Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide

Rate this book
Celebrity model Inès de la Fressange shares the well-kept secrets of how Parisian women maintain effortless glamour and a timeless allure. Inès de la Fressange—France’s icon of chic—shares her personal tips for living with style and charm, gleaned from decades in the fashion industry. She offers specific pointers on how to dress like a Parisian, including how to mix affordable basics with high-fashion touches, and how to accessorize. Her step-by-step do’s and don’ts are accompanied by fashion photography, and the book is personalized with her charming drawings. Inès also shares how to bring Parisian chic into your home, and how to insert your signature style into any space—even the office. The ultrachic volume is wrapped with a three-quarter-height removable jacket and features offset aquarelle paper and a ribbon page marker. Complete with her favorite addresses for finding the ultimate fashion and decorating items, this is a must-have for any woman who wants to add a touch of Paris to her own style.

239 pages, Softcover

First published January 1, 2010

54 people are currently reading
3513 people want to read

About the author

Inès de la Fressange

32 books43 followers
Inès Marie Lætitia Églantine Isabelle de Seignard de La Fressange; born 11 August 1957), is a French supermodel, fashion designer and perfumer. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1998.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
979 (25%)
4 stars
1,152 (30%)
3 stars
1,113 (29%)
2 stars
447 (11%)
1 star
115 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
Profile Image for Amy.
179 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2011
This is a macaron of a book: light as air and gone in a delicious minute. Only about 1/4 of it is interesting or useful if you're not in Paris or planning a trip. Although some of Ines' ideas about style are laughable ("wear a parka over a little chiffon dress") and the majority are just ho-hum (every woman should have a perfect pair of jeans...revolutionary!), this book is a perfect companion to an evening of self-pampering. I don't think I'll be referring to it often, but it's the kind of book you leave in the guest room when your girlfriend comes for a visit.
Profile Image for Dierregi.
256 reviews3 followers
October 14, 2016
I received this book as a gift and I am glad I did not buy it. As mentioned by other reviewers, perhaps two-thirds of the book are devoted to Parisian addresses (where to shop, eat, drink and being seen), therefore useless for anybody who does not live there - or even for people who visit only occasionally, like me.

On the positive side, the book is visually pleasing, with lots of charming drawings and plenty of photos. Some of the advice does make sense. I agree with Ines about high heels being useless at best and ridiculous on most occasions. The vast majority of women do not know how to walk with high heels, ending up tottering and stumbling or walking with rigid legs - the opposite of chic.

Other bits of wisdom can be found regularly on women's magazines and are hardly groundbreaking: do not wear too much make-up; change your style while aging; etc...

Besides, she goes on and on about what French people like and dislike, implying that the French know better - a syndrome known as "chez nous, en France". Anybody who visited Paris probably noticed that most French women do not look like Ines, but are as sloppy and badly mannered as the rest of us. So it looks likes Ines is failing to make proselytes of her own countrywomen.

Finally, her advice is not about general "chic", but strictly about what suit her taste - which indeed is good, but not necessarily good for everybody. For instance, she likes the colour blue and trench coats. I dislike blue and the only time I bought a trench I lived to regret it, as it does not suit my lifestyle. Besides, I dislike the array of buttons, belts and epaulettes trench coats come with.

Therefore, she totally fails to expand the scope of the book into making it a real guide to chic, and what she delivers is merely a personal diary of her likes and dislikes.
Profile Image for Iris.
283 reviews18 followers
April 11, 2012
To paraphrase Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "So quick bright things come to completion." You, too, are separated from a coherent lifestyle by one shopping spree; buy some new clothes and gain a self composed with beauty and proportion.

Such is the lesson of a "style guide." An aristocrat and high-fashion model, Ines de la Fressange is a decades-long authority on the effortless yet carefully conforming look of the chic Parisian woman. Well into her 50s, she cultivates the style décontracté, which means not merely relaxed but literally de-constrained: extravagant rhinestone necklaces with sailor t-shirts, navy and black and brown and grey accessories never coordinated.

