Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux

[TossDaily]

New thread for those of us who would like to let a little je ne sais quoi into our lives...

quirky, I may have been unknowingly subscribing to quite a lot of those 10 things to be Parisian bit Not the scooter!

I do think bags are going through a bit of a shakeup. The traditional heavy hitters that dictated style (Givenchy, Chloe, Celine, etc.) are all doing musical chairs with their designers so instead they've been churning out the same old stuff whilst the head bag designers are all being recruited as full designers on the back of Andrea Michelle's success at Gucci. In their vacuum young upstarts seem to be the tastemakers for a season or two. So it's all rather in flux. Also, bags have been a bit too formal and boxy to my liking, it's really time for that relaxed slouch to return.

Are you near a COS Lazy? They do great knitwear, slightly higher prices for the high street. Or Uniqlo?

Funnily enough I went into COS on Friday. There were lots of almost but not quite things in there. I have broad shoulders and massive norks so I need vee or scoop necks and not too much 'spare' fabric - otherwise I look like an off duty Matron with mono-boob! There were a few things in there that I really liked but unfortunately they were crew or high necked, so a no go for me. I do check on a regular basis though.

I've ordered from Uniqlo before and find them a bit hit and miss. I don't have one near me unfortunately - but it's a good excuse to get a day down in London again

I'm so far from Parisian it's unreal but I'm here to pick up tips as I'm going to Paris in august and I want to be très chic pour le vacation.

Also I'm short and plus size with big boobs so I feel like it's going to be harder to look Parisian

Well if you are heading to London, it depends on your size a bit but &Other Stories can be good for knitwear too. I think size wise they're a bit borderline at 14/16. Arket may also have a few things and they come up big or TTS in the tailored pieces.

bo I love the relaxed slouch look too. I mostly use crossbody bags atm, as they fit my lifestyle (sahm, kids etc.) but if I need more space, I have a black hobo, slouchy bag. I do find it can give me backache, though.

I think woolovers are good quality, but not sure about the styles. Uniqlo merino and cotton/cashmere are great, good value and quality too. I know what you mean about m&s, we have a massive one here and I can never find anything in it. The sizing and organisation is all over the place, I do have 2 m&s jumpers from a couple of years ago that I bought in the sale with a gift voucher. They had at least put all the jumpers together (so you could find them) but I imagine they were in the sale due to weird sizing, I remember buying a size 8, cashmere cardi and a size 14 navy, boat neck jumper. I am usually a size 10 or 12. The size 8 was bigger than the 14 .

I wore my new Ruby Woo lipstick yesterday and had two compliments.

Also, I have over plucked my eyebrows for too long and have ended up with just narrow arches. DD drew me some thicker eyebrows last night and OMG the difference was so flattering. I hasten to add they really weren't Sharpie eyebrows, I promise.

The thing is she is a brunette so her dip brow was too dark really. I have ash blonde highlights but my eyebrows are naturally several shades darker. Can you recommend a good shade of eyebrow products that is idiot proof to use please?

I used to be a big fan of Eyeko's brow gel but I have to special order it these days, so recently picked up the Essence Make Me Brow as I saw Violette use it and it's only €2.60 so figured it would fill the gap until I could remember to order the Eyeko again but I'm really pleased with it, it has little fibres in it to thicken them out a bit and a really good brush. The colour is also good as I usually struggle to get a cool colour in low budget brow products. The blonde version looks a good taupe, you could give that a try.

Totally agree that personal grooming is really important. If I look a mess then I feel a mess, and consequently I feel a bit flat and out of sorts.

Even today, when we won't be leaving the house because it's snowy, I will still blow dry my hair, wear a bit of make up, perfume and give a bit of thought on what to wear (probably black skinnies, big grey chenille sweater).

My Mum has just been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, so I'm really struggling emotionally. But at least wearing my war paint and nice clothes make me feel like I've still got my shit together.

Also after initially spending her days in a dressing gown and make up free, my Mum has gone back to wearing her war paint and good clothes again. She says it has really given her a boost because she looks like her again.

Didn't Coco Chanel say that dressing well, and looking your best, is a form of good manners

I'm in bed with a cold, so that Caroline De Margret interview will pass the time perfectly, thanks Bo.

Ooooh thank you Bo I will give it a try.

Also, while you're here can I ask about foundation? I've worn Chanel Perfection Velvet Lumiere forever. But now I'm pushing 50 I think it's perhaps too flat and I need something with more of a (very slight) glow or sheen. Is Chanel Vitalumiere any good?

