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Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!

993 replies

TossDaily · 28/12/2017 11:00

Excuse the franglais.

Here it is - the third thread in the series, where we add a little je ne sais quoi to our lives, inspired by the style of our souers across the Channel.

Thanks to our top contributor and style guru Botemp, we are finding ways to lift ourselves out of the style doldrums with a slash of red on the lips, a touch of white where it counts, an insouciant scarf or even an over the knee sock or two for the brave among us.

Take it as far as you dare, Mariannes!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
185
AuldAlliance · 04/01/2018 15:30

I've been following the thread, but too busy to post since the kids came back, and I am off to Prague tomorrow for a long Twelfth Night weekend to meet up with my sister Grin.

canters I have this carré Hermès, which was a present from my now ex-husband. It's quite symptomatic of how little he knew and understood me really, as it is not my thing at all, on any level.
My friends were v surprised that he'd even thought of giving me such a thing.
I'm going to sell it.

They are very square (obviously) and I find them not v versatile for that reason, especially because of the slipperiness of the silk.
They are also, here in France, fairly connoted as a bourgeois item, as you'd expect for a scarf at that price. I think you could find something nicer, or indeed several nicer things, for that amount of money. (Unless you want to buy mine off me, but I reckon it has bad juju now...)

I just wanted to say that you were dead right, Bo: the green coat was not just any purchase for me. I'm almost looking forward to going back to work on Monday so I can wear it.

And in reply to prettybird, I'm further south-east than Bagnols-sur-Cèze, in the Vaucluse, and I should explore that area more. I tend to drive up that way to take DS1 to handball matches, but never stop off. It must be lovely out of season in early spring/late autumn.

When I get back, I'd like to hear more from the posters who've embraced their grey hair. My sister has, and she looks fab. Mine is going grey, and I don't want to get into a costly cycle of getting it coloured, but I worry that it is too streaky to look good au naturel. So I just wear it up all the time, which means I can't see the streaks, though the rest of the world obviously can...

Floisme · 04/01/2018 16:07

I quite like being grey but I'm the first to admit, it's turning a nice silvery colour plus it was fair(ish) in the first place so it wasn't that drastic a change. But even if I didn't like it, I think I'd find a way to make my peace with it because I'm a lazy git and could never be bothered with all that upkeep. I also like the contrast between grey hair and a modern cut.

TheGrumpySquirrel · 04/01/2018 16:10

Seconding the tan shoes with navy clothes - I did even have some almost mustard coloured brogues a few years ago which I loved, never found any as good after they wore out 😭

There is a thread on here called "head shave to go grey" which has loads of grey hairstyle inspiration - don't worry not everyone shaved their heads!

TheGrumpySquirrel · 04/01/2018 16:11

Head shave to go grey
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/styleandd_beauty/3074237-Head-shave-to-go-grey

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 04/01/2018 16:14

Took the plunge and bought an ochre scarf and I love it! Thanks Bo Smile

Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!
LunaTheCat · 04/01/2018 17:03

Peonies that is a beautiful scarf - lovely colour and drapes beautifully.

prettybird · 04/01/2018 17:03

I've just bought this Cos shirt wth detachable collar and cuffs in their sale (couldn't find it on their website but found the link in their archives): it was half price at £29.50 in their Glasgow store.

Good news is that I tried on the green desert boots in Timberland in half a size bigger and they were ok. Currently wearing them around the house to be sure (instep is so high though that I've had to miss a set of holes in order to lace them to the top). Not only that, but they were further reduced, so we were able to buy boot care stuff and still get £4 refund on the smaller pair that dh had bought me before Christmas! Xmas Grin These are the boots, only in dark green, with slightly more bluey green velvet padding. I've swapped the green velvet laces for the more practical leather laces that also came with them. I normally wear much more dainty footwear (or trainers) so this is a change for me. Need to get some skinnier jeans so that I can wear them tucked in to the boots - or some fleece lined leggings so that I can be warm on the touchline when supporting ds playing rugby Grin

Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!
Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!
quirkychick · 04/01/2018 17:09

Oh, peonies that looks gorgeous! I look awful in anything yellowy, so will enjoy it vicariously Grin.

