Proust Questionnaire - Get to know me
The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized by Marcel Proust, the French author, who believed that answering these questions was the best way to get to know someone.
I thought I would try answering some questions.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?Being with my family, preferably by the sea, relaxed and having fun.
2. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I wish I was more into talking in a large crowd, I am more a small group kinda gal.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I don't think there is room for vulgarity in my life
4. Which living person do you most admire?
Volodymir Zelensky, can you imagine going from being an actor to being at war with Russia!
In the fashion world, JW Anderson, he seems to be so sound, down to earth and his designs are just dreamy...
5. What is your greatest extravagance?
I spend a lot of time on Vestiaire Collective, with an extensive wishlist, but I don't buy that much!
6. What is your current state of mind?
Positive, hopeful and ambititous
7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Being tough skinned is something that was praised a lot when I worked in the corporate world. I find there is more of an appreciation for being sensitivity now.
8. On what occasion do you lie?
When my kids ask if we have chocolate ice cream in the freezer.
9. Which living person do you most despise?
Antisemites, no exception... Also, anyone who can vote for the far right would not rank high.
10. What is the quality you most like in a man?
My husband makes me laugh a lot, and he is a great reassurer, that's important.
11. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A good listener, you also need to be able to laugh at yourself, my friends are all brilliantly self deprecating.
12. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Fab, unfortunately, it's industry speech...
13. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My children.
14. When and where were you happiest?
This is difficult, but I was not happy in a corporate job, commuting by car and staring at a screen.
15. Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be a gifted singer, I think I am as good as Celine Dion but apparently not.
16. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would like to also be able to speak Italian
17. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I would say launching my own business with 2 under 3 in tow. But I am someone who always looks for the next goal, so once something is achieved, I don't take time to enjoy it, I immediately look for the next target. So I never feel like I have reached the goal.
18. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I would come back as me and hopefully have more time with my children.
19. Where would you most like to live?
I used to think LA, but now I think Paris, and since this is just fantasy, share time between Paris and South Brittany.
20.What is your most treasured possession?
Heirloom jewellery from my grandmothers, not precious but things they have collected on travel, that was passed on from their own mothers and have a real story.
21. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Organised fun gives me the icks, think weekday pub quiz in London, if you know, you know.
22. What is your favorite occupation?
Paddle Boarding
23. What is your most marked characteristic?
I think it would have to be being French in Ireland, whereas in France people think I am incredibly Irish
24. What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty, I have few friends but they are the most loyal, we may not meet every week but when we see each other, it's like we have left each other the day before.
25. Who are your favorite writers?
Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes was a big book in my life. Anne Berest, Frédéric Beigbeder, Leïla Slimani, Louise O'Neill, Dolly Alderton, Sally Rooney, Candice Carty-Williams and Joseph Joffo.
26. Who is your hero of fiction?
So cliché but I was pretty much reared on Sex and the City so Carrie Bradshaw.
27. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Identify with is a tough one but I admire most would have to be Simone Veil.
28. Who are your heroes in real life?
Pat Field
29. What are your favorite names?
The ones I named my children, I also like Camille for a girl and Conor for a boy.
30. What is it that you most dislike?
Vulgarity, being tacky, anti migrants protests anywhere, but in Ireland the mind boggles.
33. What is your greatest regret?
I wish I had known more about the jobs you can do in fashion when I was in school.
34. How would you like to die?
Happy
35. What is your motto?
Shop smarter, dress better.
On a more personal note, Vas, vis et deviens - Go, live and become.