Before returning this sacred anti-rule rulebook to the library, I noted the essentials, according to de la Fressange:
- a blazer, cinched with a belt, or with sleeves rolled back.
- a trench coat. Never dutifully belted, just thrown on.
- a navy cashmere v-neck sweater. Oui, LL Bean and Lands End have a corner on the chic market.
- tank top in a drab neutral, worn with loose-fit ankle-length khakis and Weejuns
- a black dress.
- jeans, straight and narrow, including a white pair.
- a leather jacket, vintage, or if new, roughed-up and wrinkled by being shoved under your mattress.

The myth of Parisian perfection prevails despite all political and cultural odds; at Barnes & Noble end displays, this book was only recently supplanted by "Bringing Up Bébé," on how French mothers are superior. But when the subject is as frivolous as fashion, the balm of the French ideal is truly soothing.
5 reviews
February 17, 2012
This gorgeously entertaining guide to Paris and Parisian Chic has been on my nightstand for a couple of months now. Ines comes with credentials--she knows her fashion, but it is the charming presentation and great ideas that sell this book.

Sure she's been named to the International Best Dressed List. In the 80's she modeled for Chanel and was the former muse of Karl Lagerfeld. She still is seen on the runway occasionally while concentrating on the business of fashion for the Roger Vivier brand. But she is also a busy working French mom. She lives in an apartment in Paris, and loves to go to cafes and shop. And her drawings and conversational style is so welcoming and humorous. I love the advice about the Magnificent Seven items that should be in your closet. I love the advice about what she uses for makeup and perfume. And I love the large section of clothing shops, home decor shops, restaurants and hotel reviews.

If Ines tells you about a shop, she includes sections called The Style, so you know what the shop offers, and The must-have, the one item that Ines either owns or would recommend. She also includes photos and a section called In a Nutshell, where she mentions some fact about the owner or an opinion about the products.

The reviews are the largest section of the book, but I really bought it for the fashion and beauty advice. And the fashion advice is fun and inspiring. Those seven items may be predictable, like a well-cut trench, but her ideas about the right leather jacket, the right pair of jeans and the right cashmere sweater has opened up new looks for me. I like the idea that less is more, that the french buy quality and then wear the items over and over again. My closet is bulging with items that are not edited, not all pieces that make me feel happy, except that they are there when I haven't done the laundry.

Now I have an idea about how to go through the mess and keep the items that work for me. I am on the search for a simple black dress, as Ines has good ideas on what to wear to different types of events, and whether to pair the converse sneaker, or the ballet flat with what. Some of these ideas are probably better on Brunettes. Dark blue sweaters, black dresses, all flatter Ines' dark hair and olive skin.

Ines promotes the Roger Vivier brand of shoes and on their website,www.rogervivier.com, there are these awesome little videos of Ines going to different parts of the city. Here you can see her charming personality as well as her Parisian style in action. As she goes from store to store, you can see her wearing her style of clothing on the street. She favors a kind of boy wear. She is 5'11", and can rock a tiny size of jeans. She favors rolling up her blouse sleeves over her jacket sleeves. I've tried this look with lots of success. She suggests wearing two of something, two necklaces, two scarves. I've tried this too. I like the feeling of confidence I get wearing the "androgynous" look, mixed with the romance of the"Amelie" / Audrey Hepburn scooter look. Basically, it is Parisian inspired style Lucky Magazine calls "gamine."

Toward the back of the book Ines includes ideas on what to wear to a rustic country trip and what to wear to a gallery opening. And that's why her book is still circulating on the top of my book reading pile. I can look to Ines' advice for any occasion. It truly is a little french friend to motivate and inspire.