So sorry to hear about your Mum TheOtherGirl

I'm so sorry the other girl, my heart goes out to you

I nursed my mother at home at the very end of her illness (she wanted to die at home) and massaging nice scented lotion into her arms / legs / feet was both comforting and felt a teeny bit pampering. This may sound a bit morbid (and for that I apologise), but after she passed (quietly, in bed, holding my hand) I gave her a spritz of her favourite Chloe perfume before her body was taken away, as I knew she would never leave the house without it.

There's a story about the British troops liberating Bergen Belsen and the bringing of lipstick to women who were close to death:

Some genius had introduced lipstick to the camp. A large consignment had just arrived, enough for every woman at Belsen to paint her lips if she wished. Huge numbers did so, happily recalling that they had once been feminine and might be so again one day. Lipstick had turned out to be an enormous morale booster, making all the difference between life and death for some of the women in the camp.

https://fransorin.com/one-small-act-kindness-saved-lives-impact-giving-lipsticks-women-brink-death/

The difference beauty can make to one's spirits cannot be underestimated. It's so much much more than about appearances

So so sorry to hear TheOtherGirl . I remember what a paralysing time that was with my mother. Like Banana I nursed her at home and self-care was such a huge thing for her, when we're at our worst is when it seems to matter the most. I may have neglected myself a bit in the process but it was worth it to be able to be there for her like that and lift her spirit with such small things.

WRT Chanel Vitaluminiere, I've used it in the past but the fragrance in it meant I could never wear it for more than one day at a time before needing a break or face irritation. It's nice and I do think older skin suits lighter foundations and spending the money on a good non-creasing concealer instead but I'm not sure how the Vitaluminiere Aqua would be on older skin as it's predominantly popular with young 'good' skin. Laura Mercier Candlelight Glow seems a good in between the very light VL Aqua and the regular VL, lightweight with a soft focus glow rather than the dewy hydration look. The tinted moisturiser from LM is also a firm favourite across age groups.

I had to look it up, but 'Dressing well is a form of good manners.' is a quote from Tom Ford rather than Coco Chanel. Probably for the best as Coco Chanel is a bit of a questionable character historically.

TheOtherGirl for you and your mum. Isn't there a cancer charity that helps women to look good while they are ill? It shows how important it is.

bananafish that story is amazing about the lipsticks, really touching. Your act of giving your mum a spritz of perfume is so lovely.

The last thing I did for my mum the evening before she died (she had head-injury induced fronto-temporal dementia and was in a home) was massage in a lovely lavender scented lotion into her hands and arms She seemed to appreciate it even though she could no longer really communicate.

We knew she was going as we'd stopped forcing her to eat.

theothergirl I'm so sorry

The charity is 'Look Good Feel Better'

Self care is so important. I remember Mum being in bed totally knackered from chemo, and me getting a wash cloth to exfoliate her scalp and then massage in moisturiser, because it was feeling grim and itchy- it was a small thing but she said it made her feel so much better.

to all who are,or have experienced, nursing a loved one

Sorry to read that, TheOtherGirl

Thank you. You're all very sweet.

My Mum is a trooper, have just spoken to her and she's colouring her hair! I really don't see it as vanity, I see it as a really positive occupation.

banana your story about your Mum's perfume is so touching and it brought a lump to my throat. For me, my Mum's perfume is Estee Lauder Youthdew. It's the scent of my childhood memories.

Scent is so very very evocative isn't it?

For me the smell of my childhood is Nivea creme in the little blue pot - my mum was NEVER without it. She didn't really do skin creams or whatnot, but she used Nivea creme for everything. Nivea lotion isn't as evocative - it has to be the thick creme in the blue pot!

bananafish thank you, that is the charity.

Scent is very evocative, it transports you back quite subconsciously.

to all those who are or have been nursing loved ones.

I have a breakfast date this week at a very nice place. Any ideas on what would work to add a little French flare?

It is incredibly evocative isn't it? My Mum always used Ponds Cold Cream, remember that?

When I was little my Dad and her would always go out/out on a Saturday night to a dinner dance somewhere. Mum in a long dress and my Dad in a brown velvet dinner jacket (it was the Seventies) and she would always spray herself with Youthdew and smell heavenly. She would always spray a tiny dot on my wrist too which made me feel very sophisticated