Get NYE Ready with French Gifts for the Champagne Enthusiast | Holiday Gift Guide

Of the many gifts that the French have bestowed upon humanity, Champagne easily tops the list—right alongside croissants and Chanel perfume. French Champagne is so special, that any bubbly bottled outside of the hallowed vineyards of Champagne, France, cannot be called Champagne and must be referred to as “sparkling wine.” Ask any sommelier!

We all know someone who lives for the bubbles—and I’m proud to say that in my circles, I am that someone. From modern marble champagne chillers to traditional engraved silver ice buckets, Gatsby-esque champagne tower coupe glasses to festive stemless styles, bubble inspired home decor and art prints to lust-worthy gifts infused with the fizz—including intoxicating candles, diffusers, gummy snacks, hair spray, breakfast jams, and even Taittinger filled truffles—Day 7 of The Chic American Holiday Gift Guide might be the most jam-packed yet.

Scroll down to shop, and add a little extra sparkle to someone’s holiday—including your own—with any of these glittery gifts. Most still ship before Christmas, and if not, don’t forget that New Year’s Eve is just around the corner!

Gifts for the Champagne Enthusiast

LE SPLURGE ($50 and Up)

Waterford Lismore Essence Collectors Champagne Flutes; $175
Bloomingdales (Free Shipping + $25 Off)
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”Exuding classic glamour, the Lismore Essence Collector's Edition saucer champagne glass features the Lismore pattern's diamond-like facets.”

Marble Champagne Chiller Bucket; $125
Nordstrom
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”The perfect blend of function and style, this bottle holder made of naturally cool marble provides a stylish display while keeping chilled wine cold.”

LSA Coupe Champagne Tower (Set of 10); $95
Bloomingdales
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”Create the ultimate in celebratory centerpieces with this set of champagne coupes. Whether you arrange in a tower or simply set the table, these classic designs offer a toast-worthy vessel for your favorite bubbly.”

Champagne Saber; $129.95
Sur La Table
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“Rooted in the 19th-century French tradition, the saber features an elegantly curved stainless steel blade that slashes through bottles with ease, and the polished wood handle gives you an ergonomic grip.”

Champagne Inspired Leaf Chandelier; $1,074
Houzz
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”The Dolce Semi Flushmount displays with a Champagne Leaf finish for a perfect look, and compliments any space with Incandescent light. Include it with your ideal atmosphere and mood.”

Champagne Penthouse Diffuser; $115
Houzz
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”Our hand blown glass diffusers filled with natural essential oil based fragrances, unite home fragrance with art to create the perfect ambiance. Fragrance: clean and sparkling; with notes of ginger, grapefruit, lemon, and raspberry.”

Romantic Getaway to Champagne, France; $82 per night
Hotels. com
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Plan a French getaway to the Champagne region of France and experience the vineyard life, complete with champagne tastings and a lifetime of sparkling memories.

“With a stay at Champagne Voirin-jumel in Cramant, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of the Möet et Chandon factory. Featured amenities include a computer station, a 24-hour front desk, and multilingual staff. Free self parking is available onsite.”

Sensa Champagne Flutes ($84, set of 6)
Sur La Table
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“Cheers to elegant glassware! The Sensa collection from Schott Zwiesel features modern, flat-bottom bowls with classic long stems and wide bases for stability. Simple, yet stylish, these champagne flutes add an air of sophistication to any occasion.”

Celebration Champagne Bowl ($169)
Mark & Graham
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“Pop the champagne and celebrate in style with the Celebration Wine Bowl. Designed for effortless entertaining, this oversized bowl is the perfect way to display and keep your favorite Champagne ice cold at your next gathering. The bowl is elegantly crafted with an ornate base and a choice of silver or gold finishes. Add monogrammed initials or up to twelve sand blasted letters for a personal touch to this stunning wedding, housewarming, or special occasion gift.”

LE STEAL (Under $50)

Man’s Hand Champagne Toast Print; $18
Art.com
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”This genre of art involves a realistic depiction of living as well as inanimate objects. Artists like Jean Michel Basquiat, Norman Rockwell, and Banksy are renowned for giving a platform to cultural commentary and human experiences through their art.”

