5 French Red Lipsticks for Valentine's Day

Joyeux St. Valentin from Moi and my Estée Lauder lips! Head over to the Shop page to claim your own, and live la vie en rouge.

A bold red lip is about as synonymous with timeless French Girl style as baguettes and berets—albeit much less of a cliché and more of a lifestyle.

If parading around with a ruby red pout is less of an everyday look in your world, and more of an occasion, who could think of a better holiday than St. Valentine’s Day to paint the town—and your lévres—red?

Behold five shades to switch up your daily maquillage routine with a pretty pop of rouge, brought to you by the Fab Five French Fashion houses—Chanel, YSL, Dior, Guerlain, and Estée Lauder.

Click the links below, or head over to the TCA Shop Page to add these colors to your cart.

5 French Red Lipsticks for Valentine's Day

#520 Carnal, Pure Color Envy; $32
ESTÉE LAUDER
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
Saturates lips with high-intensity color. Lip-sculpting statement shades for all skintones. Super creamy, glides on effortlessly, covers evenly. Sensually soft and smooth, luxuriously comfortable. 8-hour wear. The lipstick bullet is shaped to sculpt the curves of your lips. The case feels like luxury in your hands. And with one click, case closed.

#444 Gabrielle, Rouge Coco; $40
CHANEL
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
An exclusive complex of Jojoba and Mimosa butters, Sunflower wax, and silicone, provides lasting hydration and luminous shine. With a vibrant colour spectrum, featuring shade names inspired by Coco Chanel and the friends, artists and lovers who inspired her.

My shade is #520 Carnal, Pure Color Envy by Estée Lauder.

#453 Adorée Satin Finish, Rouge Dior; $38
DIOR
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
Available in 75 beautiful shades, from Dior’s iconic reds, romantic pinks and rosewoods to trendy nudes in satin, matte, metallic or new velvet finishes. More modern and luxurious than ever, the new Rouge Dior lipstick is adorned with a signature band featuring the CD initials, a nod to Dior's runway looks.

#1966 Rouge Libre, Rouge Pur Couture; $38
YSL BEAUTY
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
The iconic gold tube of Rouge Pur Couture is dressed in red to celebrate love and the joy of gifting. Available in 3 gorgeous red shades, this full-coverage satin lipstick offers up to six hours of ultra-rich, stay-true color in just one stroke.

#M331 Chili Red, KissKiss Matte; $39
GUERLAIN BEAUTY
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
The light, delicate scent of a vanilla "floriental" leaves its incomparable mark on KissKiss. Top notes sparkle with a lemon, orange and bergamot accord. The rose and iris heart exudes sweetness. The vanilla and tonka bean dry-down gives KissKiss all of its intensity.

La Tarte | 5 Thanksgiving Pie Baking Essentials From Sur La Table

Thanksgiving is likely going to feel a little quieter this year, which means it’s the ideal time to spend this week honing those culinary skills, perfecting recipes, and practicing technique.

Thanksgiving is nothing if not known for the pièce de résistance of all holiday desserts— the classic pie. Whether you prefer the usual crowd pleasers—like traditional apple, blueberry, or pumpkin—or fun fall flavors that are a little more outside the box, Sur La Table has everything you need to bake a complete showstopper that’s sure to make even the most tender turkey jealous.

Shop all the essentials below, and find more holiday favorites—already on Black Friday sale!—here.

5 Thanksgiving Pie Baking Essentials From Sur La Table

Emile Henry Traditional Pie Dish; $39.96 (reg. $44.95)

”Made in France just for us, this pie dish has a traditional size, shape and depth that’s great for baking classic pies just like grandma used to make. This Sur La Table exclusive is the same color on the inside and out, making it a unique piece of Emile Henry bakeware that you’ll be able to pass on to future generations.”

Sur La Table Pie Server; $14.00

”With one serrated edge and a rounded spade shape, this stainless steel server is perfectly designed for serving delicious slices of pie. It features a durable handle and cleans up easily in the dishwasher.”

Le Creuset Pie Bird; $13.00

”Let these colorful birds help you make crisp, delicious pies. Pie birds let steam escape from your pie without bursting the crust or spilling over into your oven. Simply place this oven-safe ceramic bird in center of pie and surround with filling and pastry top. Arches on the bottom redirect excess moisture to keep the bottom crust from becoming soggy.”

Harvest Pie Plungers; $10.50

”Use our exclusive pie plungers to create fall pies that truly stun. Simply put the plunger over your dough, press the plunger down, and you’ll have dough in an autumn-inspired detailed shape to decorate your pie with. They’re also great for making cookies. Set includes four pie plungers in the shapes of a leaf, a leaf with twig, a pumpkin and an acorn.”

Ceramic Pie Weights; $12.00

”Pie weights work better to keep pastry from shrinking or forming bubbles while it bakes. These ceramic weights do a superb job of holding the pastry shell in place during baking and cooling. Washable, reusable weights are conveniently packaged in an attractive glass storage jar.”

Le Décor | 5 Famous French Sculptures For Your Home

If you’ve been craving a museum trip, but would rather not leave the house right now to visit priceless works of art—or better yet, if you’ve ever wished you could make your home a gallery exhibit of its very own, then today is your lucky day.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art—better known as The Met—offers replicas of the renowned works of some of France’s most prolific sculptors, including Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin, right in the museum gift shop—and they’re more affordable than you’d think!

The best news of all is that you don’t have to take a trip to New York City to do your shopping. Take home some of the most celebrated artworks of the Renaissance period, available for purchase below via The Met Store online.

Choose your favorite below, or even turn your maison into your very own private collection.

