A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions Hardcover – Illustrated, 27 July 2004

Pay no mind to modern curmudgeons - this is a book for women of timeless elegance or those who long to have a bit of that elan. We often see images from the post-war years and wonder how those women living without our mod-cons and credit cards managed to look so fabulous, so pulled together, so elegant. Tailoring was key but there are other tricks and the author reveals them one by one in petit-point chapters that will have you waxing nostalgic for an era you never lived in. Any fan of style icon Dita von Tees should run for a copy and any woman who aims for style and elegance and a proper wardrobe will find a treasure here too. Those looking for quick fashion tips of how to go from the office to China White will find happier hunting grounds elsewhere.

This book is truly precious and should be a basic item on each woman's library. It covers, in an alphabetical order, important subjects and tips on how to achieve true elegance. Accessories, beachwear, colours, parties, it's all in here. Unlike other books, it doesn't push you to excessive money spending on designer brands, but guides you on what really is important to have in your wardrobe, and even provides a formula for one to know how good a bargain can really be! A most interesting approach, and easy to read. I love it!!!

After taking 'The Fabulous Girls Guide To Decorum' under my wing as a literary bible for my new more stylish and fabulous life I was intrigued to read 'Elegance' by Kathleen Tessaro which was inspired and written in conjunction with 'A Guide To Elegance'. I loved Tessaro's book and enjoyed the practical way she had incorporated the teaching of Madame Antoine Dariaux. The lessons explained from the 1950's in the original publication of her style guide are timeless. I am not suggesting that we should literally take ALL her comments on board - I will never be able to wear a tweed hunting suit with a crocodile clutch when travelling back to my parents home in rural England but, if anything, Tessaro's book has shown that these lessons can be incorporated into current thinking. If Trinny and Susannah have not already thoroughly ingested this gem from the 1950's I will be very surprised indeed.This book IS old fashioned - it WAS written fifty years ago but the teaching remains very relevant today...Buy it, read it from cover to cover, and keep it for your children.Jen

Obviously a once upon a time bible on how to present yourself at all times. Now looking back, it is hilarious at the standards of rules for clothing women once set for themselves. Some of these tips remain timeless, but for the most part treat as a tongue n cheek read.Arrived slightly damaged, inner page removed exposing the binding. Easily fixed with old fashioned sellotape.

I love this book. The information is very useful and it is a real guide to elegance! It covers most of the topics for everything and every occasion (beach, cocktail party, day, night outfits etc..). The base for every elegant women and girls.The only negative is a paper quality - but its not a big deal. Recommend it!

Ok some of it is out of date, but the basic information is sound. I found it motivating as it didn't make me feel a failure & the authoress recognises her own imperfections. It was funny and quirky at times. I have recommended it to friends as this is one book I will not be lending out.

I'm fortunate to still have my copy of Madame Dariaux's Elegance which was given to me by my mother in the 1960s. It has been my bible of style ever since. I bought this expecting it to be an up-date of the original, designed to bring it firmly into the 21st century. It isn't. It's a highly abbreviated version of the original (which was quite a weighty tome), but what remains is based on advice written fifty years ago, so not entirely appropriate to the present-day (who, for example, changes out of a business suit into an afternoon dress, on to a cocktail dress,and finally a dinner dress??) What's more, this version was published in the US, so the translation contains vaguely annoying American spelling and vocabulary which sit somewhat discordantly with the elegant language Madame actually used. (It has also been very sloppily proof-read. Spelling and grammar mistakes abound, which are somehow doubly shocking in a book about elegance!!!) All-in-all therefore, my advice would be to seek out an original from 1964 (they're still out there,and often cost just a few pence) knowing that it WILL be charmingly dated - the advice on "glove etiquette" is guaranteed to raise a smile in 2014! - but so is this sad volume, and at least the original will be complete and devoid of obvious Americanisms!

Bought this for my wife and after only reading twenty or so pages she had made a list of items she needs to buy and has already ordered two of them from amazon. Written many years ago but looking classy needn't cost a fortune if you follow the tips in this book