Lessons from Madame Chic

compelled to lean in to hear what you have to say. Very mysterious.

• Be a good listener.

Yourself

Cultivating an air of mystery is not to be confused with being fake, putting on airs, or trying to be someone you are not. It is simply being yourself without hiding behind a wall of people pleasing. It’s about not exchanging fake pleasantries or sharing truths about yourself with people who are not terribly important to you. So be in the moment, and be yourself fully. Value the air of mystery that draws people to you.

Further techniques

• Acquire a Mona Lisa smile. This is a tad clichéd, but it is a strategy worth mentioning. A subtle half smile suggests that you know something. And inevitably the other person will want to know what that is. Never, of course, tell them. They will go mad.

• Speak softly. Use your inside voice. When you speak softly, people will feel com

Music

If you aren’t already familiar with classical music, give it a try. Purchase a few compilation albums on iTunes and play them in the background as you go about your day. Such music has a way of making whatever you do feel more important. My favorite ritual of Famille Chic’s was the playing of classical music after dinner every night on the record player. It made me feel like I was in a period film and I loved it.

• Practice the art of living well every day—even when you are alone. Doing so allows you to develop a taste for fine living.

• Check yourself from all angles before leaving the house.