Voluspa Maison Noir Champagne Candle; $29
Nordstrom
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”Sparkling brut champagne mingles with hints of vanilla and barrel oak. A candle presented in ornate packaging with rich colors and intentional flourishes that reflect the inspiration for the aroma inside, Voluspa candles are hand-poured in the United States.”

La Rochere Napoleon Champagne Flutes ($71, set of 6)
French Wink
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Adorned with the iconic Napoleonic bee, La Rochere has been producing artisanal glass in the heart of France for more than 500 years, making it the oldest continuously running glass factory in Europe. Inspired by French cuisine, culture, art and style, each piece evokes both casual comfort and modern elegance.

France Theme Champagne Glass Charms ($34, set of 6)
French Wink
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These beautiful France-themed handcrafted charms are the perfect markers to help guests easily identify their own glasses whilst mingling. Each box of six charms includes a selection of the following: Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Perfume bottle, Suitcase, Fleur de Lis, Love, Camera, and Wine Bottle.

Marble Champagne Chiller ($60)
Sur La Table
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“Chill Champagne and wine stylishly in our Marble Wine Cooler. Stunningly modern and strikingly simple, the marble and brass construction will accent a variety of décor styles, and it fits most bottle sizes.”

Champagne Cutting Board; $21.60
Society6
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”Our cutting boards feature bright designs that transform a kitchen essential into a functional design piece. Use the wood side for prep and the display side as a serving board for drinks. Available in round or rectangular options.”

Taittinger Champagne Truffles; $25
Jacques Torres
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”A blissful, simple and decadent combination of our creamy Belgian milk chocolate, fresh cream and Taittinger Brut La Française Champagne. Yes, our truffles contain REAL Champagne!”

Le Creuset Champagne Opener; $30
Sur La Table
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”A smart and stylish addition to any home bar, this unique cross-shaped opener effortlessly lifts the cork out of any bottle, giving the user total control and eliminating the danger of releasing pressurized corks near others. The star shape is easy to grip, and a push and gentle twist easily removes corks.”

Simón Coll Milk Chocolate Champagne Bottle; $15
Sur La Table
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”Here’s a champagne bottle everyone can enjoy—available in two sizes, a mini, perfect for stockings or place settings, and a full size approximately the same size as a real champagne bottle. These aluminum foil-wrapped bottles contain hollow figures of milk chocolate with 30% cocoa, quality ingredients and no artificial additives.”

Poppin’ Champagne Truffles; $24.95
Williams Sonoma
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”Raise a toast with our effervescent truffles, infused with Champagne essence and tiny candies that pop like bubbles with each bite. Master chocolatiers prepare the silky ganache and tender shells from Guittard couverture milk chocolate. The truffles are hand packed in a handsome box to arrive fresh and ready for gift-giving.”

Cuvee Beauty Champagne Spray; $45
Neiman Marcus
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”Our multitalented, weightless texturizer gives hair that second-day, lived-in look in an instant. Hair looks soft, shiny yet perfectly imperfect. Enriched with our exclusive Cuvée Complex and deliciously scented with our intoxicating Cuvée fragrance featuring champagne and fig leaf notes.”

Edible Glitter for Cocktails; $9.59
Amazon
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Add a little sparkle to your next champagne cocktail with Gold Edible Glitter For Drinks. Kosher Certified, Vegan, Gluten, Nut Free."

Celebratory Champagne Balloon; $4.95
Shein
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Get ready to celebrate with a fun sized champagne bottle shaped balloon, perfect for birthdays, New Year’s Eve and surviving 2020 in general.

Champagne Wallpaper; $39.20
Society6
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”Our peel and stick Wallpaper is easy to apply and take off, leaving no adhesive residue. Featuring sharp, vibrant images, Wallpaper patterns are ideal for accent walls, flat surfaces and temporary installations.”

Rosé Champagne Holiday Ornament; $19.96 (reg. $25)
Sur La Table
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”Celebrate the holiday season or dress up your next soirée with our 2020 rose champagne ornament, which features the bubbly beverage in glittery detail. Our European glass ornaments are mouth-blown and hand-painted by artisans using techniques that have been handed down through the generations.”

