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.

Thanks for lingerie tips - esp for smaller backed ladies! The lingerie is very beautiful, but for me I don’t think I’m cut out to be French as far as everyday gorgeous silky lingerie is concerned! I much prefer something simple and seamless - I don’t want lace trimmings on my bra or knickers, I want the smooth line of a moulded t-shirt bra and seamless knickers. Fancy lingerie looks beautiful, but I don’t find particularly practical (thus far). I’m a 28 back as well, although for similar reasons I find a 30 more comfortable - 28DD or 30D. The only bras I can find in a 28 back are lacy silky ones - whereas I have much more choice in a 30 (although still much less choice than 32 or above). I’m also v fussy about the style. I’m more of a teardrop shape, with not much volume up top - so balconette or half cup don’t tend to suit, a plunge is much more flattering. I need a moulded cup to avoid the fabric bagging, so most fancy lingerie tends to look bloody awful on me. I also CBA to hand wash a week’s worth of silk undies - I want to be able to chuck my knickers in the washer and dryer (bras I wash in a delicates bag, but obvs don’t tumble).

Minus dix points for French chic!

Do you mean a silk camisole Enid? They usually go by caraco with the French. This one from Marjolaine is a bit bridal probably. €47 on eBay.

Yes, I'm quite convinced that the bra intervention method works best for large full breasts because those women are more likely to wear a too small size rather than a sister size with a larger back size. If you're not fully rounded or have non standard projection (much more apparent with smaller and normal sized breasts) the method doesn't work as well. And as good intentioned as the bra brigade is on here, it can get a tad stifling when they insist you keep on buying multiple bras until you find one that does fit. Don't get me started on the nonsense that you must replace all your bras after six months because the elastic will have stretched. IMO if you're wearing out elastic that quickly you're stretching it beyond intended, ie. it's too small.

Sorry forgot to give the link earlier but the chart is from here and when I use the chart above it for underbust in cm measurement and use the cm difference from the chart I posted here I get my size exactly.

I'm similar shaped, banana, not full on top and a plunge suits best but a large cup plunge is often a terrible fit in the UK models as they're made with a full bust in mind, even in the brands who use the new method. Also, I occasionally do want a push up bra which don't exist over an E approximately, I simply go up a few back sizes, really no issues with fit at all. Sometimes need the wrong size cup wise but a push-up bra can usually handle that.

Probably easier to find in France itself but you could have a look at Implicite, it's the younger sister brand of Simone Perele and they do a lot of the smooth stuff without lace in most styles, usually a lot of choice of colour too but it's not basic basic either.

I'm always a bit of bigger busted women. I am flat chested and small backed. I agree re the bra intervention sizing. I had mine done and became a 30 D. A D? Me? Never! Anyway I bought a bra in that size and it is the most uncomfortable of all my bras.
When I was younger, pre kids I never even wore a bra, ever!!!!
Now I feel most comfy in a 30 B.
Post kids my boobs are not in the same place so can't really get away with braless again, but I certainly don't need a bra for support, just an illusion of a bust !

I'm broad shouldered and have a large cup size, pretty bras with large back measurements and big cups are like hens teeth. I like non wired lift and seperate bras - give a great line but look awful.

I'm quite tall and have wider shoulders/back (so tend towards inverted triangle shape), I also have more of a teardrop shape and find that fuller cups are hard to fill. The bra intervention method made me a D cup, but I don't fill it properly, and the band is too tight, so surely I just need a bigger band and a smaller cup . My problem is I could really do with a size 33, but it doesn't exist. I'm so not throwing my bras out after 6 months either, I have a Freya one I've had for years and also a red lace french one (bought from La Redoute, no idea what brand) that are both fine, elastic still good etc.

Auld, I don't know if it's of use but Prima Donna (Belgian) appears to be the most popular large breast brand in a lot of Europe. Their size range goes up to a J cup and does a band width up to 54 inches. They're quite pretty too.

Ooh thanks botemp, I'll have a look!

Have lurked for literally years but this is my first post. Having lived in Paris in the late 80s/early 90s I have adored this thread and, on various recommendations, have bought the Parfois fur stole - it's absolutely beautiful BUT my lovely daughter has splashed out on her student budget and bought the exact same thing for me for Christmas! I don't want to disappoint her as she thinks she's treating me - so, I have a brand new, boxed stole to offer at a small discount should anyone want it. Please pm me.

That's lovely of your daughter, avenue. It's reminded me of a blog post I intended to share on here how to shop for your Francophile child or brainwash them into one this holiday season. Brought back memories of the Madeline books that my mother had painstakingly translated in pencil underneath for me and receiving a brand new set of Gran D'Ache colouring pencils approximately on an annual basis as that was the rate I lost went through them. The blog is actually Chocolate & Zuchini which is a French food blog for those interested but don't blame me when you want to cook it all .

Smallable is probably known to most, but a lovely children's clothing e-store which has branched out a lot into adult clothing, decor, toys, etc.

Or perhaps I've made a terrible faux pas now by talking Christmas? Happy to talk little treats to put on Christmas lists but fully understand if some would prefer a Christmas free zone. I'm not bothered either way, at Maison de Bo Christmas isn't celebrated with gifts so I don't view it as a stressful time as some others might.

You can return the stole. If in the UK the postage is £12. Hefty amount really but possibly the same as the price you'd get selling it.

