When it comes to effortlessly chic style, we’ve looked often, over the past several years, to Ajiri Aki.
Photograph by Jessica Antola, courtesy of Clarkson Potter.
It all started with our first post five years ago on Madame de la Maison Ajiri s shop filled with the French antiquities she sources at marchés aux puces see Vintage French Style You Can Rent
since then she s weighed in on everything from throwing a dinner party for two to her own design influence as a Nigerian born Texas raised alum of the NYC fashion world now living and raising kids in Paris
Ajiri and her kids, Noomi and Baz.
On simplicity and shower curtains A fellow expat once used a fascinating analogy to point out how Americans and the French approach presentation differently In the United States she said we usually have two shower curtains one that actually protects us...
...and one we show to the world In France buying one shower curtain that is both proper and practical and that can be maintained for years is standard I think we can apply this to beauty too Less is indeed more
C’est la pause.” Reclaim lunchtime by enjoying a meal on a park bench, by a window, or somewhere that’s not your desk (perhaps even without your phone).
On crisp linens without the iron When it comes to linen and wrinkles personally I find that it adds a nice texture to the table but if you re a purist yet still want to avoid busting out the iron here s a little secret I learned from a French grandmother...
...1 Wash your linen remove it from the washing machine and use your hand to smooth out the wrinkles 2 Fold it while still damp and set it aside for an hour or overnight if you re lazy like me 3 Unfold it and hang it to dry if still damp
For a picnic à la française Ajiri suggests packing six essentials linens both a large blanket size one for your derrière and napkins for your hands...
...a kitchen towel to wrap your bread or wipe off utensils a cutting board a serving tray finger food cheese charcuterie spreads veggies fruit and a baguette
On centerpieces One of my pet peeves with regard to dining is having to strain duck and dive to see or speak to the person across from me which is why when it...
...comes to centerpieces I like to keep them low Ajiri suggests scattering votives small bud vases flower petals or even fruit and veg down the center of the table instead of elaborate arrangements
On throwing a dinner party In 2010 UNESCO recognized the French gastronomic meal an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity According to UNESCO the appellation is for more than simply a meal but for everything that goes into the meal such as buying the...
...bons produits from local producers selecting wine that pairs with a three or four course feast and setting a beautiful table In other words it s the whole package and a sensory experience Not ready to throw a Sunday fete with all the fixings
You’ll catch your host or hostess rushing around trying to finish up everything or get dressed.
“There’s no rush to determine what works for you, but as you embark on the process, remember this: You don’t need to be polished all the time. Focus on items that bring you joy and make you look good,” Ajiri writes on finding your personal style (and, we’d argue, interior style).
On flowers: “In contrast to how I lived in the States, now I grab flowers on a whim,” Ajiri writes.
Joie: A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life is $34.88 from Bookshop.
On three ways to identify a true baguette: “The exterior has color because there is no bleach in the flour. It doesn’t shatter when you squeeze it (but crumbs are okay once you tear it). It has a nice, golden croûte, or ‘crust,’ that makes a satisfyingly subtle crackling sound.”