“The guardian of all style” (The New York Times Magazine) shares stories on life, love, style, and career, from Paris to New York, and inspires readers to cultivate an effortless chic that is all their own.
Garance Doré, the voice and vision behind her eponymous blog, has captivated millions of readers worldwide with her fresh and appealing approach to style through storytelling. This gorgeously illustrated book takes readers on a unique narrative journey that blends Garance’s inimitable photography and illustrations with the candid, hard-won wisdom drawn from her life and her travels. Infused with her Left Bank sensibility, the eclecticism of her adopted city of New York, and the wild, passionate spirit of her native Corsica, Love Style Life is a backstage pass behind fashion’s frontlines, peppered with French-girl-next-door wit and advice on everything from mixing J.Crew with Chanel, to falling in love, to pursuing a life and career that is the perfect reflection of you.
Review:
My little blog is a little blog that could in comparison to Garance Dore’s (http://www.garancedore.fr/en/). I’ve always been fascinated with Dore’s view on fashion, travel and beauty. In her book ‘Love Style Life’ she takes us deeper into her web of ‘beautiful things’.
I had my doubts about ‘Love Style Life’. I really didn’t need another coffee table on how I should be living my life. I’m doing just fine on my own. I like how I dress, I always need to improve my make-up game and there are always life goals that are in different stages of development.
Let’s just say ‘Love Style Life’ is not a dust collector. It is cheeky, robust in knowledge and will whisper you secrets of what you should have figured out by now. But sometimes if you are not a well-travelled North American – well, yeah. It’s hard.
I used to live in England and my ex-boyfriend taught me one thing. Well one that stands out that is worth relishing. He taught me that it’s okay to wear and have nice things – the ‘Elegance’ chapter in ‘Love Style Life’ is all about this. Before I was just a sales rack girl who didn’t care. In my late 20’s to now in my 40’s I have learned to yes still buy on sale but to buy really nice, quality, road worthy and time less pieces. It’s taking me time – but I have no problems taking back returns that were just delivered to my house the night before.
I loved Dore’s nod to Zara in ‘Love Style Life’. “Avoid getting overly excited about the piece that looks a little too “inspired by.” I know, it’s tempting, but if it looks too much like Marant, Celine, or Valentino, step away. If nothing more, out of respect for the designers. But also because wearing a copy doesn’t send the best message. Not to ourselves or to others. As with everything – staying chic is knowing when to resist temptation.’
The Real Love Chapter of this book is the best words of love encouragement I have read in ages. Simple, to the point and easy to digest. Sometimes we don’t need all fluff and clouds but the cold hard facts, which we already knew didn’t we? “In seduction, sometimes absence is better. Give space, give distance, don’t call. Trust the process: if it’s meant to be, it’ll come to you.”
Chapters on healthy family and personal relationships were also very informative and gave me some awesome food for thought. Be it love, ending a relationship that isn’t working, carefully confronting toxic situations and the like.
Lastly, I also giggled when I thumbed through the ‘The Thank You Note’ chapter. I’ve always been a fan of the thank you note. I have a huge Rubbermaid box at home full of thank you notes, cards and stationery that I enjoy writing friends and family as necessary. It’s nice to know after reading ‘Love Style Life’ By Garance Dore, being classy is not a dying art.
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/239220/love-style-life-by-garance-dore/
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