Subtle Savoir Faire

You have to admit that the French have unmistakeable savoir faire when it comes to just about everything. I love these two perfume advertisements one for Lanvin’s Arpege and the other for Guerlain’s Chant d’Aromes.

*One of the nicest things about French boys is French girls.

And the nicest thing about French girls is a great Guerlain perfume, Chant d’Aromes.

To be great, a perfume must do two things, it must express something for a woman that she would like to express herself; and it must say it in a way that can be understood by men.

For several years now, Chant d’Aromes has been speaking for thousands of English girls, French girls, Italian girls and to the young men in their lives.

It has to be saying something.

The sixties in France must have been a wonderful era, there were great changes on all fronts from politics to fashion, and with true French panache, it was all done with style, and a hint of sexual innuendo. Of course they were aware (quite early on) that sex sells, however they interpreted this factor of advertising with a touch of innocence that left it up to the consumer to create their own fantasies.

This understated form of advertising would be completely lost on today’s consumer, who really needs it spelt out so that they can fully grasp the message without thinking about it.

Illuminated Savoir Faire

I like well furnished rooms with style, elegance and panache. All too often these days our interiors are replicas of what we see on TV or magazines, lacking any real personal style or savoir faire. And lighting ………, what can I say? Down lights and pot lights seem to be deriguer, just adding to the overall blandness of today’s interiors. Lamps of good design seem even harder to come by with limited choice in design available, unless we are wanting depart with the equivalent of the GDP of a small African country.

I am lusting over the below examples that with their immaculate styling and panache will lift any room out of the doldrums. Admitted that most of these are from a different era than our own, one can only wonder what sort of visual impact would they have on today’s interiors.

Bronze Table Lamps

Candelabra Style Lamp

Pair of Lucite Table Lamps



Iron Coral Branch Chandaleir

Gaetano Sciolari Chandeleir

*All images coutesy Gustavo Olivieri.

Cutting Edge Savoir Faire

Yatagan – a Turkish sword used in Turkey from the 16th to the 19th centuries. They were
both weapons and works of art, incorporating elegant lines, and occasionally encrusted with semi-precious stones.

Yatagan – a male perfume launched by that esteemed Parisian perfume house of Caron in 1976. With a name that conjures up all the mystique and masculinity of the near east, Yatagan is elegant and discrete with a punch!

This is almost the definitive perfect cologne for men! (and women if they are feeling adventurous). The aromatics cut the air like a knife and then dry down to an incredibly sexy, almost pungent smell, that will see you continually sniffing your wrist just to remind you how incredible this is. Don’t be put off by the initial bitterness of the wormwood (another ingredient in Campari) as this has been offset with the brilliant composition of lavender and vetiver.

Other components are, Petitgrain, Patchouli and Leather.

I am closely guarding my retail source here in Toronto, however seek and ye shall find!

Stay Tuned

Sasek Faire!

I remember as a child a wonderful series of children’s books by Miroslav Sasek showcasing different countries around the world. I have two of them (This is London and This is Edinburgh) and they are very battered as I used to read them continuously. Each book takes the reader on an amusing tour throughout the city, and highlights both the landmarks and uniqueness of each location, with wonderful humorous cartoon like illustrations. The books stick to the same format throughout the series. There is usually an illustration of (presumably) Sasek himself going to wherever the book is set on the bottom left inside cover and a similar illustration on the bottom right inside cover which shows him leaving with some kind of local adornment.

The illustrations although a little dated now are as fresh today as what they were when they were first conceived and appeal to young and old alike as there is something for everyone. The books emphasise tourist hotspots, local transport and national dress (particularly the different cultures that inhabit each place). They are in a very 50s, Eastern European style, but are not dated at all. Most of the things that Sasek has picked out are still noteworthy today and his style has endured. They are true classics introducing the cachet and savoir faire of travel to children, that has endured.

So it is only fitting that since I will be leaving soon for Italy that I feature some of the illustrations from the Rome and Venice books.

Savoir Faire has been Recognised!

I have been very fortunate in the last couple of days to have been recognised by my fellow bloggers with two awards.

The first is the Premio Meme Award from Tristan at Enchanted Revellery. This requires that I write 7 things about myself that you don’t already know. (Trust me I will get onto this)


The second is the ‘Circle of Friends” award from YSL Guy at Let Them Eat Cupcakes who lists me as a favourite male blogger! High praise indeed!



Check out these two blogs as they are wonderful, they are also full of savoir faire!

Drop Dead Savoir Faire!

My apologies style mavericks as my posts for the next couple of days are going to be very short (but sweet) and then will cease for 2 weeks while I am on vacation.

However, that does not mean that my posts won’t contain the usual savoir faire that you have all become devotees of! The below picture is of a friend of mine here in Toronto who is an actress, and let me tell you nobody plays a corpse better than Laura! Even dead in an alley she has glamour! The photo is almost Newtonesque in its approach with colours and the hair, not to mention the setting.

So I am sorry to be a bit morbid here, but when our number is up, I hope we look as good as she does!