Visit www.jenniferlscott.com and let me know what you think! Thank you to Author Bytes for doing such a great job with the re-design.
Reader Questions Answered
This week's blog post will be light on writing. As the summer holidays are here I am devoting more time to my family which means less time to blog! But I still want to provide you with quality, consistent blog and video topics each week as well as answer your questions. This means that sometimes there might be a video, but less writing. With young kids I need to go with the flow. Thank you in advance for your understanding!
Today I answer some reader questions as well as share very wise reader insights. We discuss investment shopping, provocative dressing (dressing to attract), capsule recipe collections and looking presentable always. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur
Sisters of Treason Giveaway
We continue our summer of book giveaways with the newly released Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle. Already receiving stellar reviews, this book is a highly anticipated read for me as I enjoyed Queen's Gambit so much. Many readers are saying this is historical fiction at its best!
Here is the book description:
From the author of Queen’s Gambit, which People magazine called, “A must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a gripping historical novel about two sisters who tread as dangerously close to the crown as their tragic sister, Lady Jane Grey, executed after just nine days on the throne.
Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal execution of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, Lady Jane Grey, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Freemantle brings these young women to life in a spellbinding Tudor tale of love and politics.
Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous life at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.
From “a brilliant new player in the court of royal fiction,” (People) Sisters of Treason brings to vivid life the perilous and romantic lives of two little known young women who played a major role in the complex politics of their day.
Simon & Schuster are generously giving away 5 copies to readers of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This week I would love to know... what do you think about provocative dressing (showing too much skin)? What about investment shopping? What are your favorite high-quality brands? Have you thought about applying the principles of the ten-item wardrobe to other areas of your life as well?
For all mothers out there... what are your tips for getting through those (sometimes long) summer days?
See you next week!
Music in this week's video: Johan Strauss Tritsch Tritsch
Royalty Free Music by Audio Micro
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26 comments:
I had a Liz Claiborne bag that lasted nine years that I paid ten dollars for at a Liz Claiborne outlet store! It was stylish and good quality leather. My favorite brand is Ann Taylor Loft. I also like to shop at J Crew and Banana Republic outlet stores. These brands are in my budget and I love them. I am making an investment in good quality items that will last.
I have a capsule makeup collection. One each of the following: tinted moisturizer, sheer powder, concealer, blush, eyeliner, mascara, and 3 shades of eyeshadow. Makeup is very simple and quick to apply, therefore I never feel too rushed to leave without any on!
I am currently reading "The Gold Finch." As for applying a 10 item wardrobe to other aspects of my life, I have definitely noticed a decline in my consumption. I'm still working on the literal wardrobe, but I'm make progress!
I think dressing to attract has a lot to do with how you hold yourself. A beautiful girl with the perfect outfit with a reserved personality looks different than girl dressed casually but who's boisterous, eclectic and outgoing. It really depends on the person
I think too many women dress provocatively. The media as well as our culture have many women believing that this is the only way to be attractive. This is sad. It cheapens a woman and says that her only value is in her sex appeal. This is so untrue. What about intelligence, kindness, wit and other God-given qualities? A woman can dress modestly and still be very beautiful and attractive.
As a former food blogger, I can say that while I love to try new (to me) dishes, I have found that I now want to pare down the choices to those simple, classic, healthy and delicious dishes that my family and I love. I can hardly wait to read your new book, since I have loved reading your first book just recently. You are speaking my language!
Currently reading A Long Time Gone by Karen White. Loved The Queens Gambit and look forward to this one
Currently reading The Ambassador's Daughter by Pam Jenoff...set in Paris in 1919. Very good. Trying not to buy too many new things...or makeup...use what I have then choose carefully. Thanks for your great posts !
I just read your book. Love it!
I am reading "Gift form the Sea" by Anne Lindbergh. It is an amazing book written 50 year ago; however, the content is timeless! I can see myself reading this book once a year as a reminder of how to live a contemplative life in a busy world.
I too just read Gift from the Sea. I agree, the food for thought is "timeless". As for long days with kids, I keep a list of fun and simple things to do on the blackboard in the kitchen. This might be a beach walk, trip to coffee shop for a treat, playground in another community to mix it up. I also have quiet time for me each day where the boys have to read, draw, play with lego..etc. I need this each afternoon. At 7 and 9 they are long past naps and have unlimited energy. The days are busy for sure!!
My favorite investment pieces are:
Handbags - Longchamp and Makowsky
Shoes - LK Bennett and Stuart Weitzman
Clothing - Reiss and Theory
Jeans - Hudson
Suits - J Crew
Summer fun for kids: We had set days of the week to do certain things. For example, our local library had a specific day that they would read kids books to a group so we would always go. There was an ice cream parlor that had free kids sundaes on certain days. We also had a set day of the week to go to the pool with friends and another day of the week that we all met up for an impromptu, friendly soccer game, which usually morphed into a leap frog/chase type game. So our week consisted of breakfast at home and then some sort of outdoor activity (water park or soccer game), lunch, nap, then usually something indoor to escape the heat (library, Netflix movie). We even made daily chores fun by playing fun music and made it a "race" by telling the kids to clean up as much as they could in 15 minutes. Making something not fun (chores) into something fun (a cleaning frenzy) somehow makes kids much more agreeable to participating!
