier to give myself the time to wake up gradually while being reminded that I eventually have to get up by the alarm that goes off every ten minutes.
You should also give yourself something to look forward to when you wake up, for instance some sort of breakfast muffin that you bought the night before, or a book that you're dying to read more of. (I find that this last thing is the best way to get me away from the comfort of my pillow.) Unless you find something that's perfect for you, vary your routine every morning, that way it will be more enjoyable.

2. Not having any time for myself.

Work, phone calls, plans with friends... It all fills up so fast that you lose track of it, and before you know it, you never spend any time alone anymore, which is quite sad.
So during lunchtime or any other free time you might have, excuse yourself from social engagements and do something for yourself. Sit in a nice cafe and treat yourself to a pastry with your coffee or just wander around town window-shopping. It will make you feel really good, and you'll go back to work feeling refreshed.

3. General exhaustion

This can come about in several ways, and it also manifests itself with various signs. Whether you worked late, had a few too many glasses of wine at dinner or just had a trying day, it can result in headaches, dark circles and many more unpleasant things.
A headache being the most common sign, it's always a good idea to have some Aspirin in your make-up bag, just in case. Just slip it in next to your lipstick and you'll be a little reassured, even if you don't end up using it.
Another way to combat this is the classic - coffee. Try having it different ways every morning for a week - for instance an espresso on Monday, a latte on Tuesday, a cappuccino on Wednesday, and so on - and see what's most effective for you.
Very important: establish a good routine for the morning. Whether or not you take a shower at this time of day, you should have a good beauty routine. Do this before you get dressed and before you have your coffee, because it's what usually takes the longest in the morning. You should also pick out the clothes you're going to wear the night before, that way you save a considerable amount of time. (Even if you change your mind, at least you'll know what not to wear!)
But remember: the best cure for these things is beauty sleep. I know it sounds cliché, but it works. You may not have the opportunity to get enough sleep during the week, but that's what weekends are for. Whether or not you go out on the town with friends (which is actually quite a good idea, as it releases you) allow yourself to sleep in. It really helps.

Extra tips:
-eat a lot of fruit and vegetables
-drink a lot of water
-drink orange juice before/after/with your coffee in the morning
-do stretches or some yoga in the evening when you get home

(It may sound like a health infomercial, but it makes you feel fantastic.)

There you are, ladies, I hope you'll forgive me for taking so long to write it.

I promise to be more regular in the future - once a week at the least!

Oxymoronic Hair

One would think that hair that is frizzy or puffy and hair that is straight and a little lifeless are two completely separate misfortunes. Normally, this is true, but after a new haircut all of the regular rules go out the window.

My previously described wavy bob looked gorgeous until the time came to wash it myself. At this time, I made the tragic mistake of letting it dry naturally. A cross between straight and frizzy sounds perfect, right? It brings to mind soft and flowing waves. Which is what my hair used to do when it was long. Now, when left to its own devices, my hair forms a sort of bizarre triangle: no volume on top, but the ends expand to an alarming volume.

The initial lesson is therefore: never leave your hair to its own devices immediately after a new cut!

Now, as for the solution, it is relatively simple.

For the kind of soft waves sported by the 1920s flappers, simply twist sections of your hair into little bunches while your hair is still wet and secure them with bobby pins. Let it dry naturally, then take take the pins out and voilà! It is even possible to sleep with this rather ridiculous looking hair-do on your head. (Preferably when you are home alone without the possibility of mockery from friends and family or that of extinguishing a flame with a current lover.)

Otherwise, go for a straight look. Whether you use a blow-dryer, metal straightener, or the basic tie-it-back-while-it's-wet method (which you should remember only works on the portion of your hair above the ponytail and may create strange creases - but hey, it works for some people) you should smooth a little hair-wax or anti-frizz solution on with your hands to soften and secure the effect.

Both of these methods work on long hair as well as short, but short hair is slightly more difficult to deal with and therefore requires them more often. (Again, admitting those few women who seem to wake up in the morning fully styled, and those who regularly attend a private hairdresser. If you are not one of these women, you probably dislike them. And with good reason, but who am I to judge the unjustly lucky?)

Good luck out there, ladies.

A response to some comments from the girls... and a little more for them to read

As far as hand washing is concerned, I have discovered the practicality of those little bottles of disinfecting lotion. Very handy and a lot more elegant than dashing off to the bathroom to wash the perfume off of your wrists with soap all the time!

A close friend of mine told me that haircuts are psychologically significant because they are good for your confidence and ability to do things because you feel like a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders. I would like to congratulate her for this insight as it made me feel even better about my new haircut than I already did. (And for those of you who are a little disappointed and have nothing to console yourselves with but the 'it will grow' philosophy, this might help you feel better.)

Also, big points to those who are stocking up on the tights/stockings. Embellished leg-wear is one of the bigger things of the new season. Very chic as well as original.

Though a pair of basic black suit-pants can go a long way (especially with a cute little jacket to match that you can fling over your shoulder with one finger) skirts and femininity are just as important.


Une autre chose:

Boots are très useful, and you will probably want to grab a couple of pairs fresh off of the shelves during September and October because (and this applies to clothes as well) the selection of sizes dwindles as November approaches. All kinds of boots are good: leather, rubber, ankle, knee, black, brown… Just today I found a pair of surprisingly chic black rubber boots that would make a very cute contrast to a slightly more dressy skirt but are also perfect for casual.

So remember that the most unexpected things can turn out to be fabulous and elegant, so try on whatever catches your eye, even if it isn’t precisely what you’re looking for.


But remember: though new things are delightful and considerably pick up our day, they are not all there is to life.


Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress. – Coco Chanel

Keeping it simple and not going over the top is important. And there is no shame in having non-authentic jewelry, as long as it’s nothing gaudy. A simple string of faux pearls (preferably good ones: what they call perles de couture) can be just the right touch. (I cannot take credit for this little inspiration: that must of course go to Chanel herself, for even after she had established her empire, she combined real jewelry with costume, not only in her designs but in her personal attire. So if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us. And to this day, pearls remain a very important characterizing feature of the Chanel line.)

Ready for Autumn

Seeing as my illness turned out to be nothing more than something-in-the-throat-itis that will go away in a few days (with the help of several different kinds of medication) I can finally get to the point and tell you all about getting ready for the new season and welcoming it with open arms.

First thing on the agenda: re-stock your medicine cabinet. Granted, you don't really have a need for pills and cough syrup during the summer, but if my unpleasant experience has taught me one thing it's that it always pays off to have medication handy. (Especially aspirin!)
Extension of this idea: keep some essentials in your makeup case at all times. Personally I always keep the small type of aspirin that you swallow, as well as some cough drops and Vitamin C tablets. My close friends have laughingly reffered to me as a walking pharmacy, but when they have a headache, period cramps (the bain of every woman's existance), a sore throat or a bad case of fatigue, they stop complaining and thank me for being so practical.

Second task: get an actual agenda. If you have an old, faithful Filofax, by all means hold onto it. If you don't, then I would strongly advise purchasing something of the like. It always helps to get organized and have all of your tasks and appointments listed in one place and in an order that you can easily decipher when you're in a hurry. Otherwise you'll end up scribbling phone numbers and places that you have to be on little bits of paper and leaving them all over your desk. Imagine the scenario of you sifting through piles of paper on your desk trying to find just one piece while you still haven't brushed your teeth or hair and are already ten minutes late for work. Not a pretty picture. (Trust me, I've been there.)

Now that you've been briefed on the pre-starting essentials, we can go into more detail.

Hair

You're going to want something practical for the fall, but it has to be sexy at the same time. (This is for reasons purely concerning self-confidence. Or mostly, anyway.)

If you want to bother to do your hair every morning, more power to you. But if you want something with less fuss, I would advise snipping off a good amount.
Personally, I opted for a wavy, '20s-style bob modeled after a cross between Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel and Marion Cotillard. I can only just pull it back (which is useful for the admittedly not-so-frequent trips to the gym) but it's short enough that I don't actually have to.

And if you dye your hair or are planning on dying it, darken it a little for an air of mystery as well as an appropriate look for the season to come.

Skin-care, Makeup, & Co.

We all know that daily and/or nightly moisturizer runs out. Well, the next time it does, take something a little thicker. Your skin needs protection against the cold wind that will soon arrive, and starting a little in advance is not a bad thing. One could call it precautionary measures.

And remember that the face is not the only part of the body that has skin in need of love and care. You should eventually start to apply cream all over your body before going to sleep, but this can wait until the weather actually begins to turn.

Also, you might want to get a very complete wax sometime this month. During the winter, you don't really need anything except for (most painfully and unfortunately) the bikini wax, as you can shave your lower legs and under-arms and your upper legs are not that important. And remember that waxing takes off several layers of dead skin cells, so it will remove a tan - therefore if you can escape for a last minute romp on the beach, you will be prepared and can get a tan after your wax so that it will stay longer.

As far as makeup is concerned, I know that it's considered acceptable, if not mandatory, to skip the foundation and powder during the summer. I am personally not a fan of this tradition, even though it does provide a certain type of freedom.
But next time you're in the cosmetics store, buy some relatively covering powder. This makes the skin look smooth, giving a creamy-porcelain effect on lighter skin and lustrously rich effect on darker skin.

Otherwise, there is the matter of nail and toe-nail polish. The time for the deep red and other rich colors of polish on your fingernails is yet to come, but you can start applying these to your toes, and lighter colors to your fingers right about now.

Wardrobe

The theme of the new Fall Line is essentially back to the basics. The famous Style Chanel, meaning the classic black-and-white and the little suits, is de retour, and the eternal Burberry scarf prevails. In short, the essential colors of black, white and taupe are largely dominant.

I mentioned the 1920s before with regard to hair: the fashions from this time are also back. This is the most strongly pronounced with shoes: the relatively small-heeled leather pumps with a strap spanning the top of the foot is hugely popular, as are several other Models of Reminiscence (as I have personally nicknamed them).

But as far as practicality is concerned, I would suggest getting basic, thin coton shirts in a variety of colors somewhere reasonably priced like Petit Bateau, where you can find some with nice added details like buttons.
A cashmere sweater or two is also a staple for the coming season, as it's warm, flattering and flexible for different occasions.

For accessories, scarves are the most prominent piece for you now. Something resembling the classic Burberry I mentioned earlier is perfect for when the cold hits, but before that or for a slightly more dressy occasion, it's ideal to have a small variety of different-colored delicate silk scarves to choose from. These also help to protect your throat, an extremely sensitive area, from the danger of the elements and germs.

Handbags for during the day are being oversized quite a lot these days, which is very practical for all of the needs that a girl has. (Everyone knows that a woman's handbag is one of the sources of her power, and a larger one allows for more weapons.)

Finally, there is one key to maintaining the flair that comes with summer but should not have to leave with it: hang on to your sunglasses! I know that one is often tempted to use the space in your bag once occupied by a sunglasses case for a small, portable umbrella, but find a way to do both. That way when some rays of sun, however feeble, peek their way through the rainclouds, you can proudly whip out your sunglasses, fold up your umbrella, toss back your hair and waltz confidently through the rest of your day.

Remember: after the summer, tans fade, but attitude remains.

Also keep in mind more eternal words of Coco Chanel:
A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.