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I've just got back from five days in Le Marais, and I've decided I want become Parisian, s'il vous plait.

911 replies

TossDaily · 01/11/2017 09:38

So there.

EVERYBODY looked fantastic. EVERYBODY. DP and I just sat open-mouthed in fascination. Whatever their age, they looked amazing.

So I'm sitting here on a diet, wearing an Isabel Marant jumper and frantically googling 'How to turn French.'

As far as I can tell, the rules are:

  1. Be thin, despite the fact you are walking down the street at 11am gnawing a cheese and ham baguette the length of your forearm.


  1. Have your hair the colour and texture of natural hair.


  1. Have the most amazing skin, despite the fact you have a permanent Gauloise on the go.


  1. Never get pissed and lairy, despite the fact you are having a glass of red wine with your lunch and it's Tuesday.


  1. Wear shoes you can walk in.


  1. Have an amazing coat.


  1. Know how to tie a scarf so it looks like you have slung it on and it's just choosing to snuggle up to you because you are SO FRICKING GORGEOUS.


  1. Have a pharmacy on every corner that is just an Aladdin's Cave of miraculous skincare delights for less than a tenner each.


Anyone else have any tips? Joking aside, I loved the style - the shops, ohmigod the shops! It was like I'd walked into my internet shopping history.

I could actually walk around in my biker jacket without feeling like a twat.

I want to be French. Aidez-moi.
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Chimchar · 01/11/2017 09:43

Moi aussi.

I know what you mean...I loved your post. I can visualise EXACTLY what you mean.

I fear though, without losing about 4 stone, I will never achieve this look.

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MichelGarnier · 01/11/2017 09:46

I think you have to keep things simple. And stick to more classic styles than what's on trend.

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MichelGarnier · 01/11/2017 09:46

Loved your OP though! Grin

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PNGirl · 01/11/2017 09:48

You need Justine Leconte and her blog/YouTube videos. I can listen to her all day.

www.justineleconte.com/

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presentcontinuous · 01/11/2017 09:58

Never eat in the street.

In fact, don't eat. Smoke instead. Don't smile. Never, ever apologise. Even if you've just inadvertently elbowed someone into the path of a bus.

Just copy the clothes and you'll be awesome.

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:08

Chimchar I was sitting on the Eurostar reading 'Why French Women Don't Get Fat.'

I'm having tuna salad for lunch.

Grin

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EugenieG · 01/11/2017 10:09

I discovered this blog earlier in the year dresslikeaparisian.com/, however she doesn't seem to be updating any more. But perhaps you could hire her the next time you're there? Grin

Maybe we went at the wrong time if year, overloaded with tourists, there weren't so many well dressed parisiens when we were last there... I'll just go get my red lipstick and ciggies.

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:10

Honestly, PresentContinuous it wasn't like that. Well, the smoking was, but really, the lifestyle was as amazing as the clothes.

We were right next to Le Marche Les Enfants Rouge, which is a huge covered food market, and everybody was eating, all the time.

But they were eating well. I simply cannot stand in front of the fridge in Co-Op deciding which tragic sandwich to eat next.

Hence my posh salad. It has vinaigrette on it Blush.

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:12

Eugenie I think people were extra cool because we were staying in a fairly hip part of Paris. I guess it was like staying in Greenwich Village.

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EugenieG · 01/11/2017 10:13

There was a S&B thread about French dressing and grooming, some good ideas, some clichés... I can't do a search atm, anyone else remember / find it?

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:14

Those blogs look interesting. I'll be all over them later.

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HmmmHashtag · 01/11/2017 10:14

Le sigh.

How DO they stay so thin yet eat so much? Is it all the smoking?

And how DO they drink wine at lunch and not end up in a kerb by 6pm? What is the secret??

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:14

Can we talk about the pharmacies?

I spent SO MUCH MONEY.

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:16

Hmm I think it's because they have one glass of red wine with a proper lunch, a glass of water, a coffee and a fag.

They take it slowly. Not trying to pour as much down their necks as fast as possible as if it's about to be banned any second.

I didn't see anyone drinking fecking prosecco either.

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EugenieG · 01/11/2017 10:18

What did you get from the pharmacies then? They've lost a bit of their shine for me as you can get many of the bigger brands in the UK now...

(Although I've only ever seen and bought my favourite tampons in a French pharmacy Blush)

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 01/11/2017 10:21

I went there for my honeymoon. Fabulous place!

Good coat and shoes is pretty much it. Plus jewellery and good hair.

I look like a scruffy student though :(

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Mamabooksbabynumber2 · 01/11/2017 10:23

This tickled me Grin

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BitOutOfPractice · 01/11/2017 10:26

I know what you mean OP (I loved your OP! Grin )

But personally I find that a. most British women are just as stylish (or not) as French women and b. the French "style" you describe is really rather dull

I think they just have better PR than us Brits

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pimmsy · 01/11/2017 10:30

I'm late 20's. I live in the 9th. Have been in Paris 10 years.

Re weight ( I obviously don't follow as I'm a size 14... which pretty much makes me the fattest lady in the metro every day) the rule seems to be for all my friends that you only eat in public, then follow on with copious amounts of café/clope, but never eat at home. Seriously whenever I visit my friends their fridges are empty, empty. No biscuits, no cake, no milk in hot drinks.

I think their eating habits are mostly,

  • black coffee and a fag for breakfast
  • lunch out at work (in a restaurant, but it's almost a sin to touch the bread basket also no dessert, just café/clope again)
  • a small snack around 4/5ish ( goûter) like an apple or some museli biscuits + more black coffee
  • supper is something like soup or just plain salad, no bread.


On Sunday, brunch is permitted with one viennoiserie, but then you don't really eat for the rest of the day.
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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:30

BitOutofPractice before last week I would have said, "Bof! French style is dull!"

BUT not this lot. They had edge. Like, black cigarette pants with brogues and some cheeky socks.

And just the most amazing coats.

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HoneyWheeler · 01/11/2017 10:31

This is me - I love Parisiennes. There’s a book called “How to be Parisian Wherever You Are” which I thought was fantastic - part whimsy, part practical tips.

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:32

Pimmsy you live in Paris? Can I be you, please?



I think I need to work on my insouciance...

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TossDaily · 01/11/2017 10:34

Yes, HoneyWheeler I bought that twice.

I've had a crush on Caroline de Maigret for a while Blush

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ChilliMum · 01/11/2017 10:35

I love this. It is sadly sooo true. I live in France (not paris) but school run in the morning, most of the mums (and dads) look amazing, hair, make up, casual jeans and jacket (or neat and matching work attire) with obligotary perfect scarf complementary boots and bag. Kids aré the same fully co ordinated and look like they have stepped out of a catalogue.

I am usually in whatever was on the top of the ironing pîle (unironed as I value my 10 minutes in bed more that uncreased clothing), I have roots and if I put make up on I have sweated it back of running up the road to get to school on time. I have given up trying to make my kids dress in clothes that match, I am happy if they fit and don't have obvious holes!

I plan to turn over a new leaf at least once a month because I really want to look like they do (especially the scarf thing) but after 5 years here I need to accept it's never going to happen I will never be one of them Sad

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Littlechocola · 01/11/2017 10:36

Would you not say it is more about confidence?

If you are not already a writer op then you should be.

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