The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour

Name: The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour
Price: 21.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780743264143

✍️ Dejean, Joan

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$21.95

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Food Writing & History

📚 EDITORIAL REVIEW

“This title suits fashion historians, not home cooks. If you seek practical techniques, ingredient lists, or step-by-step instructions for your kitchen, this book will disappoint you. It is a cultural study of luxury and etiquette rather than a functional guide for preparing meals.

— Editorial Team

Author

Dejean, Joan

📚 all books by this author →

🏛 Free Press 📅 2006 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780743264143

📝 Description: The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour

Writing with great elan, DeJean explains how the glittering world of Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule today's lifestyles.

💎 Expert review

“

🍳

Eatbook Family editorial team

Cookbook desk

Writing with great elan, Joan DeJean examines how the glittering world of Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule today's lifestyles. It does not suit readers looking for practical kitchen techniques, step-by-step recipes, or modern culinary instruction. Instead, it targets those with a penchant for historical deep-dives and cultural critique. Casual cooks seeking a quick weeknight dinner guide will likely find its historical focus too academic, but dedicated enthusiasts of culinary history will appreciate its vivid exploration of France's opulent past.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Eatbook Family —

⭐ eatbookfamily.com editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

This title suits fashion historians, not home cooks. If you seek practical techniques, ingredient lists, or step-by-step instructions for your kitchen, this book will disappoint you. It is a cultural study of luxury and etiquette rather than a functional guide for preparing meals.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Eatbook Family editorial team

Writing with great elan, Joan DeJean examines how the glittering world of Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule today's lifestyles. It does not suit readers looking for practical kitchen techniques, step-by-step recipes, or modern culinary instruction. Instead, it targets those with a penchant for historical deep-dives and cultural critique. Casual cooks seeking a quick weeknight dinner guide will likely find its historical focus too academic, but dedicated enthusiasts of culinary history will appreciate its vivid exploration of France's opulent past.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. This is a historical analysis of culture and aesthetics, not a cookbook. You will not find ingredient quantities or cooking methods for any dishes.

Only if you study food history or hospitality management. For technical kitchen skills, plating techniques, or flavor profiling, look elsewhere; this book focuses on social context rather than culinary craft.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

The work examines how the court of Louis XIV established enduring standards for sophistication, glamour, and chic dining. It explores the evolution of high fashion and fine food as interconnected cultural forces that defined elite lifestyles during this era, shaping modern concepts of style and social grace without focusing on specific recipes.