French Exit

For all the quirky fiction lovers

The first thing I’ll say is this book reads like a Wes Anderson film, and if you’re not a fan of Wes Anderson, look elsewhere! It’s quirky, fun, funny, and sets itself up as a perfect dark comedy with questionable characters. It was a breath of fresh air to zip through since I’ve been reaching for some heavier reads lately. This short 244 page number is a great summer read if you’re on the look out for one.

Initially set in the Upper East Side of New York, Frances and her son Malcom are members among high society, endlessly sipping martinis with an air of ‘je ne sais quoi’ about the world that surrounds them. Similar to a Wes Anderson movie, it was difficult to pinpoint the exact time period it was set in, but that wasn’t at all crucial to the plot, and it was fun to imagine the characters in this sort of made-up, far-away land that felt otherworldly, with a lot of pastel colors.

To Drink

A gin martini, full stop. And a lot of it if you’re a friend of Frances’. Preferably brought on a room service tray for Frances and/or Malcom to enjoy in solitary at the Four Seasons.

The perfect martini? The closest I’ve come to is the gin martini at Musso & Frank in Hollywood, but if you’re up for making your own at home, Rebekah Peppler’s recipes never fail me.

The Menu

This lot definitely drank more than they ate, but I’m going to continue with my high society-esque steak house theme and say a Steak Au Poivre is most certainly on the Price’s dinner party menu. This is the kind of thing you treat yourself to on a night out. Nothing compares to the Steak Au Poivre at Bell’s in Los Alamos, CA.

Photo by Bells Los Alamos (I’m drooling)

Dessert

And for dessert? A towering pavlova dotted with raspberries and fresh cream. Inspired by a dessert I had recently at a restaurant called Bar Cecil in Palm Springs.

The Tablescape

My mind went to French or Italian bistro tables - reds and crisp whites, à la what you’d expect to see at a classic white tablecloth establishment. I also love the idea of adding a tabletop lamp to the mix.

1. Oval Plate, Artilleriet

2. Cutlery, Sabre Paris

3. Cordless Tabletop Lamp, Insight Cordless Lighting

4. Fluted Martini Glass, West Elm

5. Tablecloth, Coyuchi

When thinking of flowers, irises and gladiolas came to mind. Something a bit dated, but when done right, it can be really good. Case in point from my florist icon, Constance Spry:

The Outfit

This one was fun to execute. There were lots of mentions of houndstooth, classic Burberry, and overall Upper East Side prep that I couldn’t unsee. Inspired by Frances, of course:

“…yes, my life is riddled by clichés, but do you know what a cliché is? It’s a story so fine and thrilling that it’s grown old in its hopeful retelling.”

‘People tell it,’ Frances said. ‘Not so many live it.’

Coat, Bag, Earrings, Shoes

The Playlist

Old school Frenchie and a bit borrowed from Wes Anderson soundtracks.

The Mood Board

A mix of hotel life and French ease.

From left to right:

French Toast, Le Veu d’Or, Images my own, Hotel Chelsea, French Toast, Rebekah Peppler, Images my own.