***

Reading this book has led me to three fabulous websites that show pictures of women wearing great style on the street in France, Italy, New York, Oslo and more. Try www.thesartorialist.com, www.garancedore.com and www.deadfleurette.com
Profile Image for Ninja Neko.
439 reviews12 followers
July 20, 2012
I stumbled upon this guide in the travel section of my library. And that's where it should be, it's filled with Parisian addresses (mostly shopping & food) and a small section with style tips. Well, I call them tips, but it's nothing you wouldn't know already if you have had any interest in fashion. Proclaiming a blazer or a trench as "true Parisian style" is not exactly earth-shattering. You can pick this up in any magazine, and hopefully the magazine will also have a slightly less biased opinion. One thing the author fails to mention is that the "Parisian style" she promotes looks stunning on slim, beautiful girls (like her daughter, who's modelling here), but not everyone can just wear a navy vneck sweater & white jeans and look polished.
So, the addresses then. These were nice, especially the lunch places.
Still only 2 stars... I got annoyed by the author's preppy tone (so enthousiastic! being a Parisian is the best!!) and recycled expressions (bien sur!!). And didn't like the drawings.
Profile Image for Gina.
874 reviews10 followers
August 21, 2022
The reality is simple: my chances of visiting Paris in the near future are nil, but I could not pass on this book.

Parisian Chic offers a side of escapism and healthy portion of useful information. Parisian Chic is not just for Francophiles or for tourists. While almost anyone can extract useful information from Parisian Chic, I think it could be most useful -- and inspirational -- for those of us in the Invisible Years (40s and beyond) who refuse to roll over and play frumpy.

It may be hard to imagine that a book so whimsical could be the crossing point of the divergent paths of Parisian style, simple living, and zen would cross, it may well be. Not to make Parisian Chic sound more grandiose than it is, but what other "style manifesto" and/or guide book asserts a skin care regime that includes happiness and love for giving you radiant skin?

This book was such a treat that I smiled -- in spite of not being able to afford a trip to Paris!
Profile Image for Andrea.
28 reviews
June 3, 2012
This book is very inspiring. I organized my entire closet on the high I got from it and I realized that I'd have an additional number of great outfits already in the closet with the purchase of some skinny white jeans and a navy blazer! I love the look of Parisian style and feel that it fits my personality better than most other looks out there. I loved it that this book is wholly dedicated to one style where as other books in this genre have sections on bohemian, rock and roller, minimalist styles etc. and I feel that I only get inspired by a few pages of the book.

Over all great style advice, good tips, and rules to safeguard against committing a faux pas (with the final rule being that rules are made to be broken.) The photos have achievable examples and I loved the addition of favorite stores, brands, beauty products, hotels, restaurants and stuff to do with kids (Cute little touch). I really want to go to Paris.
Profile Image for Annette Cass.
37 reviews
January 2, 2015
I agree with review below by Ninja Neko. It is mainly store recommendations combined with a little bit of obvious style advice. Very disappointing.
Profile Image for Simona Moschini.
Author 5 books45 followers
October 22, 2018
Non ditemi di vergognarmi perché mi vergogno già. O che è profondamente idiota spendere 25 euro per un volumetto la metà del quale è costituita da pubblicità non occulta a negozi, ristoranti e alberghi di Parigi. Intanto all'Iper lo vendono a 21,50, sapevàtelo!

E poi come, come resistere a un'opera la cui autrice è testimone (non testimonial) vivente delle cose che sostiene? Un'opera così commovente da farci credere che per realizzarsi come donne (o meglio come Parigine, considerate qui l'essenza della femminilità) basta imparare a:
- coordinare blu marine / nero / bianco / buttare il resto dello spettro cromatico
- smettere di usare l'eyeliner e il mascara sulle ciglia inferiori
- gettare nella spazzatura il mollettone per capelli
per evitare ogni traccia, ombra, sospetto di volgarità? No, non potevo. Questo non è un libro, è una promessa di felicità.
Profile Image for Diana.
627 reviews34 followers
December 7, 2014
Un simpatico insieme di suggerimenti per fare proprio il famoso "stile parigino", alcuni sono davvero utili e simpatici, altri un po' strani.
Per me che non abito a Parigi però ci sono un po' troppe pagine dedicate a "dove fare shopping", in fondo, anche se sono segnalati anche i siti internet, sono informazioni un po' meno utili rispetto a quelle pratiche su come abbinare cosa e quando! ;)