5 Famous French Sculptures For Your Home

The Thinker; Rodin $225 ($202.50 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Rodin: The Thinker Sculpture

“Our scaled reproduction in hand-patinated bonded bronze was scanned from a bronze of The Thinker in The Met collection, which was cast about 1910 from an original 19th-century model by Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Rodin's first government commission was for a monumental portal covered with sculptural reliefs for a Paris museum. He proposed a vast composition based loosely on Dante's Divine Comedy, but the work remained unfinished. The artist later began to extract individual figures from the reliefs and enlarge them to create freestanding sculptures. In its original position, The Thinker was at the center of the portal's lintel. The detached, brooding figure has been invested with multiple meanings—poet, judge, sculptor.”

Dancer; Degas $350 ($315 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Edgar Degas: Dancer Sculpture

“The Museum's sculpture is directly reproduced from a bronze cast made in 1920 after the death of Impressionist artist Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917), who made the original mold.”

Adam & Eve; Rodin $395 each ($355 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Rodin: Eve Sculpture

“The Museum's Eve was cast in bronze in 1910 from Auguste Rodin's (French, 1840–1917) original 1881 model. Based on this work, our reduced-scale reproduction was created with a combination of three-dimensional imaging and traditional sculpture techniques.”

Little Dancer; Degas $95 ($85.50 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Sculpture

“The beloved bronze adaptation of this famous work in The Met collection was cast in 1922. This resin statuette is dressed in fabric and stands on a wooden base; it will provide an artistic flourish among your decor or in a child's room. For his sculpture, as well as for his painting, Degas found a ready source of inspiration in the ballet dancers of the Paris Opéra. The original sculpture, modeled after dancer Marie van Goethem, is one of several that he formed in various positions allowing him to explore the subtle variations in the dynamics of movement and of tension within the human figure.”

Bather; Degas $495 ($445.50 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Sculpture

“Our beautiful sculpture celebrates a direct lineage to the work of Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917). It was carefully reproduced from a 1920 bronze in the Met's collection, which itself was cast from an original figure modeled about 1888–92 by the artist's own hand, one of 150 small-scale sculptures of wax, clay, and plastiline found in his studio after his death. Degas created these small figures as a private means of exploring subjects that fascinated him while investigating the movement of the body, as seen in this evocative bather, stretching an arm to sponge her back.”

Hand of God; Rodin $395 ($355.50 for members)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO SHOP:

Rodin: The Hand of God Sculpture

“Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917) was fascinated by the expressive possibilities of hands. A deeply sensitive sculpture, The Hand of Godrepresents divine creation, the life-giving hand symbolizing both the Creator and the sculptor. There are numerous versions of this masterwork by Rodin in both marble and bronze. Our faithful reproduction is based on a marble commissioned from Rodin in 1906 by a Met trustee.”

*This article may contain affiliate links. TCA only promotes products we love, whether we make a small commission or not, so rest assured that you’re always getting our best. Merci for your support!

NYC Guide | Best French Dining and Takeout

C’est moi, raising une coupe at Petite Boucherie in the West Village.

Now that outdoor dining in Los Angeles has been shut down for the second time this year, I couldn’t help but reminisce all the way back to the post-lockdown (yet now also pre-lockdown) peak fall days of October, when I took a very quick (and cautious) trip to New York City just to feel an ounce of normalcy again.

While it was certainly unnerving to see the lights of Broadway dimmed, and a bummer to be unable to partake in the colorful bar scene for an old-school night on the town, I was pleasantly surprised to find that La Grande Pomme (the Big Apple) is actually quite peaceful without throngs of tourists and out-of-towners. That riding a nearly empty and virtually spotless (and no longer malodorous) subway is almost a luxurious experience that I never thought I’d witness in this lifetime, and that the restaurant scene, which is the lifeblood of the city, was just as vibrant as ever.

The government-mandated al fresco order had music and bustle spilling into the streets and sidewalks, giving the city a same-but-different, spirited vibe that was almost—I said almost—reminiscent of Parisian café culture.

And speaking of Paris, there is an abundance of French bistros and brasseries scattered across Manhattan. Even if it isn’t possible to enjoy the full indoor dining experience—mosaic floors and Edith Piaf background tunes and all—at the time you’re reading this, ordering takeout is the perfect way to keep our friends and their businesses afloat, while enjoying fantastic French fare chez vous.

Best French Dining and Takeout in NYC

1. PETITE BOUCHERIE
14 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
(646) 756-4145

Make a reservation
Order takeout

Nestled cozily in the West Village, on the iconic corner of Gay St. and Christopher, Petite Boucherie is the petite soeur (little sister) of its namesake, the original Boucherie. Expect all of the traditional favorites. Think escargot and a la carte charcuterie boards to start, then fill up on steak frites or share the Chateaubriand pour deux, and save room for a teacup full of authentic mousse au chocolat—which I’m here to tell you is surprisingly difficult to find in the United States!

BOUCHERIE
99 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
(212) 837-1616

Make a reservation
Order takeout

The original West Village destination, Boucherie takes its decorative cues and its ambiance from the heart of the elegant Belle Epoque era. Picture traditional white marble bistro tables, burgundy booths, and framed replicas of vintage posters from the Toulouse Lautrec, Moulin Rouge can-can era. But lest you be intimidated by the appearance of grandeur and formality, I assure you that the experience is pure warmth and comfort. Additional locations include Union Square and La Grande Boucherie on West 53rd, all boasting the same menu of cuisine traditionelle.

2. LITTLE PRINCE
199 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 335-0566

Make a Reservation
Order Takeout

Cleverly named to incorporate its Prince Street location and the childhood literary classic, The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince), the floral facade of this reinvented French favorite is about as magnifique as it gets, this side of the Seine. Known as much for its cocktail boisson homages to the likes of American icons like Tina Turner, Ru Paul, Cyndi Lauper (and even Betty White) as it is for its French comfort foods like Ratatouille, Duck á l’Orange, and Black Truffle Steak Haché (a fancy word for hamburger), this SoHo “Bistro non Classique” has something for everyone.

