Elegance.

A frumpy, depressed woman (Louise Canova) metamorphosized into a confident diva in Tessaro’s novel, thanks to a 40-year-old style manual (A Guide to Elegance by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux) found in a second-hand bookstore. An interesting novel which presented snippets of interesting style tips! I love Tessaro’s classy and witty novel and Madame Dariaux’s timeless style tips that are relevant (and sensible) till this day!

Here are some of my favourite tips featured in the novel!

On Accessories
“Be strict with yourself. Save. Economize on food if you must (believe me, it will do you good!) but not on your handbags or shoes. Refuse to be seduced by anything that isn’t first rate.”

Makeup
“… some beauties are born, most of us are made. Make-up is a kind of cloting for the face, and in the city a woman would no more think of showing herself make-up than she would care to walk down the street completely undressed.”

On Weight
“I recommend that you weigh not just yourself but your priorities as well. After all, God made you the way you are and there is no point fighting nature to the extent that you alienate all your friends and family with endless rules and regulations concerning what you can and cannot eat. Being slender is undoubtedly elegant but neurotic self-obsession is NOT.”

I am so going to get my hands on Madame Dariaux’s style guide!