Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris

by Jennifer L. Scott

Famille Chic’s kitchen was not easily accessible. It was at the back of the apartment, down a long, dark hallway, and was not attached to any other room. I thought I’d sneak down the hall and have a peek. Perhaps there was a bowl of fruit for me to nibble on.

that most French people do not snack—and Famille Chic was no exception.

open-plan kitchen, where the cooking, dining, and living spaces all seamlessly flow together in one giant room. This kind of interior is not common in Paris’s ancient apartments. The journey to Famille Chic’s kitchen was a small trek. Not only was the kitchen not attached to any room (certainly not the dining room), but it was situated at the end of a long, dark corridor that usually had washing hanging in it. You might argue that having an open-plan kitchen is warmer and more welcoming (after all, the kitchen is the heart of the home), but it also presents temptations. It is terribly difficult to avoid the cookie jar if it is staring you in the face while you try to mind your own business in the living room.

The journey to Famille Chic’s kitchen was a small trek. Not only was the kitchen not attached to any room (certainly not the dining room), but it was situated at the end of a long, dark corridor that usually had washing hanging in it. You might argue that having an open-plan kitchen is warmer and more welcoming (after all, the kitchen is the heart of the home), but it also presents temptations. It is terribly difficult to avoid the cookie jar if it is staring you in the face while you try to mind your own business in the living room.

kitchen was purely fu...

My snack foods must be high quality—Greek yogurt with blueberries, a bowl of tomato soup, or a piece of fruit.

find that if I have a well-balanced, quality dinner and a small dessert, the need for a snack is completely eliminated.

if I have a well-balanced, quality dinner and a small dessert, the need for a snack is completely eliminated.

Eating should command your full attention. After all,

you are bringing things into your body. The act should be civilized and respectful.

feeling hungry is a very good thing. You’re not starving. You have an appetite, which is the result of lots of stimulating activity.

what we think is hunger is actually something else.

hunger is actually something else. If

You might be feeling thirst or acute dehydration. The next time you feel like snacking between meals, have a tall glass of water with ...

Most of us have snacked out of boredom at some point in our lives. Amuse yourself with other pursuits—reading a book, getting some fresh air on a walk, or playing the piano . . .

Madame Chic had a set of recipes that she made very well, and she provided them in rotation.

pantry was always stocked with the ingredients to make a satisfying meal.

Deprive yourself not of rich and decadent foods, deprive yourself not of dessert and sweet treats, and deprive yourself not of the experience of fine dining—dining where you totally enjoy yourself and nourish not only your body but your soul as well.

While having a positive attitude toward food won’t stop you from gaining weight, it is the foundation of a healthy relationship with your food and the basis for dining well. If you obsess about what food will do to your figure, your self-deprivation may cause you to overindulge in a particularly decadent meal. Or you might think that because you are going to work it off in the gym the next day, you can have seconds or a bigger portion.

To do two things at once is to do neither. —Publilius Syrus

Think about how you would eat a delicacy if it was placed in front of you. You wouldn’t mindlessly jam it into your mouth while you simultaneously check your iPhone, would you? No, you might ooh and ahh a bit, share an excited smile with your dining companion, place a cloth napkin on your lap, carefully pick up your knife and fork, and go in for a taste. You would bring the food to your mouth slowly, taste and savor it. You would discuss it. You would enjoy.

It was her healthy attitude toward food that enabled her to ignore all the tempting options day to day at the breakfast buffet—of that I’m convinced.

She seemed to see no reason to change her morning routine. She seemed to be enjoying her breakfast, not depriving herself of the cornucopia of foods offered. Her exercise in moderation

The presentation of food is a vital key to enjoying what you are eating and not overindulging. If your food is presented beautifully, you are more likely to pause and appreciate it, rather than gulp it down.

By practicing the best for you and your family on a daily basis, you train your mind and palate to have a healthy attitude toward food and mealtime, and you send the message that you and your family are special enough to receive all the joy that food brings to the table.

Le Petit Déjeuner

Breakfast

Chic out of breakfast bowls. And it wasn’t just Famille Chic. I learned that most French people drink their morning beverage out of bowls.

breakfast would include • fresh fruit • fromage blanc (a delightful fresh cheese with a consistency similar to yogurt that can be eaten with a sprinkling of sugar) • a slice from last night’s tart (usually apple, apricot, or strawberry—homemade by Madame Chic) • toasted baguette with jam, otherwise known as a tartine (the jam always homemade—strawberry, blackberry, and orange marmalade being her favorites)

Life in Paris is an active one—exercise is a part of everyday life.

For shopping, Madame Chic would bring along a cart and fill it with items from each shop she visited. She only purchased what she would need for that day.

I thought exercise was for the gym only. Why would I waste precious time walking or running somewhere when I could drive and atone for my laziness the next day in kickboxing class?

They got their exercise by cleaning their houses, walking instead of driving, taking the stairs, and running errands on foot.

Save the big splurges for coats, shoes, sunglasses, handbags, cocktail dresses, jeans, watches, and jewelry. These items will last you a long time, so quality is of the utmost importance.

If you could describe your style in one or two words right now, could you do it? Attaching a label to your style is a powerful way to zero in on who you are, stylistically speaking. Some people might be put off by labeling their look, but a style can be anything from classic to trendy to eclectic. Don’t worry. Nothing is set in stone. You can change your label at any time.