In compenso ora non vedo l'ora di andarci per sperimentare un po' di segnalazioni, anche di ristoranti e locali interessanti!
Profile Image for Nikki.
494 reviews134 followers
October 19, 2011
I love that effortless French girl look, and this book has decent (but also annoyingly repetitive) advice. I agreed with some of it: Yes, I will belt my blazer, as soon as I buy one. I will also wear white jeans in the fall with a navy sweater, and I will continue to covet that classic Burberry trench. But I won’t be washing my hair every day, as she suggests. Give your scalp a break. And I don’t see the point in wearing full makeup every day, even on weekends, unless you’re a drag queen.
Profile Image for Maggie Dore.
92 reviews
July 28, 2016
I just found this book at my grandmother's house. I was was drawn to it, and just finished reading it.
First of all, I love Paris styles, and second of all, I loved the way the book was written. I loved it!
Profile Image for Lisa.
129 reviews4 followers
September 30, 2019
In this book French supermodel and sketch artist Ines de la Fressange covers “Parisian chic” from, most prominently, the fashion and beauty angle, but also in terms of home décor, Paris hotel choices, and insider spots to check out if you visit.

Many of De la Fressange’s Parisian fashion tips are similar to those I’ve read in other books: have a stable of expensive classics that you supplement with unique--possibly cheap and trendy, possibly vintage--elements from all over. Less is more. Don’t wear perfectly matched outfits. Several of her more detailed suggestions surprised me, though. For instance:

--She claims that it is now chic to wear black and navy blue together. I always assumed that if I wore black and navy together people would think I’d gotten dressed in the dark.

--She is a huge proponent of wearing navy sweaters with white pants. It is instantly chic if you do this!

--She suggests belting a blazer, and there is a picture of a woman in a cute outfit to clinch the idea. I tried it at home and honest to god it looks pretty good! I never in a million years would have thought of doing this.

--This one really puzzled me: ”By all means match the color of your bag and shoes if you’re under 30. After that, prepare to age 10 years….” Unmatched purses and shoes make you seem younger? What? This is out of synch with all my (admittedly pretty old person) purse and shoe fashion training.

--Also this: “Never wear a necklace and earrings at the same time—too much!” Okay, so I have pierced ears, so I almost always wear earrings in preference to having lobe-holes showing. Ines doesn’t ever want me to wear a necklace then??

At any rate, I find these views intriguing and I will certainly be observing the navy blue, bag/shoe color, and earring/necklace behavior of Parisian women more closely when I get the chance.

De la Fressange spends a lot of pages recommending Paris boutiques and department stores. She is obviously operating on a supermodel’s budget—there is no way I could afford to shop at most of these places! Though they do look chic, certainly, and the pictures are the main value they have for this reader. Some of her recommendations of offbeat spots to visit sound cool, so I found that part of the book valuable too. As an object, the book has an attractive bible-like design. A lot of the pages have enormous margins and/or are mostly pictures. I blew through it 2 days, so safe to say it’s an easy read. 3.5 stars from me.
Profile Image for Carolyn Page.
860 reviews38 followers
March 17, 2024
2024 Review:
This book came out in 2010 (translated to English in 2011), and the author's photographed outfits still look chic, 15 years later. This is not just the "classic" look, but the "timeless" look--silhouettes change from decade to decade, but the advice is gold. I may need to buy myself a copy. I don't care about the availability of the vendors or not. This is the best "French style" book I have ever read.

2019 Review:
I forgot how much I liked this book! Simple style tips and guidelines make up the first part of the book: clothes, shoes, makeup and beauty, faux pas and classic pieces... Other topics included in the book (but not to the "first and foremost" extent of the personal chic) are hosting and home decor. About half of the book is Parisian vendors for various aspects of the life she talks about. Beauty, decor, places to go and things to see in Paris that are "off the beaten track".

