A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions – The Classic Style Bible from a French Guru on Chic, Grace, and Poise

I used to live in a country where Paris runway show videos were regularly part of prime time viewing! Women were very fashion conscious, and being bombarded I learned how to distinguish quality & style from passing fad. This book is a wonderful guide to that "something" that makes someone stand out even in today's atmosphere of bling, ka-Ching, and dah-ling. Ms. Dariaux's references can be a little quaint, & yes dated (but not without charm) and beyond most people's milieu - in giving wardrobe advice she refers to clients' selections in the very rarified haute couture house in which she was director. But it's these very glimpses on how people who know about quality, and who have the best to choose from, that will guide you in making confident, hell-to-high water wardrobe choices. Think timelessness, quality and über style. If you are into the latest anything, this book may not be for you, unless you wish to change. It appears everyone now wants to capture the refinement of "Grace, Audrey & Jackie"; this book is of that mindset. Ms. Dariaux charmingly & sensibly offers precise commentary & guidance towards this end. Interesting note: Ms. Dariaux doesn't mention money/budget/brands, but says 'buy the best you can afford, & good cut/silhouette/color over other considerations'. Spoken like a true haute couture insider. Not a long book; topics/apparel categories impeccably organized A to Z. Year after year this book has been an inspiration. Not surprising, I check out fashion publications often - this volume holds its own against newer style/fashion books - aptly titled.

I found an original edition of this book in the library years ago and fell in love with it. Many years later, I spotted a copy of the same original, 1964 edition at a book-sale, and bought it forthwith! Sadly, though -- influenced as I was by "politically correct" ideas --I felt guilty about liking this book......and THREW IT OUT! (This was before I got a computer and found out about Amazon.com, obviously....) Well, I began thinking about it, somehow, just last week....and that was when I looked it up on Amazon. I was amazed (!), and totally delighted to find that the book was still in print! And I bought a copy! I just received my copy today, in fact -- and was both delighted and disappointed. The new edition is a great deal smaller than the older one -- this one looks almost like a guide-book. No-where on the cover is a picture of Mme. Dariaux--but it is mentioned that she "now lives in the south of France." (Hooray -- she's still alive!) The paper of this second edition is, at least, much better than the paper in the first edition. It seems that this second edition has been edited. Another reviewer mentions that subtle references are made to Princess Diana. I myself an omission...which has probably been "politically correctly" taken out. But I remember it, even though the last time I looked at the original edition was over ten years ago. The ommission was under either "Age" or "Models": The story is told of a model who kept her age a secret. Until several of the models of her fashion-house, travelling together, had to show their pass-ports to the officials. The poor girl, (or woman, actually), then could not prevent it being known that she was, (gasp!!) 33 years old! The tale is then told that she committed suicide soon after!!!!! Mme. Dariaux either rightfully was aghast at this act....or said that, thank goodness, people no longer acted that way. This is a horrifying example of what ageism can do....and should have been left in, both to show how much we have advanced, and so people could site this terrible loss in theses! I looked up the original edition on a rare-book site on the internet. Three copies were available there: ranging in price from $175 to over $500! Trying to find a less expensive first edition, (which I haven't, as yet), I found that the republication of "Elegance" by Ms. Dariaux, is due to the fact that a novel, also called "Elegance", has been written by another, younger authoress, which tells the story of an American woman who finds a copy of the original book and tries to pattern her own life on it. Hmmm... A fascinating premise, and a very tempting book to buy! However, I had wished that the reason that Mme. Darieux's book had been reprinted was that the world was, indeed, returning to elegance....so slowly that I wasn't aware of it. Well, maybe the republication of Ms. Dariaux' "Elegance" will start this "counter-revolution", anyway! I, for one, hopes so. Having "fashion" now full of torn jeans truly upsets me. If one says that torn jeans as a fashion is a social equalizer, one is vastlty mistaken: some of these "fashionably" torn jeans can' cost $200 or more! Spending that amount of money -- or far less -- on a pretty dress or suit makes much more sense to me! Although Mme. Dariaux's advice may seem arbitrary to some, and infuriating to others, there is still much to be learnt here, even in the newer edition. At the very least, all this fashion advice -- listed alphabetically, from "Accessories", "Adaptability", "Age" (with No mention of the aforesaid model story), and "Bargains" to "XMas", "Yachting", "Zippers", and "Zoology", (the care of pets, and the wearing of animal prints) -- and all that is in bewtween -- gives much food for thought. (Does this make "Elegance" the thinking person's fashion guide?) The most important part of this book, I think, are the very last words in the very last part of it: the Acknowledgements. The very last person to be acknowledged is a certain "Madame G. L." (name given in the book). It is stated: "...whose elegance of heart matches her elegance of appearance." Perhaps, at every age, in every era, and at every income level, it is the combination of the two that true elegance is really all about.

I really loved this little book. I think women and girls of all ages should read it. It's fairly complete in spite of being a tiny book and goes over lots of common fashion do's and don'ts. I found it to be an easy read, though I DO wish it had pictures. Keep in mind it's an older book so a few suggestions are outdated but for the most part, like good clothing or hair, the advice is timeless. I think it would make a very cute gift, especially for someone who is young or clueless about fashion. A lot of this seems like common sense to me and is stuff my very old-school European Grandma told me as a teenager but judging by all the badly dressed women in the world, "common sense" might be uncommon these days! Even for those of us who consider ourselves stylish already, it never hurts to learn a few extra tips! In my opinion, being elegant is NOT about looking stuffy and rich or looking like a celebrity, it's about finding what works best for you, regardless if you are 70 years old, or a 20 year old tattooed collage girl...Either way, I think elegance is possible and this book can be of help.

