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...

you may end up looking like a tit now and then but at least you'll be an interesting looking tit

I couldn't agree more! I love S&B but I do think it can be a bit naysaying at times. In fact I posted earlier on the sartorial goals thread that one of my resolutions for next year is to take more risks.

Love the more masculine look- it reminds me of 'Anne Hall' in which I think Diana Leaton looks eternally chic.

I'm a fan of the tonal look but it's something I've only occasionally dabbled in. That said, sine a previous thread on here (a fab one like this about a year ago), I pay much more attention to finishing touches now such as colour of belt/bag/shoes etc and while they don't need to be 'matchy matchy ', I think about how they work with the look as a whole.

Maxmara fans-what is there sizing like? Could you compare it to a UK high street store to give me an idea?

Tomorrow I am hoping to wear my fedora style hat-gorgeous but currently unworn despite having it for a year. It's almost as though I expect people to look at me as though I have two heads which is probably somewhat vain as I doubt the people in our village give two toots what anyone wears. Hopefully I'll muster some of that Parisian self confidence and feel okay wearing it.

Auld- really appreciating you uploading images. Helps visualise what others are doing.

Annie Hall. Annoying phone.

For anyone looking for a hoodie that might suit the styles that botemp suggested a few days ago, COS have two in their sale. There's a boiled wool one and a jersey one. Very simple styling.

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Sale/Leisurewear/Boiled_wool_hoody/9608261-81657493.1#c-22755

Forgot to add- I kept my regular aPP ointment to get my semi-perm eyelashes and instead had a massage-it felt so indulgent! I've booked in for a facial too in 3 weeks. I'm mid 30s and only ever had one once so it feels rather self-indulgent but I am telling myself that I'm investing a little in myself and actally, is a lovely gift to myself rather than another piece of rum soaked stolen which I most certainly don't need at the moment.

Great pics, bo. There's a certain authenticity about those pictures, I think. Those women look great, but they wear the clothes rather than the clothes wear them, iyswim. Your style is an extension of you, I suppose.

GrumpySquirrel sorry I'm now in not so chic pyjamas and hoodie. I will try and take a pic another time, I often wear those trousers with one of my many navy jumpers. If navy is good enough for Sofia Coppola, then it's good enough for me (she apparently always asks if things come in navy).

The Long- that hoodie looks excellent value for money, but I fear I may look like a jedi in training.

Methenyou maybe this is not the hoodie you are looking for.

I think it might work underneath a larger coat as in the pictures up thread.

The other hoodie from COS.

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Sale/Leisurewear/Jersey_hoodie_with_high_neck/9608261-77623541.1#c-22755

Thelong- stylish you are.

Really like the second one too but colour wouldn't work with my life at the moment (shame as I think the tone would work quite well with my colouring).

I wish I had a Cos store closer to home as I find it really hard to judge the clothes based on the models- I find it hard to get past their solemn faces.

Fabulous pics bo, thank you. Does the cider vinegar rinse not make your hair smell, vinegary? I have some in and I'll try it but just so I know what to expect.

Thanks for the lipstick advice bo. Alas no Tom Ford at duty free (every other brand on the planet though!) so I got Ruby Woo instead, which is fantastic. Lipsticks don't last well on me but the matt-ness of this really helps. Can't bear to pay the ridiculous prices for TF in my country of residence but will pick up one when next in the uk.

Can I ask about what to wear a fedora with? I like hats and often wear a straw hat. I can picture a fedora worn in autumn with leather leggings and a slouchy knit, but, what else? Imagination is my downfall when it comes to styling things!

Second question- does anyone have a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag? I am finding myself quite drawn towards them at the minute. My problem is I get drawn toward a lot of things and not always for the right reasons!!

Darn, I'm up too early to claim being French

Sorrynotsorry Lazy

Flo, I like it, here's to 2018, the year of looking like a bit of a tit and not giving a shit!

I got distracted yesterday whilst looking at the COS sale (&Other Stories, Arket, and Weekday all started as well) but there were some nice pieces in there, especially the drapey ones. It is a bit higher learning using their website mixed with their variations in silhouette. I had looked at that boiled wool hoodie myself but I think it's a tough one to pull off as it'll make you quite wide despite the V, but perhaps if it's fitted rather than loose there's more potential there.

Well, canters I personally go a bit Pampas Princess but fedoras can look good with a cape (or a large scarf draped as one over the shoulders) and some riding boots. I prefer a dressed down version though, trainers, boyfriend jeans, loose-fitting shirt or tee, a cropped denim or leather jacket, or a simple floral dress with a small print, slightly messy hair, that sort of thing.

