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Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux

914 replies

TossDaily · 02/12/2017 21:33

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

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quirkychick · 15/12/2017 14:49

I'm an inverted triangle, too, Proper. I used to think I was an apple, but I do have some waist. I have long legs and kind of medium bust, not big, but wider shoulders. I agree it can be hard to spot celebs, as models are often so tall and thin, it kind of negates the shape. I'm quite short-waisted too, belts on coats always come up high on me, but I'm not sure if that's being a bit tall?

Some things that are flattering on me are drapey/assymmetric tops, as they break up the shoulder line, also long cardigans that don't do up, but hang straight down, as they kind of give me vertical lines rather than horizontal, also fine or fitted knits that end at hip level, as they don't add bulk. Lots of trousers seem to suit me well, but I need to think about the tops to balance them out iyswim.

Lazy Celtic & Co have quite a few discounts, they do have some good sales after Christmas, but often a lot of stuff has often gone. Their quality is very good and they are made in Britain too. I have a few knits from them that are 5+ yrs old and still look like new.

ProperLavs · 15/12/2017 16:12

Thanks quirky and bo.
I hate having anything belt wise round my waist. I think it must be to do with the fact that A: I don't have one and B: it rubs against the bottom of my ribs/top of hips. I am going to try really hard to wear a skinny little belt over a cardigan.
I look the most ridiculous with wrap around tops and dresses. These I have realised are the preserve of ladies with lovely defined waists and larger busts.
Ok, off to check out asymmetrical tops.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 15/12/2017 16:34

Glad you're feeling better Bo. I have PCOS as well - I've never had the pleasure of a burst cyst, but I make up for it with the insulin resistance and luxuriant hair growth!!

Proper I'm not a fan of belts either. As I am essentially cylindrical, they really don't flatter me! All this 'it gives you a waist' doesn't work for me at all, because I am short all they do is cut me in half and make me look very dumpy. I get on much better with clothes which skim but aren't form-fitting as they help elongate me.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 15/12/2017 16:45

Oh and a quick heads-up if anyone is looking for a budget lipstick with staying power. I bought the Maybelline superstay 24 hour liquid lipstick today.

To say it has staying power is an understatement!! It goes on quite nicely - well pigmented. It's sticky until it dries but then it does not budge. Honestly! When I went to remove it, I wiped my lips with a tissue - tiny trace of colour but otherwise nothing had moved, and there was no noticeable change of the lipstick coverage on my mouth. So then I tried miscellar water - didn't touch it at all. I ended up having to remove it with an oil based cleanser and a flannel.

My review - if you're looking for something which is not going to budge all day, then it's a very good purse-friendly option.

Bloomed · 15/12/2017 17:01

Sounds great. By the way If anyone is interested in parfois-esque faux fur stoles, I saw some nice own brand ones in john lewis today.

quirkychick · 15/12/2017 17:05

Proper I have 2 coats with belts that I do wear (even though they come to the bottom of my ribcage), one is a navy parka and the other a charcoal down-filled coat. Both of them have wide-ish, flat belts that match the fabric of the coat and both coats are quite slim cut and fitted, so it works somehow. Allsaints had lots of assymmetric and drapey tops in the 50% off department at House of Fraser today. Not sure what the fabric composition was, but they looked very lovely on the hangers Smile.

TossDaily · 15/12/2017 17:07

Long woolly coatigan.

Hope - Pinterest-worthy cosy Scandi chic, understated winter sexiness.

Reality - the sofa's on the move again.

OP posts:
TossDaily · 15/12/2017 17:08

Bollocks wrong thread Blush

OP posts:
ProperLavs · 15/12/2017 17:26

Lol toss !
Thanks quirky I'll check them out. I have just checked how belted items sit on me and the come to my hips rather than my waist, I guess because, as I said, my legs are attached to my rib cage Wink.

quirkychick · 15/12/2017 17:29

Toss sounds an interesting thread...

ProperLavs · 15/12/2017 17:52

I could do with a bit of understated winter sexiness myself!

botemp · 15/12/2017 17:58

Lazy I used to have heavy IR (roughly from the age of 12 by my estimation, it and the PCOS went undiagnosed for a very long time, unfortunately) but it somehow miraculously disappeared and along with it went a load of weight. Though assumed due to diet and exercise regime that I've maintained for years which was unchanged but never had an impact before on the IR or weight but was helpful with hormone levels and keeping my cycles regular, it's still odd nonetheless. Ditto on the hairiness, though it's largely been kept at bay with lasers these days. I have a long list PCOS annoyances although I'm also pretty sure at least half of them are unrelated and it's just blamed on PCOS.

