French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman [Hardcover]

Susan Sommers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1988

Learn the secrets of how French women dress.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1st edition (July 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394547047
• ISBN-13: 978-0394547046
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Elegant, yet sexy French Chic!, August 4, 2001

By 

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Frederick, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman (Hardcover)

If you are reading this review you may be wondering why is the book French Chic by Susan Sommers so expensive. This out of print beauty sells for upwards of $100 and climbing. Yet the book was published in 1988. Fashion books come and go, so why does French Chic continue to climb in price and how has it managed to develop a popularity with little publicity.The answer is simple. The book teaches step by step methods to attain the mystique of French Style and it is one of a kind. When I got my copy of the book I was stunned. Many of the outfits seemed somewhat dated. But as I read through the book, I was captivated. The bones of the book teach what has eluded foreign admirers for years. How to truly get "that look". The special chapter on 'What French Mothers Teach Their Daughters' says it all. Learning the tips on these few pages alone will make you unforgettable. In addition to the attitude and wardrobe of the French woman Summers covers the makeup. With the French the emphasis is on the lips. Though I prefer her cousin book, the less pricey "Italian Style" I have learned much from both books. Another wonderful book for those who enjoy "French Chic" is the harder to find (not even in Amazon's database) "French Style - How to Think, Dress and shop like a Frenchwoman" by Veronique Vienne. All are lovely books for those wishing to look fabulous, elegant and sexy with flair!

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars wow, glad I got this one from the library first. Saved me a pile of money for other better books., July 26, 2006

By 

overtakenbyanap "overtakenbyanap" (BC in Canada) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman (Hardcover)

Well the text IS interesting; but the suggestions are hugely out of date, which makes reading it like sifting thru a junk store box of "treasures" in search of the one jewel or two that might be in there. Maybe.

I have to agree with another reviewer here, I chuckled at the Annie Hall colliding with eighties Madonna. That is EXACTLY what the photos depict. That and the couch smuggling comment. Yes, it really does look like a couch got stuck between her shoulder blades.

Well photos aside, and they were bound to be dated;

---the text isn't that great. I was hoping it would have something better, something more than the current offering of french chic books have.

I suggest you try to get it thru interlibrary loan FIRST before spending the 100$ plus that copies of this one will set you back on the second hand book market.

It was a good book in it's day, but Leah Feldon's Dressing Rich has worn better thru time than this one in spite of being about the same publication dates.

Leah's book is a true classic about classics that wear well. She too discusses minimal capsule wardrobe building to begin with and how to add, what to look for in a quality garment, and what to go cheap with and what you absolutely must spend big money on.

That particular book of Leah's covers all the best points that French Chic makes without the distracting and bizarre fashion photos.

For developing your own version of French Chic Anne Barone wrote Chic and Slim and it's sequels (now 3 books, --if you can't get them at Amazon, try her website) and those three have excellent tips on french chic style as well as one of the best weight loss french method that I've encountered yet,

Check out Entres Nous by Debra Ollivier for a lovely light but intelligent look at the french chic mystique and how to develop it. She covers a bit about clothing, and a lot about manners and developing a bit of reserve.

Frederic Fekkai's A year of Style is wonderful. In a class by itself. It is out of print, and I found that a large Canadian bookstore still had remainders for under 10$ which is terrific as long as it lasts.

I wasn't impressed by The Parisian Woman's Guide to Style by Virginie Morana so do try that one before buying, by taking it out of the library first.

All in all, I'd buy Anne Barone's books, along with Leah Feldon's Dressing Rich book, Frederick Fekkai's book, and Entre Nous. Maybe I'd add Mary Lou Andre's Ready to Wear, and Mme Dariaux's A Guide to Elegance and be much further ahead for less money. The Lucky Shopping Manual if there is money left over for more in the french chic fashionista line up on the bookshelf.

Happy reading!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Jewel!, January 18, 2004

By 

Reyna del Amador (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman (Hardcover)

Susan Sommers' French Chic brings that certain look casual chic of many Frenchwomen into the realm of possibility for the ordinary reader. Most American women have a closet full of mish-mash fashion and yet complain of having nothing to wear. You must have clothing anyway, so why not make wise, versatile purchases? Ms. Sommers' book will help you to do so. She offers several plans for formulating a wardrobe that can be applied whether one shops at Lord and Taylor or the local Target.

Highly recommended to those few women who dare to be chic.