Sugarfina Bubbly Bears; $20
Nordstrom
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”Delight friends and family alike with this set of effervescent, grownup gummies infused with the flavors of French champagne. These classic Brut and delectable Rosé bears are cute enough to have their own cult following.”

Men’s Champagne Socks; $8
Macy’s
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”Celebrate in hopes of better days ahead with Bar Iii's dress socks, featuring a fun champagne motif along the side.”

Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam; $7.99
Stonewall Kitchen
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Add a little sparkle to your breakfast. “We combined sweet peaches, refreshing raspberries, and a little champagne” to this delicious gluten-free jam.

*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!

La Rentrée | The Season of the Fresh Start

Anyone else getting major First Wives Club vibes from this tenue blanche?

There’s something magical about the transition from summer into fall.

It’s a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. It’s symbolic of a new school year, and for me personally, it’s literally the beginning of a new year on the calendar. As you may know, my birthday falls during the last week of August, which is always the week when something in the wind shifts, ever so slightly. It’s still summertime and the end-of-season pool parties are in full swing, but in my world, it’s always marked an intangible turning of the page. These first few weeks of September set the shift into motion, culminating with the first day of l’automne, which officially begins today. In France, this transitional period is called la rentrée.

As we’ve discussed before, the month of August is synonymous with vacation in France. Restaurants and boutiques temporarily shutter for weeks at a time, city dwellers make a bee-line for the countryside and the beach, public transit slows to a drip, and everyone—from shopkeepers to government officials—essentially closes up shop, leaving each other with the cheerful phrase, “À la rentree!”

Meaning, See you in September!

"Bonnes vacances!”

“À la rentrée!”

As the excitement of summer vacances gives way to the back to school (and back to work) mentality, some feel the post-holiday blues, and some feel invigorated—happy to return to normalcy and ready to begin a new chapter.

Although Europe and America (and most of the world) celebrate the official New Year on January first, I personally never feel a perceptible change when the clock strikes midnight, because the middle of winter never feels like the time for newness—it’s something about the first breeze of coolness in the air, the first few leaves to jump ship from their branches. It’s buying school supplies, shopping for sweaters, and that first whiff of cinnamon and pumpkin spice.

Many cultures and religions, like Judaism, celebrate the New Year during this period—Shanah Tovah to our Jewish amis—and of course, the fashion world celebrates the illustrious release of the September issue—magazine speak for the editorial debut of fall fashion—when beloved designers and couturiers unveil their seasonal Fall/Winter collections and campaigns. It’s the month of Fashion Week—NYFW is underway, and PFW starts today.

As a former fashion editor for NBC, lifestyle writer, and editorial devotee, this period thrills me, and as someone who prefers to look forward, not backwards, I love shifting focus from warm weather holidays to the preparation of the cozy winter ones. I don’t typically mourn seasons, because, as my maman likes to say, there’ll be another one next year. Which is just a more positive way of saying, we’re captive on a carousel of time. Merci, Joni Mitchell.

The concept of the summer holiday is actually rooted in agricultural history, dating back to the year 1231—believe it or not—when Pope Gregory IX closed universities for a month each summer so that students could return home to help their families prepare the crops for the fall harvest. While many Americans tend to think of France and Paris as one and the same, there is a deeply rooted history and tradition in the large rural swaths of the country, known as la campagne, and France is nothing if not deeply devoted to its honoring its people and upholding its traditions.

In celebration of this time of rebirth, if you will, I’ve decided to pay my respects in a symbolic white suit—all Zara, all the time—with a crop for a timely and trendy twist. It’s a perfect transitional ensemble—a sort of “in memoriam” to bid farewell to warmer days, which, at least in Southern California, will still be hanging around for a while—and a first step towards the annual re-introduction of long pants and blazers into the fall wardrobe.

Bienvenue, l’Automne and Happy Pumpkin Spice season to my chic Américanes—which, let’s be honest, is well on its way to becoming an official holiday.

Q&A | Author Eric Freeze Talks Expatriate Life and Living Better with Less in the South of France

The sweeping coastline of Nice, France, where the Freeze family has made their (second) home, documented in Freeze’s memoir French Dive.

