Maisonette Muse: Florence Chataignier Mars
Florence Chataignier Mars, VP of luxury brand Bonpoint and newly published author of Say Bonjour to the Lady, is our latest Muse.
Say Bonjour to the Lady: Observations and Adventures in Parisian Parenting, written by Florence Chataignier Mars and Pauline Lévêque, is the theme of our latest discussion. Like all things Parisian, Florence embodies effortless chic, absolute correctness for every occasion, and of course, a hint of humor in her approach to life and motherhood. Wondering how to infuse some French discipline into your free-spirited child? This maman may have just the answer for you!
What does a morning in the Mars household look like?
In my head my routine is: I wake up at 6 am, one hour before the kids, do my yoga in a completely silent home, have a cup of tea and then wake up our little monsters. Of course, this never happens in real life. In reality, I am fast asleep when I hear Shibuya Station bark at 6:45am, pretty much every day on the dot. What is wrong with this dog? Then I run downstairs like a crazy person to avoid her making something crazy on the carpet. And then it is chaos until 8 am. Preparing everybody’s breakfast, making sure their homework is in their backpacks, that they are dressed properly (ie. the French way), with their teeth clean and whatever hairdos the girls want. It feels like a miracle when I close the door at 8 am. I totally feel like a survivor.
What does a morning in the Mars household look like?
In my head my routine is: I wake up at 6 am, one hour before the kids, do my yoga in a completely silent home, have a cup of tea and then wake up our little monsters. Of course, this never happens in real life. In reality, I am fast asleep when I hear Shibuya Station bark at 6:45am, pretty much every day on the dot. What is wrong with this dog? Then I run downstairs like a crazy person to avoid her making something crazy on the carpet. And then it is chaos until 8 am. Preparing everybody’s breakfast, making sure their homework is in their backpacks, that they are dressed properly (ie. the French way), with their teeth clean and whatever hairdos the girls want. It feels like a miracle when I close the door at 8 am. I totally feel like a survivor.
How would you describe your style?
My style is simple. I am afraid it will sound very cliché, but I dress like a Parisian, which means a lot of black and neutral colors, always trying to be natural and elegant. I aim for “effortless chic” - although it is not effortless at all! The worst style faux pas for a French woman is the feeling that you are trying too hard.
I respect a few basic rules: never wear leggings (if you go to the gym you can change there!), choose between a “décolleté” or a mini skirt - never show both in one look. Same for make up: either a smoky eye or a red lip, no total look whatsoever, and absolutely no white socks, except with white tennis shoes.
I don’t really do anything to my hair; most of the time I let it dry and that is it. I wear a little make-up but it has to look natural. I don’t do high heels except for parties and I’d rather be in ballet flats 24/7. I almost never have time for a manicure…
My children have to follow the same rules, poor darlings. I am trying to resist the sweatpants religion and even though my kids think I am SO uncool, I only let them wear sweatpants when they have PE. The horrible T-shirts they got at camp are allowed only as pajamas and only if we don’t have guests at home. When they complain too much I always reply: “there are worse problem in the world than having to be dressed in Bonpoint!”
My style is simple. I am afraid it will sound very cliché, but I dress like a Parisian, which means a lot of black and neutral colors, always trying to be natural and elegant. I aim for “effortless chic” - although it is not effortless at all! The worst style faux pas for a French woman is the feeling that you are trying too hard.
I respect a few basic rules: never wear leggings (if you go to the gym you can change there!), choose between a “décolleté” or a mini skirt - never show both in one look. Same for make up: either a smoky eye or a red lip, no total look whatsoever, and absolutely no white socks, except with white tennis shoes.
I don’t really do anything to my hair; most of the time I let it dry and that is it. I wear a little make-up but it has to look natural. I don’t do high heels except for parties and I’d rather be in ballet flats 24/7. I almost never have time for a manicure…
My children have to follow the same rules, poor darlings. I am trying to resist the sweatpants religion and even though my kids think I am SO uncool, I only let them wear sweatpants when they have PE. The horrible T-shirts they got at camp are allowed only as pajamas and only if we don’t have guests at home. When they complain too much I always reply: “there are worse problem in the world than having to be dressed in Bonpoint!”
Do they ever rebel against this dress code?
I do sometimes feel a little wind of rebellion, probably because I do not let them choose their outfits very often. On a recent work trip, my dear husband sent me a picture of the three children (incidentally having ice cream on Montague street at 9:30pm on a school night…) Blanche was wearing a striped legging, one of those crazy camp t-shirts that always come in the wrong color and that she cuts to make shorter, leather boots and sparkly fingerless gloves (whoever offered those: merci very much). In short, left to her own devices, she dresses like Madonna. Not in a good way.
The French are quite strict with mealtime. That said, do you ever find yourself in a pinch and need to feed them something fast?
The Croque Monsieur really is a life saver when you don’t have time and pretty much nothing in your fridge. All you need is a grilled cheese machine (of course if you can find a Croque Monsieur machine that is even better, but I suspect it looks almost the same). Put a little butter on 2 pieces of toast, place a slice of ham or turkey in the middle, add a slice of gruyere, then into the machine for 3 minutes and voila, IT IS READY! If you want to make it extra special, put a fried egg on top and you have an authentic Croque Madame, and a happy child.