I think it's tough with the inverted triangle type, Proper. Essentially, it's a rather masculine build but dress too masculine and you can be mistaken for one, go too feminine and you look a bit fraudulent. Especially athletic women (many are IT as it's quite an athletic build) get berated for that a lot, it's like the Williams sisters aren't allowed to display any sign of femininity for some reason Hmm. I think where curvier shapes struggle to get the balance right on casual/dressy for more angular types it's about getting the feminine/masculine balance to work for you and many get lost in a rather mundane neither (not androgyny, more like unisex). I think many think you can't do feminine at all, and the frilly girly stuff indeed looks odd but you can soften it, you need a bit of both somehow.

Exhibit A, very curvy left and IT on the right, same dress. Take the two weirdo celebs out of it, they're both equally horrifying role models in their realm of influence in my book, we're just looking at their body shapes here. On paper, you'd think this the kind of dress would want a very feminine shape to bring out the best, the reality is it looks better against a boxier body shape. It has nothing to do with GP being taller or skinnier it's the fact that the balance is right whereas with KK it's too much emphasis on curves that it just gets lost, the dress is wearing her where with GP it's the other way round, the circular delicate pattern enhances and gives an illusion of shape she doesn't have (also note the weird pose she's taken to achieve that, slightly bending at the knees and dropping backwards whilst jutting one hip out).

Someone mentioned above (sorry can't be arsed to scroll) that wrap dresses are for those with a waist, I'd say the opposite is true. The chances of it fitting at your exact waist are small and it never looks quite right when it does, the proportions are off. Apples, the ones with no waist, are usually the ones that it suits most.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
LazyDailyMailJournos · 15/12/2017 19:36

Really good point about that dress Bo. It looks completely wrong on KK but suits GP much better.

I'm low-carbing at the moment as it's the only thing that really works for me in terms of being able to get weight off resolutely ignores the Friday night glass of prosecco and chambord Apart from health reasons, it's also because trying to dress a 'fuller' figure is bloody hard work. I reached the end of my tether with the very restricted number of shops I could buy from, so losing weight became a necessity if I wanted to wear anything other than tents made out of cheap polyester!!

Cromwell1536 · 15/12/2017 20:18

OK, I accept that fashion is subjective but I think that the dress looks better on KK than GP - GP has gone completely odd around the mid-section: the top is raiding up with wear and she's gone all muffin-topped (which is quite an achievement for someone so thin) hanging over the waistband, whereas KK seems to flow and inhabit the dress much better, including the fit around the neck and arms.

But honestly, the dress is a fucking horror: how can anyone spend so much to look so CHEAP??!

botemp · 15/12/2017 20:32

DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
botemp · 15/12/2017 20:32

Posting early again since I think I'm very close to nodding off.

DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16

Être dans le rouge

The Parisians like navy, they like white, so glancing at their flag it only makes senses they love a bit of red. Not just on the lips or cheeks, a touch of red lifts even in the smallest amounts. Whilst red is a favoured choice in clothes, it's just as much adored in the realm of accessories.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
botemp · 15/12/2017 20:33

Equally, it can be bolder catching the eye with its impact and volume.

However, caution is warranted. Red accessories are the easiest trap into the 'French look' cliche. The combination with a stripey top definitely seems a foreign interpretation, the red beret isn't as common as Pinterest would like you to think, there's a certain moderation and subtlety that distinguishes the Parisian from the idea of a Parisian. All the last picture needs is a red neckerchief, a baguette under her arm, and the cliche is complete (lovely picture otherwise but it's not Parisian by any means, nor do I believe it was intended to be).

DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16 - DAY 16

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux
quirkychick · 15/12/2017 21:09

Oh, gorgeous, I'm so loving the red this winter. Over the summer, I went through a really neutral phase, now it's hello, red. But maybe not in that last photo, it reminds me of the stallholders at vintage fairs. I was wearing a red scarf today and I've just remembered a very lovely red, Italian bag I picked up in the charity shop...

