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 agree, bo that dressing more formally can look odd, now. Courts with tights and dresses can look a bit daytime wedding. I definitely go for boots this time of year.

Chunky biker boots are great in the cold. I've been in a very old pair of brown, suede boots that are grippy as it was an ice rink outside today .

Thanks Bo - what a clever idea! I've never seen them before so will definitely investigate.

I got all excited about invisible heels . Then I had a look and realised that because I have stupidly high arches I wouldn't be able to fit into any of my shoes if I used them

I worried about that too proper but things miraculously fit fine

They look great - I always wanted a pair of those Isabel Marant trainers with a hidden heel, maybe this would be a good alternative.

I have the IM trainers and love them despite the naysayers. The effect is comparable, the lower ones are like the Bobby and the medium ones are close to the Bekket.

oh, in that case I'll give them a go!

I'm really enjoying this thread and getting outfit inspiration. Thank you to the pp who was observing French ladies on holiday- I put together a beigh/blush leather mini, dark denim shirt, navy tights and ankle boots last week, it was a great outfit! With layered/turned up sleeves, of course! I also realised how flattering the neckline of an open shirt is. I may seek a black silk shirt in the sales. And how great it is for necklace stacking!

I've also been giving my body shape some thought. I'm high waisted. My natural waist is quite defined, but no more than a couple of inches below my boobs. I've really got to be careful of what I eat to avoid any bloating - I carry my weight on my tummy and can turn into a barrel very quickly.

Which is why I always thought of myself as an apple; but having being inspired by Justine, got my tape out. Turns out my hips are far wider than I thought! But I don't see myself as a pear. (Pears always have lovely flat tummies!) I'm going to give that some thought. I'm fairly small overall, but can easily look lumpy if I don't look after my posture (I somehow fold into myself?!). How I know so little about my own body shape at this age is bewildering me slightly!

I would also like to investigate some red lipstick. I did buy one in a French pharmacy as a 5 minute decision; it had a white midsection of balm which made it very wearable. DD squished it and it is no more, but in my head red lipstick is very "attention seeking". I know I'm wrong in this - I noticed Jenny in Gogglebox wears a lovely red and it sits so very well with her colouring without at all screaming anything. The concept if something sometimes takes on a life of its own.

I've been following this fantastic thread for style inspiration particularly as I haven't been very well recently and it has been cheering to see all the links and ideas. Thank you!

We have also decided to spend a few days in Paris around Christmas with our two children (aged between 5 and 10). Can I very cheekily ask if anyone has any recommendations for a hotel/ good serviced apartment to stay? I was thinking maybe Le Marais as it looks central and stylish. Of course limited availability at this late stage. I fancy coming home with a new red lipstick and some fancy tights. Maybe some new brogues or loafers!

I would genuinely give my right arm to be able to pull off red trousers, oatmeal tunic and black boots.

Nothing quite pulls the blood from under my fingernails than presumptions about women who wear red lipstick. Especially the one suggesting men don't like it, honestly that would incentivise it more than anything for me but I'd say the opposite is true. I do sometimes wonder if the effect of wearing uniforms in Britain affects how comfortable one is to step outside a comfort zone defined externally. With many, I feel it's an all or nothing attitude, the complete disregard of it is a defiant one (like the punk movement), it's what makes London style interesting but it also makes it less of a cohesive one.

I needed some diagrams to explain, so excuse the rough sketching and can't be arsed to start up the scanner once more, but it's in order to demonstrate body shape is not a 2D thing, but most of us stand in front of a mirror and tend to draw our conclusions from that.

Predominantly it is where you are predisposed to put on weight (3D) and your skeletal structure (2D mostly). What we consider a stereotypical pear looks quite bottom heavy from the front, from the side they're pretty flat. Frontal pears, if you will, tend to look quite slim from the side and on top, especially if they're long waisted and tall, you hardly even notice it. CdM is one I suspect, I don't really have a good picture for it as she dresses and poses too well (pic 3 is the closest I can find) but she's quite narrow on top and only adds on extra weight when you're past the midsection and further down the bum which is practically flat until you reach the bottom of it.

