I absolutely love your comments about the importance of being a well-read woman. I have books in every room, and I read a new novel every two days. What do you expect from a former literature instructor? Further, it is never, never too late to advance ourselves through education. At the age of 63, I am earning a third MA degree; this one will give me the education to become a librarian--the career I have always desired. Read, read, read, indeed! I will be the most stylish librarian on the planet, thanks to our lovely Marie-Anne!
I too love books as if they are beloved pets. I now have macular degeneration so reading has to be brief due to strain. I was panicked about this. One day I tried free audio books. Granted, finding a great presenter takes time but I found some. Now I “read” more than ever! This is such a blessings and it’s enriched my life.
@@Donna-cc1kt Hi Donna, I am sorry to read that you have macular degeneration; I cannot imagine how stressful this must be. My heart goes out to you. I am so glad that you have discovered free audio books! What a blessing, indeed. How amazing that you can still enjoy the joy of books--and even more so now. I cannot live without books, books, books! Natalia Utah
I have so many books but need to work on the self care! Never had a facial or a manicure or a pedicure! I really enjoy your videos Marie-Anne. I think I would add standing tall to your list of life changing habits. Many years ago a friend's Dad said to me 'Why do so many women walk with their heads down to the pavement? Why don't they raise their heads up and walk tall?' I now try to walk tall and not hunch over like an apology! xx
So true about good manners! I was just listening to an old NPR interview with the great singer Tony Bennett. When asking about "warming up" an audience, he said simply "Let them know you like them!" What good simple advice and it makes life so much more pleasant.
Dear Marie-Anne, You are such an icon not only for French chic style, but the French art of living overall! Compliments and thanks for being such an inspiration! ❤
Class is something that money can't buy. If you come across a French lady, even if she's not rich - she will probably be one of the classiest people you will come across. Thankyou Marie Anne. X
Excellent video Marie-Anne! I believe the art of elegance is lost with our society looking for fast everything... This is the main difference between Europeans and North Americans although I must say as a French Canadian, I feel a lot more closer to the French when it comes to lifestyle and fashion. I love your channel.
When I visited Paris years ago, I was so impressed with the way people greeted shop-keepers and visa/versa. I've always made it a habit, even prior to my visit. It's not terribly common here in the US. Seems a pity, though it may have to do with many sales persons working on commission and people/customers feeling pressured.
We all watch your videos Marie-Anne because we all love French Chic Women. Who wouldn’t love to go to Paris, especially when you live in Australia. Your advice is very helpful and heartfelt. Thank you Helen.
thank you for this Marie Anne. I love all the points you make, especially about greeting people and making time to enjoy meals and friends. But the piece de resistance is the three pillars - fabulous!
Bonjour Anne-Marie! Great video! I love and have been trying to apply all of your tips lately...especially the 'if it's not a WOW it's a no!! Love it!! Merci!!
Hello Mme Marie-Anne 🤗 You have so much to teach that is of value. I think I have without realizing it until now taken in many of the French Chic ways since I was a young woman that I picked up partially from my maternal grandma. She always had the same style, lifestyle and values as you share. My favourite is la Joie de Vivre. I have been consciously bringing this back into my life as we can finally do so again. It has been missed. Sitting at a cafe or wherever one chooses to take some time out and slow down while being social in person is so important ☕️
Bonjour Marie-Anne, I was fortunate as a young woman to have lived in Louveciennes, France for two years. That was fifty years ago, but it was one of the high points of my life! Sitting in a cafe having 'cafe au lait et un croissant' with friends was a favorite pastime. That time in France really changed my whole view on what is important in life! Merci bien!
The three pillars were taught to me by both my parents. It has resulted in me buying only the best I could afford whether it be clothing/shoes/food/wine/jewellery/cars etc. It has resulted in me having beautiful things that have stood the test of time and more than 40 years later I still have some of my shoes/boots/clothing/jewellery and still love them. I can use them differently from the way they were used 40 years ago. Obviously making sure that they are all age appropriate. Midriff baring = NO, too tight = NO, too short = NO but for all else I re-use beautiful things with joy and delight.