I do sometimes feel a little wind of rebellion, probably because I do not let them choose their outfits very often. On a recent work trip, my dear husband sent me a picture of the three children (incidentally having ice cream on Montague street at 9:30pm on a school night…) Blanche was wearing a striped legging, one of those crazy camp t-shirts that always come in the wrong color and that she cuts to make shorter, leather boots and sparkly fingerless gloves (whoever offered those: merci very much). In short, left to her own devices, she dresses like Madonna. Not in a good way.
The French are quite strict with mealtime. That said, do you ever find yourself in a pinch and need to feed them something fast?
The Croque Monsieur really is a life saver when you don’t have time and pretty much nothing in your fridge. All you need is a grilled cheese machine (of course if you can find a Croque Monsieur machine that is even better, but I suspect it looks almost the same). Put a little butter on 2 pieces of toast, place a slice of ham or turkey in the middle, add a slice of gruyere, then into the machine for 3 minutes and voila, IT IS READY! If you want to make it extra special, put a fried egg on top and you have an authentic Croque Madame, and a happy child.
What’s the greatest lesson your own mother taught you?
My mother taught me that it is great to break the rules once in a while. She prepared healthy meals every night, but on Sunday nights we ate cereal or tartines. And I remember thinking that was extraordinary!
What would you say has been your proudest moment as a mother?
We went on a pretty long road trip 4 years ago. It was a lot of fun but also a lot of crazy overnight trains through Northern Vietnam, sleeping in a Gers full of spiders in Mongolia, running out of gas in the middle of nowhere in Australia… and our children went through the whole thing with a smile on their face. They are solid little adventurers who feel at home in airports and railway stations, who pet tigers and wash elephants like pros.
How has your career helped you as a mother? How has being a mother helped you in your career?
Before Bonpoint, I was producing shows for French TV and that taught me A LOT about organization and multitasking. I feel like I can make pretty much anything happen, so preparing three cakes for school while doing breakfast while reciting a dictation to my 2nd graders and getting ready for a job interview is nothing special!
On the other hand, let’s face it, being a mother has not helped me in my career! It was a professional challenge every time I was pregnant (to be fair I had my 3 babies while in the same company so that was kind of irritating for my boss!) I remember the first time I got pregnant, my boss said to me: “Do you even realize your due date his right in the middle of the broadcasting season of your show?”
My mother taught me that it is great to break the rules once in a while. She prepared healthy meals every night, but on Sunday nights we ate cereal or tartines. And I remember thinking that was extraordinary!
What would you say has been your proudest moment as a mother?
We went on a pretty long road trip 4 years ago. It was a lot of fun but also a lot of crazy overnight trains through Northern Vietnam, sleeping in a Gers full of spiders in Mongolia, running out of gas in the middle of nowhere in Australia… and our children went through the whole thing with a smile on their face. They are solid little adventurers who feel at home in airports and railway stations, who pet tigers and wash elephants like pros.
How has your career helped you as a mother? How has being a mother helped you in your career?
Before Bonpoint, I was producing shows for French TV and that taught me A LOT about organization and multitasking. I feel like I can make pretty much anything happen, so preparing three cakes for school while doing breakfast while reciting a dictation to my 2nd graders and getting ready for a job interview is nothing special!
On the other hand, let’s face it, being a mother has not helped me in my career! It was a professional challenge every time I was pregnant (to be fair I had my 3 babies while in the same company so that was kind of irritating for my boss!) I remember the first time I got pregnant, my boss said to me: “Do you even realize your due date his right in the middle of the broadcasting season of your show?”
Any advice to a first time mother with a full-time career?
It’s THE most annoying cliché but they grow SO fast these little creatures… take a little time to see that happening! I am a huge part-time advocate. A ton of working mums in Paris work part-time; it is no big deal at all. It is not a New York thing necessarily, but it is so worth it.
Mantra/life motto?
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu
It’s THE most annoying cliché but they grow SO fast these little creatures… take a little time to see that happening! I am a huge part-time advocate. A ton of working mums in Paris work part-time; it is no big deal at all. It is not a New York thing necessarily, but it is so worth it.
Mantra/life motto?
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu
Values you most want to instill in your children?
Respect, Honesty, Empathy and Independence. Sounds like a good base. On top of that I would love them to have a good sense of humor and am trying to teach them to not take themselves too seriously.
You know you’ve been a good mama when…
When I have fed them something very healthy and they are playing together with no screen involved at all I feel pretty good about myself. Low expectations are the key to happiness.
Respect, Honesty, Empathy and Independence. Sounds like a good base. On top of that I would love them to have a good sense of humor and am trying to teach them to not take themselves too seriously.
You know you’ve been a good mama when…
When I have fed them something very healthy and they are playing together with no screen involved at all I feel pretty good about myself. Low expectations are the key to happiness.