Chic in Paris Book Signing Caravan 91 (128 E. 91st St) Saturday, April 14th, 2007 Written by Bob Bland Photographed by Kim Wisely

The city of Paris is notoriously snobby to foreigners, especially American fashionistas armed with nothing but a travel guide, a credit card and some style. New York socialite, personal shopper and author Susan Tabak is looking to change that with her new book, Chic in Paris. Tabak has spent years honing her French fluency and her fashion connections in the city of light, and says, "for the millions of women who suffer from Paris envy, [my new book] is a guide to unveiling the French fashion enigma."

A champagne reception and book signing was held in her honor at Caravan 91, the newer and more upscale sister of trail-blazing Caravan in Chelsea. During the first balmy weekend of spring, the manicured courtyard and intimate boutique were a decidedly refined destination, suitable to such an upscale event. After sipping on champagne and browsing through the carefully selected men's and women's clothing and accessories, I caught up with Mrs. Tabak, who was very excited to reveal the secrets of Parisian fashion and lifestyle choices. Her guide is unmistakeably sheathed in a crimson patent crocodile, and contains honest advice from 8 fashion icons, including Yves Saint Laurent's premier muse, Loulou de la Falaise. Equally helpful is an alphabetized listing of addresses for every place mentioned, so that even a first-time visitor to Paris can be an insider.

Chic in Paris is available at amazon.com, and I recommend it as a classy gift for both francophiles and women searching for that je ne sais quoi. Also, be sure to check out Caravan 91 if you are on the Upper East Side; they have cultivated a tightly edited collection that deserves a look.

Jade Dressler and Susan Tabak

Anna Drastik and Johannes Seemann with
New York Cool's Bob Bland