Written by French style guru Madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, Elegance is a classic style bible for timeless chic, grace, and poise -- every tidbit of advice today's woman could possibly need, all at the tips of her (perfectly manicured) fingers. From Accessories to Zippers, Madame Dariaux imparts her pearls of wisdom on all things fashion-related -- and also offers advice on other crucial areas in life from shopping with girlfriends (don't) to marriage and sex.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 81 reviews)

Impractical

Unless you have tons of money, this books basic guide to elegance is lots of money and shopping all day. Save your money.
October 26, 2008

Archival appreciation, but not practical for 2009

I was salivating to read this little book of which I thought I would pluck many tried and true style gems. What a disapointment it was. The advice is extremely outdated, tho I love and adore the 40s, 50s, 60s. There are tons of ridgid, unapplicable fashion dos and don'ts in this book, but you won't get from it what you are hoping - and that's ways to look chic and smart. Buy it to read yesterday's quaint point of view on fashion, not a timeless view--and almost no practical applications for today. Matching your shoes to your bag is no longer one of fashion's ten commandments that must be religiously observed, and hardly helpful as a notion of what "must" be done. Telling women over 40 to dress in navy, brown, cream and to skip color and avoid black isn't acceptable concepts of aging stylishly any longer. Looking like the queen of England is no longer to what we aspire or hold up as respectable or fashionable. Style has opened up a whole new universe of choices and ideals since this came out decades ago. Following it for the most part will make you look dated -if not dowdy. The jargon used is that of a couture dressmaker and it's difficult to comprehend at times (tho I did learn a few things!) It's not a feel-good book, either, more of a 'slap your knuckles', 'put you in an old woolworth's box', book of fear experience. This book made me feel really bad, frankly. It's very represenative of the mindset and time in which it was composed. Fashion and style should an adventure. Not a life sentence on a drab death-row runway.

Far better is the great big, beautiful book, "Before You Put That On", by Lloyd Boston - that book will inspire, delight, and make you the artist of your own style without talking down to you at any age. You'll become excited in discovering who you are in Lloyd's book.

Skip "Guide to Elegance"'s slim volume - because dispite it's fetching, tiffany-inspired cover, it's been a whole new world and then some since this guide had any athority in the then-small, now-global world of personal style and expression for women--which I regret to say because no one wanted to love this book more than I did.
October 18, 2008

probably better for older ladies...

Although this book does contain some good information, it seems to be aimed more towards the 30-50ish crowd. There are some excellent tips in the book, so I do not regret buying it. Most of the info is common sense, but just in case, if you are really clueless, pick up this book...however, if you want something geared towards 18-29ish women, I recommend finding "How to Walk in High Heels" by Camilla Morton instead.
August 19, 2008

my bible for the past 30 years

I bought this book as a young teenager when it was first published. It has been my guidebook ever since. It lays down timeless principles of simplicity and elegance which, in this day and time, have been forgotten. Although some of the advice is a little outdated, the time has come to return to its eternal principles of dressing beautifully.
July 27, 2008

Dahhling, do you really want to wear that?

Madame Genevieve takes your manicured hand in hers and guides you through the minefields of faux pas. She was the directrice for Nina Ricci, so you are with a trusted and informed confidant. Your "obstacles", as a fine tuned lady, are defined in alphabetical order. The gentle suggestions are charming and helpful, yet a little antiquated. There is a lot of information on etiquette and when accessories should be used. I truly recommend this for the classy chick who wants to know what the old guard has kept a secret. I don't like the fact that she suggests draped silhouettes for fuller figured women. Women's bodies should be celebrated and not tarped for fumigation.
May 29, 2008

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