3. PASTIS
52 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
212-929-4844

Make a Reservation
Order Takeout

As soon as Carrie Bradshaw famously quipped to Samantha, “I’m not going to lose my table at Pastis so you can cruise a Holy Man,” in season 4 of Sex and the City, it became the line that launched a thousand reservations. All walks of life, from celebrities to eager tourists, flocked to the then up-and-coming Meatpacking district to see what the fuss was about. Note: just like when Sam spotted the first neighborhood Pottery Barn on the block, the mammoth Restoration Hardware that now sits across the street officially confirms the neighborhood’s full transition from dockside warehouse territory into full gentrification.

Outfitted in the familiar design tenets of a classic bistro (subway tile, oxidized mirrors, and hand-written specials on chalkboard signs), come for the brunch-time Croque Monsieur and stay for the Chicken Paillard and Boeuf Bourguignon—and the quick two minute walk to the Whitney.

4. MARSEILLE
630 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
(212) 333-2323

Make a Reservation
Order Takeout

Just around the corner from the bright lights of Times Square, lies a little French oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Hell’s Kitchen. One day soon, when our musical friends return to the Broadway stage, it will once again be the place to quell a post-theater craving for the Marseillaise seaside fare of oysters and moules frites, or a nightcap toast with a coupe de Champagne. For now, enjoy the brasserie life with classic hits like creamy Bouillabaisse, pâté a la maison or Duck leg confit to-go—or in the warmth of a cozy corner booth if you can.

5. CAFÉ d’ALSACE
1695 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
(212) 722-5133

Make a Reservation
Order Takeout

Whether you’re having a nostalgic yen for the bustling days of long, sidewalk Sunday brunches and brioche French toast, or just want to go to town on a bloody steak tartare, this cozy Alsatian spot, with its classically Germanic influences of sausage and sauerkraut, proves that good French eating isn’t just for the West Side. An afternoon spent wandering through midtown, window shopping your way through Saks, and meandering over to this Upper East neighborhood is the perfect justification for picking up a warm bowl of Choucroute Garnie and chocolate-drizzled profiteroles for the road.

Shop These Fresh Fall Favorites from ChicMe

Every season has its style perks—fresh florals for spring, flirty dresses for summer—but cool-weather fashion is easily my favorite. Fall and Winter take fashion to a whole other level, and provide a canvas for layering in a way that takes a truly creative eye. From cozy knits and chunky boots, to every kind of fabric—your tweeds, your velvets, your cashmere and wool—the options are practically endless.

ChicMe is a new favorite brand that makes it easy to stay on top of the latest trends of the season. With a regular rotation of new styles to choose from—and prices that are refreshingly affordable—it’s never been easier to stock up on all of your chic seasonal must-haves.

Scroll down to see some of my favorites pieces pour l’automne, and be sure to use my code TheChic10 for an additional discount!

5 Fall Favorites from ChicMe

1. Tweed Notched Collar Double Breasted Plaid Blazer; $38.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Nothing says Automne like a traditional tweed blazer, and with gold button accents and a classic frayed hem, this one takes the cake.

2. Solid Wrap Long Sleeve Knit Sweater; $18.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Polished and elegant, this wrap sweater is the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. Dress it up with denim for nighttime, or pair with cozy leggings for a casual daytime look.

3. Plaid Button Design Tweed Irregular Skirt; $23.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Mini skirts with tights are an absolute wardrobe essential for French girls everywhere, and I’ve been keeping this one as my new go-to. Nothing says “Fall” quite like plaid, and it’s a personal favorite pattern of mine. With pearl button detailing and its asymmetrical hem, this mini jupe is jus the ticket.

4. Faux Leather Lace Design Skirt; $24.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Faux leather is still going strong as an official Autumn staple. From jackets and handbags, leggings and booties, it’s practically impossible to make a faux pas with this versatile material. This mini with its high waist and lace trim trim puts a contemporary stamp on the trend, making it fresh for this season.

Book Club: 5 French Reads for March 2021

It’s un nouveau month, and that means we have a new round of book club picks for le mois of March.

From a cerebral autobiography that touches on texts and theories of renowned French thinkers in Alice Kaplan’s French Lessons, to Josephine: A Life of the Empress, which examines the extraordinary life of Napoleon Bonaparte’s first wife, there are plenty of ways to get lost in your own thoughts and romantic notions during dreamy Pisces season.

On the other hand, if you’ve ever fantasized about adopting a minimalist, Marie Kondo-approved “less is more” lifestyle and downsizing abroad for a fresh start, then French Dive: Living More with Less in the South of France is the memoir for you.

Historical fiction buffs will love The Paris Library, a sweeping novel based on the true story of the brave librarians of the American Library in Paris who participated in the Resistance during World War II, while romance fans will devour Kirsten Lobe’s tale of seduction, French Trysts: Secrets of a Courtesan.

Scroll down to read more about these five selections for the month of Mars, and click the links in the images to shop.

French Book Club: 5 French Reads for March 2021

French Lessons

By Alice Kaplan
Memoir

“Brilliantly uniting the personal and the critical, French Lessons is a powerful autobiographical experiment. It tells the story of an American woman escaping into the French language and of a scholar and teacher coming to grips with her history of learning. Kaplan begins with a distinctly American quest for an imaginary France of the intelligence. But soon her infatuation with all things French comes up against the dark, unimagined recesses of French political and cultural life.

