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.

botemp that scarf and jacket, just gorgeous. The scarf looks much better with your jacket than in the second picture.

please talk me down. It is probably neither chic nor french, but the colour is just so me.

Apart from Chanel, what are other typically Parisian perfumes?

Guerlain must surely be the daddy (or maman) of French parfumiers.

You can't go far wrong with classic Guerlain perfume (although the modern ones are pretty bland) - l'heure bleue; shalimar; mitsouko; vol de nuit; apres l'ondee etc.

IIRC we're a similar size and build Enid, so it's no surprise in that regard that we have similar struggles with the stole. Usually when I dither it's a sign, for the record never dithered over the IM scarf, I need no convincing to buy it just have to swallow the price tag.

Proper that's actually quite French not so much Parisian but I've seen that kind of jacket often most likely in the parking lot of a Carrefour.

I'm no perfumista as it all smells like toilet cleaner on me but I do think it's less about Fragrance houses but more the noses that matter. I remember the nose that created Mary Greenwell's fragrances (now discontinued but I believe still found heavily discounted) is a very famous one. I know Fragonard is quite popular as an affordable every day brand. I have some lovely soaps from them when I visited Grasse. Elderly men quite like smelling like a field of lavender, it's an interesting smell on a man.

Remind me to get back to cheaper price point bags later because the French and Parisians really don't spend all that much.

is that a good or bad thing bo?

I honestly don't know, Proper, but it's usually where I people watch at leisure. The symmetrical take on a biker would irk me personally on that jacket, the lapels are quite small as a result, think the flattering thing about biker style jackets is the large lapels and the asymmetry when worn open, giving that casual look while still being structured. Is it real leather?

yes it's real leather.
I adore the colour -that's the thing on this. I love bright colours, they suit me. But I am aware this could either look shite or stunning.I have a classic black leather biker already.

Prer I love the biker. You always feel better when you go with things you love - they give you that confidence that Parisian women have.

ProperLavs for what it's worth coming from a pretty ordinary Yorkshirewoman, rather than a chic Parisienne, that jacket is gorgeous.

Beautiful colour and gorgeous shape. Go for it!

I've just Google image searched it and it's weird there are no modelling shots of it worn closed. I do like the colour and if it's a colour you feel great in that's always impossible to buy elsewhere but it would really be a have to see it in person thing wrt the fit. On the positive side, small lapels mean you can wear a big scarf over it. Something silk or cotton would be nice when we change seasons. I can see something like attached (but not attached as that is more money than the coat) working on top of it.

it's not too bright for a 50 years old?
Good idea re the scarf.

I honestly think the older, the better able to handle brights. I mean just look at Iris Apfel, that's a hard look to pull off at any age but much more difficult to do successfully when young.

It's easy delivery and returns I assume, so not much risk, I'd give it a try at the very least.

I like the symmetry as the usual biker style just doesn't work on me- where's it from?

Proper if it looks great on you, there is no too old . Did you have a thread about this jacket, or was that someone else? It's gorgeous.

The red lipstick thing makes me realise bright is not necessarily wrong if you are older. I'm coming up to 47, and wearing red lips made me realise it's still one of my best colours. I have a red, wool coat too with a kind of assymmetric collar (I'm not selling it, am I) that I need to wear more.

It's muubaa- the brand has a good rep.
Right, I'll get it.

I have a bright orange wool French connection coat. It is absolutely beautiful. I don't wear it. I must wear it. I have a bright yellow wool coat too. I am complimented when I wear these colours, I think because of my hair colour.I'll had green to my collection then.

How are you even concerned about the colour with a yellow and orange coats already in the closet? A nice knitted yellow scarf that leans a bit green baby poo-ish (if it suits, it's not for everyone I know) would be nice with it too, and very French. They usually wear that colour on top of navy but it would suit this bright green too. Colour a bit like attached but unfortunately that's a bit of a cheapy all acrylic one that's unlikely to be actually nice in RL, would go nicely though.

ha ha Bo. I have them, but don't wear them nearly often enough. I really should. I loathe yellow as a rule, but this on is a really bright yellow, not at all mustard, nor lemon .
I just love colour- which is probably not conducive to being chic parisienne is it?

You'll look fab!

Ahem, you were saying something about Parisians not liking colour? I grant you the last pic is probably in London but she is most definitely a bonafide Parisienne. They are not scared of colour at all and they love red but are more likely to wear it with navy than black.

Scarf ordered! Hopefully it will be here tomorrow

yay. I had always thought they were neutral and safe in their colour choices. I have a lot of navy so that'll go with my jacket.

I need to get some scarves. i chucked loads away sometime ago as I read somewhere, on here I think that scarves made women look old.

I also need nicer bags- and shoes.

Well done on getting the scarf I really hope you adore every second of wearing it!

The discussions here have given me an idea for something to ask dh for for Christmas: a large silk square scarf in strong colours (red/orange/green/yellow/purple not necessarily all together )

Just need to a) look out some likely candidates to suggest to him and b) Google some "how to wear them" instructions

I already wear scarfs a lot (since I cut my hair and exposed my neck) but they're mostly long thin ones which I double up and loop through themselves.

My elegant mum had a fabulous collection of scarves. I weep at the fact that I didn't take them when my dad offered me whatever I wanted of hers. Changed my mind two days later and he'd already taken them to the charity shop

Hmmmh I know it is all just fun and that but you really should check out Gabrielle Deydier's story.