Love, love, love! Such simple ideas and simple things are the best. I actually do my own nails but I find it therapeutic. The acknowledgement of the good and bad , reading and enjoying life were my favorites. ❤️
Omigosh this hit home so much with me - 'work to live', not live to work. I work in a sector full of workaholics, people who compete for putting in the most hours, who view you as an isolationist if you don't attend community and work events on weekends. But I look at all the time they spend at work or work events and think, Don't they have family? Friends? Other interests? I have always been slightly notorious in my company for not exceeding 40 hours a week but I don't care. I will always try to maximize time with the people I love, and doing and learning new things in the world outside work. THANKS for the great tips & reminders about what matters - simplicity, self-care, quality, mindfulness. :) :) :)
Bonjour Marie-Anne: I love this video because I try to live by each of these habits even though I am an American. I completely understand the French style of living. Thank you for sharing.❤️
No 6…we no longer shake hands….covid has wiped that habit out now …when you think we only started doing it to show we had no sword concealed..it’s one habit I’m happy we’ve got rid of.. it always made me feel uneasy…especially in flu season.
Loved your presentation Marie-Anne, it pulled together a lot of concepts about the overall French way of thinking - it (the French way of living) works on many levels, merci beaucoup!
@@MarieAnneLecoeur Exactly - it is about life, and what is true, right and good in life - the good way, the right way, is often also the greatest way of true style - God bless cher Marie-Anne!
oh fabulous views on fashion and values , i agree completely, as i only buy classic clothes and need to last a long time , my values really look towards my shoes as i buy not only heels but flats too in the same colour , but must above all fit and be comfortable and be of good quality , i am afraid i am really stubborn about my foot wear , as i really enjoy good foot wear. my evening footwear must be elegant but comfortable , however since having an knee replacement i have needed to lower my heel hight but kitten heels can still look elegant , i resisted them for a long time until i found a beautiful pair of shoes which solved my issues then i swallowed my pride and bought a few pairs and then they changed my life ! fortunately ! my regards liz x
I have recently watched a video on RU-vid regarding French Women's diet and it was not very complimentary of French Culture and the requirement for French women to be thin. It talked about the pressure to be thin and eat very little to remain thin. It implied that French women are hyper vigilant about their size and eating. I would love to hear your honest insight on the topic. This is very different from how French thinness has always been portrayed to non French women. I love your videos and value your perspective.
I go for the “no makeup” makeup look. I wear a neutral, light color eyeshadow, medium brown eyeliner, brown mascara, tinted lip balm, and, if I wear foundation, it’s usually a mineral powder foundation. It works. I look put together, but not made up.
Bon soir, point 6 and 7 and of course 8 are very important to mention. Point 6 got lost in Germany, I think. Point 7 I love books, I studied literature. Point 8 and the rest are ars vivendi 😍😍😍😍😍🙋♀️ This video touched me
Thank you Marie - Anne! Your videos are always a delight. I read al the time. It is my way of relaxing. Currently reading Anna Karenina. I ha ve read a few books by Alexandre Dumas in French also. Tied Victor Hugo but it was to hard. It would be wonderful to see a video on books you have liked and would recommend. Dressing of the mind as well as body.
How do you feel about online shopping? I have seen some of your videos about Zara and Lilysilk, and more. All would be online shopping for me, but I cannot judge the quality of a piece from a photo or the wow factor. What do you think, please? Thank you.
Many have to resort to online shopping Jan - I so myself. Returns are for the most part easy and after a while you get to know the sizing of individual brands 😃
Hello from California, Friend! Thank you for this message. They’re great reminders and as usual, you break it down to simple building blocks. Now, time to schedule that facial and massage I’ve been putting off!! Hugs, Jeannie
@@MarieAnneLecoeur As soon as these fires are under control. We are on evacuation warning from this Caldor Fire, only a few miles away. (We’re in the Sierra Foothills and the fire is still 0% contained.) I definitely need my Me Time after this!
Interested by your comment to discuss your hair with your stylist, because s/he knows what goes best with your complexion. I'm 60 and in the UK and I seem to differ from all other women here, in that I hate it when a stylist/colourist just asks What You Want and tries religiously to follow that. What I long for from a stylist are observations and suggestions, because at this stage in my life, I simply do not KNOW "what I want".. I can't hold up a photo and say "Please do THIS!", because I know THIS will almost certainly look awful on me. My current stylist is a technical genius, but will not, or cannot, Make Suggestions. So I try to tell him what to do..... With deadly dull results!
@@MarieAnneLecoeur And also, "Will this suit my face and colouring?" I have a short cut at the moment which is lovely in itself, but makes me look "grandmumsy" and I can't wait to grow it out. Now, THAT should lead to some interesting discussions!
We French chick ladies love our clothes. We hate fast fashion. Greetings are very important. Beeing well mannered is free. I love to read and to enjoy the simple beautyfull things in life.
