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...

I came across this blog post and thought to share with everyone in this thread: touniversewithlove.com/2016/03/19/read-re-read-learn-chic/

Yes, scent really is the quickest way to regress. I still have my mother's giant bottle of perfume from Bulgari that I just occasionally sniff at. My grandmother sprayed around 4711 like it was room spray and I add orange blossom water to the clothing steamer and it's almost the same.

Rhubarb, that's almost impossible to answer, it really depends on the person as it has to be something that you enjoy wearing and is very you. It's not a method with a set of rules you can just borrow from per occasion, it's an attitude that's always present.

That's interesting Ana, I'll have a proper read later, although the first bit about everyone staring isn't something I've ever noticed lots of perusal, yes, but I wouldn't describe it as staring or ever felt it to be intrusive.

Not at all style related but just wanted to say what humbling, admirable bunch you are. True beauty. Those who are/have nutured family/friends through serious illness are, well, I don't quite have the words as I'm sure you feel you are doing what you have to, but such compassion is a beautiful thing.

DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11

DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11

La Ceinture

Ok, obviously not a new thing or the most eye-opening and probably one of the more known tricks but most people try it once and then usually forget about it. However, it's worth exploring belting the waist further, more specifically when it comes to outerwear. Especially with the weather as it is now you'll want that extra thick coat or a humongous warm scarf over it for more warmth. The effect is the strongest with pieces that aren't traditional outerwear, a men's oversized blazer, a giant blanket or a denim work coat suddenly transforms into a dress.

A good length of leather is good so you can easily use ones you already have for trousers, and tuck in the rest of the length with an origami-like flourish.

It also helps create a new silhouette, from a very boxy straight kimono fit the addition of a belt turns it suddenly very feminine and evocative of the hourglass shape (whether you have one or not) and easily allows you to take the added volume of a scarf tucked in or a quilted material quite well.

For a more creative spin, there's the belted in scarf that allows you to wear a bit of bold pattern and colour without it overtaking the entire silhouette and losing the structure the coat provides by wearing it draped around the neck and set under the lapels and then belted in.

DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11 - DAY 11

Compassion only comes at the end Methen, when you let go of your loved one because you know holding on would be cruel. Before that you don't even have time to think about it, you just do it because you can and it feels like the right thing to do.

I hope that makes sense, it's not always the easiest to explain as there's so much tied up into it.

@TheOtherGirl - seventies teenager here so skinny browed - I followed the MN tip of rubbing in castor oil and the difference was noticeable within days! I actually had to pluck a tiny bit for the first time in years.

Botemp - that is so true about compassion also meaning sometimes knowing when to let go - but with love. I was the one in the end who asked my dad why we (and the nursing home staff) were bullying my mum to eat when she didn't want to . It was then that we decided to stop forcing her. She'd already lost the ability to walk and was also struggling to swallow.

On a more positive note, when she came back from India after her accident (and at the time was recovering from her head injury - it was only 2 years later that the healing process became destructive and turned into dementia ), he arranged for her hairdresser to go into the hospital and cut her hair. He knew her appearance was important to her.

When she came back from India and was still in hospital was also the only time I have bought from Clarins when there wasn't an offer on (I checked all 4 concessions in Glasgow ): I bought some of the Clarins Extra Rich Body Lotion (Baume) as I had run out. I put it onto her hands and arms and in front of my eyes, her skin turned from "old lady's skin" to "moisturised skin with a lovely sheen". She was 66 at the time, but a young 66 (she'd been on a cycling holiday in the wilds of India when she had her accident!). Wonderful stuff.

She's the one who taught me the value of looking after myself and enjoying good clothes and makeup - but also to find bargains!

I'm sorry to read that the Other Girl, any time is a bad time but before Christmas is especially hard.

I bought a red lipstick this weekend. It is Hourglass iCrave. It is a 'true' red and is moisturising and lovely although quite pricey.

Bonjour! I've been reading the thread with interest and wondered if anyone could recommend a warm-toned red lipstick? Blue-toned ones like Mac Ruby Woo just don't suit me.

I have Channel incandescent which leans to the orange. I also have an Ester Lauder one that I can't remember the name of.
I can't do blue reds either.

Chanel's Coromandel is quite an orangey red, I would say.

Lady Danger by Mac is quite an orange red. It's very vivid.