When, as a graduate student, her passion for French culture turned to the elegance and sophistication of its intellectual life, she found herself drawn to the language and style of the novelist Louis-Ferdinand Celine. At the same time she was repulsed by his anti-Semitism. At Yale in the late 70s, during the heyday of deconstruction she chose to transgress its apolitical purity and work on a subject "that made history impossible to ignore:" French fascist intellectuals. Kaplan's discussion of the "de Man affair" — the discovery that her brilliant and charismatic Yale professor had written compromising articles for the pro-Nazi Belgian press—and her personal account of the paradoxes of deconstruction are among the most compelling available on this subject.”

French Dive: Living More With Less in the South of France

By Eric Freeze
Memoir

“In the fall of 2014, educators Eric and Rixa Freeze moved with their young family to Old Nice, a medieval town-within-a-city on the famed Côte d’Azur. They’d bought a 700-square-foot dive, an apartment in need of renovation just a couple blocks from the Mediterranean.
They were a family with a plan: to live differently. No home in the suburbs with a two-car garage, no bedroom for every child, no 24-hour Walmart.

Carefully researched and vividly written, French Dive chronicles the Freeze family’s integration into a culture where large families aren’t all treated alike. What they find—spearfishing for food, renting their car to strangers, fixing and selling old furniture from the garbage depot—is that a city gives back the more you give to it.
Morally complex and unflinching in its analysis of contemporary life and the things that keep human beings apart, Freeze tackles racism, homelessness, art, reality TV, social media, and parenting with wit and humor. Along the way he and his family learn what it means to be a neighbor, a member of a community, and a global citizen, how to treat others with empathy and understanding as they try to carve out a place in this world.”

Josephine: A Life of the Empress

By Carolly Erickson
Biographical Nonfiction

“As the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, conqueror of Europe and the wonder of his age, Josephine was assumed to be a worthy consort for her astounding husband, a woman as beautiful, wise and altogether remarkable as he was charismatic, brilliant, and invincible in battle. When in 1804 she knelt before Napoleon in Notre Dame and he placed the imperial crown on her head, making her Empress of France, her extraordinary destiny seemed to be fulfilled. The unknown woman from Martinique became the highest ranking woman in the land, as far above the average Frenchwoman as Napoleon himself was above the humblest soldier in his armies.

Yet the truth behind the glorious symbolism in Notre Dame was much darker. For the eight-year marriage between Josephine and Napoleon had long been corroded by infidelity and abuse, and for years Josephine had dreaded that her husband would divorce her. Far from the love match previous biographers have described, Erickson's Napoleon and Josephine were the ultimate pragmatists, drawn together by political necessity while their emotions were engaged elsewhere.”

The Paris Library

By Janet Skeslien Charles
Novel

“Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.”

French Trysts: Secrets of a Courtesan

By Kirsten Lobe
Novel

“Somewhere between dating and eternal bliss lies a secret world of glamour, opulence, decadence and the real amorous adventures of the haut monde.

Paris is a sexy, sinful romantic playground—and what could be more thrilling than to be an American girl let loose in the City of Lights? Alexandra Ward is a Sorbonne student with a fabulous French boyfriend who's just gone AWOL and a growing love affair with all things Parisian. She realizes her new life a la Francais feels entirely like play-acting—in a good way. But what happens when a playful flirtation with the CEO of an international luxury conglomerate turns into not just a "dejeuner"—lunch— at the Ritz, but diving for canary diamonds in the famous swimming pool of the Hotel Ritz? And when that same Master of the Monde (who just happens to be married, bien sur) asks Alexandra to be something more than a date but something, well, different than a girlfriend?

French Trysts is about slipping into a new life like it's a couture suit, about the thrill of seeing what really goes on behind the gated Hotel Particuliers of the rich and famous Bon Ton de Paris, about the power of sex and the redemption of true romance.”

Les Ongles | 5 Holiday Nail Colors from Orly

Stepping out for the holidays might lack a little bit of its usual luster this year, but that doesn’t mean your nails can’t shine on!

Take advantage of the glittery hues of the season with a manicure that’s sure to steal the show. If a salon mani isn’t in the cards right now, these five shades of sparkle make for an easy DIY that’s sure to last long after the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Hint: They also make great stocking stuffers!

5 Holiday Nail Colors from Orly

Halo

$9.50; Shop HERE

Shine

$9.50; Shop HERE

Gilded Glow

$9.50; Shop HERE

Ingenue

$9.50; Shop HERE

Shine on Crazy Diamond

$9.50, Shop HERE

*This article may contain affiliate links. TCA only promotes products we love, whether we make a small commission or not, so rest assured that you’re always getting our best. Merci for your support!

Book Club | 5 French Holiday Reads for December 2020

Bonjour December! The holiday season is officially underway, the chestnuts are roasting on a proverbial open fire, and it’s the first weekend of the month—which means it’s time for a new round of French Book Club favorites.

Few things in the world are more beautiful than Christmas in Paris, and since it’s safe to assume that many of us won’t be seeing La Tour Eiffel under a blanket of niege this year, let’s bring the French spirit of Nöel to us, shall we?

From fictional holiday expat romances, a wartime tale of passion and human resilience, and an anthology of classic winter stories by acclaimed French literary luminaries, to a film critic’s 2008 memoir chronicling the daunting task of preparing a holiday banquet for his new bride’s large extended French family—‘tis the season for some holiday happiness.

Click each of the titles below to shop, and take a look back on last month’s picks here.

Book Club | 5 French Holiday Reads for December 2020

Last Christmas in Paris

By Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Historical Fiction

“An unforgettably romantic novel that spans four Christmases (1914-1918), Last Christmas in Paris explores the ruins of war, the strength of love, and the enduring hope of the Christmas season.