My main question I have always wondered is does Madame Chic know that you were inspired to write a book about what you learned while living with her and are you still in contact with her?
I have curves and I find it is a struggle and sometimes very frustrating to dress and not look provocative, especially up top because I'm bigger there than the rest of my body. I want to look classy. I feel like I finally am able to choose pieces that work for me and help me to feel good in my clothes without worrying about showing too much skin. However, that being said, if I want to feel sexy I show off my legs! I like my legs, so I usually cover up up top and show my legs off. Compromise in not showing the whole package! ;)
I have not thought about the capsule idea in other areas but it makes sense and sounds great! Especially, the recipe idea! Thanks again for all you do and inspire in others to do.
What a lovely answer to the "provocative dressing" question Jennifer. You are so eloquent! Love your videos each week!
I also have close to a 10 recipe system. I rotate it over two weeks. It makes shopping and planning so much easier. I learned this from my mother. As a child, I always knew what was for dinner on any given day of the week.
Thanks for the book suggestions. I've borrowed a couple from the local library, and I've enjoyed them.
I definitely invest in winter boots. I need to invest in some classic pumps. The ones I currently own are cheapish and hurt too much.
I don't like to see young girls or teenage girls in those short-shorts. They leave nothing to the imagination and attract the wrong kind of male attention.
Love your blog and books Jennifer.
Dear Jennifer,
Congrats on your lovely new author site!
Thank you for your lovely blog and wonderful book giveaways! You are always so inspiring!
One question I would like for you to comment on is this statement about bra straps that I have heard many designers say. Repeatedly I've heard that showing just a hint of a bra strap (a pretty one, not some obnoxious color) is so "French". However, I've always been taught that even just a bra strap peeking out is a big no-no. Obviously I'm not going to run out in a racerback tank top with the full length of my regular bra straps showing on my shoulders, but is it really "French" if a small part of my bra strap is visible when wearing, say, a sleeveless top? I'd love to know your thoughts on this one!
I feel like showing too much skin is totally inappropriate. You can be sexy and confident while not wearing mid thigh skirts or low cut blouses. It make me cringe when I see women at work dressed like that.
I love the idea of having a capsule everything! Buy the highest quality you can, take good care of your possessions, and have only what you need.
Dear Jennifer,
I just finished a book I think you would LOVE (I'm a librarian!) - it's titled "Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris, 1932" by Francine Prose. It's about Paris during the Occupation. I was absolutely transported.
On topic: I'm aspiring to a capsule cooking plan. I subscribe to too many blogs and read too many cookbooks. I'm a minimalist in every other area except that!
I've never subscribed to the 'bait the trap' school of thought when it comes to finding a husband. I was looking for a man, not a rat :-) And I am happily married.
The way I see it, dress is how you express your inner self, so be true to your self in your appearance. There's no point trying to attract a guy by pretending to be someone else, unless you're prepared to go on pretending for the rest of your life - and what kind of life is that?
A cooking capsule would make everything so much easier! I'm not sure what I'll do with all this time I'll save between all the capsules we're forming :) Thanks!
Hi Jennifer! I am really looking forward to your next book. You remind me a lot of "Gracious Living" by Adele Williams.
That is a fairly obscure book published in the 70s, as a guide to how to live elegantly and successfully at any age or stage. The day I picked up my mother's heavily-underlined copy of that book really changed my life. We both have read it multiple times, and quote it to each other regularly.
We do the same with your book, in fact. :-) In some ways you have taken the place of Ms. Williams for us, as a more modern guru of living graciously. I think you really are a kindred spirit with Ms. Williams. If you can get your hands on the book, you would probably really enjoy it! (as long as you can look past her slight anti-feminist tendencies...it WAS the 70s)
I think we should not try to "dress to attract" but instead "dress, and be attractive". When I see a woman entering a restaurant dressed obviously to get a man, I roll my eyes and laugh (and so do most of my male friends). But when a woman enters who is dressed chic (sometimes conservative but always immaculate) and moves confidently, I am mesmerized (and so are my male friends, ha!).
I didn't manage to apply a 10-item wardrobe as my life is too diverse (student=casual, conservative family=chic, internship=corporate) but I have downsized my closet to 50 pieces of clothing. Since cutting away all the unnecessary, I have observed that apart from a few gems from Zara, all my clothes are investment pieces from designer-brands. And so I can conclude that the high-street cannot beat Ralph Lauren cashmere or Equipment silk (the 2 brands which quality I can always rely on). As a student, I do buy these pieces at outlet stores or on second-hand websites. But overall the message is clear: if you can invest, do so. I find it so sad when I see women throw away 300 dollars at Forever 21 for clothes they will wear only once.
ps. I am currently reading "Dominion" by SJ Sansom
Hi Jennifer, love the shirt you're wearing in this video. Where is it from? Great post!
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