Lady danger is indeed an orange toned red

I find Ruby Woo too draining, but Lady Danger makes my green eyes pop

They are both, however, very, very drying. So lots of lip moisturising and exfoliating required!

I know warm toned and red lipstick usually brings out the orange toned suggestions but is that really what you mean with a warm toned lipstick, schmalex?

For example I would describe Tom Ford's Scarlet Rouge as a warm red, but rather than reading as orange it has warm undertones that makes for a richer red (rather than deeper which needs blue/black). Most orangey reds, in contrast, tend to be extremely bright and really pop, like Tom Ford Wild Ginger or MAC's Lady Danger.

Same way a neutral red varies slightly from a true red, there's more to red lipsticks than the cool/warm division. So if one of those doesn't suit it shouldn't automatically mean you can only wear the other by default, there are more options available than blue and orange based reds.

When my mother was in a hospice during the last weeks of her life (from diagnosis to death was only 7 weeks).

She hadn't had any chemo or things like that so she looked the same, except for the weight loss which was rapid. But I remember massaging her feet and hands with cream which she said felt good. During the earlier weeks, her local hairdresser was kind enough to come in and do her hair. She also wanted her lipstick on as well.

I've done the white on white (with flares), the tartan scarf, the big bag, the bretton cap, the turn back sleeve. Delurking for the red lip.
from left to right
Collection, lasting colour 4 - scarlet, coral red, dirt cheap for experimentation
Benefit, flirt alert - benefits universal red (a bit blue toned) same colour as Red alert
Rimmel lasting finish by Kate Moss in 01 - brick red, very flattering and nice to wear for a red
Revlon balm stain in Romantic - sheer red (ideal for beginners)

The Rimmel is my favourite, many more expensive ones have gone to DDs. Can't be doing with cracked stained lips, it is not a good look.

Nyx Perfect Red is a warm toned red.

I am combating the freezing temperatures in Edinburgh by wearing a maxi skirt with footless tights and warm socks with biker boots and a vest and ballerina style cardi all in black. Topped off by the maroon granorak to remove any ounce of style i might have had!

Thank you for the suggestions. I will have to give those a try! The Chanel Coromandel and Lady Danger look just right. I think the Tom Ford might be a bit pricey but you never know what Santa might bring...

We've had wintry showers aka torrential rain, sleet and hailstones today. So, for the school run it's my warm waterproof parka (navy, and like a long, belted jacket style) which has a completely impractical, big white furry hood . To try and look a little chic, I went for Meduse short rainboots in chelsea boot style, navy, skinny chinos and a baker boy cap.

Just back from the salon and now have a perfect cherry red pedicure and silky soft feet [admires feet]

Wore Ruby Woo again today and my cleaner exclaimed 'You look good' bless her

Oooh a pedicure! I've only been for one once - I normally do my own. But I really fancy getting one again. I'm going to see if I can try and get booked in somewhere before Christmas.

Didn't go anywhere today so didn't bother with makeup - and it was bitterly cold here so style very much went out the window. I have very limited wardrobe options as most of my things are packed! However I bought a new pair of biker-style boots in the HoF sale on Sunday. As an aside, I was pretty shocked by the quantity of shoes which were 'pleather' and labelled 'Made in China' - but which were priced upwards of £60-£80!! For plastic! Nothing wrong with pleather or Chinese goods, but the quality does tend to be a bit lower and I was surprised that the pricing was so ambitious for something which was essentially not that different from the offers in Shoezone, Primark etc.

Lazy I don't have pretty feet (bit skinny, and a small bunion) so a monthly pedicure keeps them looking vaguely nice.

My beautician combines it with a reflexology massage and it is bliss.

I resembled John Snow in all black, sturdy boots and giant shearling collar, when leaving the house and returned looking like a yeti. Not even a French yeti It's been snowing for 48 hrs straight almost and I thought I'd popped out in a rare pocket of clear sky but no such luck. It's very pretty though if you don't need to go anywhere.

Does anyone have experience with Urban Decay lipsticks? I saw a swatch of one that looked good (Mrs Mia Wallace, it actually looks a lot like Tom Ford Scarlet Rouge to me) and was surprised at their price point at £15.50. I thought UD was much more expensive but that's not bad at all, just left me wondering if they're any good.