French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman

i ordered this book for a good price thinking i could re-sell it if it was terrible. i was nervous that it was so dated (88) and upon first glance it was. leggings and oversized sweaters were pictured in the photographs but i decided to give the text a chance and i'm glad i did. the first few chapters were my favourites in the book and i think explained things the best. of course, you have to use your smarts to translate some things into modern times (the section on jeans, etc) but the majority of the ideas and concepts outlined are still true today. after finishing the book, i picked up a copy of french vogue, elle, and cosmopolitain and looked at the fashions for frenchwomen today and they were still utilizing the same things: plaint white t shirt, neutral colours, polo shirts, varied textures, black and white, pearls and chains, etc. i haven't read any other books on french fashion but after studying fashion and visiting france i don't know what could be much better than this book. it seems after reading it that any newer books would be too muddled with trends and not as focused on the basics.

OK, the photos are dated, but I think the curse of any book dealing with fashion and style is to become démodé the second it hits the bookstores. That said, Sommers has done a painstaking effort to convey what French chic is all about and as a person of French origin whose best friends are French and who spends most of her time in France, I can attest to the book's relevance today. The book was written in 1988, so give and take one shoulder pad here, one legging there (and steering clear of the tarty look described under the heading "Trendy"), French style nowadays is still very much as described in Sommers book. Any stylish woman should be able to figure out a way to update the looks described in the book. I even find easier to translate to our times than venerable Genevieve Dariaux's "A guide to Elegance," which to me comes second best.

Susan Sommers' French Chic brings that certain look casual chic of many Frenchwomen into the realm of possibility for the ordinary reader. Most American women have a closet full of mish-mash fashion and yet complain of having nothing to wear. You must have clothing anyway, so why not make wise, versatile purchases? Ms. Sommers' book will help you to do so. She offers several plans for formulating a wardrobe that can be applied whether one shops at Lord and Taylor or the local Target. Highly recommended to those few women who dare to be chic.

I found this book at my local library and I love it. This style is classic and extremely feminine. I also love the way that she encourages you to use different key pieces to provide a wide variety of looks. Some day I hope to have my own copy.

This book used the standard easy to read format but gave great advice with practical tips , and suggestions that were easy to put into practice. The result was a great timeless and classic look that incorporated a hint of your own unique style. Minimal effort with great results.