2015 Review:
One of the things I really liked about this book is that it was originally published in France, in French, for French women! The intro goes "you don't have to be from Paris to be chic, I'm from down south--St. Tropez!" and I'm thinking in my head "St. Tropez IS chic what are you talking about" then I looked at the publisher's information. Sometimes we forget that American women are not alone in their adoration of all things Parisian. Also fun: I pinned quite a number of pictures on Pinterest a few years ago and I look in this book and there they are! I love the style. The only reason this book isn't 5 stars is because most of the vendors are not available online in the US and I can't utilize this book to the full extent of its intent.
Profile Image for Elliot A.
704 reviews45 followers
August 13, 2019
A bit of a disappointment for me, since I hoped for a bit more fashion advice in the sense of how to build a functional wardrobe without unnecessary clutter, but most of the book is a long stream of contradictory information with countless pages dedicated to small boutiques in Paris.

This is great for someone, who wants to shop in Paris, but not so much for someone, who lives far away from Paris and is just desperately looking for guidance on how to make the transition from college-frumpy-style to everyday chic.

Also, the last chunk of the book has a very long list of hotels in Paris, which again is great for someone planning on travelling to Paris (and I will keep them in mind when booking my next Paris trip), but this information wasn’t really relevant when looking for tips on how to dress.

There are countless examples I could give that made me want to shake my head in utter frustration, but I will refrain from filling out the next 12 pages. Except for one, please do not follow the author’s advice on skin care. Each person has unique skin and doing what the author suggests may cause more problems than benefits.

Overall, I’m still giving this book 3 stars, because the pages on how to begin building a functional wardrobe with respect to key items to own year-round were very helpful in getting me started on purging pointless items.

ElliotScribbles
Profile Image for Itsssgaia.
1 review1 follower
February 8, 2022
Avevo alte aspettative che sono state un po' abbattute. Ho trovato sparsi qua e là commenti sessisti e offensivi, ad esempio: la taglia 38 è la taglia giusta, non depilarsi è fuori questione perché agli uomini i peli non piacciono, immagine della donna che se usa tacchi troppo alti con i suoceri, sembra una poco di buono e infine un commento circa il doversi mettere sempre il reggiseno perché non farlo viene ritenuto volgare. Cosa dire? Salvo qualche spunto su possibili outfit o sull'arredamento, un libro totalmente da scartare.
Profile Image for Darci Doodle.
18 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2011
Meh. I was expecting a lot more about fashion and a lot less about places to eat, shop and hang out. If I were going to Paris soon, it might be a fun resource with some fantastic styling ideas, but it seemed a little "Gwenyth Paltrow GOOP Newsletter" to me.

I expected more, frankly.
Profile Image for Gabriela Dal Toé.
1 review4 followers
June 14, 2013
If you're looking for some truly way of parisian lifestyle, this is a kind of book. Inès de La Fressange writes with joy and speaks about Paris being a city with a unique simplicity and its lightness rythm.
Profile Image for Lorraine.
1,567 reviews42 followers
February 12, 2012
So disappointed in this book! Ines de la Fressange couldn't decide if 'Parisian Chic' was a fashion guide or a travel guide!
Profile Image for Clairdenoon.
1,952 reviews393 followers
March 24, 2019
จะเก็บบ้านในเย็นวันอาทิตย์
ด้วยปณิธานอันมุ่งมั่น อะไรไม่จำเป็นก็ทิ้งซะ👊🏼
ไปเจอเล่มนี้...ซื้อมาเมื่อไหร่หว่า🤔
ลองเปิดอ่านซะหน่อย...
อืมม🤩
เฮ้ยยย🤩
หูยยยย🤩
เดรสในหน้า45นั้น...
Frivolity is the key to eternal youth!
🤔🤔🧐🧐
ชอบรูปเล่ม การจัดหน้า น่ารัก
เหมือน ได้ดูเจ๊ผู้เป็นกูรูมาบอกว่าชั้นเป็นสาวฝรั่งเศส และชั้นทำแบบนี้ๆ สาวๆฝรังเศส่วนใหญ่ก็ทำแบบนี้ๆ ....
ก็เพลินๆเปิดหูเปิดตาชิคๆดี