Floisme I'm reaching the end of a big grow out to silver, I was dark, went slowly lighter and then grew out. I didn't particularly like myself blonde, and I did lose quite a bit of length as it does damage your hair.

Bloomed · 04/01/2018 17:20

Gorgeous scarf peonies. Wish I could wear yellow.

prettybird · 04/01/2018 17:22

Really glad you've taken the plunge with some colour floisme - the scarf looks great!

prettybird · 04/01/2018 17:23

Oops Blush - I meant peonies Blush (perils of using the app Blush)

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 04/01/2018 17:43

Thanks everyone I am really pleased with it! Even better Ddad didn’t get me a present in time for Xmas and has now just offered me the money to pay for the scarf!

PinPon · 04/01/2018 20:51

Chango you’d asked about day dresses. I’ve taken inspiration from one of bo’s advent calendar posts on the colour red and bought a red day dress from the Cos sale. It’s wool and has pockets and I love the style and the volume.

Any ideas what shoes or boots to style it with? Nothing too high heeled as I don’t have anyone to wear them in for me!

Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!
Tanaqui · 04/01/2018 21:15

I always imagined you as a dark brunette Flo!

I wear dresses to work a lot, usually shift style over a roll neck or shirt. I can’t imagine a Parisienne take on it though!

DavidPuddy · 04/01/2018 21:22

I love hair with grey streaks in it. I think it looks elegant.

I would also like to report that I wore a cardigan backwards and it felt great. I may do it again tomorrow.

AuldAlliance · 04/01/2018 21:24

Lovely scarf, peonies

AuldAlliance · 04/01/2018 21:28

I'll check out the grey hair thread, thanks, grumpysquirrel

Not sure mine looks v elegant, but I'm open to persuasion as I really don't want to start dyeing it.
I also think that if more women didn't dye their hair, people would stop thinking grey hair makes you look 'old' - they'd just accept that people go grey at varying ages.
It's the comments from hairdressers that get to me, more than anything...

TheGrumpySquirrel · 04/01/2018 21:30

Ooh cardigan backwards that's quite daring!

I have a few day dresses. Mostly tweed which I guess isn't French at all! My only issue with them is that I'm always cold so inevitably end up covering them with a jumper or jacket, have yet to find a long sleeved dress that works.

Today's outfit was a lazy one, striped boyfriend shirt under men's navy wool jumper with gold hoop earrings and my default black skinny trousers (not a fan of the combination, would have looked better with jeans)...must try again tomorrow.

My HL LL arrived - well they are at the post office waiting to be picked up. Cross your fingers for me that they bloody fit now! eBay 2nd hand, so non returnable

TheGrumpySquirrel · 04/01/2018 21:31

I am usually a stone lighter so if I can't get them on I will keep them as post baby goal trousers!

botemp · 04/01/2018 23:22

Not the cookie canters Shock, if it's the one that came with the coffee for free a Parisian would pointedly sneer at it and lie to the DC that it was something they wouldn't like. Never mind order themselves something...

Thanks gonegrey, I feared as much, will steer clear of them.

Dresses, well, of course, they wear dresses, loads actually but they also wear a lot more skirts I find as they're more versatile when wardrobe space is limited. A lot of tunic style dresses but fitted, tiny floral floaty ones, shirt dresses, denim dresses, knitted dresses, all quite short usually and often worn belted. Less so the jersey dresses I see many on MN go on about or the very 50s rockabilly type styles. The dresses selection on Comptoir will give a quick overview.

AuldA, enjoy your trip to Prague! I think with the going grey thing it's more of importance to keep the condition of the hair really well. Grey hair is different texturally and that's usually the thing that's noticeable, not so much the colour. The texture can be amazing though, I always like Isabel Marant's embrace of it, but she purposefully dresses very youthful in contrast and is also very youthful in spirit that it almost reads as bleached out blond sometimes.