Vieux Nice, the heart of the city, nestled within the postcard-perfect French Riviera.

If you’ve ever considered leaving it all behind and starting a new life in France—as I have many times this year!—you’ve come to the right place. In 2014, author and college professor Eric Freeze and his wife, Rixa, decided to make a change. Having lived comfortably with their four young children (then all under the age of seven) in a small town in Indiana, they decided to buy a fixer-upper apartment in Nice, France—the idyllic medieval French village-within-a-city along the Côte d’Azur—and split their time between both countries (and cultures).

Prompting this decision was Freeze’s determination to provide his children with a unique Francophone experience. A bilingual Canadian native himself, he had decided to undergo an interesting linguistic experiment: to only speak French at home to his American children, in the hopes of giving them a second language. The ambitious feat paid off, as les enfants became comfortable conversing with him in French, and Freeze searched for a more immersive experience. Forgoing pricy private French integration schools in the United States, a teaching sabbatical provided the timing for the Freeze family to make the semi-permanent move to France.

Enrolling the children in French schools required proof of residence, which became the catalyst for purchasing their apartment in Vieux Nice, the medieval village in the heart of the city. The backdrop of a diverse, multicultural environment provided the opportunity to live like locals, rather than holiday tourists isolated in a single family vacation home outside of the city. Walking instead driving, taking on DIY home renovations—spoiler alert: the family was featured on HGTV’s popular franchise House Hunters International—and shopping at the local markets allowed the family to experience cultural immersion on a daily basis, and integrate within the fabric of the French community.

Sleeping six people comfortably in a former student rental apartment introduced them to the French décroissant philosophy—spend less, live better. Furnishing their apartment with flea market antiques, sending their kids to school in pre-worn clothing, and catching their own dinner by learning to spearfish in the Mediterranean, are just a few of the meaningful lifestyle changes Freeze documents in his memoir (and March 2021 book club selection) French Dive.

Read on to learn more about Freeze’s insights on bi-continental living, and the family’s adventures in the South of France, in a delightful conversation with The Chic American, below.

Click here to order French Dive.

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Q&A

TCA: How does the French [décroissant] approach to minimalism differ from the American approach? Has anything changed since writing the book?

EF: I’m a little hesitant to draw too many distinctions between the French décroissant movement and American minimalism. They both emphasize living in an intentional, less consumerist way. The difference I think—and I could totally be wrong here—is in degree. While the French certainly fell victim to late-stage capitalism and overconsumption like the rest of the western world, it’s still far less conspicuous than in the US. French households consume fifty percent of what US households do. Most people live in smaller spaces and don’t have multiple cars. They have less stuff because the system doesn’t support having as much stuff. Minimalists in the US are also a lot more evangelical in their approach. Take control of your life! They tell us, all the while ironically recommending the products that will help us live a more minimalist lifestyle (like maybe I’m doing here? Sorry!). The voices are fewer but louder in the US. But I think we need both those louder voices and grassroots cultural movements for people to start changing in this world of limited resources.

TCA: What was the hardest thing/routine to leave behind and how have you filled that void?

EF: I don’t really miss anything. The only adjustment for me was I had a pickup soccer group in the states that played three times a week. I’ve had a hard time replicating that in Nice even though it’s a soccer-crazed city. But I have other sporting activities like spearfishing that are pretty hard to do in land-locked Indiana.

TCA: What do you love most about living in France and what do you miss most about living in the US?

EF: I don’t really miss anything in the US. My kids miss peanut butter. My spouse really likes to garden and that’s been hard for her to give up since we live in an apartment in a city center. As a Canadian, I’ve never entirely felt like I belonged in the US. France, with its more robust social net and cultural similarities is much more to my liking. I love the food, the pace of life, the weather, the recreational activities, the opportunities for my kids. I love that I can live a block away from the sea, my kids’ schools, world-class cultural amenities like the opera and the symphony. The daily food market, the restaurants, and the outdoor space is all on my doorstep. I love that we can go to the public library and it’s adjacent to the Modern Art museum. My favorite museum is the Palais Lascaris that houses a collection of medieval musical instruments. It’s across the street from us. These amenities aren’t due to living in France so much as living in the community of Old Nice specifically. Where we live in the US is beautiful but it’s small town living in a house with a yard.

