The Essence of Style

The Essence of Style PDF

Author: Joan DeJean

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2007-11-01

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1416588531

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What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory -- a luxe handbag, for example? Why is it that people all over the world share the conviction that a special occasion only becomes really special when a champagne cork pops -- and even more special when that cork comes from a bottle of Dom Pérignon? Why are diamonds the status symbol gemstone, instantly signifying wealth, power, and even emotional commitment? One of the foremost authorities on seventeenth-century French culture provides the answer to these and other fascinating questions in her account of how, at one glittering moment in history, the French under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule our lives today. Joan DeJean explains how a handsome and charismatic young king with a great sense of style and an even greater sense of history decided to make both himself and his country legendary. When the reign of Louis XIV began, his nation had no particular association with elegance, yet by its end, the French had become accepted all over the world as the arbiters in matters of taste and style and had established a dominance in the luxury trade that continues to this day. DeJean takes us back to the birth of haute cuisine, the first appearance of celebrity hairdressers, chic cafes, nightlife, and fashion in elegant dress that extended well beyond the limited confines of court circles. And Paris was the magical center -- the destination of travelers all across Europe. As the author observes, without the Sun King's program for redefining France as the land of luxury and glamour, there might never have been a Stork Club, a Bergdorf Goodman, a Chez Panisse, or a Cristophe of Beverly Hills -- and President Clinton would never have dreamed of holding Air Force One on the tarmac of LAX for an hour while Cristophe worked his styling genius on the president's hair. Written with wit, dash, and élan by an author who knows this astonishing true story better than virtually anyone, The Essence of Style will delight fans of history and everybody who wonders about the elusive definition of good taste.

Parisian Chic Look Book

Parisian Chic Look Book PDF

Author: Ines de la Fressange

Publisher: Rizzoli Publications

Published: 2017-04-04

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 2080202278

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A brand-new book of fashion secrets by New York Times best-selling author, model, and Parisienne extraordinaire, Ines de la Fressange. Ines de la Fressange’s personal style is chic yet relaxed in every situation. While a navy-and-white- striped nautical top with slim, cropped jeans and flats is a classic French look, it’s harder to pinpoint how Parisians unfailingly blend elegance and allure with such ease. In this sequel to her best seller Parisian Chic, the world’s favorite style icon demonstrates how to achieve her quintessentially Parisian look throughout the year. Her style secrets start with the building blocks of wardrobe staples—an LBD that can be dressed up or down, timeless riding boots you’ll wear for a lifetime, or the perfect pair of jeans—which she combines with panache to suit every situation, adding seasonal items like costume bangles, a top in this season’s on-trend color, or the right shade of lip color.

The Essence of Style

The Essence of Style PDF

Author: Joan E. DeJean

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 9780473264130

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One of the foremost authorities on seventeenth-century French culture provides an account of how, at one glittering moment in history, the French under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule our lives today. DeJean explains how a handsome and charismatic young king with a great sense of style decided to make both himself and his country legendary. When the Sun King's reign began, his nation had no particular association with elegance, yet by its end, the French had become accepted as the world's arbiters in matters of taste and style. DeJean takes us back to the birth of haute cuisine, the first appearance of celebrity hairdressers, chic cafés, nightlife, and fashion in elegant dress that extended well beyond the limited confines of court circles--and Paris was its magical center. --From publisher description.

The Essence of Style

The Essence of Style PDF

Author: Joan De Jean

Publisher:

Published: 2006-09

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 9781422354797

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An account of how the French in the 17th-century under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, & glamour that still rule our lives today. Explains how a handsome young king with a great sense of style decided to make both himself & his country legendary. By the end of the reign of Louis XIV, the French had become accepted all over the world as the arbiters in matters of taste & style & had established a dominance in the luxury trade that continues to this day. Takes us back to the birth of haute cuisine, the first appearance of celebrity hairdressers, chic cafes, nightlife, & fashion in elegant dress that extended well beyond the limited confines of court circles. And Paris was the center -- the destination of travelers all across Europe. Illus.

