BOOK REVIEW: "Elegance" by Kathleen Tessaro

“Elegance is a sort of harmony that rather resembles beauty, 

with the difference that the beauty is more often a gift of nature and elegance the result of art. Elegance is rare in the modern world, largely because it requires precision, attention to detail, and the careful development of a delicate taste in all forms of manners and style. In short, it does not come easily to most women and never will.”

This is the second book titled Elegance which I read in the last 3 years. My friends often tease me that I have a funny way of picking books (based on the way the cover looks). Ok, it's true that I gravitate towards fancy font, pink colored, girly covers which mostly means that I go for so called chic-lit tittles.

The first book titled Elegance by madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux I purchased on a yard sales when I lived in Towson, Maryland and went to many yard sales with a lovely lady who I babysat for at the time- Mrs.Deb.

When I came home I parked it at the shelf and didn't get to read it until I moved to NYC to work in fashion industry. I can say, without exaggeration that this book positively contributed to my transition from a young lady to a women, in that particularly sensitive age from teen years to twenties. This book is a complete guide for woman who wants to be well and properly dressed for every occasion, it is a true style bible. 

The second book titled Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro is inspired by the original Elegance by French madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux. It is an interesting and witty real life trial and interpretation of Dariaux's style rules from the original book written in the 1960's  by an English lady author Kathleen Tessaro.

I highly recommend you to read this book so I will not tell you how it ends.At first, I felt sorry for the main character Louise Canova, she reminded me very much on a Bridget Jones type of girl, so I had some prejudices as such character is a polar opposite of my own personality. However, as I continued to read, I started feeling as I was her friend, she pulled me into her story and I could relate on many situation she was going through, despite our character differences. I was very proud of her at the end of the book. :)

Here is a short video summary of the book by Kathleen Tessaro herself. 

Next, I would like to share a couple of my favorite quotes and style rules from madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux which I memorized and have continued to ensure myself into as I go through my life adventure, so I hope these help you lovelies as well.

"Being beautiful is no guarantee of happiness in this world. 

Strive instead for elegance, grace and style."

“To be elegant is first of all to know oneself, 

and to know oneself well requires a certain amount of reflection and intelligence.”

"Refuse to be seduced by anything that isn't first rate!"

"When comfort becomes an end in itself, it is the Public Enemy Number One of elegance."

"Always shop alone. Women who shop with their friends may be popular, 

but elegant they are NOT."

"Underwear. Do not confuse beautiful lingerie, the kind that supports well and remains fresh, with the cheap, vulgar stuff of men's magazines. Fascinating? I'm certain. But elegant it is NOT."

"I Heart New York" by Lindsey Kelk {book review}

“I waved down a lit cab. He swerved dramatically towards me and stopped inches from my Louboutins. Shoe-icide, a fate worse than death”

Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York

This is the last book review I am going to write on my own as the next ones will probably be more fun as they will feature views and opinions of seven very different ladies of La Passion pour la Fashion bookclub, which I am very much looking forward to.

        I think such reviews will give you more detailed and more objective perspective then mine alone, so you will be in a better position to decide if you as well might want to read the book we are reviewing.

It is funny that I got this book from my boyfriend because although he lives in Spain, and doesn’t mind traveling and living in different countries as it is the part of his job description he is not at all keen of living in US. 

        However he knows how much living and working in NYC has impacted and shaped me as a person I am and he knows what I feel for this grand City so he after all (based on pretty pink girly covers and short resume on the back) picked up this book for me, he guessed right, I loved it!

Other than being quite easy to read as most of the chic-lit books the way Lindsey Kelk writes is so so funny that I was definitely laughing out loud in public transportation and at home while reading it (at home this looks much less awkward obviously).

The story revolves around fabulous British girl Angela who gets cheated on by her cowardly husband to be – but obviously it won’t happen after all, not to mention that her best friend knew about it all along so she does something unthinkable – runs away from the whole situation or does she actually takes some space to look at the whole situation from the different perspective, to finally start the life she wants and deserves? 

This is for you to decide once you read it J

I will share with you two thoughts I took away from the book which spoke to me and which I found particularly to be truthful as I myself have experienced something similar but in reverse order, NYC to Zagreb.

1.   You don’t go to New York to become a better you, you go there to find a new you, the City does changes you forever.

“People go to LA to "find themselves", 

they come to New York to become someone new.”

Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York

2.   Shopping cannot heal the broken heart. Shopping will get you things to make you look better, looking better will help you feel better about the way you look but until you learn how to really love and care about yourself you will not be able to love another person.

“A break up is the closest thing to bereavement”

Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York

My story which frightfully so matches the Angela’s, you can read through in my older posts:

- Who is your pillar

- The Solution

- The funny thing called love

- Letting go

- Love pacer

- After the storm has passed

- Anybody like nobody

Other than being absolutely hilarious read, I would recommend this book to any girl who is going through tough time in life, be it in love or work, it will definitely inspire and encourage you! 

