Living Forever Chic: Frenchwomen's Timeless Secrets for Everyday Elegance, Gracious Entertaining, and Enduring Allure

This book is an attractively designed, uplifting narrative of what ultimately makes a good life: the cultivation of serenity, dignity, poise, style and kindness. The author generously shares her insights gleaned from decades of living in France and interacting with its tastemakers and ordinary French women. She provides many charming examples of finding small pleasures throughout the day.The book is well written and easy to read. I have ordered copies as gifts for like-minded friends.

How can you go wrong with a book that starts with this: “With each passing birthday, I realize that one of the most important goals in my life is serenity”? The author delivers on this promising opening, offering potentially live-changing attitude resets for us women of a certain age side by side with fun and inexpensive tips for living a good life.The overall theme is a Life Well-Lived (a la Francaise.) Jett’s prescriptions are to appreciate the simple. Be kind and make everyone feel comfortable. Quality in everything. Mix high and low. Avoid the artificiality of chi-chi in favor of being relaxed. Choose modesty over ostentation. Pay attention to the details. And always maintain your sense of wonder.And then she applies these principles to the facets of a woman’s life, from entertaining to homemaking to beauty to how to be elegant. Every suggestion the author makes is expounded on by a French expert in the field. Some are great surprises: she goes to Christine Lagarde, long time director of the International Monetary Fund, to help define l’art de vivre al la Francaise. (I’ll leave it to you to discover Lagarde’s definition, it’s delightful!Lett sprinkles the book with historical notes, tips, sometimes in list form, sometimes a single offering — how many people guests make the perfect dinner party? Jett and her husband have different opinions, you choose — and recipes for everything from French entrees to skin rejuvenators to sachets. My favorite parts were snippets about her husband and her daughter Andrea, how Tish brought her to France thirty years ago, how Andrea applies these principles to her life in Chicago.Great fun and, if the stickies I have attached to every other page are any indication, a really useful book too!

There are many books about Frenchwomen and joie de vivre available today (and I probably own all of them), but Tish Jett’s books are the absolute best. She interviews women of renowned for their exquisite taste, then relays her findings with such warmth and charm. To read her book feels like you’re catching up with a dear friend over a coupe of Champagne. No one else writes the way Tish does. She’s a gem, and so is this wonderful book.

This book calls to my attention how much joy and pleasure I can bring to the little things I do every day. It's a choice to see these day-to-day tasks as chores, or to see them through joyful eyes. I also appreciate the surprising amount of history she brought to her writing. It's very interesting to learn about how our current practices came to be. Tish Jett's modesty and conversational tone leave me with the feeling that I'm enjoying a chat (over champagne, of course) with a generous, kind, elegant, and fun friend.

Tish Jett is so engaging and fun. I loved her first book, and this one is even better. Tish doesn't merely share her own perceptions and experiences; she did extensive research and conducted interviews for the book. The styling of the book is beautiful, too.

This is a very entertaining and enjoyable continuation of Trish Jett’s earlier book. Lovely and charming. It’s worth the read.

Tish Jett does it again, with a chatty book that feels like talking to a good friend. We should all aspire to joie de vivre, and Tish shares many insights from France to enhance the art of living. (She's inspired me to host more dinner parties for friends, for one.) A fun read, especially on a dark winter day.

I loved Tish's first book and this second one does not disappoint! Great fun, personable and written in such a wayyou feel like its a friend offering tips of all kinds!! Worth the read and a great gift for those who love Paris and all things French! I have even tried many of the tips in both books!

........but I live in Paris and try to embrace all aspects of La Vie Francaise ! Forgive the "crowing". Tish has a way of writing that draws one into her little and many secrets of making the most of everything you have or your surroundings including your personal self. are both interesting and helpful.Thank you Tish,Swan

Even better than her first book, this one inspired me so much - full of elegance, insights and delight. Get ready for your inner Parisienne to emerge!

I enjoyed the first book but I absolutely loved this book as I found it more relatable. Tish is the glamorous big sister I always wished for offering wonderful advice in all subjects chic.

This book is very well written. An enjoyable read with some great hints, suggested skin products and thoughtful reflections on clothes and fashion.

Not what I expected