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...

botemp I always buy one in the airport for some reason. I find them lovely- longlasting but not drying.

Lol at Jon Snow, bo. I think we are in a pocket of not-snow, just slightly too warm. This morning it was torrential, then turned to sleet and then hail. My Meduse rainboots might have been french chic, but we're actually too cold, even with thermal socks.

Love that make up in the first picture, I often wear flicky liquid eyeliner (have changed from black to navy), my 12 yr old told me I have "nice wings" on my eyeliner today, I did point out I have had lots of practice. cuirderussie that's good to know about UD lipsticks.

*were, autocorrect doesn't like this word for some reason.

That colour is gorgeous Bo. I am also in awe of how well applied the lipstick is. I think part of the reason why I tend to stick to stains and balms is because I'm not terribly good at applying lipstick! And as for flicky eyeliner - forget it. I have tried and tried and tried but cannot seem to get it right...

TheOther Bobbi Brown do an eyebrow pencil that is very good. Several shades with subtle differences so it'd be best if you went in and got advice or had a swatch of them. Probably lots of swatches online though.

I have thick brows but for any little gaps I use a matt grey toned brown eyeshadow with an angled brush. I found a lot of eyebrow specific products to be too warm with red undertones. It's just a no7 eyeshadow. Somewhere like Mac or B.B. will have one that would be suitable. I seem to remember Sali Hughes recommending one ages ago, I'll have a look.

Here's one of SH's columns on eyebrow products and techniques www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/feb/04/beauty-the-best-brow-pencils

Can't find the eyeshadow but here's a bit from her book Pretty Homest on brows.

That's really helpful, thank you

Thanks Cuir! I'll get over my reservations and have a play at the UD counters (the last time I visited the staff was very unhelpful and rather short). Makes sense to get them duty-free though, think UD is always exempt from offers.

I only really do mini flicks (kittens I suppose) around this time of year as I like the lift but I still find it a bit much in combination with a bold lip. You definitely need a good amount of practice, quirky, the same goes for lips Lazy, a lipliner really makes the difference when you're starting although I'd say as perfected as she wears it would make me feel to 'dressed up' for the daytime.

I have the issue of the few cool toned brow products that are around will often oxidise to a warm colour on me. It's beyond frustrating, Chanel is one of the few good ones and as far as high end goes, their eyebrow pencils are really good colours and relatively affordable.

Ok, so either Karl is living in my head or he's lurking on this thread. The latest images from the Chanel Metiers d'Art Paris-show (in Hamburg) are chockful of the Mariner's cap, now aren't you pleased you had yours already

Really need to order that Officer's pullover already, Karl has spoken. Also, I obviously need an accordion bag now.

DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAYa 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12

DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12

Fantaisie

This is another one 'I swear I'm not making up'. I see this in Paris all the time, collants fantaisie, or fancy tights if you will. Parisians seem to have an endless supply of them and apparently a talent for not being photographed in them.

The patterns are subtle, the deniers are low, they're cheap, the polka dots are probably a bit more recognisable than others. Lace tights had their moment but I haven't seen much of it in recent years. Colour matching has become much more of a thing now, marrying top and bottom seamlessly in a variety of tones.

There are runway credentials, although it wouldn't be worn as boldy as it is in that second picture. I'm not quite sure who is the chicken and who is the egg in this scenario but I can't really remember there not being fantasy tights on Parisian streets and some archival pics (3) has assured me I'm not making this up.

It's a thing.

I swear.

DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12

Just catching up. I have quite a collection of belts so will try to use them. I must stop saving everything 'for best'. Those sweatshirts are a good idea Bo for under blazers. I have seen patterned tights in France! So you have another witness. I like high denier so colourblocking might be best for me.
I've been looking for a reasonably priced cashmere sweater dress, haven't found one, so have just ordered a man's cashmere polo neck in a large size which I hope might work.

I say, I am ahead of the game with my Greek Fisherman's cap-!

I bought stuff from Kiko on Saturday. the eye shadow pencil in very dark grey and something to for the brows. I was put off buying more as the one SA clearly didn't have a clue about anything and couldn't give anyone any eye contact.

I feel and look unwell. My lovely mother came round the other day and told me I looked very drawn and thin ( I am unwell no actual weight loss, just look shit). And that thinness is very aging on older women . So I don't feel like wearing any make up and now look like a bag lady.

The officer's jumper is gorgeous, just the thing I love.