August 1914. England is at war. As Evie Elliott watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes—as everyone does—that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris. But as history tells us, it all happened so differently…”

A Very French Christmas:

The Greatest French Holiday Stories of All Time

By Various
Anthology

“This collection brings together the best French Christmas stories of all time in an elegant and vibrant volume featuring classics by Guy de Maupassant and Alphonse Daudet, plus stories by the esteemed twentieth century author Irène Némirovsky and contemporary writers Dominique Fabre and Jean-Philippe Blondel.

With a holiday spirit conveyed through sparkling Paris streets, opulent feasts, wandering orphans, kindly monks, homesick soldiers, oysters, ham, bonbons, flickering desire, and more than a little wine, this collection encapsulates Noël and proves that the French have mastered Christmas. This is Christmas à la française―delicious, intense and unexpected―proving that nobody does Christmas like the French.”

Christmas in Paris

By Anita Hughes
Fiction

“Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hôtel de Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs-Élysées and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macarons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off.

When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is, until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully, her neighbor, Alec, a French children’s book illustrator, comes to her rescue. He, too, is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon over the holidays. With Alec by her side, she begins to enjoy Paris at Christmas. But after a chance encounter with a fortune-teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.”

Immoveable Feast: A Paris Christmas

By John Baxter
Memoir

“A witty cultural and culinary education, Immoveable Feast is the charming, funny, and improbable tale of how a man who was raised on white bread—and didn't speak a word of French—unexpectedly ended up with the sacred duty of preparing the annual Christmas dinner for a venerable Parisian family.

Ernest Hemingway called Paris "a moveable feast"—a city ready to embrace you at any time in life. For Los Angeles–based film critic John Baxter, that moment came when he fell in love with a French woman and impulsively moved to Paris to marry her. As a test of his love, his skeptical in-laws charged him with cooking the next Christmas banquet—for eighteen people in their ancestral country home. Baxter's memoir of his yearlong quest takes readers along his misadventures and delicious triumphs as he visits the farthest corners of France in search of the country's best recipes and ingredients. Irresistible and fascinating, Immoveable Feast is a warmhearted tale of good food, romance, family, and the Christmas spirit, Parisian style.”

One Christmas in Paris

By Mandy Baggot
Fiction

“Ava and her best friend Debs arrive in Paris just as the snow starts to fall. The Eiffel Tower glitters gold and the scent of spiced wine is all around, but all Ava can think about is Leo, her no-good, cheating ex.

Debs is on a mission to make Ava smile again, and as they tour the Christmas markets, watch lamplight glittering on the river Seine, and eat their body weight in pain-au-chocolat, Ava remembers there’s more to life than men... until they cross paths with handsome, mysterious photographer Julien with his French accent and hazelnut eyes that seem to see right inside her.

Ava can’t ignore the intense chemistry between them, but her fingers have been burned before and she can’t forget it, especially when her ex, Leo, starts texting again. Can Ava really trust Julien – and what exactly is his secret?”

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*This article may contain affiliate links. TCA only promotes products we love, whether we make a small commission or not, so rest assured that you’re always getting our best. Merci for your support!

Book Club | 5 French Reads for Novembre 2020

it’s Novembre, and the beginning of a new round of lockdowns for nos amis around the world, specifically in France and the UK.

Whether you’re staying home by choice or by government order, enjoy the cozy weather of the pre-holiday season curled up with this mix of five French memoirs, nonfiction, and lifestyle guides.

Take a look back at October’s picks here, and September’s here.

Top 5 French Reads for November 2020

Why French Women Wear Vintage

By Aloïs Guinut
Style Guide

“Stylish women everywhere are realizing the environmental damage of fast fashion on the planet and looking for new ways to dress that don't involve cramming the wardrobe with clothes that may never get worn…French women have a lot to teach us about how to cherish the planet without sacrificing your style.”

THE SHARPER YOUR KNIFE, THE LESS YOU CRY

Kathleen Flinn
Memoir

“Kathleen Flinn was a thirty-six-year-old middle manager trapped on the corporate ladder - until her boss eliminated her job. Instead of sulking, she took the opportunity to check out of the rat race for good - cashing in her savings, moving to Paris, and landing a spot at the venerable Le Cordon Blue cooking school…Filled with rich, sensual details of her time in the kitchen - the ingredients, cooking techniques, wine, and more than two dozen recipes - and the vibrant sights and sounds of the markets, shops, and avenues of Paris, it is also a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and, ultimately, love.

L’APPART

By David Lebovitz
Memoir

“When David Lebovitz began the project of updating his apartment in his adopted home city, he never imagined he would encounter so much inexplicable red tape while contending with perplexing work ethic and hours. Lebovitz maintains his distinctive sense of humor with the help of his partner Romain, peppering this renovation story with recipes from his Paris kitchen. In the midst of it all, he reveals the adventure that accompanies carving out a place for yourself in a foreign country—under baffling conditions—while never losing sight of the magic that inspired him to move to the City of Light many years ago, and to truly make his home there.”

LUNCH IN PARIS

By Elizabeth Bard
Memoir

“Lunch in Paris is a memoir about a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs -- one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine…She learns to gut her first fish (with a little help from Jane Austen), soothe pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate soufflé), and develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon). Elizabeth finds that the deeper she immerses herself in the world of French cuisine, the more Paris itself begins to translate. French culture, she discovers, is not unlike a well-ripened cheese -- there may be a crusty exterior, until you cut through to the melting, piquant heart.”

THE LIBERATION OF PARIS

By Jean Edward Smith
Nonfiction

“Following their breakout from Normandy in late June 1944, the Allies swept across northern France in pursuit of the German army…Charles de Gaulle, the leading figure of the Free French government, urged General Dwight Eisenhower to divert forces to liberate Paris. Eisenhower’s advisers recommended otherwise, but Ike wanted to help position de Gaulle to lead France after the war…Neither man knew that the German commandant, Dietrich von Choltitz, convinced that the war was lost, schemed to surrender the city to the Allies intact, defying Hitler’s orders to leave it a burning ruin.”

