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16th out of 19 books
—
4 voters
The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour
by
Joan DeJean
What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory -- a luxe handbag, for example? Why is it that people all over the world share the conviction that a special occasion only becomes really special when a champagne cork pops -- and even more special when that cork comes from a bottle of Dom Perignon? Why are diamonds the status symbol...more
Hardcover, 302 pages
Published
July 5th 2005
by Free Press
(first published January 1st 2005)
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I picked up this book because i had just finished reading "Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution" and was in the mood for something else French. And I was sadly disappointed by this book-- it seemed profoundly biased. I was expecting some bias (it is a book purporting to give the French credit for everything relating to style after all), but I thought the author took it to a whole other level, laying down some serious obsessive hero-worship for the Sun King. Really? Loui...more
Properly belongs in the pop-literary genre that can loosely be identified as "the social history of concept/food item/technology/etc.". DeJean's writing is from the school of annales meets cosmo, peppered with phrases like "bling-bling" and repeated references to Carrie Bradshaw and Manolo Blahnik. Her repeated attempts to create parallels between the 17-18th century and recent currents events are alternately amusing and lame.
The combination of writing styles makes this book a lighter read then...more
The combination of writing styles makes this book a lighter read then...more
The sub-title of this book is "How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafés, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour." However, "How Louis XIV Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, etc" would be more appropriate. And it's true, mostly; a lot of these things exploded as a direct result of how Louis XIV [say it with me now: ka-TOHRZ] ran things during his reign. One of the really interesting things was how many of them were introduced to protect French industry and the French economy. What w...more
Oct 31, 2010
Robin
added it
I thought this book sounded interesting at first. Then it gets into the couture and cuisine of France, and then it says King Louis XIV was the arbiter of good taste, which I don't doubt. From wigs to all the typical Parisian delights. It was a good book,
I started this book after I met the author at a DC fashion event but got distracted with life. After reading "The Collection" I have picked it back up.
This book was fascinating. The chapters were very well done and the information was engagingly written.
Must read for anyone who is curious about the origin of a lot of things we take for granted today.
Fashion Plates and dolls, Champagne, Mirrors, and Parapluie
As someone said, this book should've been called "The Essence of Style: How Louis XIV Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, ..."
you get the picture. The thing is, I think the book could've been a lot better if it had focused on other people's impact as well. It felt like there was a lot of book padding because she limited herself to things in Louis XIV's reign. Why? There have been plenty of other people throughout time who contributed to France's reputation and creations.
A chapter on umbrellas? Com...more
you get the picture. The thing is, I think the book could've been a lot better if it had focused on other people's impact as well. It felt like there was a lot of book padding because she limited herself to things in Louis XIV's reign. Why? There have been plenty of other people throughout time who contributed to France's reputation and creations.
A chapter on umbrellas? Com...more
Jan 17, 2012
Tammy
added it
Average book. Not sure what I was expecting, but a bit boring. Would have been better if the chapters didn't read like stand-alone essays, so that information presented in one chapter was again introduced and explained in another as though you'd never seen it before. The author also makes a few too many conclusions without any stated support. Since she's a professor of French history and culture, I'm sure she knows what she's talking about, but the reader shouldn't have to take that on faith.
So, I've been reading this book off and on since January...not because I can't get into it... But, its just one of those you can put down for a bit and come back to. This book is for all the fashionista's and pop culture fiends. It's full of juicy tidbits like the hows, whys and whens of our obsessions with mirrors, shoes, haute cuisine, diamonds and much more! It's a fascinating read and will give you fun little facts to impress your friends with :)
I just love this book! It's a great way to learn about how the French wrested control of the fashion industry (prior to them, it was in the hands of the Dutch and the Venetians). You also learn about the evolution of champagne, city lights (one of the Sun King's many achievements), Women's Wear Daily, mirrors, diamonds (the Renaissance people loved the pearl), and coffee houses among other things; basically all things fun and decadent!
I thought this book was great! Joan deJean did her homework and I am sure a lot of that information was not easy to find. If you ever want to know the origin of practically everthing we do read this!!!
Sep 06, 2008
Simone Smith
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in aesthetics or style
Fascinating!! This book was a total pleasure to read. I have such a greater appreciation for style now, and really enjoyed the great detail to which the author went to explain the emergence of different trends and styles. This book carried me through a long weekend family reunion AND three days at the Chinese consulate. Not bad!!
1 like · like · see review
A book of how the French invented high fashion, find foods, chic cafe's, style, sophistication and flamour.
So this was the beginning of "keeping up wtih the Joneses?"
it was a bit tedious, but there were interesting parts. I think it would have been more interesting if this were written by someone without a biased opinion of France.
So this was the beginning of "keeping up wtih the Joneses?"
it was a bit tedious, but there were interesting parts. I think it would have been more interesting if this were written by someone without a biased opinion of France.
DeJean traces the history of our culture's materialistic tendencies back to the reign of Louis XIV's court. The writing style is a little breathless, and the lack of footnotes is annoying, but overall it provides an interesting perspective on the Old Regime.
The Sun King still rules the roost, and people are still trying to live the good life his courtiers had. The author lays out a strong case, and the book is a fun read to boot (or slip-on mule as the case may be).
Apr 03, 2007
Melissa
marked it as to-read
I checked this out as a library book a few months ago, read the first chapter, and then had to return it...but I will check it out again....when I've finished reading everything else on my to-read list.
Quick summary: Louis XIV was almost singlehandedly responsible for creating fashion and style as we know it today! This book is lots of fun.
This book is more about the marketing of Beauty then it is about what's Fashionable. Who decides what is elegant, Louis XIV of course!
Exactly as the title says---a historical review of how Louis XIV created glamour and luxury as we know it
Interesting, informative, well-written. DeJean is one of my favorite historians.
Yada yada yada. We get the picture. All good things come from France.
Our love of the coffeehouse, diamonds, mirrors, perfume and even the umbrella all are traceable to the reign of Louis XIV. A very good read, intelligently written and witty.
May 15, 2013
Kay
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Tuong Vy
marked it as to-read
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Dec 08, 2010 12:33pm