Why French Women Wear Vintage: And Other Secrets of Sustainable Style

by Alois Guinut

The French way to an eco-conscious, super-stylish wardrobe from Paris-based style coach Aloïs Guinut.
Stylish women everywhere are realizing the environmental damage of fast fashion on the planet and looking for new ways to dress that don't involve cramming the wardrobe with clothes that may never get worn. As Paris-based style-coach Aloïs Guinut explores in this invaulable book, French women have a lot to teach us about how to cherish the planet without sacrificing your style:

- Know what works for you.
- Buy less and buy better.
- Mix vintage items with a few wisely chosen modern pieces.
- Look after what you have and make it last.
- Seek out quality fabrics that don't poison the environment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, Sustainability, France, Environment

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

Reviews

[Irene Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beginning to think style books had nothing left to say, and then I read this one.

Sustainability all sorts of ways, great photos of all sorts of women (although all slim), and different and fresh ideas.

Chapter outlines:

1. Wear Your Closet - why we accumulate, declutter (not the same old), foundation wardrobe (which doesn't insist you have a trench coat, LBD and a Breton top even though she's French), storage.

2. Heritage - simplicity rather than innovation, know your fashion history and current trends, heirlooms, secondhand / vintage myths, issues and shopping.

3. The New Rules of Shopping - buy less, dress better, mistakes, practical v style, cost

4. Quality is Queen - sustainability, fabric types, quality details

5. Max out the Lifespan - caring for clothes and accessories, washing and drying, alterations, repairs, upcycling, new outfits with your old clothes.

There is nothing I don't like about this book. Maybe even love about this book.

[Amaryah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I’ve already read a lot about the harms of fast fashion, and have shopped secondhand my whole life, there wasn’t necessarily a lot of brand new info in this book for me, however, I still really enjoyed it. It was beautifully put together with color illustrations, interviews with real women, and full of tips and ideas to make the most of your clothes while minimizing your impact on the environment. It made me excited to look at my wardrobe with fresh eyes and appreciate vintage and second hand pieces even more. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fashion, thrifting, or reducing consumption and waste.

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it has great care tips and quick guides for getting started as a sustainable fashionista and vintage hunter, it didn't really go any further than surface. I could have cared less about the vintage influencer profiles (I suppose the profiles are needed for the title of the book to make sense, since they were all on French women). I would have much rather had visual break downs of how to style certain tricky vintage items. A fur coat, for example.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book full of great advice on up scaling old clothes, second hand shopping and the impact of fast fashion. A lot of the highlight sections with stylists, bloggers and people who work in fashion feature people with very similar styles, so it gets a bit repetitive.

[Jenbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book that has made me realise my wardrobe is full of statement clothes and not enough basics. That's why there's so many clothes and nothing to wear. I reccomend this to anyone interested in saving money, having nice things to wear and liking style rather than fashion.

[Francesca Tonelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Niente di che. O meglio, può andare bene per chi si avvicina al vintage con una prima lettura ma non offre molto spunti in più di quello che ormai già si sa.
Per i neofiti del vintage, ci sono letture più interessanti e meno superficiali.
Non mi sento di consigliarlo.

[Amanda Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I had more time to dedicate to this book but was really only looking for sustainable shopping tidbits for a paper

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was more Why You Should Wear Vintage and less Why French Women Wear Vintage. It does include some good tips and tricks though.

[Beth Oehler]

Pretty fun.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed! Finished a week ago and i already want to reread it! Im always a lover of any lessons on how to live more eco-friendly/responsibly. This book has absolutely changed my approach to fashion. Ive removed boxes & boxes of clothes from my closet after reading this and am I full second hand convert! (Even just bought my wedding gown second hand w some major savings!) READ. THIS. BOOK.

[Sandara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo de siempre. Útil si es el primer libro que lees sobre el tema.