How To Be Parisian (Ebury Publishing)

How to Be Parisian brilliantly deconstructs the French woman's views on culture, fashion and attitude. Unlike other books on French style, this illustrated handbook is full of wit and self-deprecating humour.

Authors - Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret and Sophie Mas - are bohemian free-thinkers and iconoclasts, and they are not afraid to cut through some of the myths. They say what you don't expect to hear, just the way you want to hear it.

They are not against smoking in bed, and all for art, politics and culture, making everything look easy, and going against the grain.Including 80 black and white and colour pictures, many taken by the authors, How to Be Parisian explains those confusing subjects of clothes, makeup, men, culture and lifestyle as only a true Parisienne can.

On the style front: You don't always have to be made up, but you should always be well dressed. Your look should always have one thing left undone - the devil is in the detail. Either go all grey hair or no grey hair.

Salt and pepper is for the table. Or on how to answer the phone when he finally calls: The Parisienne lets the phone ring. (She's not waiting by the phone.) She feigns surprise upon hearing his voice.

(She wasn't expecting his call.) She asks if she can call him back in five minutes. (She's in the middle of something.) The thing is, she's not alone...(Et oui: you should never have kept her waiting.) What the Parisian won't let near her wardrobe: Logos.

You are not a billboard. Ugg Boots. Enough said. Don't even ask. Skimpy top. Because you're not fifteen anymore. The fake designer bag. Like fake breasts, you can't fix your insecurities through forgery.

The ideal man to be seen with: He's not muscular (You'd rather think of him reading a book than lifting weights); He's unshaven (Just enough so that you never fully see the man behind the stubble); He's funny (Until he disappears); He's got something special (And it's not a car).

There are many books on a Parisian's bookshelf: the books you claim you've read so many times that you actually believe you have; the books you read in school of which you only remember the main character's name; the books that you've been promising yourself you'll read next summer...for the past ten years; the books that you think make you cool; the books you keep for your children, just in case you ever have any; and the books you own simply because you must and, taken together, form intangible proof that you are well read.