READ THIS: Elegance by Mover and Shaker Kathleen Tessaro Our Coverage Sponsored by Paul Mayer Attitudes
Paul Mayer's luxuriously, comfortable designs keep women coming back for multiple -- even dozens -- of pairs. Classic, yet contemporary and always comfortable, his shoes are an addiction that we highly recommend. A staple of the Paul Mayer collection is the simple ballet-flat, with true ballerina construction for a perfect fit that comes in a variety of colors and materials. A cult favorite is the cozy, a flat with lavender-scent infused soles adding style and fragrance to collector's closets as Paul's designs emerge in sophisticated design incarnations season after season in the most incredible hues, textures and modern innovations in luxury footwear because we know firsthand how incredibly brilliant he is. Mayer founded the brand in 2004 with partner, Jeff Levy. All shoes in the line are manufactured in Spain’s Valencia region, along the Mediterranean coast by a skilled staff of 12 artisans. They craft each pair of shoes with an old-world attention to detail that includes in-house embroidery, quilting and stitching as well as custom tanned leather. This allows the brand to cater to each retailer’s specific demands in with timely and consistent alacrity, with orders completed in an unheard-of 3 to 5 weeks. In 2011, Paul Mayer stepped out into Manhattan's Upper East Side with a new attitude, opening his flagship store at 1388 Third Avenue. The store which cleverly resembles a pink and black shoebox offers up to 150 shoe styles, including his popular ballerinas, exclusive designs and more. As an added bonus, shoppers have the chance of running into the designer, himself. Paul's sage shopping advice and style eye has made him the New York shoe lover's best kept secret. When not in New York, Paul can be found traveling to his myriad of stores across the country meeting his loyal clientele or vacationing in his favorite spot, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach.
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"'Elegance' is my first novel. It was inspired by a real life book called 'Elegance', written in 1964 by Genvieve Antoine Dariaux that I found in a second-hand book shop. Arranged as an encyclopedia with entries in alphabetical order, it promised to reveal 'how to be elegant at all times'. Naturally, I was fascinated."
-Mover and Shaker Kathleen Tessaro
We've reviewed over 600 books since we started in January 2009. Few authors have been featured twice. Since The Perfume Collector was so incredibly well done and we found out that Kathleen is tops in her interview, we are now going back to all her books that we have not featured and reading them. We are more fascinated by the excellence in novel writing from Kathleen's first work in 2003 than we are by many new titles today of the novel genre. Elegance absolutely deserves your time.
Set in London, Elegance is the journey of a woman that faces challenges we all do-career, family, men, and some that we wouldn't want to-horrible catty in-laws, and unsupportive people who are supposed to be exactly the opposite. The list goes on. This is a highly relatable book. Only women know that to be ready for a night out you'd "emerge from Green Park tube station waxed, shaved, depilated, exfoliated, refined, defined, moisturized, and volumized."(p. 204)
Kathleen includes intelligent style choices fashionably woven in to the story. Best of all some of the clothes come to life and have personalities.
We love the organization of Elegance as chapters are titled with words from A to Z all about elegance. The character development is key and the protagonist is a star. Kathleen knows you can't tell a book by its cover, but you can learn a lot about a person from their shoes. (p. 239)
Brilliance by Kathleen includes lines:
"Never be seduced by anything that isn't first-rate." (p. 26)
"Beauty is no guarantee of happiness. Strive instead for elegance, grace and style." (p. 37)
"But that's another thing that's dangerous about being Catholic; we believe in miracles." (p. 45)
"If you don't know who you are, you can easily become a mink coat." (p. 66)
You're no one's little sausage-so go read Kathleen's start of her hit parade!
Kathleen is the real thing.
A classic.
A real black cashmere polo neck of an author and friend.
Whom You Know highly recommends Elegance.
It was a slim, grey volume entitled Elegance …
Louise Canova is at a crossroads in her life. Her marriage is faltering and the insecurities of adolescence have returned to haunt her. Browsing in a secondhand bookshop, she stumbles across a faded grey volume. Written by the formidable French fashion expert, Madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, Elegance is an encyclopedia of style. It promises to transform plain women into creatures of poise at all times. And from Accessories to Zippers, there is nothing that Madame Dariaux can’t advise upon – including inattentive husbands, false friends, and the powerful bond between mothers and daughters.
When Louise vows to follow Madame’s advice, her life is transformed in ways she never imagined. Within the book’s pages lie clues to her own past. And as she begins to unravel them, she discovers a courage she never dreamt possible.
However, everything, even elegance, has its price.
Starting with A and finishing with Z, Elegance is a unique journey of timeless fashion, true friendship, and the rare, unexpected gift of love.
