Joie de Vivre: Secrets of Wining, Dining, and Romancing Like the French


Harriet Welty Rochefort - 2012
    They simply exude a certain je ne sais quoi that is a veritable art form. The French revel in the moment, appreciate the time spent in preparing a perfect feast, pay attention to the slightest detail--whether flowers on the table or a knockout accessory on a simple outfit--and work hard when not enjoying their (considerable) leisure time without an ounce of guilt. Their joie de vivre can come where you least expect it: for the French it's better to have a chagrin d'amour than no amour at all, and for the Frenchman a day without discord is a day without a kick. They have fun (yes, fun !) when they fuss and feud, squabble and shrug.When it comes to joie de vivre, Harriet is convinced the French are unbeatable. With good humor and genuine affection for the prickly, paradoxical, and pleasure-seeking Gauls, she takes the reader on her own personal journey through the often byzantine French mindset, sharing tips and tricks such as how to diet like a Frenchwoman and project confidence like a true Parisienne. In her signature warm, witty, and entertaining voice, Harriet shows how joie de vivre permeates the French way of life, precisely because it doesn't include a "pursuit of happiness." Fortunately, she discovered, you don't have to "pursue" happiness in France. It pursues you.

Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution


Caroline Weber - 2006
    In Queen of Fashion, Caroline Weber shows how Marie Antoinette developed her reputation for fashionable excess, and explains through lively, illuminating new research the political controversies that her clothing provoked. Weber surveys Marie Antoinette's "Revolution in Dress," covering each phase of the queen's tumultuous life, beginning with the young girl, struggling to survive Versailles's rigid traditions of royal glamour (twelve-foot-wide hoopskirts, whalebone corsets that crushed her organs). As queen, Marie Antoinette used stunning, often extreme costumes to project an image of power and wage war against her enemies. Gradually, however, she began to lose her hold on the French when she started to adopt "unqueenly" outfits (the provocative chemise) that, surprisingly, would be adopted by the revolutionaries who executed her. Weber's queen is sublime, human, and surprising: a sometimes courageous monarch unwilling to allow others to determine her destiny. The paradox of her tragic story, according to Weber, is that fashion--the vehicle she used to secure her triumphs--was also the means of her undoing. Weber's book is not only a stylish and original addition to Marie Antoinette scholarship, but also a moving, revelatory reinterpretation of one of history's most controversial figures.

The Real Simple Guide to Real Life: Adulthood made easy.


Noelle Howey - 2015
    And it's smart, funny, and relatable. Just like you.

Hemingway's Paris: A Writer's City in Words and Images


Robert Wheeler - 2015
    No other city in any of his travels was as significant, professionally or emotionally, as was Paris. And it remains there, all of the complexity, beauty, and intrigue that Hemingway described in the pages of so much of his work.It is all still there for the reader and traveler to experience—the history, the streets, and the city. Restaurants, hotels, homes, sites and favorite bars are all detailed here. The ninety-five black and white photographs in Hemingway’s Paris are of the highest caliber. The accompanying text reveals Wheeler’s deep understanding of the man; his torment, talent, obstacles and the places of refuge needed to nurture one of the preeminent writers of the twentieth century. Moved by the humanistic writing of the man—a writer capable of transcending his readers to foreign settings and into the hearts and minds of his protagonists—Wheeler was inspired to travel throughout France, Italy, Spain, Africa, and Cuba, where he has sought to gain insight into the motivation behind Hemingway’s books and short stories. As a teacher, lecturer, and photojournalist, he set out to capture and interpret the Paris that Ernest Hemingway experienced in the first part of the century. Through his journal and photographs, Wheeler portrays the intimate connection Hemingway had with the woman he never stopped loving, Hadley, and with the city he loved most, Paris.

Style Me Vintage: Make Up: Easy Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Classic Looks


Katie Reynolds - 2011
    Vintage styles have never been more popular, with style icons like Scarlett Johansson to Dita Von Teese indulging in retro glamour. Whether the aim is a look that can be worn day-to-day or one for a special outing or occasion, this must-have book has all the instructions and inspiration needed to recreate the decadence and fun of vintage styles.

Silver Hair: Say Goodbye to the Dye and Let Your Natural Light Shine: A Handbook


Lorraine Massey - 2018
    Here are step-by-step tips on letting nature take its course—or using lowlights, highlights, blending, and toning to transition with minimal drama (and avoid a skunk line). Tips on haircuts, tricks for the best care (conditioning is crucial). Products, including the DIY variety. Plus, the most flattering clothing and makeup to accentuate any shade of gray. With unique treatments and techniques from hair guru Lorraine Massey, Silver Hair is a call for celebrating and enhancing your natural radiance, with thrilling results. Welcome to the inspiring guide for every woman who’s ready to find her true colors. Written by the authors of the national bestseller Curly Girl, here is everything you need to know, from going gray stylishly to living silver gorgeously, including Silver Lining Stories and before-and-after photos of real women. Going silver is not just about a certain look, or saving time and money at the stylist—it’s about fulfilling a deeper desire for authenticity, empowerment, and the freedom to be oneself at any age. So let’s get started.Featuring:The many perks of naturally silver hairStyle and beauty to play up the silverToners and color blendingAvoiding the skunk lineHair care routinesDIY recipes, including Lavender and Verbena Herbal Hair TonicFace-framing silver streaks

The Twilight Saga: The Complete Film Archive: Memories, Mementos, and Other Treasures from the Creative Team Behind the Beloved Motion Pictures


Robert Abele - 2012
    Written and designed in collaboration with the entire cast and crew who brought all four of Stephenie Meyer's celebrated novels to the silver screen, this official treasure trove delivers an enchanting experience, transporting readers to the vampire world by sharing filmmaking secrets, never-before-seen candid set photography and artwork, and exclusive stories from the stars.

Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style


Natalie Jobity - 2010
    Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style", Natalie Jobity, a professional image consultant, shares with women tips, insider secrets and advice they can use immediately to learn how to dress to enhance their image so they look and feel amazing, inside and out. “Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It” has step-by-step guidance on all the topics you care about: dressing to flatter your figure; determining your personal style; shopping smarter so you fill your closet with the right pieces; working with color; pulling your look together with accessories; dressing to elevate your image at work; and much more. As you read each chapter, Natalie's friendly, engaging, voice empowers you to unleash your style potential and encourages you to dare to express your fabulous. With illustrations showcasing “real” women, summarized tip lists (finding the right jeans, picking a cocktail dress and much more!), exercises and anecdotes based on Natalie's work with hundreds of women, this is a book that you will cherish and refer to time and time again. As you read, you will realize that you are in the midst of more than an image makeover. You are really being taken on a journey of transformation-- a wonderful and exhilarating experience that helps you tap into your true essence and express it by the way you dress. Natalie dishes her advice and wisdom in a down to earth and practical manner that is delivered with motivation and sass. She lets her book lead the way for the woman who is ready for her image to catch up with the rest of her life. This book is an invitation to change how the world sees you and how you see yourself, on your terms. Yes, you too can become one of those effortlessly stylish women you admire. Wherever you are on your image journey-from fashion challenged to emerging fashionista-with Natalie as your guide you will be inspired to "Flaunt It!"