5 WAYS TO SAY AMAZING IN FRENCH

5 Ways to Say Amazing in French

Marveilleux - Marvelous

Extraordinaire - Extraordinary

Remarquable - Remarkable

Genial - Great

Formidable - Great

Frenchologie: New Season. A/W 14-15.

Hello! I hope you are all having a lovely week. I hate to say it but Autumn is just round the corner, the temperature's dropping and the days are getting shorter, but fear not as we are now approaching one of the most exciting A/W seasons that we’ve had in a while. Fashion rules no longer apply, get rid of the rule book and throw caution to the wind. A/W 14-15 calls for texture, colour, embellishment, the shortest of hemlines and dramatic coats. The new season is bold, with influences from the sixties and nineties. There is a strong mix between masculine and feminine with sleek lines and different textures which can be built to create an interesting and individual aesthetic. French style is all about the juxtaposition and seamless way in which masculine and feminine styles and shapes are combined. This season, whether you're making a statement in Jeremy Scott's debut collection for Moschino or opting for simple tailoring at Hermes there really is something for everyone.

Vionnet

 Dior

 Sonia by Sonia Rykel

Mary Katrantzou

 Christopher Kane

 Prada

Isabel Marant

 Moschino

Hermes

Valentino

Altuzzura

 Balmain

 Chloe

Peter Pilotto

Monographie

Sonia By Sonia Rykeil Coming Soon...

Knitting Queen Sonia Rykiel made Sonia by Sonia Rykiel as a sexy and cute younger vince-line. The line was founded in 1999, Sonia Rykeil typically uses a lot of stripes and colour stitching, supplemented by detailed ruffles, monochrome checks and more details for the cute yet tough Sonia Rykiel style for 2014 autumn winter season collection. The Sonia girl is young, cool and beautiful and this collection reflects that faultlessly. This transitional period between Summer and Autumn can be notoriously difficult to dress for so pair the bold stripes and checks with the delicate florals for a perfect pre-fall look.

Frenchologie x Polit

French interiors needn't be all about vintage grey and Louis XIV style sideboards, a new and exciting collection has been launched from Polit giving your home that same French allure but with the influence of scandinavian design resulting in clean lines, modern colours and unrivalled practicality.

Poster available in store now. £39

Polit means beautiful in Occitan and the pieces do not disappoint, it is an edit of the best french innovators and designers, beauty and function are named as the brands main values. They create original furniture that is eco-friendly and made using recyclable materials. This kind of responsible resourcing is not only good for the earth but results in high quality and long-lasting furniture that will be loved for years to come. Here is the 'Club Sandwich' in our Earlham street pop-up store.

     

The genius 'club sandwich' Side board has customizable bungee cords that allow for personalisation and different uses. Coffee table, TV stand or miniature bookcase, you decide!

The 'times 4' rotating coffee table is a great storage option for even the smallest living room. Each part of the table has a different colour which can instantly change the mood of a space.

The 'Les Ruches' tables are a soft, round shape with a series of thin layers perfect for displaying beautiful books and magazines. 

These pieces are perfect for City living due to their multi-purpose and well thought-out space saving designs. They are a great investment into your home and original French design. 

Grilled Summer Ratatouille Salad

Hello everyone, sorry for the long hiatus but we are back now! So how's your weekend going so far? This morning we had fun dicing and chopping around in the kitchen making these colourful summer salad, ratatouille but we tried to grill them this time! 

Ingredients

• 1 aubergine, cut into small dice
• 2 medium courgettes, cut into small dice
• 4 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow pepper, cut into small cubes
• 1 medium orange pepper, cut into small cubes
• 1 large onion, cut into fine dice
• 2 cloves garlic, crush to a paste
• 3 anchovies, very finely chopped
• pinches of salt and pepper
• a handful of tomatoes
• fresh squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon
• a handful of basil leaves, torn from the stem

Method

1. Prepare a grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Spread the vegetables on a tray. Brush with olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred and cooked to desired doneness, 6 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut in large chunks. Place in a bowl with tomatoes, garlic, basil. Gently toss to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more olive oil if desired. Serve warm!

This salad is perfect for summer, don't forget to try it on your own.

Frenchologie x Alisa Lambina

Good afternoon everyone. I hope you are enjoying your holiday. If you haven't already known, Seven Dials London has another event coming up on the 16 August. The event, Spotlight is a free event celebrating all the culture. There will be lots of in-store and outdoor activities taking place throughout the traffic free streets from 12-7pm. The event has gathered live entertainment such as 'Our World at War' by the Tristan Bates Theatre, Artists from London Graphic will be showcasing their live drawing skills, also Wildwood Kitchen are going to be providing an ice cream van! Find out more here. 

I know you have all been seeing them everywhere and I know you all are just itching to embrace your contemporary flower child and I know the corporate version sold at places like Topshop are not cutting it for you. In the name of warm summer days and in conjunction with the Seven Dials Spotlight (free) event. We are about to show you how you can make your own floral headband. Lucky you, we have teamed up with one of the most talented floral headband makers, Alisa Lambina to join on this day from 12:30-4:30pm.