The Essence of Watercolour

The Essence of Watercolour PDF

Author: Hazel Soan

Publisher: Batsford Books

Published: 2018-02-15

Total Pages: 175

ISBN-13: 1849944776

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A paperback reissue Hazel Soan's classic practical art book. Hazel Soan is a well-known and popular artist and an enthusiastic and inspirational teacher. In The Essence of Watercolour Hazel shows how wonderfully versatile and beguiling the medium of watercolour is and how to get the most out of it. Hazel stresses how important it is to understand the characteristics of the medium in order to exploit it to the full. She encourages the reader to explore the properties of watercolour and to be unafraid of strength of colour and brushstroke. Hazel shows through demonstration and projects that tone is king in watercolour and illustrates how to paint light with the use of shade. Armed with this understanding she demonstrates that watercolour is not such an unforgiving medium after all: accidents and mistakes can be disguised, overridden and corrected. The Essence of Watercolour is a culmination of many years of Hazel's teaching and demonstrating, in which she offers inspirational insights into the secrets of watercolour painting and encourages artists to take their art to the next level.

Plain Simple Useful

Plain Simple Useful PDF

Author: Terence Conran

Publisher: Conran

Published: 2014-05-12

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1840916699

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Terence Conran has always believed that objects - and surroundings - that are plain, simple and useful are the key to easy living. By being practical and performing well over time, they are as much the antidote to superficial styling as they are to the shoddy and second-rate. Applied to the home as a whole, this discerning approach results in interiors that are effortlessly stylish, confident and timeless, with plenty of room for the expression of personal taste. Plain Simple Useful is organized according to the main activities that take place at home. Inspirational interiors, many of which are Conran's own, and a number of projects designed by him exclusively for this book, provide all the guidance you need to tailor-make your own storage. The book also features iconic examples of classic designs that will enhance any home, as well as a peek behind the closed doors of those well-ordered cupboards, larders and other stowing spaces that contribute so much to easy living.

How Paris Became Paris

How Paris Became Paris PDF

Author: Joan DeJean

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2014-03-04

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1608195910

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When Paris became the ultimate destination city.

Fifty Years of Fashion

Fifty Years of Fashion PDF

Author: Valerie Steele

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2000-01-01

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 9780300087383

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Describes top trends and designers of the past fifty years, including their social and cultural contexts

Elements of Style

Elements of Style PDF

Author: Wendy Wasserstein

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2007-05-08

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 1400076870

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Elements of Style, the Pulitzer Prize—winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein’s first novel, is a scathing comedy about New York's high society facing the post—9/11 world. Francesca Weissman, an Upper East Side pediatrician rated number one by Manhattan magazine, floats on the fringes of the upper strata of privilege and aspiration. Through her bemused eyes we meet the thoroughbred socialite Samantha Acton; relentless social climber Judy Tremont; Barry Santorini, an Oscar-winning moviemaker accustomed to having his way; his supermarket heiress wife, Clarice; and more, tossed together in a frothy stew of outrageous conspicuous consumption and adulterous affairs that play out on Page Six. But when Wasserstein’s madcap tour of the social lives and mores of twenty-first-century Manhattan veers into tragedy, we finally see the true cost of her characters’ choices, and the beating heart of this dazzling novel.

How to Have Style

How to Have Style PDF

Author: Isaac Mizrahi

Publisher: Gotham

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781592403929

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Showcasing his singular approach to looking great, iconic fashion guru Isaac Mizrahi begins with the premise that all women should wear what inspires them. Using 12 women facing real wardrobe dilemmas, Mizrahi walks readers through the fundamentals of finding a personal style that reflects their authentic selves. Other features include a personal fashion questionnaire, hundreds of fashion tips on everything from clothes and accessories to skincare and makeup and a guide to becoming a collector, not just a shopper.