5 Ways to Practice French in Quarantine

Life in quarantine has made things interesting, to say the least.

Whether you’re unemployed, working from home, or an essential worker on the front lines—un grand merci à vous!—you’ve likely found yourself with more time at home than usual. Now that you’ve cleaned out every bathroom cabinet, maybe attempted to write a novel, and watched every Netflix show in existence, there’s never been a better time to work on your foreign language skills.

Whether you’re aiming for fluency or just want to brush up on your high school French, there are a variety of options to help you practice your language skills from home, with plenty of time to prepare for your next big Euro trip—once this is all safely behind us.

Which one makes the most sense for you? Let us know!

5 Ways to Practice French in Quarantine

DuoLingo

Possibly the easiest and most cost effective option, DuoLingo is a free downloadable app that combines interactive language games and verbal exercises in five minute chunks. Whether you choose to dedicate a few minutes or hours each day, you have the flexibility to learn at your own speed.

Babbel

Designed with traveling in mind, this app focuses on dialogue and memory cognition exercises to teach course sections that are relevant to personal interest.

Coucou French Class

With locations in NYC and Los Angeles, Coucou is a language school that typically offers in-person classes and one-on-one lessons. Take advantage of personalized attention with a teacher from anywhere in the world, now available virtually via Zoom.

Iboux

A virtual language school, Iboux creates a custom curriculum for you with a one-on-one instructor via Skype. An array of payment plans are available to offer a variety of financial flexibility.

French is Beautiful

For the true Francophile, this boutique membership-based program is led by American-girl turned-French-ex-pat Carrie Anne James. Each month focuses on absorbing French language through a fully comprehensive cultural approach. Each month focuses on a topic related to French lifestyle and comes with a beautifully correlated lesson plan and immersive meditations to fully embody the beauty and spirit of the French language and its pronunciation.

Book Club | 5 French Reads for Octobre 2020

Escapism is the new travel in 2020, which means we’re turning to our literary friends to take us where we need to go, ces jours.

Since my personal collection of French reads—memoirs, novels, historical fiction and nonfiction—is ever growing, I’ve curated a book club selection to share personal favorites and newer titles that top my never-ending “To Read” list.

I hope you’ll enjoy curling up with one—or all—of these, and taking a journey to France through the eyes of these wonderful writers.

I welcome you to share vos pensées, as well as any suggestions for next month!

Take a look back at September’s picks here.

Top 5 French Reads for October 2020

The Seine: The River that Made Paris

By Elaine Sciolino
Nonfiction

“Elaine Sciolino came to Paris as a young foreign correspondent and was seduced by a river. In The Seine, she tells the story of that river from its source on a remote plateau of Burgundy to the wide estuary where its waters meet the sea, and the cities, tributaries, islands, ports, and bridges in between.”

Provence 1970

By Luke Barr
Memoir

“Provence, 1970 is about a singular historic moment. In the winter of that year, more or less coincidentally, the iconic culinary figures James Beard, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Richard Olney, Simone Beck, and Judith Jones found themselves together in the South of France. They cooked and ate, talked and argued, about the future of food in America, the meaning of taste, and the limits of snobbery. Without quite realizing it, they were shaping today’s tastes and culture, the way we eat now.”

The Little Paris Bookshop

By Nina George
Fiction

“Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.”

My Good Life in France

By Janine Marsh
Memoir

“One grey dismal day, Janine Marsh was on a trip to northern France to pick up some cheap wine. She returned to England a few hours later having put in an offer on a rundown old barn in the rural Seven Valleys area of Pas de Calais…Janine eventually gave up her job in London to move with her husband to live the good life in France. Or so she hoped.”

Somewhere in France

By Jennifer Robson
Historical Fiction

“Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lilly from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front.”

5 Ways to Soothe Dry Skin with Vichy Skincare

As we hurtle head-long into the Fall/Winter season—better known as the dry skin months—with likely more time on our hands than usual, the timing has never been better to incorporate new skincare products into our daily—and nightly—routines.

If you spend any time on social media, you may be thinking that you’ve seen every skincare recommendation known to (wo)man kind, but I assure you that if you haven’t yet discovered Vichy—the luxury skincare collection which is crafted in the eponymous resort town of Vichy, France—then it might be time to reconsider everything.

The source of nearly every bottle of mineral water that’s sitting in your fridge right now, the Auvergne region of the Rhône Alpes is home to the Vichy laboratory, nestled within the French Alps. As you may have guessed, the Vichy skincare collection is crafted with the purest French mineral volcanic water—the kind you drink daily—at the heart of every formula, and is infused in every product.

Not sure where to begin? Click the top five TCA-approved picks below to pamper your peau de visage.

Top 5 Picks from Vichy Skincare

20% off any serum and moisturizer when purchased together. Use Code: DERMGRADE. Valid: 10/2-10/8.

LiftActiv Retinol Treatment

For a Concentrated Retinol Boost

Our highest concentration of Retinol, in a daily wrinkle-filler treatment. Clinically-tested double-action with Pure Retinol + LR2412 to visibly fill deep wrinkles and plump skin for younger-looking facial expressions.

LiftActiv Supreme

For Daily Moisture and Anti-Aging

An anti-wrinkle and firming moisturizer that helps correct the visible signs of skin aging such as winkles, loss of firmness and tired-looking complexion. This daily hydrating formula with 5% Natural Origin Rhamnose and Vichy Volcanic Water reveals a visibly fresh and radiant complexion.

Minéral 89

For Sensitive Skin

Daily moisturizer with natural origin hyaluronic acid and 15 Mineral-Rich Vichy Volcanic Water to strengthen & repair the skin barrier. This daily hydrating & plumping booster has been clinically tested by 175 dermatologists on 1600 women worldwide. Safe and effective for all skin types, in a minimalist, fragrance free formula with only 11 ingredients.

