The Parisian Woman's Guide to Style

Rating:
Summary: Oh to look like a French woman
Review: Last night I read this little book that I bought in February. This is a simple book which at first I was disappointed in and put aside. If I were "starting over", re-entering society and/or the job market, I think it could be of help. It also has some very good historic reference pages such as its beginning which is a Chronology of French Fashion and a section on Perfume. The chapter on The Essential Wardrobe I think intersting. It really simplifies the "French look" which consists of: the perfect little black dress, the suit which is a jacket and pants and co-ordinating skirt and the perfect white shirt. The book describes a classic look that goes from Sept to June. Summer is the only oddity. Sections on accessories and jewelry give photographic examples of how to bring the look together. Jewelry is both precious and costume. But many of photographs add little since garments are on the authors or just laid out. Too many pictures of the authors and overall too much of an indirect plug for the garish jewelry that they sell.

Rating:
Summary: Nice to look through but I wouldn't purchase this book
Review: Obviously this mother and daughter shopping duo love clothes and there are some lovely things to see in this little book. The book though seems to be an excuse for the writers to go shopping in Paris and the greatest pleasure in reading the book is for the reader to imagine that they are doing the same!

Rating:
Summary: sorts it out in a helpful way
Review: Parisian chic is minimalism(think Audrey, Jackie, Grace, Gwyneth) at it's best. The Chic, Simple series that another reviewer mentioned is this book's forebear(and never mind what A,J,G,G spent, or is spending, on clothes; their taste came first.) The photography and clothes presentation is terrific. If you can bypass the "brooch approach" the clothes speak for themselves.

Rating:
Summary: I don't wear a brooch, do you?
Review: Their choice of jewelry is gaudy. There are approximately 20 photos of the mother and daughter, and that's too many. On a positive note, it's a very nice quality book with good photography, similar to Chic Simple.

Rating:
Summary: Buy our jewlery...Please!
Review: This book has great pictures....but only of the authors!!!!
The worst is on page 72. They say they are shopping at the Chanel boutique.
O.k. then why does one of them have a SENSO(the security tag) on"Her" clothes?
It looks more like...Let's go to the boutique and PRETEND we are shopping.
The book is not detailed and only a bit helpful.
Plus, they keep pushing the gaudy costume jewelry they sell.
Save your money and get it at the library.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty pictures; no substance
Review: This book is worthless. There is absolutely no analysis. If you are wondering what goes into the je ne sais quoi of Parisian chic, you won't get an answer here. All it is is a pretty magazine. The most profound statement is the pronouncement that the French woman values the simple black dress! Most of what these two women do is advertise their costume jewlery and show an outfit on each page. It's like reading Vogue but only if you look at the pictures. As a Francomaniac who spends a lot of time in Paris (and in France), I can say that this book is "nul". Compare this with the book French Toast and you will see the difference between a book with substance and this brochure. The only nice thing I can say about it is the quality of the photographs are superb.

Rating:
Summary: Slice of Parisian Style!
Review: This book offers a lovely look at the Parisian's way of dressing in style. The authors Virginie and Veronique Morana (mother and daughter) share their ideas on the essential wardrobe, accessories, and jewelry. They also include a chronology of French fashion, history of French perfume and shopping tips. Throughout the book Virginie and Veronique are pictured in different settings ie shopping, having tea etc wearing the types of clothes they recommend. The book is by no means an in depth guide to French style as is the out of print, comprehensive book "French Chic" by fashion reporter Susan Sommers, but is more of a simple, overview of the French style. The basics of French style are shared here from which you can build. I found the photographs of the mother/daughter team a refreshing change from models. Here we see how real women translate the French clothing to the street. And the fashions shown would work well in the US. Some of the garments are laid out on a chair making it hard to see details however. In addition, though the section on jewelry was extensive as the authors own a jewelry boutique, the section on makeup was sketchy limited to a paragraph. Overall I enjoyed the little book but view it more as a light overview not a deep picture of French fashions.

Rating:
Summary: Written for the rich and the snooty
Review: This is a beautifully illustrated book, with some good advice. However, it seems less geared toward helping women improve their wardrobes and more geared toward being snooty. I for one, happen to like the look they call parisian style -- lots of form-fitting black clothing, dressier than American standards. But most people don't. If you love your jeans, and can't bear to part with your favorite sneakers, then this is not the book for you. Nor is it the book for those of us shopping on a budget. The book describes outfits appropriate for various events, which is nice, but the majority of us want to know what is appropriate for a job interview, the office Christmas party, and our cousin's wedding; we don't need to know what to wear to the ball, or the Carribean winter resort. Much as we would all love to own 6-8 winter coats, for the varied climates and events we must endure, most of us simply can't afford it. Though the pictures in this book are lovely, the not-so-subtle put-downs on American style get very old, very quickly. The book lacks practicality. Browse through it, perhaps, at your local bookstore, but don't waste your money.