The Local France is an English-language site that covers news, politics, and culture, especially as they impact the expat community. I subscribed earlier this year as the pandemic hit France. The Local had current, relevant, and invaluable information posted on their website during the nerve-racking early days when separating fact from fiction was key. And … More French Table Manners from The Local
Reprinted from Newsweek magazine…August 2012. How Modern Preppies Got the Style But Forgot the Values BY SUSAN CHEEVER ON 8/6/12 AT 1:00 AM EDT Oprah Winfrey may give away millions, but titans with a conscience have been on the wane since John D. Rockefeller’s day.CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BETTMANN-CORBIS; STEPANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP-GETTY IMAGES; … More The Refresher: From Susan Cheever
In the past six plus years that I’ve been posting–and you’ve been commenting–on this blog, we’ve covered a lot of ground. Starting out with articulating and discussing Old Money characteristics and the Old Money philosophy, we’ve branched off of that theme more than occasionally. We’ve discussed having cash on hand and renting vs. putting a … More Back To Basics
Scarlet O’Hara famously said that, ‘After tall, tomorrow is another day,’ her closing remark in Gone With The Wind engraving a defiant optimism in the minds of a generation of readers, and probably even more film fans. So, with the ravages of Covid-19 still plaguing the globe, it’s important for us to remember this as … More The Slow But Certain Dawn
After 3 years of living here in Paris, I’ve begun to pick up on some of the more obscure but fascinating details of this unique culture. Parenting is a prime example, and I may have discussed it here before. I know I’ve discussed it with French and American friends at length. The overall behavior and … More Parisian Parenting: The Basics
It was Senior week at my small-city university when I asked a very dashing fellow classmate why he was heading to medical school in the Fall. After all, wasn’t that basically like starting school all over again? We had just finished 4 years as undergraduates! When I pressed him to find if there were any … More Old Money: In Their Own Words
Even if it’s just two Sundays a year. Even if it’s just blazers and bowties, sundresses and sandals. Especially if it’s just family and friends. Set the table. Cook the food. Light the candles. Turn off the phones. Sit. Eat. Converse. For civilization is not merely knowing the rules of etiquette: it is knowing the … More Hold On To…The Formal Dinner
I rarely respond to headlines, trends, or hot topics on this blog. Most of what is posted here stands alone, immune to current events or the latest trends. However, the recent headlines about sexual harassment–and a message from one of our readers, Chris, on Twitter–have prompted me to address the subject of the proper treatment … More Headlines and Guidelines: How To Treat Women
An acquaintance from Boston was visiting Paris last week. We had lunch at a crowded cafe, ironically populated with a number of Americans, and got to know each other better. He’d read The Old Money Book and The Old Money Guide To Marriage and shared his thoughts about the two. We discussed traditional values and the … More The Random Routine
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. – Michel de Montaigne