Tongue in Chic: How to be Parisian

Intelligent, often hilarious and, let's face it, extremely educational all wrapped up in one super chic, beautifully designed bundle, How to be Parisian, Wherever You Are is a must read for so many reasons.

You want a real lesson in timeless style? Look no further. Beauty is natural but well earned and maintained. Style does not involve brash big letters but a much-loved statement piece with the rest of the outfit dressed down. It's important to make an exceptional effort to look effortless. These are some of the key points throughout How to be Parisian, a guide that actually really helps you learn how to emulate Parisian chic - while never taking itself too seriously - which makes this such a light, engaging and endlessly enjoyable read.

The authors of How to be Parisian have the most impressive collection of experience between them. Audrey Diwan wrote the screenplay for Cédric Jimenez's La French and is now directing her first feature film. She is also editor-at-large for Stylist magazine. Caroline de Maigret (the figure that represents the essence of Parisienne style on the cover of the book) studied literature in the Sorbonne before moving to New York to  become a model. She returned to Paris in 2006 to found her music label and has been an ambassador for Chanel since 2012, supports women worldwide through the NGO Care and in 2014 became a muse for Lancôme. Sophie Mas started her own film company after graduating from college and now works as a producer in LA, New York and Sao Paulo and, finally, Anne Berest is the author of two novels and a biography of Francoise Sagan which was published this year and also works for television, film and theatre.

Paris is a city that has fascinated the world for a long time, so much so that it's almost a character in itself, and the Parisian women have captured the fascination of women - and men - throughout the globe at least as much. They just have something... for the sake of being corny a Je ne sais quoi. And this book really is a window into what makes a Parisienne a Parisienne. A guide book into every aspect of what gives these elusive women their mystique.

Some people are born Parisian and for the rest of us we can only pick up what we can but I've never come across a book that guides you on your way to that so kindly as this book. Like four super cool French exchange students who just have it, the authors of this book guide us gently with everything from the basic Parisenne's wardrobe; how to tackle weddings, emotions, the blues; how to make your boyfriend jealous; what clothes a Parisienne wouldn't be seen dead in; to recipes for breakfast and dinner parties; a list of natural remedies passed on by Parisian mothers to keep your hair and skin looking good and a pretty brilliant address book at the back of the best places in Paris, by a group of Parisiennes, to buy vegetables; where to go when you're feeling down; the most beautiful office in Paris and where to go when you have a hangover!

Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, Sophie Mas & Anne Berest

You don't have to worship at the altar of Parisienne chic to enjoy this book. It's so well written and actually quite educational from a group of four amazing women and long time friends who have complied a tome that brings the joys of being Parisianne alongside the paradoxes of their ways. It's very self-aware; unapologetic but also not boastful. And you can really tell the authors had a lot of fun in the two years it took to compile what's contained in the pages of this book with self-deprecation, self-awareness and essential wisdom in equal measure.

 It's kind of a revelation to see that these women are aware of how the world looks at their city and at them as people and these four authors sort of spill this secret. At the very least this book teaches everyone who reads it what style and class really is and if it needs to be faked - or aspired towards - then this is the instruction manual. 

So, some words of advice from these four Parisiennes: No French woman wears a French manicure; wear navy with black, pink with red... or basically do anything someone tells you not to; don't follow trends, let them follow you; embarrassing moments are important for these allow you to not take yourself too seriously; not too much makeup, too many colours, too many accessories; either go grey or no grey hair at all: salt and pepper is for the dinner table; and "don't be afraid of aging. As the saying goes there's nothing to fear but fear itself".

And these little tips are just the tip of the iceberg of the wealth of knowledge, humour, and inspiration to be found among the pages of How to be Parisian, Wherever You Are. I could not recommend this book more.

How to be Parisian, Wherever You Are is published by Ebury Press and is available from September 4th.