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

[TossDaily]

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.

I haven't ever bought any MD, not tempted now...

I've gone for all out french today, minimal eye makeup, red lipstick (if more a stain), quite sculptural scarf (love that description, botemp), grey with fine pleats and a black, french trenchcoat.

Have ordered this dress for upcoming xmas party. Last night I thought it looked sort of French and stylish, now I'm wondering if it's going to just emphasise my podgy, all-too-English tum.

Been watching too much Violette on youtube - thanks to whoever linked to her earlier. Have ordered some black eyeshadow in order to try out one of her looks - may just look ridiculous but going to give it a try!

QuirkyChick - that sounds tres chic!

That dress is gorgeous, bellabelly.

Merci, TossDaily! I can't wait for it to arrive but also nervous in case it doesn't fit / doesn't look good on me - I'd be gutted. But assuming it's all ok, will be accessorising it with red lipstick. No idea what to do about shoes... what would Violette do, I wonder? Am short so not sure about flats. And have awkward, wide feet which makes most heels an ordeal, especially for dancing all night. Suggestions from tout le monde very welcome!

I think it needs heels - sorry! I'm rubbish in them too. Repetto ones are comfortable but £££.

YY to the red lipstick!

Gah! Et merde! I think you're right - unfortunately. Repetto, you say? Will check out their website - another rabbit hole to fall down, I suspect!

No specific suggestions. But would the sort of high heeled shoes with "ribbons" up the ankle work? They might also be more supportive and make the heels easier.

gorgeous

If you're short that dress will come in longer so I'm afraid I'm with Toss and think it really needs a heel to go with it.

Violette would probably go full tilt Jimmy Choo or Barbara Bui, I wager well, I would anyhow. More reastically for you, maybe slingbacks with a low heel are an option?

I quite like the look of these velvet ones (pic1) as a bit of a sharp contrast to the frillyness of the dress.

Pic 2 are more sturdy with a low block heel and in the Violeta range they have very similar ones (pic 3) in leather and I assume a wider footbed. They also have a D'orsay version.

I also tried these flats on in store and they're much nicer in RL (will dig up a pic if I have it) but perhaps a bit too competing with the dress.

Also gorgeous

That's a good thought, prettybird - I think some sort of strap round the ankle might be helpful. I like these Repetto ones but I can't justify that sort of price. And these are lovely too but even more £££s.

Maybe less is more and something very plain and simple might be best.

ooh - x-post - will have a look at those, Toss. Thank you!

And botemp!

Should add, I can't remember what they did last year but I do think Mango participated either in the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals. 30% off or something in that region.

Also have a look at What For on Yoox, they're really stunning shoes and marked down quite heavily on there as they're last year's collection and they often do similar models in different heights. Shipping and returns are currently free with them, although it usually is. It's a Parisian/French brand and a firm French blogger favourite.

The shoes do look lovely. I wish I could wear heels. I wish I didn't have such narrow feet that make most open shoes impossible. My heels slide out and I have very high arches.

Ooh, gorgeous dress, having shoe envy as I'm having foot/leg issues and only managing a few pairs of flat trainers and boots atm.

Really feeling the red lippy mojo, I had forgotten how much I liked it and it feels very "me". I used to wear it all the time, when my hair was dark, but stopped as it got lighter, it seems to be good with silvery hair, though 💄.

I watched Violette and now want to try the black eyeshadow look mentioned earlier in the thread.

Just wondering if it would look ok with bonheur or kiss chase lipstick which are the only non reds I have

At the risk of my wallet, someone is going to have to link the black eyeshadow video at this rate. Though saying that, it tends to be my go to dressed up look as I don't have much visible lid space and eyeliner pretty much looks like that anyway unless I go super Japanese ultrathin line with it.

I was wearing the Chanel Velvet Allure in 39 La Somptueuse today having forgotten about it previously. Rediscovered how lovely that one is, a deeper red that isn't brown or purple. Killer for nights out when worn in full but equally great in the day when applied a bit lighter.

This was the one I watched, though I think I might look like a panda at first..

I need to look at tubing mascara as mentioned above as well!

Excellent, I already have the eye pencil shadow stick from Kiko and I have some jet black matte eyeshadow from Laura Mercier. Even have a nude lip in a similar colour from Ellis Faas. I don't need to buy a thing

Any tips on reds for thin, wonky lips? God, I sound gorgeous.

Also, as well as Parfois I’ve discovered there’s a Kiko near me total coincidence. Any recommendations for good buys?

Kiko eyeshadow sticks are ace, I like the full coverage concealer pots which aren't as heavy as they sound at all but I'm not sure how they'd fare on more mature skin and fine lines. The more expensive lippies are nice as are the lip and eye pencils. They currently have a buy 3 get 3 free promo on for Black Friday all week until Monday, I believe. Eyeshadows and certain mascaras are also supposed to be good. If you happen to come across the urban sheer gloss lipsticks in a sale bin, get those, they look like a thick white pencil with some varsity stripe decoration. I paid a euro each for mine and they're deadringers for the Chanel lip crayons.

Oh and the nail polishes are also really good.