Mansur Gavriel bags indeed have a stupid hypnotising quality but I don't think they're really worth getting, or at least the bucket bag isn't, they don't have much longevity to them as age doesn't make them graceful like other bags and they're quite pricey for what they are really due to their ubiquitous past. Their Lady Bag (you do have to have a bit of that style as it's quite formal) is stunning in RL though, looks less appealing online but it's a really understated elegant bag with impact, especially in colour. The Saddle Bag is also quite nice, another one which looks better in RL than online.

Sorry, forgot Enid, no, it doesn't smell after, I make a diluted concoction though it's:

For blonde hair: 1/4 cup chamomile flowers + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups boiling water

For dark hair: 1/4 cup Rosemary leaf + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups of boiling water

You leave it to cool then strain out the herbs and add two tablespoons of ACV so it's quite diluted (but basically one cup of water to one tablespoon ACV should do the job the same). I tend to decant it into a spray bottle (and when you spray that it is a bit vinegary smelling) and sprits it in as that's easier and less cold on the back (so not technically a rinse) and only do the full rinse on occasion. The 'spray' version also works as a good refresher of the roots between washes for me.

Sorry and methen... Max Mara, I'd say the closest size wise would be Massimo Dutti. It's not far off Zara either but not cut as harshly, so sizing similar but the tailoring is a bit more advanced and form flattering to more than one shape. It's always been my suspicion that the larger you go in Max Mara sizing the more allowances they make to ensure a good fit rather than simply sizing up the pattern for a straight and narrow person. In Italy, I think the assumption is over a certain size you're carrying extra weight rather than it being your natural weight/or close to it and very tall with a large bone structure (as those women are just extremely rare there).

I'm not sure what size my maxmara trousers are, as they were secondhand, they have been taken in a bit already. They hang nicely, though.

The label is really faded, but I think they might be about a 14. As they're quite slouchy and have been taken in round the waist and I'm normally a 10/12 in trousers.

bo Can't use rosemary but I'll think of an alternative and try it thank you.

Rouge Geisha lipstick still didn't arrive today, and appears to be lost :(. So I bought the chanel in the red Xmas tube as recommended by Botemp and I LOVE it. I'm startled when I see myself in the mirror, and still a bit worried that I will accidentally swipe it across my face without knowing, but it's so 'not me' that it's perfect for shaking things up. Now I'm looking for a white blouse/shirt for layering under all my grey and navy jumpers.

I've just been catching up on this thread as I'd been only been half following (can't be arsed painting my nails - sorry) until the pantalons sucked me in. But I really love some of your ideas bo particularly the sliver of white. One of my two least successful charity shop buys this year was a lovely Victoria Beckham shirt. As I don't actually suit white, I was resigned to it being a label victim purchase but now I think a bit of hemline hanging below a grey jumper might be just the thing. So thank you

Now all I need is a post on how to wear a padded Rick Owens sleeveless top thingy without it looking like a gilet from Joules...

I would have a vast Rick Owens collection if I had the budget.

But I might not suit the edginess.

Does anyone worry about makeup smudges on the collars of white/cream shirts? It's what puts me off wearing them.

So today I wore my fedora in public to pop to the local town to get a couple of last minute Christmas bits; I'm thrilled to report that instead of feeling like I was in costume, I really enjoyed wearing it. I'm in socks here but had brown Chelsea boots on. I also worried about crazy/flat 'hat hair' but as I pinned back my fringe, it was fine.

I also plumped for some MIH jeans and Maxmara trousers from ebay so hoping sizing is okay (though festive indulgences have certainly made clothes a squeeze).

Tonight will be relaxing and painting nails in an old Chanel varnish- it's deep red but has a subtle glitter shimmer so only wear it at this time of year.

I'm very very taken with the idea of blokes shirts - I wear my longer length white shirt under various identical monochrome light and dark grey, black and navy (for a frisson of excitement) slouchy cashmere jumpers, but I'd like a couple of different ones to wear (so I'm not tied to the one coming in and out of the wash)

I'm quite simple in my tastes and just want something basic and oversized, and resent paying ££££ for a perfect crisp white shirt that's just going to get hidden under a sweater. So blokes shirt sounds ideal!

My new indulgence is getting my shirts washed and pressed, cos I am shit at ironing and frankly 5 shirts for £7 is totally worth it for me. So actually I don't need an easy care one that'll withstand my non crap ironing, as the dry cleaner will take care of it and they come back 48h later beautifully ironed!

Also can't believe I've not considered mens pyjamas before - women's ones always ride up for me too high on the ankle.