Feel good, French style

It’s a very cold winter here in New York, but I’m actually enjoying it. To my surprise, I’ve learned to love winter, and here’s the first reason:

1. You can be as chic as any Parisienne just by putting on an undershirt.

French style icon Ines de la Fressange recently shared her secrets in La Parisienne. Fantastically illustrated by Ines herself, it’s become a best-seller in France (the English version releases in April).

One of my favorite tips? Ines says don’t forget your cami! An added layer of silk, cotton or lace keeps you warm and toasty, and can make a big difference between brrrrr…and hmmm…

Of course, my own French Maman has been telling me the same thing for ages; it just took single digit temperatures for me to catch on. Merci Maman!

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

French Elle magazine recently declared 2010 The Year of the Thigh. I had a feeling our center of gravity was trending South given fashion’s current love for cut-offs and short shorts. This Summer, I dared to go where I had never gone before, baring my least favorite body part – my thighs – and jumping right into a (relatively) short pair of shorts.

After the Wonderbra 90s and the derrière era personified by JLo, the Kaiser himself, Karl Lagerfeld, elevates the thigh to new heights in this boudoir shot of Vanessa Paradis for Chanel. Forget the Coco Cocoon bag. It’s those thighs I want!

We all have our insecurities, and they typically crystallize around one body part. “If only I had skinnier legs, a smaller nose or straighter hair,” we muse as we hone straight into the offending area with each glance in the mirror, like a moth drawn to a lightbulb.

I’ve always wanted Gisèle’s limbs or to look as good as Kate in my skinny jeans. And that pressure to look Condé Nast perfect remains a big part of the problem. Despite recent efforts to present a more real image of women in the media, they are often thin, young and air-brushed. In business and society circles too, there is no overlooking the pressure to be both competent AND beautiful.

Against that backdrop, I’m starting to master the idea that my beauty – and my thighs – are more in my head than in my reality. Likewise, your self-image may be built on physical characteristics, but it goes beyond being brunette, short or pretty. It’s built up over time around your thoughts, feelings, senses and experiences.

To change how you look, maybe it’s time to stop hitting the treadmill or the plastic surgeon’s and start reshaping your thoughts. Catch the negative or pressure-filled jabs at yourself and replace them with new positive ones. “My thighs are sexy like Beyoncé’s,” or “My hair is flat today, but people like me for my wits.” Practice zooming out to see the big picture too. You often have a tendency to magnify those problem areas, when the overall effect looks quite smashing.

It would be oversimplifying to try and combat years of self-consciousness with a few “I think, therefore I am’s.” Yet feeling at home in your body is as much about reshaping your internal dialogue as it is about what’s on your plate.

So bring it on, Karl. I have my eye on a certain pair of leather shorts for Fall, and I’m looking pretty darn hot.

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

I am ashamed to say that it took my own mother to get me into a pair of short shorts. While everyone has been in their cute tie-waists and cut-offs this Summer, I watched from the side-lines, convinced I was way too old…

Thank God mothers sometimes have the wisdom we don’t. It doesn’t matter how old you are, style is about WHO you are, and looking good in what you wear.

While I wouldn’t do hot pants like Cameron Diaz (nor do I by any means have her legs), she’s in short shorts at 37. That’s refreshing.

As I hum the jingle from Nair’s classic 80’s commercials, “If you dare wear short shorts…” I am thinking about how pre-conceived ideas can hold us back.

Thank God fashion is here to give us a good kick in the pants!

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

Whether the sun is shining, or it’s pouring rain, swapping out Winter’s dark layers for the light, bright shades of Spring puts a smile on your face. A favorite sundress or a new lipstick lifts your mood as quickly as a good espresso enjoyed outside on a first sunny morning.

But more than a burst of color to brighten your day, finding your personal style, that look that translates your sensibilities to the outside world, is an integral part of your sense of épanoui. Little personal touches here and there can make you feel like a million bucks.

This season features tried and true trends – military, florals, little white dresses – along with simple, bold new shapes orchestrated by designers such as Phoebe Philo at Céline and Christophe Decarnin at Balmain. There’s a nice, neutral palette at work (white, beige, khaki, denim) offering the ideal backdrop for your favorite colors and personal accessories.

The couture-inspired collections at retailers such as Zara (zara.com) freshen up your closet without breaking the bank.

Here’s a grab bag of ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Liberty of London for Target. Photo courtesy Trust Collective.

1. Play with prints.

My addiction to prints started the evening my mother slipped into her Yves Saint Laurent black crepe evening dress strewn with red half moons. Prints are so good at inviting you to take a second look, losing yourself in the swirls, the patterns and the colors.

Kate Sheldon Dubas, former Couture buyer for Neiman Marcus, and President and CEO of Fashioneering, LLC explains, “prints are personal.” Rely on them to convey a particular mood or sensibility and add interest to your look.

Kate and I loved the Liberty collection for Target recently (target.com). The patterns, design, quality and pricing add up to a noteworthy collection. It’s not too late to scoop up some clothes and homeware on line.