To enter to contest, you are going to need a bit of inspiration first. All you required to do is to come down to our shop and take a picture of your favourite Frenchologie item and share with us:

1) Tweet @frenchologie and hashtag #frenchologie

2) Instagram @frenchologie and hashtag #frenchologie

.. and finally a winner will be selected at random to win a free floral headband by Alisa Lambina. Remember to save the date and don't forget to also participate in the exclusive chance of winning. Stay cool and have a great week ahead everyone! 

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Homemade Crêpes

Good afternoon everyone, how is your weekend going so far? I hope it is nice and relaxing and filled with good food and friends. This morning I had the most wonderful day potting in the kitchen whipping up the most delicious crêpes for breakfast. I promise this recipe will quickly become your go to recipe, it's wonderfully simple and beyond delicious. You can also eat it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh berries - très délicieux! 

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup milk
• a pinch of sugar
• a pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• melted butter, for frying

Method

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
2. Heat a frying pan and brush with some melted butter over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the frying pan, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

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5 Top Hair Secrets of French Women

Last week, we introduced you 5 Top Beauty Secret of French Women, and this week we are thrilled to share with you the 5 Top Hair Secrets of French Women!

You may have known by now a chic Parisian woman with her effortlessly chic outfit and radiant skin with minimal makeup, also doesn't spend too much time on her hair. Truth be told, French women are not as focused on perfectly coiffed hair as many Americans tend to be. Unbrushed tresses? A few stray strands falling into your face? Rumpled chignon? Pas de problème! Let's call it "undone chic". This "messy hair" not only is laissez-faire hair acceptable, it's confident, stylish and downright sexy. Simply take a look at the France's most famously tousled tresses- actress Brigitte Bardot!

The question is how can you capture this carefree "less is more" look without looking completely disheveled? It's as much about how to care for your hair as it is about how to style it. Let the "undone chic" styling begin! 

Secret #1: Get a great haircut!

That's true. If you have a superb cut, you shouldn't need to spend a lot of time styling it. Once you've found a hair stylist you love, ask him or her to give you a cut that suits your natural hair type without having to spend to much time on it.

Secret #2: Don't rush to brush.

The majority of French women don't over-style, or even brush their hair throughout the day. Resist the urge to carry a brush in your purse and instead, let your hair take its course. Brushing has a way to eliminating hair's natural waves, a key factor in "undone chic."

Secret #3: Lather it up every other day. 

Washing hair every day can strip its natal oils. Try washing it every other day. Plus, nothing tousles hair like a good night's rest!

Secret #4: Don't over-style! 

Can't imagine a hair day without your blow-dryer? Resist over-styling your hair: use just a dab of ultra-lightweight styling products to minimise frizz, and try to keep your blow-dry session to under 10 minutes. 

Secret #5: Maintain a healthy mane. 

Generally, French women prefer to spend their time on hair health rather than on hair styling. Invest in one or two nourishing at-home weekly hair treatments, and ask for a hair and scalp treatment when you go to the salon for a cut. 

File these tips in your French style repertoire... and let the wind capture your hair as you turn heads. Happy Weekend, all!

Source: Simone Pérèlehttp://ohsofrench.com/tag/beauty-tips/

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FLORIAN DENICOURT

The Parisian leather designer, Florian Denicourt focused on leather goods as designer of accessories from Vanessa Bruno from 2001 to 2003 after graduating from the Duperré School in 1999. His first men's collection was launched in 2004, with hold-alls designed specifically for men, oversized masculine belt packs and rectangular pieces in canvas or leather that made perfect traveling bags. 

A few years later he added shoes to his collection, classical in their design and manufacture, for both men and women. For Florian Denicourt everything is about androgyny. However, after having met with the backing of the more demanding stores, Florian Denicourt continues his work at the cutting edge of the avant-garde. 

Denicourt's men's and women's bags are laid out like chic bonbons on the shelves, each model sporting different minimalist forms and trimmings. This French-made, couture leatherwork; worth every penny of it!

These python bucket bags are simple, sophisticated and perfect for every day. Though they came in two different designs but they are equally roomy inside and have a handy (adjustable) shoulder strap. They simply emphasise the clean lines with neatly tailored separates.

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ESTELLE DÉVÉ

Estelle Dévé jewellery was established in December 2008. Since its debut collection, Estelle has garnered the support of Australia's most progressive fashion magazines. The brand has built an impressive editorial profile and a growing list of national and international stockists. Estelle holds a double degree in Business and Marketing, with experience in a multitude of fashion-related roles she has in-depth knowledge of the industry. The designer now finds herself one of its fastest-rising stars.

From delicate pewter cast chains of gold, to knuckledusters and statement pieces made of Swarovski crystal pearls, Estelle's vision is as much intriguing as it is innovative. Completely self-taught it allows her to create and discover new techniques, free from the constraints of tradition. The designer's French roots inform her artisanal approach resulting in personal and highly conceived collections.

Estelle grew up in a small, isolated village in the south of France. With only two channels on the television, she would watch fashion week summaries on the news and was taken by visions of Montana, Gauthier and Paco Rabanne. Entrepreneurship is a family venture with Estelle's father and aunt working as designers for their own jewellery brand in the nineties. Her aunt later went on to design for Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld and is now the creative director of the fine jewellery house Chaumet.  

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