สรุปคือ... ไม่ได้เก็บบ้าน😅😅
Profile Image for Sukhpreet.
198 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2021
This was a silly purchase, a long time ago, but at least I got it used? Finally finished it as a bad bedside read and it was largely obnoxious and even had some tips with which I strongly disagree, but at least there seem to be some good Paris recommendations in it. One day...
Profile Image for Carina.
302 reviews
Read
October 16, 2025
Given how 2011 on steroids this book is--all I could think was that it feels like someone printed out their Instagram and turned it into a book--I can't rate it in honesty. However, when the fashion pendulum swings in its favour, it'll be THE perfect resource for people seeking out references.
Profile Image for MJ.
405 reviews148 followers
August 21, 2024
A MUST HAVE for anyone wanting to develop an easy and simple personal style that is inspired by effortless Parisian fashion and living.
Profile Image for Maria.
56 reviews
August 17, 2022
najgorsza książka o paryskim szyku jaką w życiu przeczytałam.
2 gwiazdki za wspomnienie, o tym jak ważne jest mycie zębów.
14 reviews
December 25, 2023
Un classique de mon adolescence… que j’ai redécouvert à noël 2023. Léger & plein de bons conseils, ce livre convient à tous âges!

Au menu: des conseils mode, déco, resto et shopping!
Profile Image for lila.
32 reviews
March 2, 2023
super cute book, loved all the little illustrations and witty comments :))
Profile Image for Kátia Cristina.
520 reviews17 followers
July 19, 2017
Adorei! Adoro tudo que é sobre Paris e sobre as mulheres francesas. A parte de moda é um Must, já as de Decoração e Infantil não me interessaram muito. Mas mesmo assim vale a pena. O livro é lindo, muito bem escrito, ilustrações maravilhosas e a qualidade do papel é impressionante.
Profile Image for Nicole.
33 reviews8 followers
July 20, 2020
A menos que estés viviendo en París o pienses viajar allí, este libro no tiene demasiado para ofrecer. Lleno de direcciones de locales de ropa, decoración, restaurants y cafés, el libro es más un objeto de decoración que una guía útil, ideal para dejar sobre una mesa ratona y que los invitados lo hojeen.
Rescato su hermosa presentación, su divertido diseño, su encuadernación y hojas de calidad y las ilustraciones de la autora.
Profile Image for Tibor Jánosi-Mózes.
344 reviews8 followers
December 16, 2022
Talán egy félreolvasott sorszám, vagy egy elhibázott levél okozhatta azt, hogy a minap divatkönyvet kaptam kézhez az Alexandra Kiadótól. A „Párizsi Sikk” címmel, „Szórakoztató stíluskalauz a francia divat nagyasszonyától” alcímmel ellátott vérvörös, kerekített sarkú, arany-gravírozott, dísz-graffitis műbőrkötet, a SIKK kifejezést olyan különös diszharmóniában sugározta felém, hogy kénytelen-kelletlen, lecsaptam a témára. Miért is ne éppen egy férfi írjon véleményt egy divatkönyvről?

Hogy pontosan ki is a „divat nagyasszonya”, az a két szerzős, Inès de La Fressange és Sophie Gachet által dedikált könyvben elsőre nehéz lenne megválaszolni. A kötet hátoldalán olvasható New York Times bestseller fejléccel ellátott beharangozóban szerencsére ez is tisztázódik. Inès de La Fressange a francia sikk ikonikus alakjaként bemutatott szerző, aki kötetében a sok évtizedes tapasztalatait kívánja megosztani a szépségápolással kapcsolatban, amit az Elle divatrovat szerkesztőjének Sophie Gachet segítségével vetett papírra.

A könyvet alaposan körbeforgatva, „felajzott szűzként” téptem le a fóliát és vetettem bele magam egy olyan világba, amit azelőtt talán sohasem láttam. A pogány módon közép tájt felcsapott oldalakat azonban rögtön átlapoztam... Ez egy könyvolvasói reflex, ami egyfajta automatikus tartalomkereső funkció nálam. A reklámokat ugyanis önkéntelenül átlapozom. Miközben vadul lapozgattam, rá kellett ébrednem egy szörnyűségre: egy sikkes katalógust kell kiolvasnom.

