Jett - Forever Chic: Frenchwomens Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style, and Substance

Indulgent fun Jetts comments and sprinklings of French (Hair Rules: Non, Non, et Non) give the book a lively personality.

Publishers Weekly

First published in hardcover in the United States of America in 2013

by Rizzoli Ex Libris, an imprint of

Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.

300 Park Avenue South

New York, NY 10010

www.rizzoliusa.com

This ebook edition 2013 by Tish Jett

Title illustration lodie, cologne.com

Cover and title page illustration Sujean Rim

Other illustration credits:

Les matires de France 978-4-7981-2397-4: pages 3 (Eiffel Tower), 11, 14, 21, 53, 92, 95, 98, 128, 130, 144, 147, 150, 152, 156, 157, 174, 206, 242, 244 (mushrooms), 265, 328, 371, 397, 418
istockphoto: page 267
: pages 23, 55, 176, 208, 244 (basket), 330, 373

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior consent of the publishers

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. As always, please consult with your doctor before beginning any diet or supplement regiment

eBook ISBN: 978-0-8478-4145-5

v3.1

FOR ALEXANDRE AND ANDREA.

Always.

Whats Age Got to Do with It?

This is the program, I told my eight-year-old daughter, Andrea. Were moving to France for two years! I was going for my dream job as style editor of the International Herald Tribune.

Im not coming, Andrea said.

Oh, but it will be wonderful! I explained, my voice almost giddy. Youll learn to speak French and have one of the most extraordinary experiences of your life! You can get a French cat! Youll thank me one day.

Since we didnt live in a domestic democracy, Andrea said goodbye to her friends in Bedford, New York, and I arranged for our three very large dogs, adopted from our local humane society, to be on our flight, and we set off on our excellent French adventure.

Occasionally, best-laid plans turn out to be better than one expects, as in moving for a job and staying for love. Talk about a win-win. I met the love of my life at one of those splendid French dinner parties. The thoughtful hostess had invited an exceedingly attractive single Frenchman who spoke fluent English. That fluent English was key, because when I met the man who is now my husband and my reason for living in France, my French vocabulary consisted at best of twenty words, mostly unconnected by verbs.

That was more than twenty-five years ago.

To my astonishment, in those decades, I went from thirtysomething to something entirely unexpected: a femme dun certain ge.

And never had I anticipated a bonus on the horizon: women of a certain age and even of un ge certain (as my first and best French friend, Anne-Franoise de Saint Seine-Henner, says) are considered alluring, mysterious, and seductive in France.

Thats why, from my up-close and personal point of view, Im living in a womans wonderland.

Early on, I realized I had an unprecedented opportunity: I could use my exposure to the masters to learn about timeless elegance.

I set out to discover how my role models aged with grace and singular style while seemingly never obsessing about the passage of time, concentrating solely on looking their best while taking care of themselves, which also means eating well, watching their weight, drinking little, exercising, and fiercely celebrating lives well lived.

After a brief internal debate about reconciling faade and substance, I realized they are inseparable. Thats what the French call bien-tre, or well-being, which in its full translation means creating harmony in ones life. I came to the conclusion that spending fifteen to twenty minutes preparing for each new day is worth every second.

The first part of my learning experience came with understanding the precept that looking good is the best revenge. Age has nothing to do with it. Self-respect and pleasure have everything to do with it.

When the faade is firmly in place, a woman becomes confident, and whats more attractive than confidence? Frenchwomen of all ages are admired for their legendary poise and presence. These qualities alone transform the simplest clothes into a look of natural chic. Never do they appear stilted, contrived, or consciously put together. Nor do they give the impression that a great deal of effort went into pulling together their looks, evenperhaps especiallyon occasions when it did.

The second part of their secret, which makes them even more inspiring, is that while constantly polishing, pampering, and perfecting their exteriors, theyre hard at work enhancing and maintaining their internal resources. Faade, though a function of their personalities, is never enough.

Wit, charm, and informed intelligence are the coins of the realm. Add elegance to the mix, and the result is an intoxicating cocktail of fascinating femininity.

Imagine a woman who has read the latest books, seen the newest international films, and visited the current exhibitions and knows how to toss a soupon of historical trivia into a conversation. Irresistible, non?

Remaining sublimely intriguing throughout ones life may be an art, but it is one any woman can learn. Im a work in progress. And in these pages, I will tell you everything I know.

So what if the last time we saw forty it was on a speedometer? est la vie.

Its not about the numbers. No one knows this better than Frenchwomen. Living a beautiful life is about style, simplicity, intelligence, and generosity. Its about a singularly unique blend of realism and joie de vivre. Life has its unavoidable complications (again, realism), but that never precludes an appreciation and celebration of the joys of life.

Forever Chic is dedicated to women forty-ish to whatever-ish, and every detail herein has been chosen for youfor usto wear, to use, to amuse. Even better, someone, namely moi, has tried and tested every trick, secret, product, discipline, snippet of advice, and wardrobe wonder that is explained in detail in these pages.

Stay with me and I guarantee you will rethink age, beauty, well-being, and style. Together we are about to embark on a life-enhancing cultural-exchange program with the masters of looking extraordinary forever, les femmes franaises dun certain ge.

Welcome to my world and merci par avance for joining me.