I agree that less makeup looks nice and natural, certainly don't like it looking like mutton dressed as lamb, I like your tips , your style, it's great, from Frances UK ❤️👍
Alas, I eat very consciously. Unfortunately, I have a smallish body which doesn’t know when it is full! Since menopause, my ability to get to satiation before eating more than I need is totally gone. You cannot eat according to an intellectual list of correct foods - even exercise will not prevent weight gain because every day you lose more muscle mass than you can overcome by eating fewer calories. The only people I know who have not gained weight post-menopause were those who were thin for their entire lives and came from a family of thin people. The best scientific minds in the world still do not have a way TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF. That last part is the important part. To keep weight off you must actually think about food and what you put in your mouth 24/7. I am unwilling to sacrifice that much time thinking about food when in the end I will STILL BE HUNGRY! Like a lot of things as we age - this is unfair. I do the best I can, which is all we can reasonably do. BTW I am not considered obese but I sure would like to have the weight distributed “better.”
Yes, social graces, decorum, and etiquette are essential. I never address someone by his or her first name unless the person instructs me to do so; to refer to them by their first name is too invasive and declasse.
I couldn't agree more! I go to beauty salon regularly and enjoy it. Reading has been my hobby for years, you learn so much from books and they make you think. Thank you, Marie-Anne
Merci pour cette vidéo. It is sad to see that our society has become less elegant-overworked and underdressed people. I make it a point to look presentable when I leave the house-I never know who I will see. I like to take time out of my busy schedule to experience my daily joie de vivre. I love to read and learn-education doesn’t end at your last degree. Being kind and appreciative is always elegant. I never cease to learn from you! ♥️😘
Gretchen, Yes, it is very sad to observe the slovenly appearance of many individuals in America. Like you, I always look my best, since I never know whom I might meet that day. I like what you wrote: "Education doesn't end at your last degree." Indeed, learning from books, print media, others, advanced coursework/degrees, and travel adds so much to our lives--not just knowledge but spiritually and emotionally, too.
@@nataliamiles7109 Thank you for your comment. I am appalled at how sloppy people look in the US these days. At the mall, for example, I see so many who look like they should be working in the yard. Yes, I look my best every time I leave the house because I never know who I will run into when I go out, whether it is an old friend, my teacher from 30 years ago, a co-worker, or even a celebrity. I would be mortified if I look like I just got out of bed and I saw any of them in public. Education doesn’t end at your last degree-it ends at your last breath. I love to read and travel (can’t wait until I feel comfortable going abroad again) and enjoy attending educational workshops. I am also learning foreign. languages, including Italian and Spanish, in my free time. I naturally learn at work because I am a proofreader who works on academic documents and educational material. I feel like I am getting paid to learn from some of the most prestigious business schools. 😉📚
@@nataliamiles7109 The problem is some people do not take pride in themselves. That is a tribute everyone should have. Even if one is in the dumps, taking a bit of time to look good is healing. Well that is how I feel. Cheers from 🇨🇭.
I am so glad that you included number 7: Be Well Read. Being well read is so important to me, and I celebrate other people who find this as crucial as I do. I also agree with number 10, the three pillars. Thank you for this video.
Elegance is not about looking fancy. It is an ingrained, well-deserved demeanor of poise, kindness, careful grooming and aesthetics, and joie de vivre. It cannot be bought, it can hardly be taught, and if you don't have your SELF together, you cannot achieve it. All the bling and plastic surgery and expensive clothes in the world will not fool people who understand such things.
Merci Marie Anne pour vos très bons conseils 🥂🍾 Indeed, life is so much more enjoyable when we keep it simple 🫖🥢🌷 L’art de la table est obligatoire 🍄🐚🦩🦋🍉🍎🥝🌶🥬🥕🫒🫐🍐🧀🍞🧈🥗🍤🥧🍯🍷🍵🎨🏖 Happy weekend to everyone 🎡⛲️⛩💎
These are great ideas for living one's good life.. I have mostly tried to only buy the Wow factor with the occasional mistake.. books well love them . My father always said you don't have to travel to be well informed. The world is in a book. Thankyou for sharing and confirming these points.x
Marie-Anne, As usual, you are so correct in these 10 habits. I subscribe to most, if not all myself. Self care is VERY important in a stressful world. If you don’t take care of you, how can you care for your friends and family around you? Live life, enjoy a slow afternoon. Now that I am retired, I think this is so very important. Slow down and enjoy a good meal with family and friends, a cup of tea at a cafe, a bubble bath with the good candles. Ahhh, perfect!
