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.
![Suave-750](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20750%20308'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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.