 
TCA: How has living in France changed your global perspective?

EF: Nice is a port city that has always accommodated people from other cultures. It’s one of the cradles of civilization. Living in a place that has always been in flux, always a part of something larger than itself, shows many of the complexities of living in a world of limited resources with people from other countries, religions or ethnicities. The world’s disparities are also on display. You can walk past the port filled with luxury yachts to the homeless encampment on the lighthouse jetty. It’s hard not to see these things. 

TCA: What are your future plans/goals? Any new material we should look out for?

EF: Right now I’m working on a sequel to French Dive, a memoir that picks up where the last one left off: with a family trying to work out living half the year in France and half in the US. This one is a tougher book in a lot of ways as it also examines many of the difficulties in France the past several years, including the 2016 Bastille day terror attacks in Nice that left 87 dead. I also look in more depth at issues of discrimination and privilege and the effect of the current pandemic in Nice. But I hope to end it on an optimistic note, to show what learning to live with others can do for our world. I’m tentatively calling it Pioneers of France.

Le Mervetty | French Tea in Beverly Hills

Tea for two, but make it for one.

There’s no better way to start the day—that I can think of, anyway—than with une tasse de thé.

known as much for its larger-than-life milkshakes and Pinterest-worthy floral installation as for its colorful array of macarons, decadent merveilleux cakes, and petite canalés, the folks at Le Mervetty know a thing or two about aesthetics.

With made-to-order cakes and signature merengue garnish on everything from bite-sized treats to individual teapots (see below), this Beverly Hills gem is a must-visit for any Chic Française looking for some comforts of home—with the LA treatment.

Deux macarons and a merengue garnish, s’il vous plait.

Shop The Chic American Collection x French Wink Boutique

If you’ve been suffering from a serious case of Francophilia, including moderate to severe symptoms of travel withdrawal, French Wink boutique in NYC is just what the doctor ordered. Founded by two fabulous French femmes, the West Side shop is fully stocked with an array of authentic French goods and gifts, speciality items, and exclusive imports by beloved French brands—from luxury skincare to gourmet treats, home decor, kitchen essentials, bijoux, clothing and accessories, and seasonal gifts—that you’d be hard-pressed to find this side of the Atlantic.

The good news: you don’t have to be an NYC local to enjoy the full effects of this shopping prescription. You can shop the entire boutique online and enjoy all of the latest must-haves shipped straight to your door.

Shop these hand-selected favorites from the curated collection below, and take an extra $5 off everything using the code CHIC.

THE CHIC AMERICAN x FRENCH WINK COLLECTION

This article may contain affiliate links, which means TCA may make a small commission on purchases at no cost to you. We only promote products that we love and stand by the quality of our selections, so rest assured that you’re always getting the very best.

10 French Girl Lingerie Ideas for Valentine's Day

It’s no secret that les françaises take their undergarments very seriously. Revealing a peek of lace under an otherwise ordinary ensemble is the ultimate secret weapon in any French Girl’s playbook—because when it comes to sudden acts of flirtation, it’s always good to be prepared.

While it’s not always a realistic expectation to prance around in a full corset and fishnets on a daily basis—especially after a year of hanging around in quarantine sweats—keeping a stash of silk and chantilly on standby for those special moments when the mood strikes, certainly seems like a good idea. Although entire books could be written about the subtle art of French seduction, there are certain dates and occasions—read: February 14th—when it’s clear that the time for subtlety has passed.

Whether you’ll be romancing your Valentine this Sunday or you’re planning to be your own Romeo, shop these VDay themed lingerie sets from some French Girl favorite brands like Rouje, Le Petit Trou, Lise Charmel, and—the perennial crowd pleaser—Agent Provocateur. Because to a true Parisienne, investing in a killer lingerie set isn’t considered frivolous, it’s an act of self care—which is the kind of logic we should all get down with.

Whether you’re feeling more cheeky, bold, frisky, or demure, there’s something to fit every mood. Scroll down to shop.