While some of the ideas presented in this book are out of date, many of the tips and ideas presented remain relevant to the modern woman today. Rather than being a guide to 'fashion' this is a guide to *Elegance*. Building a wardrobe of quality elements that will last and adapt as fashion trends change is what the book is all about. For example: *The author writes about dressing for one's body type, silhouettes that may work for women of different shapes and sizes as well as items that may be difficult for some women to pull off. *She talks about fabrics and materials for dresses, suits, and shoes- such as alligator or suede for items worn during the daytime, and patent leather working for round-the-clock dressy wear, or different fabrics to look for even though they may be more expensive, because they wear well. *She advises picking a winter coat in a bright color that flatters your skin coloring and coordinates with your other clothes, because in the gloomy winter, a bright coat creates a cheery and charming impression. *She discusses jewelry, and what kind of jewelry works best with clothing for daytime activities versus how to accessorize an outfit for going out to dinner, a cocktail dress, or an evening gown. Reading through the other reviews, some critics have described the book as stuffy, rigid, and out of date. While there are some sections, such as the ones about hats, veils, or gloves, no longer apply to most women today, much of the information presented IS still applicable to women who want to look elegant and put together for all the occasions of life, yet remain unsure of how to pull together the look they are trying to achieve. Furthermore, in many of the sections, it is clear that the author is writing about what she thinks works well together versus what may not look as sharp, rather than presenting some unbreakable rule that she believes will apply to every person, everywhere, in every situation until the end of time. In many of the sections she talks about clothing for the morning, afternoon, dinnertime, and evening. Once again, I do not think she is saying you can't wear certain clothes at certain times of the day, or that you should change clothes every three hours. Rather, the information is presented this way to help people who are trying to dress for a morning wedding, or lunch with friends, or a dinner date, or a cocktail party-- not the average woman going grocery shopping or working through the morning, afternoon, and part of the evening. The information can also be applied to those who are going to work and then an event right after--what accessories/shoes/jewelry can you change to take the same dress or suit from a work-appropriate outfit to an ensemble to wear out for drinks with your friends? Rather than being stuffy or out of date, many of her tips and ideas remain applicable to women today. For me, this book was a very useful tool in thinking about new ways to pair the clothes and accessories I already have, and prioritizing what clothing, jewelry, and accessories I still want to purchase. This book would be a great gift for a recent college grad trying to decide what kind of suit, shoes, or bag would be the best investment for the money, or a great asset to any woman who wants to streamline and refine the items in her closet and on her shopping list.

If a book can ever be said to "personify" a certain quality, this lovely treasure in Tiffany blue fits the description. In this case, do not judge the weightiness of the author's perceptiveness by the size of the book. Its portability adds to the book's charm. It can be unobstrusively carried in your purse so that you can have a quiet read in the midst of your chaotic day and be transported to Mme. Dariaux's world of grace and elegance. In droll, wise prose the author lists many aspects of elegance in alphabetical order. She covers the basics of carefully and optimally selecting fabrics, clothing staples and accessories to build an wardrobe that will carry you through different occasions. As the book was originally written in the '60's this advice needs to be adhered to in spirit and modified to fit modern women who in general have more complex lives. Mme.Dariaux does not limit her attention to the selection and care of attire. Scattered throughout the book are thoughfully presented tips that helps one carry over a mantle of elegance to other areas of one's life. Indeed, "elegance" is a lifestyle ideal for the author and she gently but firmly chides the reader to integrate it into all aspects of her existence. Admittedly this is a difficult aspiration in today's rude, tacky, hurried world, but upon reading this book you will see glimpses of the serene loveliness of such a life.

though the tips are classic and practical, however i cant imagine it to be applied in tropical countries. No one can bear to wear black or wool dresses all the time. The author is french so obviously the tips are based on her "french" point of view. The tips are so classic and somehow could fall into boring category. I like some of the tips such as you have to match all the trinkets in your bag and invest on something classic though expensive at your prosperous time. The color tips are great too. Overall its great if you live in four season countries. Edit: next time i review a book i should live by it at least for a few years in order to have better judgement. I gave this book 4 stars initially, however after gone through maternity, quitting a job, moving to different countries, and now I am a stay at home mom, the book is here to stay. I always go back to this again and again everytime I have questions about my next purchase in regards clothes, jewelry, bags, shoes and even matching colors in my wardrobe, for some odd reasons this book has all the answers. Good answers that is. This book helps me eliminate anything that doesnt improve my appearance, and guide me to find my own style without realizing it. I no longer pay too much attention to trends and who is wearing what. This book is a classic. And Madame Dariaux's advice doesnt require a lot of money. We only need to be discipline and thoughtful in making purchase decision. My favorite subject is Prosperity, when we have extra cash she recommends to buy a few high quality handbags, a few pieces of good jewellery, a gold compact and a lovely umbrella. As funny as it sounds, how many times I see women with expensive clothes or bags holding an ill looked umbrella. When it rains, the first thing people will see is your umbrella, barely they can make it into your outfit when the rain pouring down heavily. I wish i read this advice before, I could buy myself Hermes or VCA instead of some random items that I wish I could return.

Very interesting information and easy reading

The principles of good dressing are eternal and well expressed here...dress for your body and not for current trends, quality over quantity, terrific basics accessorized with high quality goods make for an elegant appearance. However, the details are more appropriate to the last century, or even the one before than this one. After several witty introductory chapters, when the author discussees an "essential wardrobe" it is clear that these are essentials for a woman of leisure who, perhaps, lives in the 1950s. How many of us change several times a day...for morning, afternoon lunch, cocktails, evening wear? I can well imagine that Queen Elizabeth nods in recognition at these recommendations. For modern, working women, this is charming, yet impractical advice for day to day living.