For our countertop we’ll go with Revol and its line of dinky espresso cups with matching side plates. Its clever take on crushed plastic water cups are fast becoming collector’s items.

If only this handsome supplement to France’s newspaper of record was available on better newsstands everywhere. Sharply edited and beautifully art directed, it’s a benchmark in the industry and much sought after when a copy lands on our editorial floor.

Mornings wouldn’t have quite the same tangy kick if it weren’t for family-owned juice brand Andros. Along with its gingham-lid Bonne Maman confiture brand, it has breakfast covered – globally.

How can you not fall for a shop whose Christmas windows have featured pine trees doing the can-can? Its outstanding homeware department, huge bookshop and Grand Épicerie food hall will prompt thoughts of living on Boulevard Raspail.

The world needs more French women anchoring TV newscasts (in English), more French women managing businesses, more French women working in airlines – and definitely more French women heading up first impressions at multinationals.

When we finally leave behind the trainers phase that many classic shoe firms are stuck in, we’ll be happy that JM Weston is still in the business of making lean loafers and chunky brogues.

Imagine if Bic got a credit every time one of its pens was used to scribble out a statement? It would put all those Twitter attributions to shame and remind people that the humble pen is still the most powerful instrument in media – gnawed-on or not.

Where would the world’s country-weekend set be without Lafuma, Paraboot, Aigle and Chameau rubber boots? The British might have set the tone for outdoor garb but the French have turned it into an industry.

A man can never have too many navy blazers. The same goes for white shirts. To this list we might add slippers and smoking robes. Charvet, which specialises in such luxuries, remains frayed at all the right edges.

The Germans have done a good job creating a newsstand sector devoted to agriporn but a monocle editor has gone one better with Regain, a magazine that celebrates handsome farmers, fat piggies and the charms of life in the cosiest corners of rural France.

When Daft Punk hit turntables, did we know they were French? Of course we did. They are now among the most sought-after collaborators in their industry – and have also been one of the most enduring symbols of French soft power this century.

Seen in mission-control centres, newsrooms and rail platforms the world over, Bodet’s clocks keep monocle running to the second: you’ll see its smart led timepieces ticking in our outposts.

Whether you listen to Radio Nova, rtl, Europe 1 or fip, there’s something different about French radio. Morning shows are fast-paced and full of debate, music is global and eclectic and much of it is refreshingly smart to boot. npr could take some cues.

For breaking news, private broadcaster bfmtv is hard to beat. Having gained global recognition for its coverage of terror attacks in France, its output hasn’t attempted to look like cnn or the bbc – and stands out as a result.

Chilled in a St Louis flute, on ice in a Duralex tumbler or even in a plastic cup, we’ll rarely pass on bubbles from Ruinart, Veuve or Krug.

Lagardère’s Relay kiosks are a welcome sight at airports and rail stations as there’s still a commitment to selling magazines. Others are keen to push KitKats so we’re pleased that Lagardère is putting up a decent fight for print.

There’s something reassuring about the green signage of French pharmacies. They feel like trusted confidants and can help with everything from hangovers to beauty touch-ups – swiftly and in silence. Perfect.

If you haven’t experienced the don du boeuf at one of Nanashi’s two Paris branches, now’s the time to book your ticket and queue for lunch. If you’re outbound from the capital, grab a bento for the tgv journey.

What next after bearded 25-year-olds? Look to Cercle Delacre, which deals with the French gentlemen who likes a gentle tint, a good buff and well-tended whiskers.