A sideways pear will see excess weight pack on higher, but not as high as an apple, it sits predominantly in the lower back, bum, and lower abdomen area, even if they're not short waisted, optically they become one. The more weight you pack on the more it moves inwards and makes the waist area as a distinct feature almost disappear. I've tried to capture it in the sketch somewhat but I assume this leads to some spinal issues too as in compensation it'll contort forward to rebalance the centre of gravity which could explain why you get that look of an apple.

Sorry, above was to MyNewHobbyIsGin.

Sing, one of my favourite places in the Marais is Hotel Jules et Jim but over the last few years they've gone rather mental with the pricing and I'm sure they won't be cheap around Christmas.

I generally hate Paris hotels, they're small and overpriced. I tend to prefer Left Bank or around the Champs Elysees as they're quiet neighbourhoods comparably and everything is still walkable (I tend to avoid the metro if it involves more than one change which is most of the time). Hotel rooms are always tiny, so in your case AirBnB may be the best option with the children, although some of the Accor hotels can be quite accommodating to families. Considering the range which most children are able to walk I'd say around the Opera and Marais are most central.The 1st and 2nd arrondissements too but they're the most highly priced and rarely worth it. I'd avoid the areas around Gare du Nord, Est, Lyon, etc.

Nicecuppa, just go for it, try long enough and you'll find a version that works for you.

Interesting historical fact. Courtesans at the court of Louis XIV wore bright red lipstick to advertise their expertise at fellatio.

CdM is a pear? I though she was a stick insect!!!!

TheOtherGirl I'm wearing red lipstick today. Might be considered false advertising.

TheOtherGirl I'm wearing red lipstick today. Might be considered false advertising.

^^ This!

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Chapeau

You can't really separate Paris from its love affair with hats. Every dodgy hotel will still have some eighties still with that iconic hat and billowing dress beneath all in homage to the Dior New Look. The hat of choice these days is a Fedora or Stetson and despite its almost formal feel they manage to wear it with ease. I'm sure some of you will have one lurking in the back of the closet bought with reservations and left to gather dust since. Now is the time to give it another try.

To make them wearable everything else needs to be worn down. More as if your hair is a total mess and the hat was an easier choice than grabbing a brush. Or maybe because those trainers were making everything else a bit too casual rather than it feel like the entire outfit was built around the hat.

And if still unsure, just stick it on your OH and make him a tad Parisian for a change I just really liked the picture and he's rocking the mid-winter white jeans too

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I have a number of unworn hats so will try to make them work. In my quest to like polonecks worn with blazers, I saw someone wearing what might be a short peacoat style blazer with wide lapels and a thin poloneck sweater, which looked amazing. Has anyone seen such a jacket?

J'adore this thread .....Botemp you are so lovely
In fact it's just an adorable, lovely thread full stop

Haha, yes I do indeed have a fedora (I think I mentioned it upthread), I do like it but prefer to wear a hat I can squash up into a bag when with the dcs. I might wear it to go shopping later this week, though. It's quite rainy today, so I might wear my baker boy cap.

I like the idea of dressing it down, bo, I think it was Caroline from the Unfancy blog, who suggests wearing something out of your comfort zone mixed with old favourites as an easy way to try out something new.

Those invisible heels are absolute genius. Hopefully I'll be able to wear a midi skirt and flats without looking like a short frump.

Even though I'm 5ft 7, most of my height is in my torso. I have legs like a pit pony, but I'm not great at walking in heels.

Can't wait to try them!

Those gel heels were recommended by the consultant for my dd1, she essentially has growing pains as she's so tall and growing fast, her foot bones were growing faster than her tendons etc. It's supposed to help stop you turning your ankles as well.

ooh, wearing a fedora and Chancel Velvet lippie this morning, in the pishing grey weather, and a lovely ACTUAL French mum at school told me she "absolutely loves my 'at!"

Woohoo!