A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 6 – Time for Auntie
In Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days, Day 6 is titled “Be Your Own French Aunt.” In this chapter, Fiona advises that we have chic mentors to help inspire us to bring more beauty and elegance into our lives. In keeping with her theme that a chic life starts in our minds, she presents the idea that we can make up our own imaginary French aunt to help guide us away from our less chic habits and inspires us toward a more appealing way of living. Definitely, this imaginary French aunt must be loving and kind and truly want the best for us. (No mental drill sargeants, please.) The purpose of her existance is to present a lovely example that we truly want to follow. Day 6 also points to other possible chic mentors like books or that casually chic neighbor we occasionally see out walking her dog (pretty scarf knotted at her neck, wearing a coat that beautifully suits her coloring and build.) Or even a character in a movie that epitomizes chic to our eye. (I myself love the oh-so-stylish look of classic Doris Day in her comedy movies from the 1950’s and 1960’s) The important thing, Fiona writes, is that these wonderful mentors inspire us to be and live our best selves, however we define that.
Day 6’s message hit at the perfect moment! I had opened the book to Day 6 last evening to get quick pre-look – while holding my sixth piece of buttered baguette slice in hand! (Please know that I think a slice of fresh French baguette covered in tasty French butter is one of life’s most delicious gifts. However, six, I repeat SIX, pieces of it?) Yes, you guessed it. I was deep in that invidious pit of “mindless grazing.” Each time I passed through the kitchen, I didn’t even think, I just cut off a slice. Every real life and imaginary chic coach that I can think of would have instantly replaced that piece of baguette either with a chilled glass of water with a lemon slice or an herbal tea served in a pretty china cup. My buttered baguette slice went right into the trash (don’t worry, Paris abounds with boulangeries (fresh bread shops) that are still open during this lockdown. No self-respecting French person is going to face pandemic & global melt-down without a daily supply of fresh baguette.) I also put the remaining baguette in its bag and put it away in a drawer. (There’s a lot of truth in the old Southern saying: “It’s easier to avoid temptation than it is to resist it.”) I left the kitchen and returned to my pre-read of Day 6 with a lovely mug of herbal tea.
The mention of chic mentors immediately brought three people to my mind. Clearly, Fiona is a terrific mentor (and is helping me through her written work weather this lockdown.) Another one is Marie-Ann Lecoeur and her book, How to Be Chic & Elegant, Tips From a French Woman (which I review here). I’m also very fortunate to have a real-life chic mentor who provides lovely inspiration for how to dress and, more importantly, how to look at life. She dresses beautifully, of course, even on a planned “stay-at-home” day. She says that she loves beautiful clothes & that she feels good wearing them. She has fun putting together pretty outfits. You will not be surprised to read that when I’ve run into her at the grocery store, she always looks comfortable, feminine and beautifully put together.
Her perspective on life is what truly makes her a chic inspiration. She looks for the humor and for the good in life’s situations. Even with a full life’s experience of ups and downs, loves and loss, she is usually laughing at life’s absurdities (and at times, giggling at herself!) She keeps a tight rein on negative speech. Instead she prefers to talk about ideas, new books she is reading, new cooking, gardening or crafting adventures or about something funny that the squirrels and birds are doing in her garden that day.
I know exactly what she would have said had I mentioned the boredom, the cabin fever and the baguette-munchies. She would have immediately been warmly sympathetic and advised me to fix ONE slice of buttered baguette (maybe with a sprinkle of cinnamon), put it on a tray along with a nice cup of tea (she is English so feels that a good cup of tea is always appropriate), and go sit in a quiet spot to fully enjoy both. Then, she would have suggested how about brainstorming some ideas about a fabulous adventure trip to take once this dreadful pandemic situation is over? She wouldn’t have mentioned the mindless grazing or the complaining about boredom. She would have just presented a healthier and more attractive option.
Just thinking about my mentors last night changed my mindset from sluggish and uninspired to upbeat and happy.
Today is another beautiful Paris day! Clear blue skies and the tulip trees and forsythia are still in luxurious bloom. It’s quite chilly so what few people I see on the streets are wrapped up in coats and scarves. Perhaps, in honor to the season, most women’s scarves and gloves that I see are in bright Spring colors like leaf green, aqua blue and watermelon pink. I like the appearance of the brightly colored gloves mixed with the classic coat colors of navy, black, brown and tan. The store windows show bright colored light-weight coats like trench coats in red or buttercup yellow. Yes, the stores are closed right now but I still enjoy their window displays on my solitary early morning walks.