NEM feltétlenül kell Párizsban születnünk ahhoz, hogy hamisítatlan párizsi stílusunk legyen.
hangzik el az első szívbemarkoló, egyben gyomorgörcsberántó gondolat az ugyancsak sikkesnek hangzó „Született párizsi nő” c. fejezetben. Ekkor már tudtam, hogy izzasztó munka vár rám, ugyanakkor nem gondolhattam még arra, hogy milyen „stílusosan” is ki tudok jönni a nehéz helyzetből…

E hosszas, alig öt mondatos, talán 30-as betűméretnél is nagyobb bevezető gondolat zárásaként a szerzők hozzáteszik: „a divat arra való, hogy szórakoztasson bennünket”. Bravó.
Hát, ha ezt az első mondatukkal összevetem, akkor vélhetően Kínában szórakoznak a legtöbbet, az iparosított másolás királyai számára ez a munka valódi öröm lehet. Ők azonban legalább elmondhatják magukról azt, hogy csak megrendelésre másolnak, mint ahogyan ezt a könyvet is megrendelésre nyomtatták, stílust szerencséjükre koppintaniuk nem kell és nem is tennének ilyen ostobaságot. Miért? Azért, mert van nekik saját.

A könyv 350 színes illusztrációt tartalmaz, többségében egy rajzolt, idomtalan (értsd idomok nélküli) anorexiás női torzóval. A fecsegőtipegők szatirikus rajzfilmkaraktereinek és az LSD túladagolást követően talán rémálmából felriadt Picasso kubista emberalakjainak különös fúziója bizarr hangulatot ad a stíluskalauznak. Egészen új értelmet kapnak a kötetben rendszeresen visszatérő rózsaszín szövegdobozos instrukciók is e furcsa beteges alakok mellett.

"Jobb egy szalmatáska, mint egy márkás táska utánzata. Az utánzat divatellenes!" - mondja ezt egy 93-as lábméretű, pálcikalábú, arctalan, kosztümös nő, egy SZTK-s műanyagcsatos szatyrot cipelve…

"Ne gondoljuk, hogy a párizsi nő minden idejét az avenue Montaigne-en tölti! Még ha Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Harmés, Céline és a francia szaktudás összes ékköve divatörökségének részét képezi, szeret a luxus ösvényein kívül vásárolni." - hangzik el a „Divatos címek” c. fejezet bevezetőjében. És közben azon gondolkodom, hogy még mit ne gondoljak a párizsi nőkről? Hogy sznobok? Vagy hogy totál idióták? Vagy mik nem ők...?

A könyv a vége felé már nem köntörfalaz: címek, webhelyek, ajánlók olvashatók, és a „torz kísérőink” is - talán alultápláltságban, de - meghaltak már. Megtudhatjuk, hogy hova menj, mit csinálj ahhoz, hogy párizsi nő légy, holott ez elsőre nagyon egyszerű: költözz Párizsba! Minek ehhez könyv?

A bosszús hangulatom elmúltával úgy döntöttem, hogy teljeskörű leszek és független hölgyektől kérek tanácsot a könyvvel kapcsolatban. Ha kiderül, hogy a stílus mérgezett papírdárdája az én gerincembe lett beleverve, hát legyen, vállalom, mucsai stílustalanságomat…

Sikkes barna lány a pultnál
Két metaxa elég ahhoz, hogy „lehozzon” és felpörögjek annyira, hogy értelmetlen dolgokkal zavarjak olyan lányokat, akiknek félve szoktam még tüzet is adni. Még erre is csak akkor van esély, ha épp nincs tüzük, cigizni akarnak, és sehol sincs senki. Perverz cukrosbácsiként, egy MLM ügynök rafináltságával lecsaptam egy pultnál üldögélő barna hajú, számomra stílusos megjelenésű hölgyre. Rövid beszélgetés után elővettem vaskos kötetemet, és szakértői szemrebbengetéssel jeleztem felé abbéli meggyőződésemet, hogy ha más nem, hát Ő biztosan segíthet nekem…

