On July 7, former president François Hollande and his wife Julie Gayet went to the polling station in Tulle, central France, then settled down on the terrace of a downtown establishment. There, the actress ordered an espresso, while the former president chose a Perrier. Once served, and while waiting for the results of the legislative elections to come in, they concentrated on the presidential telephone. A normal Sunday? Almost.
The return to the limelight of Hollande, who was re-elected as MP for Corrèze, gives us the opportunity to revive, with nostalgia and greed, a preoccupation from another era: His famous tie habits, which, obviously, are doing well. Cut from gray silk, dotted with white polka dots, tied with a simple half-windsor but visibly straight, this one is even distinguished by the beginning, just below its knot, of what the elegant call a "dimple" and consider an essential sign of refinement. Who'd have thought it?
At his side, Gayet shed the Hermès Constance bag which, on the day of the first round, had earned her some aggressive remarks on social media. But she displayed her usual panache in a poppy shirt featuring surprising leather trims. These are inspired by the famous broguing perforations found on traditional English shoes, originally designed to facilitate leather drying.
In addition to her shirt, Gayet was holding a coffee mug, allowing us to set down a few important notions here. To bring out the best aromas and balance in a coffee, a cup should have only curves, never angles. Ideally, it should be egg-shaped. Container thickness and color are also important. Thanks to sensory experiments, we know that a coffee served in a white cup will seem more acidic than one served in a black cup.
Now that we've come this far, let's not hesitate. Do you know where the characteristic shape of Perrier bottles comes from? Legend has it that the owner of the spring, Sir John Harmsworth, was involved in a car accident in 1906. During his rehabilitation, he used Indian clubs, which inspired the pear shape of the sparkling water bottles. Next time you play Trivial Pursuit, you'll know.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.