Also, at the very end of the book you can find wonderful (and based on my experience living in NYC very true) recommendations of best places to visit, where to eat and in which hotels to stay while visiting.

You can buy this amazing book in few clicks for very little money in La Passion pour la Fashion bookstore.

“If you didn't feel like your support system was strong enough, then getting yourself out of the situation was the best thing to do.”

Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York

BOOK REVIEW:"Why men don't listen & women can't read maps"

        Recently I finally finished reading the #1 International bestseller “Why men don’t listen & women can’t read maps” written by a married couple Allan & Barbara Pease.  Ironically enough, I got this book (as many others) from my boyfriend who also reads a lot and I was surprised when he got me a “none chic-lit” book which I usually read for leisure.

I absolutely recommend every man and women to read this book which is scientifically based but written in a way that is easy to read and based on internationally ran scientific: physiological and sociological researches conducted over couple of decades by the two authors.

“The equality of men and women is a political or moral issue;

The essential difference is a scientific one.”

Here are some of the lessons I took from reading this book and will try to apply or fun facts I will try to remember when dealing with men in my life in order to have a better communication with them.

Women have wider peripheral vision, men have tunnel vision.

This is why men are so obvious when turning around after a hot girl, in fact women look at man just as much but their vision allow them to do it without turning their head. Men needed tunnel vision in order to hunt for the food, while women developed a peripheral vision in order to notice if other animals were a threat to her home and her babies.

On long trips, men should drive at night and women drive in the day.

Researches show that women are much safer drivers but have more minor accidents; interesting fact is that these accidents happen mostly during PMS period.

Men can mentally separate their problems and put them on hold. Women can’t stop thinking about and analyzing them. A woman will verbalize a series of items out loud in random order, listing all the options and possibilities.

Male brains are highly compartmentalized and they have the ability to separate and store the information. At the end of the day, a man is able to turn off and close the drawers. The female brain doesn’t have that ability, we keep running and processing the problems round and around in our heads. In order to solve them, women talks, not with intention to find a conclusion or solve them but to discharge them. Men get confused here, because when a woman presents him with a problem – he assumes this is because she wants him to solve it.

Talking to each other & relationship rules:

• When a man is silent, it’s easy for a woman to start feeling unloved.
•  The first rule of talking to a man: Keep it simple! Give him only one thing at a time to think about.
• If a woman is talking to you a lot, she likes you. If she’s not talking to you, you’re in trouble.
• To get a man to listen, give him advance notice and provide an agenda.
• If a woman is unhappy in her relationship, she can’t concentrate on her work. If a man is unhappy at work, he can’t focus on his relationship.
• Women recognize when love doesn’t exist. That’s why they’re much more proactive in finishing the relationships.

At the end, it is very important to acknowledge these differences in order to be able to have a good relationship with your partner. Men want power, achievement and sex. Women want relationships, stability and love. Many of these differences we knew on subconscious level, but we really need to acknowledge them in order to understand our partner. 

Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps: 

How We're Different and What to Do About It

                                          

BOOK REVIEW:"Full Blast" by J.Evanovich & C.Hughes

Today is the day17 . of my prolonged stay in Croatia.


Update on "La Situation Miserable"

Bad stuff: 2 bad interviews the day after arrival, cancelled vacation plans, expired passport and awkward situation with some of my friends.


Good stuff : interview scheduled for tomorrow and analytical testing for P&G on Monday(WOHOO). My new passport will be done before the end of the month. My boyfriend is coming to visit in seven days. I read two books in past two days. I got inspired by one of the books I read and got an idea for starting my own business. I also discovered my love for French chansons & Édith Piaf.


"Full Blast"




The book I finished yesterday (the only one I saved out of my library left in US) "Full Blast" by Janet Evanovich & Charlotte Hughes is just what I needed to get me out of my "Attitude Miserable" and to get me going.

"Full Blast" is a steamy romantic adventure which will make your fingers hurt from speedily turning the pages. It is truly a one breath read. Not only this book made me laugh out loud, it also evoked many familiar feelings in me when it comes to family issues and romantic relationships. Jamie's (main character) fears and doubts of falling in love, commitment and letting oneself be lead by heart while risking of getting hurt, definitely hit home on so many levels.

I really believe that a girls heart can go through just as much before it breaks. Than, it heals again and covers itself with this glossy protective shield which makes it appear healthy, shinny and new from outside, and the girl moves on and lets it shine for somebody all over again.

However, when the second heartbreak happens, not only it starts beating slower, but the glossy shield breaks into tinniest pieces which than pierce the already tired and slowly beating heart and damage it to beyond repair.

Now, all this might seem just a bit over the top and dramatic, but I am PO-SI-TI-VE that this is what really happens to the girls heart.

So, all of you girls out there do be careful and doubtful, but first, go all out, take that first risk, let your heart get hurt and heal once if needed. Let it build its delicate shield and let yourself be lead by your heart, because it will detect that One person who will be mesmerized by its shine. That person, is the same person capable of breaking the shield and causing a heartbreak. But, if He doesn't.... than... Fireworks.

With Love.

~Kat