From Lingerie To Lettuce, I Love How So Many French Minds Work

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It’s fair to say that I am in love with most things French: Aix-en-Provence, Carine Roitfeld, Paris, Christine Lagarde, and Ines de la Fresssange, for starters. Karl Lagerfeld and Emmanuelle Alt, not so much. I doubt Lagerfeld considers himself to be French anyway. He just seeks to dominate and define French culture — and women.

As for Vogue Paris, I’m sorry. That magazine is a shadow of its former self under Alt’s leadership. The woman has no vision — except for rock and roll stars and jeans.

Today we can add another duo to French people I adore: Atelier Altern, introduced in today’s Gardenista.

Commissioned by the Maison de la Culture d’Amiens, the installation featuring floating islands of covered and raised garden beds is part architectural feat—and part political commentary on agricultural biodiversity.

A newcomer to Anne of Carversville might be confused. How did we come to feature Dioni Tabbers in French brand Aubade’s Fall 2013 campaign, followed next by lettuce beds planted with heirloom varieties of open-pollinated lettuces? 

Does Anne have a deranged mind?

Perhaps, but let me explain. Both issues are of concern to Smart Sensuality women, our core reader of both genders. We are smart, sexy and have great compassion and heart. Our core values are those of Cultural Creatives, except that we are a subset of CC’s who embrace style and sensuality in a way that many CC’s do not.

The best example I can give you is an enlightening conversation I had with a leader of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. This person was very positive about me, my GlamTribale concept and Anne of Carversville, talking to me for a good 30 minutes. She said: “Anne, I love you, but we are a bunch of Quakers and you are pretty … well, you are a bit of a wild child. You need to spend one on one time with us, so others in our group appreciate you as I do.”

My aha moment came with the understanding that being embraced by their group wasn’t only about my talent or my creativity and artistry, but about my very public embrace of positive sexuality and luxurious lingerie — and probably being a blonde, too. Let’s throw that fact into the mix.

So on respect for the environment, an embrace of global activism with a firm emphasis on empowering the world’s women and a host of other Cultural Creative issues we are in alignment. We divide over a love of style and beauty in all forms and a preference for stilettos over birkenstocks.

To learn more about our Smart Sensuality minds, I’ve shared two Classic Anne articles and Dioni Tabbers for Aubade. Enjoy the brain food and come back and see me sometime. ~ Anne

Aubade Lingerie Fall 2013

Dioni Tabbers in Aubade Lingerie Fall/Winter 2013/2014 pt 1 AOC Sensual Fashion

French Chic Personified

Classic Anne: Ines de la Fressange | 53, French Chic & Divinely Delicious AOC Body

Classic Anne: Cultural Creatives Now 35% of US | 10% in Transition AOC Fashion Mavericks

The spokespersons are largely men, which is unfortunate because being a Cultural Creative requires an embrace of female-centric principles. 65% of CCs are women.

  • Ecological sustainability
  • Enjoying exposure to foreign ideas and culture
  • Concern about women and children worldwide
  • Priority of health care and education
  • Desire to rebuild neighborhoods and community
  • Improving neighborhoods and community
  • Emphasis on creating caring relationships and family life
  • Social conscience and demand for authenticity
  • Guarded social optimism
  • Emphasis on altruism, self-actualization and spirituality as a single complex of values