The book provides practical (though sometimes dated) advice on a wide range of social and sartorial situations:

The book was published in 1964. Under US copyright law, works published after 1963 are protected for 95 years after publication (often the life of the author plus 70 years). Dariaux died in the late 1990s. Therefore, the book remains under active copyright until 2059 or later.

Her perspective is unique because she straddles two worlds. She understands the industry of fashion—the silks, the cuts, the designers—but she also understands the reality of the woman. Her advice is not reserved for the heiress with an unlimited budget; it is directed at every woman who wishes to cultivate dignity and beauty in her daily life.

However, the is more relevant than ever: dressing with intention, knowing yourself, and rejecting trends that don't serve you. In an age of micro-trends and overconsumption, her mantra—"Elegance is refusal"—has become a battle cry for the slow fashion movement.