10 French Girl Lingerie Ideas for Valentine's Day

Sugar Bra; $195 | Sugar Bottom; $140
Agent Provocateur
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Frankie Lace Bodysuit; $278
Fleur de Mal
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Bethanie Bra; $180 | Bethanie Thong; $110
Agent Provocateur
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Violet Babydoll Set; $365
Fleur de Mal
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Lindie Sheer Robe; $975
Agent Provocateur
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Felicie Bodysuit; $95
ROUJE
CLICK HERE TO SHOP

Rozlyn Balconette Bra; $245 | Brief; $150 | Suspender; $245
Agent Provocateur
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Dressing Floral Bra; $178
Lise Charmel
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Marquee Eye Mask; $110
Agent Provocateur
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Denise Corset; $100
Gianna Brief; $60
Le Petit Trou
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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.”

Le Pique-Nique | Tips for a Birthday Beach Soirée

Celebrating mon anniversaire with a chique pique-nique.

2020 might well go down in the zodiac records under its proper name: the Year of the Picnic.

While this quaint custom of al fresco eating became an unexpected fad this year among Americans—made especially hot in the wake of government mandates that forced us to get creative and repurpose most daily activities with an added outdoor element—it’s been refined and perfected by French romantics over the course of centuries.

In fact our word “picnic” is literally borrowed from the French language. It’s an Americanized pronunciation of the original French word “pique-nique”—which dates all the way back to 1649 with its first print mention in a French burlesque satire, featuring a protagonist with the rhyming name. It officially graced the French dictionnaire in 1694, as a fashionable or extravagant dinner in which everyone contributes a dish, like a pot luck. After the French revolution, the pique-nique made its way to London, as French citizens fled and migrated throughout Europe, eventually giving birth to a society of 200 or so erudite British francophiles known as the Pic-Nic society. Read more about the history of picnics here.

But back to present day, 2020. Thanks to social media—looking at you, Pinterest—gone are the days of the traditional Americana image of a modest wicker basket on a red checkered blanket. While small and impromptu picnics—which can qualify as a bottle of wine and two glasses with a few hunks of bread and cheese for public decency—have their place, more elaborate affairs have taken hold of the public consciousness, made popular by a new kind of Pic-Nic society—more popularly known as social influencers.

Read on to see my conseilles (advice) for keeping your seaside soirée small and—as always—trés chic.

Tips for a Birthday Beach Soirée

Prepare

I’ll admit I’m not the best when it comes to planning—it’s my spontaneous Leo nature—but making a list of everything you need to bring from home, and a separate list of things to buy, makes everything much simpler. This includes food, tableware, seating, decor, lighting, and cleanup supplies. Organize the event just as if it were a normal dinner party at your home, and then pack it all up.

Shop

Cooking and preparing food is a personal choice, but it requires a lot more work. I personally suggest sticking to appetizers and finger foods like fruit and charcuterie that can be taken directly from the store to the site.

Getting There

Be prepared to do some heavy lifting. If you decide to drive to your location, be sure to park nearby—even if that means springing for paid parking. Hey, you’ve come this far—because you’ll have a lot to carry. Scope out a location that’s a safe distance from others.

Setting the Scene

Don’t be afraid to bring the comforts of home with you. Decor can be as simple as some cozy pillows and throw blankets for warmth, or as elaborate as you want to make it, maybe with lanterns, plants or faux books if you’re feeling particularly extra. For a classic, monochromatic look, keep everything in the same color scheme, or for a more bohemian vibe, bring mismatching pillows, a colorful tapestry, and whimsical plates and silverware.

• Start by creating a perimeter for your seating area—a bed sheet or a comforter that you don’t mind washing afterward is perfectly fine.

• Add a table or elevated surface to present the food, and cover with a small tablecloth if your surface is plastic or unsightly.

• Scatter pillows around for comfortable seating

• Fresh flowers add to the outdoor element

• Include candles—and a lighter!—if you’ll be staying past sunset

• Use real china, silverware, and wine glasses like you would at home. Small salad plates save space, and stemless wine glasses prevent spills.

Clean up

Don’t forget to bring trash bags and plastic ziploc bags for dirty plates and used silverware. Don’t leave anything behind—it’s gauche (tacky, or bad form) and hazardous for wildlife.

