Lighthearted thread: if you have lived somewhere very stylish, how did it influence the way you dress?

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A long time ago I lived in Paris. I think since then I've paid more attention to grooming and am definitely attracted by "less is more" and "quality not quantity". Also, good underwear that is undetectable when clothed.

I am probably also a bit obsessed with staying slim...

How about you? And which city have you found most chic from the places you've been?

Melbourne made me do grunge-light in the 90s and New York made me think about minimalism and London just dressing in the best way for me.

Hard to know about the last one must have some influence. Doing casual but good quality, not too structured, I guess.

FFS. Lighthearted

Tell me more about Paris, the grooming and how they dress, love threads like this, how do they dress in summer? I'm ok at winter dressing but never get it right for summer.

Paris made me wear lots of black and carefully-tied scarves for years. And yes, the slim thing. And think that jeans are perfectly fine, no matter how formal the occasion.

I probably ought to pay another visit as I am now the polar opposite and haven't worn a scarf in any other way than flung-around-my-neck for quite some time.

I lived in Montpellier and definitely dressed smarter. Red lips at all times, pencil skirts and silk blouses with heels. Every single day. I've since had dc's and moved to the country. The lipstick is now a dash of lip balm and the pencil skirts are jeans. Silk blouses are now comfy big jumpers.i don't know what my Dh thinks. I do miss the glamour of the old days!

I lived in Amsterdam and wore lots of silk and cashmere layers, culminating in little jackets with belts over. Minced about feeling very pleased with myself.

In Brussels I wore lots of unstructured black floppy things. Suspect I looked like I was battling out of dark duvet covers.

Now I live in England, in the countryside, and try to make an effort for the dogs if nothing else but it's all rather green and quilty.

And think that jeans are perfectly fine, no matter how formal the occasion.

Yes and it's odd, because they are Very Wrong Indeed on this particular score.

A (French) friend-and-relation wore jeans to her own son's christening (in France). Everyone else (mostly French) wore more formal clothes, and she really looked like she'd forgotten, despite her smart jeans and slinky top.

I love jeans, but there are times when they Just Won't Do.

I lived in Milan. Seems like an eternity ago. I wore white wide legged trousers, pencil skirts and midnight blue velvet trouser suits. I still have a few things, and every now and then I find them and marvel at them.

I lived in Bangkok, and it made me aware that being super thin is the most important thing when it comes to looking good. And that you can't go wrong with distressed jeans worn with toe baring sandals. And poise above all - not bouncing when you walk, gliding and always groomed hair and minimal makeup. A colleague there complimented me once by saying I looked 'cool' as in not 'hot' which is a Thai beauty ideal. Never mussed up or emotional looking, always sleek and groomed and simple.

Apologies for not quite engaging with the spirit of the thread, as I don't want to specify the particular Asian city where I currently live! But a lot of women here make a huge effort to look groomed and wear their expensive bags and serious jewellery to the office in a way that would get you mugged on the 57 bus back home. It's very interesting, as to my London eyes it can appear simultaneously ostentatious and conservative - think one designer top-to-toe and homogenous looks, rather than much individuality or quirkiness.

That said, I feel I've had to raise my game (albeit from a very low base) in terms of looking after myself, as attention to maintaining manis/pedis/humidity-defying hair and highly toned bodies far exceed anything I've encountered in the UK before. People definitely dress up here much more, and its very easy to feel scruffy and not quite 'right' if you don't make an effort. But my wardrobe is definitely a bit more relaxed (and more experimental) back in London, which I miss - I love that you can pretty much dress how you like, in a way that you hope looks reasonably stylish and well put together, and that it won't cause open laughter and finger pointing (at least that's what I tell myself!)

Sadly, unlike pp, the overwhelming 'thin' has yet to embed itself entirely in my consciousness .....

I think I'd feel like a great flumping flumpf in a city where super petite Asian women glided on barely there sandals with high heels - I remember someone I saw in Liberty. All white, sandals, very high one strap. No effort, practically weight-less. Gliding indeed.