And if you've paid with paypal and have the module activated (it may be automatic these days) they will reimburse those return costs. Otherwise, for next time : www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/refunded-returns Just make sure to read through the process before posting it, sometimes they require pictures of the package before it's posted.

Sadly didn't pay with Paypal & was hoping to avoid paying £12 postage to Portugal - hence offering it at the Black Friday (20%) discount here. After all, who doesn't want one of these?!

Good news is that Chanel lipstick in Coromandel has been bought for me Bad news is that my dad has bought it as part of my Christmas present, so I won't get to wear it until then

Am I the only one who is looking at the post count on this thread and fretting about when it will get to 1,000 posts? Please say someone ( @botemp ?) will start a continuation thread!

prettybird I have the coromandel. I like it, it's a darker, more blue red on me. I think the incandescent- which is an orange red, suits me better though.
On another note the green mumbai jacket has arrived.
i think i will keep it. it's a gorgeous green, a bit crumpled having clearly been in storage for a while. I was dithering about whether to return and get an 8 for a more fitted look. However I did try it on with only the thinnest of tops underneath initially, when I put a light jumper on it fitted much better.
My broader shoulders often mean I have to size up to get a fit but it makes jackets less fitted round the middle.
it's all a compromise really. At least with this size i can move my arms around. With jackets that fit me perfectly I often end up getting ripped lining across the shoulders.
you'll certainly see me coming, that's for sure.

I am currently sitting in a dressage hat I bought for an event ( non horsey one) I absolutely adore it. it's so comfortable, really suits me and keeps my head warm. I would wear it all the time if I had the nerve.
However, I didn't think I do.
Then I thought I could just be an eccentric, certainly where I live no would would bat an eye. My town has a big bonfire dressing up tradition and people are frequently seen parading round the streets in all sorts of garb in September, October and November!
Doesn't really fit in with the french chic look though- or does it? .....

I hope it's not too "blue red" as that's not usually good on me It looked ok on my skin (both on my finger tips - to which the Dior saleswoman said, "who told you that? " she lost her sale of 999 - and on the back of my hand, though

Unfortunately the Chanel Christmas No. 4 was out of stock

mumbai jacket?

We're not that close to filling up quite yet, pretty, and I wouldn't want to run off with Toss' inception or witty OP just like that. I'm enough of a thread hijacker as it is but happy to continue on so I can vicariously spend through you all after the scarf purchase I don't think I'll be buying a thing until I'm in Paris in January.

Proper, I don't know if eccentricity is French, I chiefly associate it with the British (I do however like to imagine there's a mirror version of this thread on a French version of MN where they all want to be quirky and eccentric like the Brits ) but there is a type of French woman who is almost recalcitrant in her style. They're usually a bit older, with a lively life behind them, though actually, it hasn't really stopped being lively at all she's the one who always has the direct line to a drug dealer with the good stuff, they always toy with the notion of 'bad' taste. One of the characters on 'Call My Agent' is very much like this, her hair is highlighted with a few shades too light where the usual adage is no more than one or two shades lighter/darker than your own hair. Always an accessory too many to piss off the ghost of Gabrielle Chanel. Boucle with lame mixed in, oversized jewellery, bold patterns, clashing colours, etc. But Carine Roitfeld sort of qualifies as this as well, she's always on the right side of tasteful yet sexy but she definitely taunts that edge into raunch.

And as a bonus, Juliette Binoche is in the last episode of season 2 thoroughly rocks the coloured leather biker look. I don't really know how old she is now, but I'm guessing she's past her forties at this point but doesn't look it, of course.

Just been musing that once I have found the "right" red lipstick (and used it a while to confirm), I'm going to buy a second one of it, so that I can keep one in my handbag and one in my makeup drawer.

The Dior saleswoman who lost a sale through being snooty tried to persuade me that I needed the Matt 999 which she had in stock because that would bleed less than the original (shinier) 999 which she didn't have in stock

If/when I do buy the 999, I'll do so at the other Dior counter (at Fraser's) and not back at John Lewis. Tellingly, the saleswoman there had said that the shinier 999 would be better on my face than the Matt one (and she had both in stock ).

Botemp - I wasn't suggesting that we needed a new thread just yet. I was just looking ahead and worrying!

pretty, are you one of those who has to read the last chapter/page of a book first?

The limited edition Chanel no. 4 should still be available elsewhere, I think. I know they sell directly now on Chanel.com, all lovingly wrapped up in drool-worthy packaging and a few nice samples to go with it. Not sure what the shipping is like in the UK, it's free here.

Muubaa got back to me saying my beautiful jacket was out of stock in the 10 and did I want an 8 instead?

Very disappointed.

On the other hand I have six others so I suppose I really ought not complain too much. But it was really such a very close match to the colour I’ve wanted for a long time, and such a good price.

bo I had it in the back of my mind that there was a woman like her. Actually she reminds me of my mum!

pretty I have refused to buy things from a Chanel counter before if I have been treated badly or indeed simply ignored and passed over for rich looking tourists.

holger could you try the 8?

Sadly not, I’m slim but quite busty so the 8 wouldn’t nicely at all.

It just wasn’t meant to be.

I’m lusting, lusting, lusting after a cashmere scarf. I’ve got one but it’s very dark greens/blues, and I really want something light.

Trying to resist but it’s hard.