Bonne fête!

ICYMI: French Girl Style | The TUNDRA Talk LIVE Recap

Photo for Kollectin

On Wednesday, I had the great pleasure of going live with The TUNDRA as a guest speaker in participation with their marvelous LA to UK digital style event.

In my 30 minute chat, we discussed some of the keys to achieving that coveted—yet mysterious— French Girl style, and what it means to be a Chic American. A big thank you to everyone who tuned in to ask questions and join me on a virtual journey to ma belle France. In case you missed it—we missed you too!—read on for some style takeaways from the event.

1. Simplicity vs. Glam

When it comes to comparing LA style vs. Parisian style, I like think of Paris as the sophisticated older sister—the one who primarily dresses in sleek, minimalist classics and neutrals—and LA as the trendy younger sister who is drawn to the cutting-edge styles of the season and seeks to set the trends. While both cultures have a distinct essence and celebration of glamour, American style—especially LA style—tends to favor more over-the-top glam.

A typical “LA” look is fully styled with head-to-toe accessories, and a face that often includes false eyelashes, heavy contouring, perfect teeth, a dark tan—and the occasional injectable—while French glamour is more about timeless elegance, and aging gracefully—yet stylishly. On that note…

2. Aging With Dignity

This doesn’t mean that French women don’t take measures to look their absolute best. In fact, to the contrary, les françaises are firm believers in a solid skincare routine—in fact, they arguably invented it—and believe that maintaining a sense of style and glamour is not just for la jeunesse (youth) but is meant to last a lifetime. While Les américaines have a reputation for viewing age as a punishment, and either succumb to it or go to great lengths to prevent it, French women celebrate the aging process, and focus on maintaining and preserving their natural beauty, rather than rewinding the clock.

3. Minimalism

This emphasis on subtlety and enhancing natural features is the trademark of French style. As an American woman of French heritage, I’ve established a personal style that is a hybrid of both cultures. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll notice that I tend not to wear an overly-styled look. I like to emphasize one showpiece at a time with my clothing—like a standout dress or a two-piece suit—and favor beauty that’s generally more toned down and natural in appearance.

I also don’t wear a lot of jewelry or accessories. I prefer a signature look—a pair of classic gold hoops, my diamond solitaire pendant, and the blue topaz ring I wear on my right hand that always reminds me of the Côte d’Azur—so that my features aren’t lost or hidden behind ma tenue—my outfit—or my maquillage—makeup. However, as a California girl, I do enjoy my blonde highlights and beachy waves!

I’d love to know more about your personal style, and how you incorporate French elements into your routine. Please feel free to leave a comment or share with us on Instagram.

Bonne journée mes amours!

Le Grand Gateau | Sylvia Weinstock x Ladurée Wedding Cakes

Le gateau de mariage, as imagined by Sylvia Weinstock for Ladurée.

Photo source: Ladurée.

Affectionately known as The Queen of Cake, Sylvia Weinstock, the grande dame of all things wedding cake chic, has partnered with Ladurée—bringing her signature brand of timeless elegance and creative flair to the famed French franchise in the form of custom specialty cakes pour le mariage.

Having started her baking empire at the ripe young age of 50, the now 89-year-old Brooklyn-based cake maven knows a thing or two about wedding style. Averse to the modern large-scale cake hack known as fondant, Weinstock is a firm believer in crafting her masterpieces with classic butter cream—as is the French way—making her union with the Parisian patisserie perhaps the perfect marriage of all.

“While I closed my New York Studio last year, I continue to be inundated with requests for cakes and recommendations of other bakers,” Weinstock is quoted on the Ladurée site. “In truth, I could not vouch for the quality of any other business than my own – until I met Elisabeth Holder. Elisabeth and Ladurée subscribe to my philosophy of cake: it must not only be artful, but delicious, and made with the best and most natural ingredients in the marketplace. It is an honor to be invited to the Ladurée family by Elisabeth, and I am grateful to now have a place I can proudly recommend to my dear clients and friends for their celebrations.”

Get to know Sylvia Weinstock better here.

Sylvia Weinstock toasting Ladurée Executive Pastry Chef Jimmy Leclerc.

Photo source: Ladurée.