I am in the middle of reading
Lessons from Madame Chic Lessons from Madame Chic ,The Top 20 Things I learned while living in Paris by Jennifer Scott.
http://dailyconnoisseur.blogspot.com/ - Jennifer Scott Blog
see an from Amazon below...
Bring home the chic Parisian world of style and charm
"When Jennifer Scott arrived at the doorstep of a grand Sixteenth Arrondissement apartment as a foreign exchange student, she was greeted by the woman who would become her mentor and the inspiration for the way she lived long after her time abroad was over. Madame Chic took the casual California teenager under her wing, revealing the secrets of how the French elevate the little things in life to the art of living.
Each chapter of Lessons from Madame Chic reveals a valuable secret Jennifer learned while under Madame Chic’s tutelage in Paris—tips you can incorporate into your own life, no matter where you live or the size of your budget. Embracing the classically French aesthetic of quality over quantity, aspiring Parisiennes will learn to master the art of eating (deprive yourself not), dressing (the ten-item wardrobe), grooming (le no-makeup look), and living à la française. From entertaining with easy flair and formality to cultivating allure while living an active, modern life, Lessons from Madame Chic is the essential handbook for anyone wanting to incorporate that Parisian je ne sais quoi into her daily life."
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDailyConnoisseur
My favorite chapter is the 10 Item Wardrobe, Chapter 4. The author details how her host in Paris "Madame Chic" rotates 10 key basics each week and manages to still look chic and stylish. There are ten basics in summer and 10 in winter. This does not include outerwear, jackets, accessories, special occasion clothing, layering pieces and shoes. 10? Ms Scott gave some advice on how to cull and organize your closet in order to achieve what I think would be nothing short of a miracle for the average American woman. I am going through a transition in my life and something about this change appealed to me. I am always standing in front of my bulging closet complaining that I have nothing to wear. What if I only had a capsule wardrobe of 10...? Could I really only work with 10? The thought of it sent bells of rebellion ringing in my head, I could not do 10 but maybe.... I could do 20 ? For 1 month? I could definitely do 20!
Please note: this could take about a week or two take your time, no rush, this is a major change.
I went to my closet and started to pull my 20 key items ( list is below). I pulled those items, but, I am currently working of the following
- Clear out your closet ( at least the hanging) . The only items left in the closet should be your 10 or in my case 20 clothing picks. You will be wearing these items for 1 month as a test and then you can mix and match going forward.
- Assess the wardrobe
- Pull items you have not worn for the last 6 months and set aside.
- Pull items that no longer fit and set aside
- Pull items that may no longer speak to who you are today?
Once you get that done, your closet will never be or look same again.
Things I had to consider
Weather - The weather in Atlanta is unpredictable, in the winter the temperature can veer wildly from 20 degrees on Monday to 70 degrees on Friday.
Work- Some of your items must include work wear ( accessories will be needed to ensure you look different every day).
Dry Cleaning/ washing - You will need to get your dry cleaning done in order to keep your clothing fresh.
Mix and Match- everything needs to go together, mix and match will rule the day.
My 20 Item Wardrobe ( Winter)
- 1 pair black skinny jeans
- 1 pair creme skinny jeans
- 1 pair dark rinse skinny jeans
- 1 black cashmere sweater
- 1 sheer black sweater
- 1 navy cashmere sweater
- 1 cable gray sweater
- 1 cable tan sweater
- 1 pair black boot cut pants
- 1 pair long boot cut pants
- 1 pair black cropped pants
- 1 white shirt
- 1 navy blue check shirt
- 1 striped top ( navy)
- 1 striped top ( red)
- 1 black leather skirt
- 1 black pleated skirt
- 1 tan knit skirt
- 1 black dress
- 1 leather vest ( wear over a black tee)
Please note : I chose skinny jeans because I can wear them with boots in the fall and winter.
As of today I am still working on culling, that is going to take a very long time. I have to stick with it.
I will update in two weeks on my progress!! Wish me luck!!
