From Jean-Paul Belmondo to Louis Garrel, Frenchmen have long possessed a certain je ne sais quoi that allows them to radiate style effortlessly. So why can Belmondo pull off a turtleneck sweater and not you? The answers to this and other age-old sartorial conundrums are dispensed like gold nuggets in Gonzague Dupleix's Suave in Every Situation (Flammarion), a Gallic-centric etiquette manual, illustrated with flair by Jean-Philippe Delhomme. Here, three choice tips to set you on the path to suavedom.
Should you tuck in your sweater?
"A model's main aim, considering the economic stake he represents, is to display clearly what he is wearing, which includes the belt. This--let's be realistic here--is not exactly the case with you."
What should you do with your arms in beach photos?
"Take inspiration from Michelangelo's David: one arm hangs, while the other, chest level, is in the middle of completing a task."
Can you wear a beret today?
"Wear the beret to the right, you're in the company of defenders and heroes; to the left, you're among poets; in the middle--you just look dumb."
Like what you see here? Subscribe and be the first to receive the latest issue of Out. Subscribe to print here and receive a complimentary digital subscription.
