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...

over the knee socks: if you are gamine, slim (but not too skinny - otherwise, looks kinda ..simian, ew), have good length through the thigh bone, well then be my guest. Also, congratulations: you are Jane Birkin. Otherwise...oh, my dear, do take care. (Actually, someone should have told Jane that it was a look she could have pulled off better 10 years previously). Look, Japanese schoolgirl-stylee works in Tokyo nightclubs.

I know this is a free country and people can say whatever they like but it would be nice if it's taken in consideration that I take the time to source pictures and write a little post for this advent calendar every day to help people see what's possible with things they most likely already own and step outside their usual comfort zone with a bit of experimentation.

It doesn't all have to work, knowing what does and doesn't is equally valuable information. No one has to like it all or any of it for that matter, or feel it's for them. That doesn't offend me in the least. However, this judgemental tone really feels against the spirit of these threads. If anything, these threads have shown how debilitating that tone can be when directed against ourselves, that's saddening enough to see on its own, but I really don't enjoy seeing it levied against other women in this way.

You don't sound very happy Cromwell . Something wrong?

Thanks for posting Bo. Now I've discovered how flattering over the knee boots can be (and I managed to stop 'saving them for best') I'd like to try over the knee socks.

Off the back of this thread I have been wearing Ruby Woo and have had compliments. But it definitely makes my lips look thinner and 'sharper'. Not sure this is good on a laydee pushing 50!

If I wear a pinky nude my lips look much fuller and softer.

Help!

Could you do the red with a lighter shade in the middle?

That might well work

Are you using a lipliner with it, Other? One that's slightly darker and blended it in will make it look fuller, I can't do it as it looks a little too pouty but I can get away with it in a matte finish. The contour + gloss finish make it too OTT for me personally but I have fairly full lips to start with.

oops x-post

I am enjoying the advent pictures and posts, thank you, bo.

I think that's why I like to blott my lipstick, I have quite full lips too. Or maybe I'm just harking back to the 80s .

I have skinny lips. I used to shy away from lips because I hated my lips. Now I just think'sod it' i'llvwear what I want. Still trying to work out if a primer will help keep it on.
bo I really appreciate all the effort and time you are putting into the daily advent feature. I really look forward to it. Not all of it's for me, but this isn't just about me.
I love being part of this great group of supportive and wonderful women. This thread has made me feel bolder in my choices and helped me experiment.
cromwell I hope you continue posting here in a way that is constructive and kind. Perhaps you can suggest styles that people can try?

Cromwell- ouch. Far nicer to say 'not for me' and move on rather than be critical of another woman's appearance. I feel we have quite enough of that in the media without turning on each other in a lovely, positive forum like this. A large part of this is about experimenting with clothes you have/ stepping out of your comfort zone; being somewhat cutting about another woman's clothes just encourages us to stay in the safe/bland comfort zone- probably always feeling okay, but never feeling 'wow'.

Anyway...over the knee socks I don't think would work for me. I do quite like the look of them (strangely) sticking out of wellies but not normal boots. I think they'll always be a bit Brittany Spears to me-even when worn in the classy photos shown.

In other news, I got rid of my false semi permanent eyelashes today. There are several reasons, but a key one is that they aren't really chic/subtle. I have the smallest size of anyone that my therapist does, but I hate that I'll get occasional 'are they your real lashes?' whereas I want to look like I have naturally fluttery lashes.

I have continued to evaluate my style and realised I'm really quite poor at layering. Going to review the white layering images (thank you Bo) and have a nose on pintrest.

That's a good tip Bo. My lips are quite full but I think the matte intensity of Ruby Woo definitely narrows them down by 25%

Will try that trick with a liner though. Thank you.

I too am really grateful for the helpful and friendly atmosphere on this thread right now. Things are very difficult with my Mum at the moment so this thread is a good place to escape to

I love the advent posts Bo and really appreciate the thought and time you put into them.

I also love OTK socks and couldn't give a flying fuck if wearing them at age 38 makes me look 'Ew'. Part of Parisian chic is the confidence and insouciance to wear what you know works for you and what you like, rather than being a slave to the current trends of the day.

Anyway...

Lip primer recommendations please! And also, do I have to match a lip liner to the colour of the lipstick, or can I go more budget friendly and use a nude/natural liner for everything?

Sorry, I haven't expressed it well I think. I didn't mean to make this about me or not getting enough attention for my efforts. I get plenty of it and it's not necessary, I know it's appreciated. I don't mind doing it, I enjoy putting them together and it's helped me consider things more from an observational perspective that isn't related much to me or my body or style. I just wanted to point out I'm putting them up as examples and that's what their purpose on this thread is, not as subjects up for a verdict.

If you have a clear gloss you could layer that in the middle as well Other, help restore a bit of shine?