For Daily Moisture with Extra Glow

Idéalia Day Cream

Vichy's new glow energizing cream with antioxidant extract of fermented Black Tea, Adenosine, and antioxidant Blueberry Polyphenols infuse skin with a healthy, new glow. This energizing cream helps even skin tone, refine pores, and smooth fine lines plus deliver 24-hour hydration. Enriched with Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water powered by 15 essential minerals to help strengthen the skin's moisture barrier function and protect skin against aggressors like stress and pollution.

Aqualia Thermal Night Spa

For Nighttime Wrinkle Repair

An ultra-comfortable, deeply hydrating night cream and face mask with natural origin hyaluronic acid and Vichy Volcanic Water to lock in moisture and boost hydration. Hydrates dry & dull skin overnight, when skin is most receptive to treatments. Reveals soft, soothed and supple skin by morning.

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Still not sure which products are right for you? Submit your selfie to the Vichy site, and a like a skincare matchmaking service, a group of experts will weigh in to determine your ideal routine. How exactly?

Twelve dermatologists assigned skin scores to each selfie used to train our algorithm. The average of all experts’ scores were used as the correct score for each image, ensuring a very accurately trained algorithm. Further tests were done after the algorithm was complete. Twelve dermatologists scored individuals in the lab, and our algorithm outperformed dermatologists in these tests when trying to predict a score closest to average.

Can’t argue with science!

5 Nordstrom Sale French Favorites You Can Still Score

If you know anything about the blogging world, then surely you’re aware that fewer things are more sacred to a blogger than the beloved Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. That being said, I could hardly consider myself a lifestyle blogger worth my stripes if I didn’t dedicate some time to easing the pain of navigating this cherished event.

Shopping the sales—known as les soldes— is as much a French past-time as it is an American one— although traditionally, retail sales in France are advertised twice a year, with most shops and boutiques all participating at the same time, so that everyone knows exactly when it’s time to shop til you drop. Kind of like our own Nordstrom Anniversary Sale—the event is anticipated annually, allowing for plenty of time to prepare and hydrate accordingly.

Although c’est la vie, the official blowout sale may have already come to end—as all good things inevitably and proverbially do—I’ve rounded up some French designer favorites that you can still snag on sale right now—without the need to queue up outside the store at dawn, or throw elbows in the crowd while breaking down the entry doors, as our seasoned sale-shopping forebears once did.

We owe it to them to save 60% the civilized way—and the one that God and the government have both essentially mandated in 2020—online.

Also, you can get $40 towards your purchase when you open a Nordstrom card. Just saying!

1. ISABEL MARANT

TIE DYE PUFF SLEEVE TOP $274.00 (60% OFF)

2020 will go down in the fashion history books as the year we all made tie dye happen. I don’t make the rules.

2. COMME DES GARÇONS

PRINT SATIN SLEEVELESS MIDI DRESS $780 (60% OFF)

Summer definitely doesn’t seem to be over yet, so it’s quite possible to still get some mileage out of this one this year, or perhaps let it kick off the first official garden party of 2021. This updated take on the toile print isn’t going anywhere.

3. MONIQUE LHUILLIER

TIERED PLEAT MIDI DRESS
$238.00 (60% OFF)

For those of us who went deep into Cottage Core this summer—you know who you are—I dare you to say no to this frothy pastoral dream.

4. SAINT LAURENT

MONOGRAMME LOGO ESPADRILLE $345 (8% OFF)

Perfect for transitioning into fall, I can’t decide if these canvas flats make comfort look effortlessly chic, or if they make looking chic seem suspiciously comfortable. Either way, I’m sold.

5. GIVENCHY

61 MM AVIATORS
$236.98 (40% OFF)

Aviators have always been my sunglass shape of choice. A fun hybrid of retro-glam, they pair perfectly with 2020’s hottest accessory, the face mask—seriously, I’m seeing them EVERYWHERE this year.

(Just a little Covid humor!)

La Canicule | 5 Bikinis for A Holiday Heatwave

Le bikini by Missguided UK (no longer available).

Whomever declared that Autumn begins in September, clearly never lived in Los Angeles!

If you too are experiencing a heatwave—known to Frenchies as une canicule—it might be wise to consider snagging some last-minute swimwear for one last holiday hurrah before Fall content officially takes over.

Goldenrod has turned out to be my unofficial color of the season, and this set from Missguided is no exception. Mine is no longer available, but look out below for five other favorites from the UK brand that you can snag on major mark-down right now, paired to your vacation personality.

1. Riviera Ready

Black Lemon Print Bottoms $9.00

Black Lemon Print Tie Top
$14.00

With its retro 50s style cut and Mediterranean pattern, these briefs are practically begging for a vacation.

2.Cute in Cannes

Blue Stripe Bandeau Top & Scrunchie $11.00

Blue Stripe Boomerang High Leg Bottoms $7.00

Perfectly in sync with the blue striped beach umbrellas that dot the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, this set even comes with a matching scrunchie to keep the breeze away from your face.

3. Poolside in Paris

White Polka Dot Bottoms $4.00

White Polka Dot Ruffle Top (No longer Available)

Nothing says Paris like a signature polka dot. Rooftop ready, this set was made for lounging, Left Bank style.

4. Boissons in Bordeaux

Burgundy Bandeau Top
$5.00

Burgundy Brief Bottoms (No longer available)

Head to wine country and be the only femme whose suit matches her glass of Côte du Rhone.

5. Pique-Nique in Provence

White Paisley Bikini Bottoms
$1.00

White Paisley Underwire Top
$14.00

With its pastoral chic pattern, this set is prime for a jaunt to the provincial countryside. And yes you read that correctly, the bottoms are currently going for $1 US dollar.