Peonies, I could easily mistake you for someone from Quartier Latin, so glad my blethering about ochre paid off, it looks lovely on you!

PinPon, I'd go with heels because I've seen that dress in RL and it comes down quite low, but you may be tall like the model so feel free to ignore. I'd wear knee or over the knee boots under it, preferably in a tan. Although those Bobbies, more diminutive derbies, I linked to a while back could work too, maybe in a garnet like pictured and then similar shade tights for the red tonal feel but navy would work well too, very minimal COS-esque. There's also a patent green pair, but I'll be accused of turning people into Christmas elves again [santa]

Canters15 · 05/01/2018 01:48

Bo I just looked up the oeuf bag and it made me smile. You should definitely get it! I was really impressed with the leather in Loewe I must say.

Thank you for the thoughts on Hermes auld. I'm very undecided. I would definitely class myself as a scarf person though. Going to go to have a look tomorrow with DH and a try on. I'm drawing a bit of a blank inspiration wise for things I actually want at the moment.

For those of you that are very certain of their own personal style, how did you find it? I am feeling rather in a rut at the moment. A combination of baby, climate and weight loss I think. When I was bigger I really suited skater dresses and went for bright, rather boho prints (Oasis was my go to store). Those type of dresses feel all wrong now, most have been rehomed though I hold onto a couple that DH loved. I much prefer dressing for cold weather and often just pull on shorts and a t shirt here as anything more seems pointless. I also seem to have lost all shape- I'm now a size 10 (at 5ft 7) but am large of boob and thigh and not much waist.
I love blazers and leather and chunky boots with buckles but also magpie back to my girlie, curvier times (like the rose gold flats yesterday) and find it very hard to know what I truely like, and what suits, if that makes any sense.
I pinterest like mad but unfortunately none of it is particularly cohesive or climate appropriate!

libertyonhertravels · 05/01/2018 04:12

Canters I think you said you are in NZ?? So am I and totally hear you on the just opting for shorts and t-shirt when it's hot. I also find it hard to be bothered with make-up when it's hot and I've had a few outbreaks of spots on my chin which I'm blaming on being overly layered up with sunscreen and makeup.

I find shirt dresses really useful for looking stylish but comfortable. I have been living in this Navy stripe one from Zara. Dress it down with Adidas superstars or tan sandals or look a bit smarter with white loafers. Gold hoop earrings and red lippy and I'm done!

For a silk scarf have a look at some local NZ designers - Pearson and Brown do gorgeous silk scarves inspired by images and colours from NZ.

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 05/01/2018 07:14

Buoyed up by my scarf success with the yellow one I have another scarf question!
I have a grey and black (aha of course) Alexander McQueen skull scarf which I never wear (actually not sure where it is rn!!) as I find It slippery and lacking in shape and It comes off the whole time... any ideas on how I can style it —or
Should I sell it for more yellow—

quirkychick · 05/01/2018 07:18

bo and AuldA I totally agree about watching your hair condition when you are naturally grey or silver. If you dye it darker, it often contains a lot of conditioner in the dye, so stopping doing that will need extra care to supplement it iyswim. My hair's curly and easily dry, so I use the curly girl method, which is basically about adding as much moisture as possible. I think I probably dress quite "young", too, definitely quite casual in style, converse, jeans, biker jacket...

Canters I think those things would be enough to make me question my style, I find hot weather tricky. Partly, as I'm pale and hate the heat. Liberty nice shirt dress, very chic.

ChangoMutney · 05/01/2018 08:20

Pi pan and Bo thanks for the dress ideas, CdC was a good call and very reasonable prices in the sale but a bit too short for me. My teen daughters would look fab though.

Many years ago I used to wear a black high neck merino top under a white shirt, do you all think would look ok, or is it a bit dated?
goo.gl/images/xVDW6s

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