Product Description

Why is it that French women look as glamorous in a T-shirt and pair of jeans as in a designer dress? What is the secret that keeps them sexy and attractive from eighteen or eighty? Why are they happiest when flirting? How do they stay pencil thin? And why do they seduce their best-friends' lovers? Helena Frith Powell goes deep undercover to expose the secrets of French beauty in this witty investigation in suspenders. Exploring French women's passion for looking and feeling good, she talks to experts on French womanhood - from the intellectuals of St Germain, to the proprietress of a designer sex shop for women, to the bra fitter in the lingerie rooms of an exclusive department store in Paris, where she says goodbye to her M &S's knickers forever. Packed with insights, she uncovers how French women achieve maximum effect with the least amount of effort through their passion for face-creams, suspenders and la petite aventure. Bin the books that tell you what to wear and what to eat. Find your inner French woman instead. Tempting, chic, persuasive, witty, "Two Lipsticks" is the ultimate style book that could radically change the way you look and, more importantly, think about yourself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #109255 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 242 pages

Review
'Hilarious.' Best Christmas book for your best friend B-Magazine January issue - review 'Where this book differs is in its English sense of humour... Funny, warm and charming.' French Magazine January issue - review 'Elegantly explains why Frenchwomen just get more attractive as they grow older and can wear lingerie, take lovers and flirt, whereas British can, too, but generally don't.' Andrew Roberts 'Smart and very funny, ... a title that sells itself.' Richard and Judy 'I absolutely love this book. Spot on.' Terry O'Neill, photographer of Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau 'Witty, and very elegantly written... verbal Viagra.' John Witherow, editor Sunday Times 'A fascinating - and illuminating - read.' Daily Mail 'I devoured it. It is so funny and sharp!' Marco Redolfi, Head of PR of Dolce & Gabbanna

From the Publisher
Bin the Books that tell you how to dress and what to eat, find your inner French woman instead!

From the Inside Flap
Why is it that French women look as glamorous in a T-shirt and pair of jeans as a designer dress? What is the secret that keeps them sexy and attractive from eighteen to eighty? How do they stay pencil thin? Why do they flirt so much? And how do they justify sleeping with their best-friend’s husband?

Helena Frith Powell puts on suspenders and goes deep undercover to reveal the secret of French beauty in a frank investigation. Exploring French women’s passion for looking and feeling good, she talks to experts on French womanhood—from the intellectuals of St Germain, to the proprietress of a sex dungeon, to the bra fitter in the lingerie rooms of an exclusive department store in Paris—where she says goodbye to her M&S underwear forever. French women, she discovers, aim for maximum effect with the least amount of effort through their passion for face-creams, silk underwear, and la petite aventure.

Bin the books that tell you what to wear and how to behave. Find your inner French woman instead! Irresistible, chic, persuasive, witty, Two Lipsticks is the ultimate style book that could radically change the way you look and, more importantly, think about yourself.

Customer Reviews

Two Lipsticks and a Lover
As a foreigner living in France, I was enthralled by "Two Lipsticks and a Lover". Particularly in the first half of the book, the author has managed to capture so many enigmas of French culture in a simple sentence, and with such humour. It is great to see that so many things that I had thought were just my experience cited here as "Fact". If some of it seems exaggerated, I can tell you that it is all so true!!

I highly recommend this book. In fact, I would say it is a must for non-French women living in or wanting to understand more about France.

I especially liked the fact that many of the quotes were from current females in French politics.

As I am neither English nor French, I was also able to identify with the anecdotes of what French people might think of the English.

In addition, this book made me conscious that, like the author, my years in France have made me change the way I see things: a balanced meal, the necessity of creams and treatments, ...

I found that the end of the book was less focussed but perhaps it was because it held subjects less close to my heart. Also, there is a side the French culture that is more easily explained in light of the work culture, long lunch, subsidized meals, etc. The author would only experience this having lived it. French culture is rich and so there are more enigmas out there yet for her to solve! This book is a great start.

Great gift, very practical
I watched Helena on Richard & Judy and read the book because they said it was smart and very funny. It really is very entertaining how the book uncovers the secrets of French women. Their obsession with style and looking good is just something else. I was really pleasantly surprised about how practical the book is. It tells that French women don't do excercise but love to go shopping on foot (because you are worth it, could be a French expression!) so that they can avoid the gym. Or that they always have a 'casse' (something like a biscuit) in their handbag so that if they feel hungry they don't eat fatty or sweet snacks between meals. Very warmly recommended.

Sharp and amusing read
Contrary to what I read in the Daily Mail last week, which seemed to have picked out all the negatives when it was serialised, this book is a funny and affectionate look at French women. The author has gone out and made friends with an enormous number of classy chicks, including Ines de la Fressange, who was my childhood hero. Ines and other women have opened up the sort of secrets that are only passed from mother to daughter - and then in French! She likes them, but she's not in awe of them. She also seems to have picked up a few tips from a mystery french man that she meets on the train..
All in all, an entertaining and riveting read, although I'm not going to tell you if it ends in a brief encounter!