Dress Like a Parisian: Discover how French women look so effortlessly good with a Parisian fashion insider

by Alois Guinut

Bring a Parisian je ne sais quoi to your style, wherever you live. Dress Like a Parisian is a wise and witty guide to finding your personal style, taking inspiration from how real Parisian women dress. With personal stylist and fashion blogger Aloïs Guinut as your guide, you can explore which colours, shapes and styles work best for you, whatever the occasion. Aloïs reveals Parisian style secrets, rejects restrictive fashion rules and shares her favourite shops and brands, demonstrating how you can use fashion to enhance your personality rather than shaping your personality to fashion. In the words of the patron saint of Parisian women, Yves St. Laurent, 'fashions fade, style is eternal.'This book is illustrated with photography shot on the streets of Paris plus illustrations by acclaimed fashion illustrator, Judith van den Hoek, who has worked with Elle, Hermes, Vogue, Prada and Grazia.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, France, Lifestyle

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2018

Reviews

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book of style tips which are actually far broader in application than just trying to imitate a Parisian style of dressing. Although I do not quite agree with every one of Guinut's tips (I think tonal dressing looks like you tried to match your shades and failed), nearly every tip is on pointe. People new to styling will find a lot of useful information, and those looking to refine their style will find a lot of useful pointers too. The tips in the book are enhanced by clear photographs of celebrities and regular women exhibiting the style being discussed, and by stylish illustrations by Judith van den Hoek.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was desperately in need of a Paris fix. Something of the spirit of the Parisian streets and people watching from a cafe table is just what the summer doldrums require for me. So I picked up this book on Amazon and treated myself to a section or two a day, enjoying the breezy writing, the detailed descriptions and advice, and the ample photos and line drawings that illustrate quite beautifully the je ne sais quoi and joie de vivre that are so characteristic of Parisian females young and old. This is definitely a book to read if you are planning a trip to Paris and need some packing ideas that will help you feel and look less like a tourist and more like a native of the City of Light. Lots of fun!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning I was thinking "this is a 3 at best", but take my advice and read this all the way through. Don't just open to any page, it won't make sense. Alois gives us lots of good tips, not too specific, to enable a bit of the Parisienne to emerge in all of us. Down to earth. Really helpful tips at the last third of the book. And not snooty at all. Solid 4 stars.

[Ana G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative book about the style of Parisian women. It offers great advice on how to dress in general, with a focus on the Parisian options. It could benefit from more illustrations or photos to help visualise the advice.

[Annabel Rianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for anyone who likes clothing, but wants to be a bit more daring while staying fashionable. This book totally transformed my style! Will definitely read it again!

[Selen Opcin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! Just the first few pages gave me so much perspective about how to organize and construct a versatile closet.

[miss.mesmerized mesmerized · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wer hat sie nicht schon einmal bewundert, die aparten Französinnen, die so lässig unglaublich chic daherkommen und den Eindruck erwecken, als wenn sie gar nichts für ihr Aussehen und Styling tun müssten. Nicht umsonst gelten sie weltweit als Modeinstanz, die neidisch von den Geschlechtsgenossinnen beäugt und von den Männern begehrt wird. „How to be Parisian wherever you are“ von Anne Berest, Caroline De Maigret, Audrey Diwan und Sophie Mas schlug 2015 bereits große Wellen, nun also Aloïs Guinuts Anleitung, die zunächst stark in Aufmachung und Titel an den Bestseller erinnert, aber inhaltlich doch ganz andere Wege geht.

Die Autorin ist nicht nur Pariserin – was sie natürlich vorm Zug für diese Aufgabe qualifiziert – sondern hat auch am Institut Français de la Mode studiert und ist seit Jahren in der Modebranche unterwegs. Als Stylecoach begleitet sie ihre Kunden bei der Zusammenstellung der perfekten Garderobe und dem jeweils passenden Outfit.