A hiúságot meglovagolva tollat és papírt is ragadtam, az édes szavakat ugyanis nem ártott feljegyeznem. A nagyjából 25 esztendős nő, könnyedén átlapozva a sikk-kötetet, csak annyit mondott: „akinek nincs ízlése az ne mások tanácsait keresse”, majd a tartalomra vonatkozóan hozzáteszi hogy: „ez a könyv mintha az újságostól éppen megvásárolt Joy, Cosmo, Galamour és Elle magazinok összekaparása lenne…”.Hát igen az utóbbi telitalálat.

Szende szőke, sikkes dekoltázzsal
Két metaxánál már csak a három a jobb, amire azonban szinte azonnal rá is kell gyújtanom. Nem túl sikkes a bagószag, de itt a balkánon ez már csak így megy. A kellemes nyári koraestben a pöfékelős párizsi kávéházak helyett azonban muszáj beérni a bejárat előtt tolongó, pöfögő tömeg látványával. Ez se sikkes na… hát igen, a stílus nemcsak emberről szól, hanem társadalomról is, itt „Spártában” azonban csak a buksza vastagsága és ahogy a Tankcsapda is megénekelte „a kocsiban a hangerő” számít igazán.

Egy bárgyú buflák utcai „súlylökőt” látok és hallok, „kalapácsvető” haverjaival egy genitáliákat nem hanyagoló 100 éves viccen röhögni. A társasághoz egy szőke leány is tartozik, aki fásultan mosolyog és maga sem tudja eldönteni, hogy csak úgy szó nélkül lelépjen-e, vagy mielőtt halálra unja magát, még igyon-e valamit? Sikkesnek sikkes, igaz a bőre arányokat tekintve lényegesen nagyobb felületen látszik a testén, mint bármiféle ruha, de ettől még nagyon is sikkesnek tűnik. Valami történik bent a tévében, a fiúk berohannak, nekem hagyva a szőke leányt… megtántorodom és pöfékelés közben odavetődöm hozzá. Ismerős vagyok neki, ő is nekem, ami megkönnyíti a dolgom és még inni sem kér semmit, szóval "sirály".

Akár egy másik posztban is leközölhető beszélgetésünket követően neki is megmutatom… átveszi, belelapoz, az arca tüsszentősre torzul, majd tüsszent. "Allergia" - mondja, de maga sem tudja mi ellen, én azonban sejtem... A tüsszentés utáni szánakozó tekintet megmarad: „ez a semmilyenek bibliája”, mondja, majd hozzáteszi, hogy egy „újabb bestseller, azoknak akik csak akarnak valamit, de sohasem tudnak...”

Az unokahúg...
Már épp készültem írni valamit a kötetről, amikor a fenti beszélgetések után pár nappal véletlenül az unokahúgomba futottam. Hatodikos, pont abban a korosztályban van, amit amúgy is nehezen viselek el, és ekkor megvilágosodtam... Azon kívül ugyanis, hogy olyanok amilyenek, hülyén is öltözködnek… A kislány szedett-vedett – állítása szerint saját válogatású – ruhákban, giccses nyak és kardíszekkel felvértezve terrorizálja az ízlést, sőt rendszerint ezt nagyobb rajban a barátnői társaságban is képes fokozni. Már most kezdenek köztük kirajzolódni azok az emberi alfajok, amelyek hamarosan nemcsak idegesítenek majd, hanem egyenesen kerülni fogom őket.

A könyvben a bizarr kubista kézrajzok mellett fel-felbukkanó fotók is kislányok. Hölgyeim és uraim, a stíluskalauz a divat nagyasszonyától stílustalan gyerekeknek szól, akiken akár segíthet is a könyv. Már csak azt nem értem, hogy a szerzőpáros, miért nem ezzel kezdi? Jelen formában ugyanis a kötet címválasztása félrevezetheti a vásárlókat. A könyvet unokahúgomnak adom, nem idegeskedem tovább…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.