Quite Continental Charm School
“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”
Coco Chanel
Welcome to the Quite Continental Charm School. Guided by the wise words of Coco Chanel, I bring you tips and tricks to generate more class and fabulousness in your everyday life, spanning the topics of fashion, travel, beauty, etiquette, relationships, and whatnot. Most important is the “whatnot,” bien sûr...
Formerly called my “28 Days of Classy & Fabulous Things,” the new name reflects two epiphanies. First, 2012 was a leap year, meaning there were 29 days in February. I hear this kind of thing happens every 4 years or so. Second, when I discovered pictures of young ladies at charm schools in the 1940s and 1950s, I found myself wishing we still had them today, but that they would offer the modern girl of today a bit more substance than how to balance a book on your head. Perhaps I am wrong, but to me the charm schools of yesteryear seem especially focused on outward presentation, with an emphasis on catching a mate. Of course, looking great and having a satisfying relationship remain important to a lot of people — but that is not the end-all, be-all for most of us these days. So let’s take the idea and make it better, shall we?
Enter, the Quite Continental Charm School: a modern guide to creating a charmed life, where you will learn classy and fabulous things to do, to see, to think about, to taste, to buy, to read, to listen to, and to experience. And as I definitely don’t claim to have a monopoly on such knowledge, you’ll have lovely guest instructors, chosen for their class and fabulousity.
While it is my earnest hope that we’ll be a coeducational establishment, some boys might like to supplement their studies with a look at Valet’s Handbook, an excellent collection of tips and tricks that was one of the original inspiration sources for this feature.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Reach me via email at contact@quitecontinental.net
2013
Day 4: Unexpected Compliments
by Stephanie Madewell of even*cleveland
Day 6: On Table Manners: Fork Technique
by Lizzie Garrett Mettler of Tomboy Style
Day 9: Overhaul Your Wardrobe
by Kelly of Alterations Needed
Day 11: Craft Your Written Signature
by Christine Mitchell of N’East Style
Day 12: Make the Ordinary Extraordinary
by Jen McCabe of Honey Kennedy
Day 13: Watch Screwball Comedies
by Michele of Tales of a Madcap Heiress
Day 15: Brew Your Own Bitters
by Lani Zervas of Mon Petit Chou Chou
Day 16: On Table Manners: Purse Placement
FEBRUARY 2012
Day 1: An Attitude of Gratitude
Day 3: Get a Library Card
by Stephanie Madewell of even*cleveland
Day 6: Be Fashionably Punctual
by Lizzie Garrett Mettler of Tomboy Style
Day 8: Your Family Jewels
by Christine Mitchell of N’East Style
Day 9: A Life Lived With Purpose
Day 10: A Proper Foundation
by Sarah of Style On The Couch
Day 13: Know Thyself
by Kate Arends of wit + delight
Day 15: Keep a Travel Journal
by Jen Swetzoff of Parenture
Day 16: Select a Signature Scent
by Anne of Ritournelle
Day 17: Take Your Seasonal Accessories Seriously
Day 19: Find Balance
by Jodi Fournier
Day 21: Drink More Gin
by Marisa Zupan of The Significant Other
Day 22: Eat Chocolate
by Sarah of Edelweiss by Sarah
Day 26: How to Score Vintage
by Jahn Hall of BKLYN Dry Goods
Day 28: Be Enterprising
by Jessica Goldfond of The Shiny Squirrel
FEBRUARY 2011
Day 12: Perfect Your Signature
Day 27: How to Stock a Proper Bar
**EXTRA CREDIT**
Even though it may not be February at the moment, I continuously discover “charming” stories and photos. I share them throughout the year as Charm School Extra Credit, which you can find here.
Moppets Charm School, taken by Arthur Rickerby for LIFE Magazine.
Images via the LIFE Archive.
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