Chic & Slim Toujours Forever: Book Review
Chic & Slim Toujours Forever by Anne Barone is a great book for women who want to find out the beauty secrets of French woman and the art of ageing beautifully.
Anne Barone, writes about French women’s techniques for obtaining a chic style and maintaining a slim body. She believes that “the further into your 60s you are, the harder it is to look 29. Not impossible. Just more difficult”. I love this no-nonsense positive attitude to ageing beautifully.
Anne talks about ‘an uncertain age’ which describes the older lady who feels and takes care of herself just the same as a younger lady. Of no particular age bracket, this phrase can apply to women of many ages.
A healthy body and active mind are going to continue to be more important than ever as our average life expectancy increases. I strongly believe that if it is inevitable that I am going to live longer, then I am going to do my very best to ensure that I enjoy my older age. And why not do this as stylishly as possible with a happy disposition and an active mind.
The French and the joie de vie
The French have long been recognised as a nation that takes the joie de vie very seriously. They fiercely guard their shorter working week hours, numerous public holidays, pension and retirement laws.
Even their health system recognises and subsidises day spa and thermal treatments. Such treatments are often prescribed by doctors to help alleviate illness, de-stress, and keep the body healthy. Healthy bodies and minds are integral to one’s joie de vie.
Some of the topics covered in this fabulous book are: Hair, Makeup, Eyes, Legs, Feet, Body, Stress, Work, Mystique, L’Amour, Style and Ageing Beautifully.
Chic & Slim Toujours Forever Chapters
Makeup
French women do not wear makeup that makes them look as if they are wearing makeup. Chic French women don’t want their beauty efforts and the money they spend on beauty products and treatments to be obvious. Instead, they want their beauty to appear ‘natural’.
Feet
Anne recommends to massage the legs to help circulation and to minimise foot pain. Wearing shoes that will adapt to your feet is another must in looking after your feet and legs.
If you wear very high heels, each evening do calf stretches and pull toes forward to relieve pressure on the joints.
Food
French women know the techniques for losing weight and staying slim. These techniques are basically the same for women of an uncertain age as they are for women of any age. The first thing you need to know is that you cannot commit excesses in food and beverage in your uncertain age that you may have when you were younger.
I love this book and have re-read it numerous times. Every now and again I take an afternoon to myself and revisit this sound advice. It also has demonstrated the cultural thinking of the French about approaching older age, appreciating natural beauty and, most importantly, enjoying ourselves when we are “of uncertain age”.
This is a book that definitely belongs in your bookcase.
More ‘Chic & Slim’ books by Anne Barone
Chic & Slim: How those chic french women eat all that rich food and still stay slim.
Chic & Slim Encore: More about how french women dress chic and stay slim – and how you can too.
Chic & Slim Techniques: 10 techniques to make you chic & slim à la française
To buy your own copies of Anne’s books visit my Books For Francophiles Guide here and to find out about how you can bring French style into your everyday life, read Bringing French Style Into Everyday Life.
If you want tips on what to wear and what to do when in Paris, then 8 Tips On How to Look Parisian & Not A Tourist is a fun article to read.