I love the tip about the wow? or no! I usually always buy one item at a time because I was specifically looking just for that piece. Sales people always make me feel like I'm short changing myself and that there must be something else I need. Well, no. Because I'm so specific, I know if I need something or not. I realize they're trying to do their job, but this is why I prefer to shop on line. Love your videos Marie-Anne. I threw away some unflattering pieces and bumped up my lipstick color since watching you. Many people around me don't care at all, but I do and I'm working on doing what I enjoy instead of underdressing like my peers. I want to feel good about myself and I've been a wall flower way too long.
French born, but living in the US my entire adult life, I practice all 10 habits EXCEPT I give away most books so someone else can enjoy them, when I know I will not reread them… and I get rid of dust and too many bookshelves. Less is more. I donot care that my bookshelves donot impress my visiting European friends. Thanks for all your videos. :)
I love being in a book group. Discussing literature with a group of lovely women. Food is so important. Quality over quantity. Working to live. So important to our quality of life. 💖
I met a random man recently at a Greek food festival and we had a lovely discussion about Voltaire and de Tocqueville (who I didn't imagine anyone else had ever heard of!). My stone mason friend once told me the biggest benefit of his university education was being able to converse at parties :)
A great haircut is the key. Even on days I know my hair is not looking that great I will sometimes get a compliment. I know it's the great hair cut. I used to get manicures but now I do my own, once or twice A year I will go for one. Since I am retired from a job I will wear my clothes regularly and try to avoid looking sloppy at home . I would save my good clothes for work or to go out. If I dont use my better clothes more I would never wear them
I was just thinking about the book thing- I've been to so many houses where there are zero books, and it's not places that have a separate room for a 'library'. Books are such a huge part of my life- I would be lost without Colette and Agatha Christie :)
Dont judge a book by whether it has a cover!😊 My husband and I both read extensively, but we don't have many books in our home. Most of our books are in electronic format now. We don't have much space, and also appreciate that with electronic versions you can enlarge the print and control the back lighting; much easier on older eyes.
I had a book shelf and I decided to eliminate it. Most of the books once read I don’t read them again. I gave them to friends, otherwise it’s just another thing to dust off. Very few books I feel the need to read for a second time. Most books can be found online, so I read on my tablet. I have a couple of coffee table books, just because of the beautiful photos it’s nice to go through them
I love to read books. Unfortunately, with the possibility of having to downsize sometime in the next few years (my only child is in college), I was sad to get rid of so many books, including my childhood favorites. When I move and discover more shelf space (ironically), I will track down my lost books and snatch them, even if they are beat-up!
I just turned 39 and I follow all of these, paying even more attention to all points as I continue to mature (hooray for confidence and self acceptance!) However, the area that I need to tend to most is making time for fun with family etc. This can be hard with where I am at in my career right now, especially since I married into a family of extreme work ethic and high energy who prioritizes work! Good stuff.
I have to make time for spas. I take care of my hair with a salon, but everything else I do myself. I have always kept things in mothballs, plastic container organizers to separate sweaters from t-shirts, scarves, and such. I keep handbags and shoe toes stuffed with tissue and protected in dust bags and or plastic bags. My stumbling block is not having my clothes tailored-I use belts and roll up sleeves or add a scarf if they are not the perfect fit. While I do not do hauls, I do sale shopping and keep things on hand for a day when I can't shop or I am too busy. I have extra simple non-faddish sweaters and skirts. I seemed to have stocked up on personal items just like I do with the pantry and cleaning supplies. This is a strange lifelong habit not related to the recent pandemic. I think my skin looks younger because I put only oils, moisturizers, sunscreen on, and no makeup. I add brow pencil, mascara, and lipstick and everything else is skincare in the am and evening. I also make sure I have additional supplements I know I do not get in food that help with my immune system, my hair, nails, and skin. I have a home library and a habit of lifelong learning. I do want my husband and me to make healthy food and take walks seriously as a daily ritual. I suppose I am well on my way to Chic and Elegant.
The philosophy of Classic French style has had the greatest influence on my personal style. However, I’m also fascinated by the beauty of the art created during the period of extravagance throughout the age of French dominance (1650-1800)....And this includes the opulent costumes of early style icons like Madame Pompadour, Marie Antoinette, Louis XIV...The fabrics, embroidery, lace, prints, textures, beadwork, and color were combined to make each of their outfits into 3D masterpieces.🥰