ProperLavs I hope you feel better soon, I know what you mean, I'm late 40s and any tiredness/illness shows up so much quicker in my face now. We've all had a nasty lurgy (fluey and chesty) and although, I'm mostly better I feel pretty drained. Not helped by my youngest being awake since 4am .

I haven't got patterned tights, but I do have coloured ones. Some raspberry red and some purple. I think I might go for uniqlo heattech leggings as tights this morning, as there is ice on the ground today.

Love, love those caps. I have a grey, felted baker boy cap and when I was younger, I used to pinch my dad's sailing cap. Just a nice change from a beanie sometimes. I have a fedora too, but if I'm out and about with dcs, I tend to want a hat I can fold up and put in a bag.

bo that UD makeup is very much what I would have worn when younger. I've softened my black flicky eyeliner to navy (and made it much thinner) with a little smudgy grey eyeshadow to shape. I would definitely wear more of a stain of red lipstick, too. I have been wearing liquid eyeliner for over 30yrs, my mum wears it and taught me. I may have to teach dd1, who is keen to learn too.

botemp you've inspired me to dig out the red lipstick (I usually wear dark pinks) and it's immensely cheering this dark time of year. I even wore Ruby Woo which I'd previously written off as drying (it's ok with loads of lip balm) and a young colleague recognised the brand and shade, it's obviously very distinctive!

I love patterned tights. I'm not wearing them at the moment as they are (...drumroll...) in storage! Along with 95% of the rest of my life .

Question from those of us who have less than elegant legs -

What shoes do you wear with skirts and dresses? I know heels lengthen the leg but if I'm on my feet all day they just aren't practical.

Proper ignore your Mum. Illness does drain you but you'll recover. My DM is a bit like this, she feels she's being helpful by dissecting what I look like at any given moment and it usually involves falling short of the mark. It used to bother me but I've become immune to it as I've got older. I've come to the conclusion it's a perverse way of showing that she cares and that she notices things about me. I live in hope that a compliment might emerge one day though!!

Concentrate on getting better - which is what's important right now.

Berthe aux Grands Pieds make lovely tights and socks in colours, blocks and patterns, if you are in France. Not the cheapest but mine have worn well for several years. here I now need some of the lacy tights to complete an ensemble for a dinner in London at the weekend.

Those were promising brick-reds a few posts back; a trip to the UD counter may be on the horizon.

I wear loafers, ankle boots and brogues with dresses and tights.

I can't do heels, so it's almost always flat ankle boots with skirts and dresses. Usually a flat pointed boot - though sometimes I like to toughen up a girly outfit with a stompy biker boot (especially good for very wintery days, as they're much more grippy).

Occasionally I'll wear brogues - though they're generally worn with skinnies (either with a bit of ankle on show, or with some jazzier patterned socks)

I have some beautiful polka dot tights. They seem to work better dressed down with ankle boots than dressed up with heels for me. Maybe because I am old and short?

For anyone who is a bit short or short in the leg I can recommend Invisible Heels. They're little insoles you slip in that are very cushiony and are extremely comfortable and give your legs and overall height a bit of lift. You'd think it wouldn't make that much of a difference but it's quite startling.

For example I tend to look a bit dumpy proportionally if I wear trainers under shorts or skirts but these really make the necessary difference. I think I also really like them as high arches respond best to cushioning soles so something to bear in mind. The higher ones work well in shoes with a bit of height and for me they solve my issue of knee high boots often being slightly too tall and knocking the back of my thighs whilst walking. You end up with longer leaner looking legs but no one can quite put their finger on what is different.

I get the most wear out of the lower version, they've made shoes and ankle boots that weren't all that comfy suddenly feel like trainers.

low version

medium version

In the US they seem to have a taller version but I'd say the medium is plenty high enough, I'd worry about stability with those taller ones as you're less likely to have proper ankle support.

MN has done that annoying crop thing on mobile, you're going to have to click on the pics to see the full effect.

Fantastic, thank you. I do like being petite but some outfits just don’t suit me.

Littlechocola, I think things that are innately dressy always do better being dressed down. We're not that formal in our dress these days so being overdressed is now the faux pas. I still have a beautiful pair of lace tights either from La Perla or Max Mara and they do look amazing with a pair of of black pointy toe pumps which are very contemporary but the overall effect is a bit 80s yuppie, I just need the poofy dress to go with it. They look much more of today in a pair of motorcycle boots or flats.