You can also get your dose of Liberty from M.A.C.’s new Spring make-up collection Give Me Liberty (maccosmetics.com). What a day-brightener to get out a peacock and flower-printed lipstick case instead of the usual black!

2. Imagine yourself on the beaches of Normandy.

Since it was sent down the runway with bold shoulders and sequined embroidery, the sailor stripe is having another moment. Whether you opt for the classic or the embellished, it’s a fool-proof Spring staple.

Coco Chanel was the first to turn a traditional fisherman’s jersey into a relaxed, seaside look appropriate for the ladies who lounged in Deauville, the still chic seaside resort in Normandy.

J. Crew has partnered with the Saint James knit company (based in Normandy since 1889) to offer their authentic, nautical tee this season, a unisex version in navy or white (jcrew.com).

3. Discover some mouth-watering finds.

The easiest way I’ve stumbled upon to brighten my day this season are Chanel’s new Rouge Coco lipsticks. It was hard not to be tempted by the gorgeous ad campaign featuring French actress and chanteuse Vanessa Paradis (also wife to Johnny Depp in one of the best French-American unions going).

After wearing lip gloss for so long, I’m rediscovering the pleasure of feeling like a femme fatale. Just be sure to pick a color which works with your skin’s undertones. The queen of wearable make-up Bobbi Brown advises choosing a color near to that of your own lips.

A shot of color on your lips, what about a bright bag on your hips? Designer Jérôme Dreyfuss opened his first stateside boutique in Soho a few weeks ago. He does color the way only the Europeans know how, offering eye-catching hues that are still chic (473 Broome St., New York, 212 334 6920, jerome-dreyfuss.com).

Bouquets aren’t meant for wearing, but it’s impossible to resist the temptation of dressing up the living room with a bright bunch of blooms. Caroline Bailly’s L’Atelier Rouge in Soho takes floral and event design to a new level (270 Lafayette St., New York, 212 226 4636, latelierrouge.com ).

If these Spring ideas have gotten your mouth watering, or you need a new lunch idea, pay a visit to mid-town East eatery Delectica. This neighborhood cafe features fresh, quality ingredients with a Mediterranean spin (564 Third Ave., New York, 212 986 1616, delectica.com).

Starting this Saturday, April 10, Delectica will be showing the food photographs Leslie Kobrin captured during her past year of travel in Paris, London and Seoul (thel-list.com). Her goal is to transport you out of your daily routine for a moment of visual enjoyment and maybe leave you a little hungry along the way…

Live épanoui*!

Elisa

* in full bloom

The New York Times reported Sunday that gift lists for this year are being drastically reduced. “Even fruitcake is being rationalized this holiday season,” the article headlined. Well, darned if I’ll be scrooged!

Instead of stressing over doling out the fruitcake, I’d rather focus on the magical buzz in the air. This magic is boundless in its generosity. It’s discovering my mother-in-law’s hand-written menus on the holiday table, announcing a feast always more succulent than the last. It’s the blaze of lights which accompany me down Park Avenue as I walk home each evening. It’s the chocolate buttercream which melts in my mouth as I delve into a bûche de noel (France’s traditional holiday cake).

It’s also seeing people’s faces light up when I’ve found the perfect gift for them.

Here are five of the gift ideas that inspire me this season:

- Chocolate that makes you feel good: Raw Chocolate Truffles from One Lucky Duck

(www.oneluckyduck.com; boutique in Chelsea Market and E. 17^th St., New York)

There are a plethora of chocolate confections out there, but these I actually dare give to friends in France, home of the best chocolate in the world. Raw foodists only use pure, natural ingredients and unrefined sweeteners. The result is an explosion of rich, dark cocoa with a hint of coconut, without the sugar hangover you get from traditional recipes.

- Books that travel in time and space: Assouline’s signature Memoires series (www.assouline.com; boutique in the Plaza Hotel, New York)

These are compact monographs which cover a multitude of themes in art, design, fashion and architecture. They’re beautifully illustrated with lots of photos, for a light and inspiring read.

- Sending your man for the shave of his life: The Shave at the Martial Vivot Salon pour Hommes

(www.martialvivot.com; boutique behind the MOMA, New York)

Martial grooms princes, stars, CEOs, and ordinary guys too. He’s one of the last to master the art of the perfect shave, but it’s the essential oil scalp massage which transports to a different realm.

- Comforting winter hands: Diptyque’s Luxurious Hand Balm (www.diptyqueparis.com; boutiques on Bleecker Street and Madison Ave., New York)

I noticed that French beauty editors consistently and sincerely rave about Diptyque’s Art of Body Care line. This apricot kernel, argan oil and shea butter protector has become my favorite, hands-down!

- A new friend for little ones: Zooni Lion Mittens from Bundle

(www.bundlenyc.com; boutique on Thompson St., New York)

Like everything else at Bundle, these lion mittens are adorable. Owner Allison carefully selects each item in her shop, resulting in a collection of gifts and clothing through size 6 which is both practical and covetable.

One blog reader also suggests, “Charitable contributions are meaningful gifts as well. Making a donation (large or small) in someone’s honor for a cause they believe in is a nice gesture.”

Live épanoui*!

Elisa

* in full bloom