I don't really know about lip primers, Lazy I've never used one. A lip pencil all over the lips works well but my lipsticks usually last the hours between meals so it's never been a concern. Lipliner colour depends on the look you want to achieve, I tend to go with red but then blot it in slightly so it's not so harsh, the equivalent of a nude I'd guess but if you want that sharply outlined 40s mouth you'd need a similar red or darker.

Lazy- I have tried a nude with red lip and found (on me) it just looked a little odd. I naturally have very pale lips but the area around the edge is more dark pink. Having a nude edge with red somehow seemed to fight against my colouring and it all just looked a bit smudgy.

That said, I only own 3 liners: nude, red and a purple one (to go with the likes of Mac 'Girl About Town'). I have a few redsof all different tones from Ruby Woo to So Chad and find I can get away with just one red liner on pretty much all of them. I would like a russet lippie and might get a liner to match but find I rarely bother with it unless I'm worried about really vivid colours 'slipping'.

Skipping back to the nail polishes... I've never really had a problem with Chanel formulas but there is a definite difference to the new ones, a slightly thicker but more fluid texture & gel-like finish. The new green one (Fiction?) is really similar to Vert Obscur from a few years back which is just gorgeous, a really inky green.

Jin Soon polishes are lovely, I have my eye on an iridescent grey at the moment. Guerlain before they made them scented used to be the best, but if you've got an & Other Stories nearby then theirs are great (and they even have a Paris Atelier range...) - I really like the curved brush.

Nothing wrong, TheOtherGirl! I'm happy - bursting with post-spin class endorphins, since you ask. I enjoy this thread, I like a lot of the suggestions for styling, and I'm really grateful for the practical advice such as in-shoe lifts. I've been positive about those and generally enthusiastic about Botemp's contributions in particular. But if I think a style only looks good on adolescent girls of a certain shape, and then only for about 5 minutes in their lives, I will certainly say so. Especially when - in my view - that particular styling promotes a certain undersized aesthestic that is often experienced as, shall we say, punishing to many women.

I had a look at the SH article again and it appears part of the new improved Chanel formula is the gel top coat but I already have a good top coat so I may just risk it with Chanel. The Fiction is indeed much more inky green than the picture I posted above, which makes it all the more special and the red is slightly less deep than I anticipated but still lovely. Still deciding which one to buy before I go mad and buy both. I did see an Essence one that's dirt cheap (anyone like those, it's the colour boost one?) with an extra 30% off that's very similar to the Chanel which I'm less interested in now so may get that and the Fiction and possibly end up with two shitty polishes Although I have to check what's in the Essence, I know nail polishes are shit in general ingredient wise but at least the Chanel is five free.

No OPI to be found anywhere, I think only manicure salons sell them here. I still need to pass by Kiko and the place that sells Jin Soon which may have some other niche brands I forgot about too.

Interesting about &other Stories, I like their cream blushes but never contemplated their nail polishes. Will have a look there too. Thanks, meep!

Cromwell, I find skinny shaming just as harmful as fat shaming. You also implied Jane Birkin was too old to carry something off, that's ageism in my book.

You pronounced it in a judgement that in no way could be read as an incentive to discuss a specific body type that's dominant in certain media as an established ideal. If that's the point you were attempting to make, it got lost spectacularly.

From my interpretation, you made it sound that it was only acceptable for exactly that type of figure to consider wearing over the knee socks (just like that type of media insinuates) only to then speak derisively of these women, dehumanising them by referring to them as 'ew' and 'simian'.

Am delurking to say am really enjoying the advent calendar Bo and really appreciate the time and effort you put into your posts, especially the ones with pictures and links. Have recently purchased some white Stan Smith alikes and am enjoying wearing them with an all black outfit so was pleased to see you pin a very similar look on your advent calendar.

Way back someone was asking about a sweatshirt that could be worn to work, I saw this navy core sweater yesterday, Next come up large but if you size down it would be acceptable to wear to work, especially if you wanted to wear mock shirts under it to make it a bit more interesting.

This grey funnel neck sweater this also looks much better irl too as an alternative to a crew neck. Again size down for a slightly more fitted look.

Thanks kitty. That was me Are the sweatshirts soft? I can never tell online.

Yikes.
I've been lurking but not posting for a bit, as RL has been tough. Let's get things back on track...

The advent calendars are great.
The glimpse of white is easy to adopt, the OTK socks require more daring, but that's what this is all about. I bet no one ever went to their graves wishing they'd not worn a certain type of socks.

I'm v tempted to try out some greenish nail polish.
I'm going to be home alone from Dec 24-30th and am dreading it, so plans for frivolous distracting activities like painting my nails are just what I need.

I'm also waiting for the sales to start here so I can see what price Comptoir des Cotonniers drop that green peacoat to in €. It is lovely. I'm worried that 75% wool, 25% polyamide might not be warm enough for winter here when the mistral blows, but I am sorely tempted nonetheless.

Auld I'll be in a similar position so will be on this thread a lot