Very interesting about balancing masculine and feminine, I often feel that I consider this a lot. As an IT, I want to aim for boyish not butch Wink. I have long, curly hair, which I feel is very girly and so I mix it up with more androgynous clothes. I do enjoy accessories, so feel that can be more feminine and soften clothes, also different fabrics too. I think GP would look better if the dress didn't have a crop top. Great to see the same things on different body types.

bananafish81 · 15/12/2017 21:59

So sorry you're suffering bo - ruptured cyst sounds awful. As a fellow PCOS sufferer, I often think polycystic ovaries is a largely inaccurate name, as it's not multiple cysts, but multiple tiny follicles - which does a disservice to actual cysts that can rupture and cause such awful pain like you're going through. Hope it feels better soon. I can only relate to when having fertility treatment and I ovulated 13 eggs simultaneous and how uncomfortably that follicle rupture was - can only imagination how painful a cyst rupturing must be.

Am LOVING the advent calendar, totally lusting after many of the gorgeous outfits. I had some time to kill before a physio appointment on Harley St at lunchtime, so I had a pootle around Marylebone High St, where there are quite a few European boutiques (The Kooples, Maje, By Malene Birger, Agnes B etc). There was an absolutely stunning cream blouse with a black ribbon tie in the Maje sale - but it was 100% viscose, and frankly for that money it felt quite cheap and nasty. So lush though! Thing I realised browsing the various stores was that the lovely tops etc, and indeed many of the outfits posted on this thread, is that they're very much more suited to spring and autumn than the depths of winter. My leather leggings are getting a LOT of wear with shirts and cashmere jumpers in rotation, as I feel the cold too much to wear anything much less than a nice thick jumper!

To that end, because my uniform is various monochrome shades of cashmere jumper, I thought I'd take a leaf from les Parisiennes and jazz my outfits up with a silk scarf. I'd ordered a vintage liberty print one from Etsy a couple of weeks ago - which pleasingly I'd red - so am looking forward to rocking a red twist in the manner of today's post I'll leave it off with the breton top to avoid looking like an extra from Allo Allo

I treated myself to a beautiful navy print silk scarf with pink trim in J Crew - I was lusting after the plaid woolen scarves having been inspired by the post the other day (or tartan or whatever we're calling it), but don't need more outerwear, what I need is some colour to add to my rotation of grey and black. So looking forward to giving it a whirl and hoping I look more Parisian chic than ageing Princess Margaret

bananafish81 · 15/12/2017 22:03

Also absolutely fascinated by all the posts about body shape. I am quite embarrassed that I am woefully un self-aware enough to be able to say what kind of shape I am. I'm slight and long in the body, but I do have a bit of a waist so don't go completely straight up and down. No idea about whether I'm high, medium or low waisted though. Figure I ought to read up more about how to work out what shape I actually am!

ProperLavs · 15/12/2017 22:15

There are many online tutorials banana . I seem to remember that you take your height then measure various parts. It's fun finding out🙂

Auldspinster · 15/12/2017 22:19

I'm an inverted triangle - broad shoulders; narrow hips and no waist definition. I'm also a smidge under 5ft 8 so got mistaken for a boy a lot as a teenager. I'm a fatty with big boobs and long hair now but was pretty gamine back in the day.

Canters15 · 16/12/2017 02:34

Really enjoying this thread.
I fared well in the pre Christmas sales here. Two silk and lace camis from Massimo Dutti and some khaki cropped skinny trousers.

Could someone remind me what the Tom Ford lipstick recommended up thread was? I'll be passing through duty free this afternoon, feels rude not to...!

quirkychick · 16/12/2017 07:00

bananafish I wear lots of neutrals: grey, black, navy and then either mix with berry/reds or greens. In spring/summer, I go more blues. Ages ago I used the dressipi (I think it's called "Joy of Clothes" now) website, recommended on here ages ago, to put in body measurements and it tells you your body shape. Lots of designer clothes you can dress your avatar up in too, as I recall. The colouring bit was a bit off, but maybe it's improved since then.

It's been so cold here, I've been living in wool jumpers with uniqlo heattech underneath and furry boots. I'm having to wait impatiently till Christmas for my Allsaints faux leather leggings now. I still keep seeing people with trainers and bare ankles Hmm.

ProperLavs · 16/12/2017 07:47

Yes- I see loads of people with trainers and bare ankles! I have got at least 5 layers on everyday!

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