Das Buch beginnt mit einer kurzen Einführung darüber, was eigentlich die typischen Kennzeichen der französischen Mode sind: von lässigem Chic über Eleganz und Individualität bis hin zum Bruch mit verfestigten Regeln. Danach folgen sehr praktisch orientierte Kapitel zu Farben, Mustern, Stoffen und Schnitt bevor sie sich den erforderlichen Basics und Accessoires zuwendet. Jede Entscheidung für oder gegen ein Kleidungsstück fällt zwingend mit der Figur der Trägerin, weshalb auch dieser ein Kapitel gewidmet wurde bevor das Buch mit den Geheimnissen der Pariserinnen endet.

Die Texte sind kurz und informativ gehalten und mit passenden Illustrationen oder Fotos bebildert. Mir gefällt die Aufmachung sehr gut, auch die Tatsache, dass immer wieder Interviews und Portraits von Frauen aus der Modebranche eingeschoben wurden. Es ist keine Anleitung, die man von vorne bis hinten durchliest, sondern die einlädt, immer mal wieder reinzulesen und Neues zu entdecken.

Pure Unterhaltung oder taugt das Buch tatsächlich was? Ganz klare Antwort: auf jeden Fall. In Ermangelung von natürlichem Talent und tiefgehendem Interesse an Mode bevorzuge ich beruflich wie privat den konservativen Büro-Look aus Rock plus Bluse und Pumps in den bekannten Farbkombinationen schwarz-weiß-grau-dunkelblau. Erfordert morgens nicht viel Nachdenken und passt immer. Ist aber auch etwas langweilig. Ich habe tatsächlich einige Anregungen gefunden, wie ich meine Outfits etwas aufpeppen kann und sie trotzdem arbeits- und alltagstauglich bleiben. Bekanntermaßen sind es ja die kleinen Dinge, die den Unterschied machen, die muss man aber erst einmal erkennen. Damit hält das Buch genau das, was es auch verspricht.

Das perfekte Geschenk für Frauen, die nicht jedem Modetrend hinterherrennen, sondern sich zeitlos-chic und dennoch modisch kleiden und ein gewisses Faible für Styling haben.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a French style coach, personal shopper and fashion blogger, this book is not just how to dress like a Parisian, but how to dress well no matter where you live and the size of your budget. The book is well organized with photos and illustrations throughout, accompanied by advice, examples, and inspiration. You'll learn do's and don'ts, what fashion rules can be broken, and how to dress for your body type without falling for trends that might be unflattering. Full of information, the book is written in a casual "girlfriend to girlfriend" style.

[Joan Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feminists beware!

This book trots out every stereotype under the sun, including the myth in the title. I thought we had evolved from the attraction of the 'male gaze' being the sole purpose of a woman's existence but clearly not. By the way, do all French women spontaneously combust if they weigh above 50 kilos/ reach the menopause? No-one meeting these criteria appears anywhere in the book.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new, but it's packaged in a way that makes it seem fresh.

I can see it being helpful to those who are under 45 and thin/fit to help them figure out their style. I work with a lot of under 45s who have no clue on how to look stylish or attractive.

It's geared to those who are drawn to the idea of looking like a Parisian woman, even if they don't know what that look is.

[Charlotte Edson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book.
However, the author presents nothing new or different in this book that has not been written about a million times in other books and magazines about Parisian Style and dressing.
A flick through coffee table book, but nothing revolutionary.

[Shimista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I want to go to paris and go shopping and then to a bakery and then rest and repeat

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Alois - she gets to the nitty gritty of what works and why - and what doesn't and why!

[Peta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one, perhaps because for the most part it's about keeping it simple but nailing it! So many great timeless tips.

[Lina Dakwar Nwesry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, practical styling tips
Very recomended! I love it

[Terri Anstett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with capsule ideas from a French perspective, focusing on minimalism and realistic clothing.

[Nina Mcdaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reference book. On my shelf.

[Zara McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually quite helpful and great tips

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super advice on identifying your Parisian style.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful advice to learn style over fashion.

[Katie Means · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revamping my sense of personal style and this has been super helpful!