French Book Club | 5 French Reads for Labor Day Weekend

5 French Reads for Labor Day Weekend

Believe it or not, this isn’t even half of my French book collection.

Whomever once claimed that reading is the best form of escapism, clearly lived through a pandemic.

There’s something decidedly medieval about life in 2020. It’s given us a glimpse backwards, showing us what daily existence must have felt like for William Shakespeare and his contemporaries during the times of pestilence and the Bubonic Plague—with the added comforts of Netflix and Youtube workouts, of course.

International travel is still at a stand-still for the time being, meaning that—for now—we’ll have to travel to France the way that our forefathers did: through our imaginations, and the immortal pages of contemporary scribes.

Check out this fascinating New Yorker article about the history of pandemics, or if you’re looking something a little more uplifting to read on your holiday weekend, behold a list of some of favorite novels, memoirs, and historical perspectives on life in France. I’ve always been a reader, and I love experiencing ma belle ville through different eyes.

So pour thee a glass of thine blackberry wine and buckle up m’lady, because I’m about to share five French favorites from my collection.

5 French Reads for Labor Day Weekend

Paris Dreaming

By Katrina Lawrence
Memoir

“How the City of Light gave her lessons in life: an Australian beauty journalist shares her obsession with Paris - the city that has been her guide through a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Taking us on a journey around Paris's most spectacular sights, hidden secrets and most beguiling nooks and crannies, Katrina tells us the story of why this city has been her constant inspiration through all stages of life.”

How to Make a French Family

By Samantha Verant
Memoir

“Take one French widower, his two young children, and drop a former city girl from Chicago into a small town in southwestern France. Shake vigorously... and voilá: a blended Franco-American family whose lives will all drastically change.”

Dress Like a Parisian

Aloïs Guinut
Style Guide

“Bring a Parisian je ne sais quoi to your style, wherever you live. Dress Like a Parisian is a wise and witty guide to finding your personal style, taking inspiration from how real Parisian women dress. With personal stylist and fashion blogger Aloïs Guinut as your guide, you can explore which colors, shapes and styles work best for you, whatever the occasion.”

A Paris Apartment

By Michelle Gable
Semi Fiction

“Based on the fascinating true story of a treasure-stocked Parisian apartment opened for the first time in seventy years. April Vogt, Sotheby's continental furniture specialist, is speechless when a Paris apartment shuttered for seventy years is discovered in the ninth arrondissement. Beneath the cobwebs and stale perfumed air is a goldmine…”

Seven Ages of Paris

Alistair Horne
Non Fiction

“In this luminous portrait of Paris, the celebrated historian gives us the history, culture, disasters, and triumphs of one of the world’s truly great cities. From the rise of Philippe Auguste through the reigns of Henry IV and Louis XIV…Napoleon’s rise and fall; Baron Haussmann’s rebuilding of Paris…the Belle Epoque and the Great War that brought it to an end; the Nazi Occupation, the Liberation, and the postwar period dominated by de Gaulle--Horne brings the city’s highs and lows, savagery and sophistication, and heroes and villains splendidly to life.”

Fête des Mères | 5 French Mothers' Day Essentials

Since today is Mothers’ Day in France, behold some maman-approved favorites—including crème pour visage from the grande dame of skincare herself, one Miss Coco Chanel. Also consider this vintage Côte d’Azur fragrance by Louis Féraud from 1988, which is incidentally the year that my own mother became une mère.

Usually this holiday is celebrated on the last Sunday of each Mai, but inexplicably, it was scheduled a week late this year, making it all the more sweet now that French bars, shops, and cafés are finally beginning to reopen.

Bonne fête a tous les mamans, and lots of love to anyone who struggles on this day.

Les Cheveux | 5 Products for Healthier Hair

Imagining that the Beverly Hills Hotel lounge is my private salle de bain.

I’ve spoken recently about one of my self-care goals for this year, which is improving the health of my hair. Mes cheveux always tends to feel drier in the winter months, and I’m always keen to mitigate unnecessary damage from years of coloring and styling.

I recently partnered with Nutrafol to improve the strength of my hair and promote growth from the inside out. Click here to save $60 on your first 3 month supply—using my code, GIFT20—and read on to discover the retail products I’m using right now for an extra boost of va va voom.

1. Nutrafol
Since collaborating with Nutrafol, I’ve been taking my daily supplements for the past few weeks and I’m already seeing less stray hair in the shower. Click here to read my previous post and learn more.

2. Revlon One-Step Volumizing Styler
One of my favorite Christmas presents, this has been a total game-changer—allowing me to dry and style my damp hair at the same time, without the need for a standard hair brush. It saves me so much time, the dense bristles actively de-tangle, and the ions leave my hair so smooth and silky. Plus, having tried the comparable—and way pricier—Dyson Air Wrap styler, I can honestly say that I much prefer this product.

3. The Dry Bar DETOX dry shampoo
I’ve honestly never been a big fan of dry shampoo, but after being gifted this Dry Bar version, I gave it a fair shot and now I’m officially hooked. The whipped mousse blends into my hair so much more easily than traditional dry powders and sprays, keeping my hair looking—and smelling—fresh in between washes, and cutting down on my hot tool use.

4. Olaplex Hair Perfector #3
My hair stylist always uses Olaplex products in between coloring and toning, so every few weeks I use this one as a leave-in conditioning treatment. To repair split ends with optimal results, work the product into damp hair, let it sit for ten minutes, and then rinse and shampoo.

5. Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment
I’m making an effort to use hair masks more often, and this brand makes one of the absolute best. The whole line uses clean ingredients, and is known to be a secret weapon for celeb fans like Jennifer Aniston.