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

[TossDaily]

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!

Materiality and pattern switches it up a bit, small details or drape are used to break it up a bit.

Longer skirts tend to be a bit more dressed up, though the pencil leather skirt could probably cross over a bit.

Trousers - casual silhouettes

Trousers - grey wool is a popular choice.

As is black.

The more formal options.

Once more, the more voluminous, the more occasion wear it becomes.

Hope that was helpful to you, Mary.

Love the skirts Botemp. This is the look I'm aiming for once I'm thin enough. Just been to have my nails done. Recently I've been going for glitter, but in an attempt to be more stylish I've gone for a true glossy red. No shimmer, glitter or sparkle. I always have them short and square rounded anyway. I love them, feel quite chic.

Gorgeous finds Bo! I need to up my separates game.

See I love cropped widelegs. They bypass my thighs and show off my ankles which are by far the best part of my legs. And they're practical - you can wear them in the rain and even walk in puddles which, if you live in northerly UK, is a big deal.

I concede they can be fiddly. I have to get the length just right: too short and they hit my calves and my legs turn stumpy, too long and it looks like I've grown out of my trousers. And I've spent all this winter trying to get them to work with boots and I just can't get it right. But for 9 months of the year I think they're bloody brilliant. Here's to spring!

Proper, that sounds great. I had quite a similar experience but had style consultation too, I felt someone was helping me find me rather than trying to fit me into something else iyswim.

Ooh, I'd been thinking leather skirt, which someone mentioned upthread, but suede is a good option too. Thanks, bo. I have wide-legged grey wool trousers, but I usually dress them down with trainers. I did originally buy them as occasion wear, though. Today, I'm going for navy skinny chinos, they are a tkmaxx bargain from Polo Ralph Lauren, really versatile and fit beautifully.

How do cropped trousers work if you're short and on the chunky side?

I wonder if the problem for me is that I can't psychologically see myself as looking anything other than ridiculous in them whereas if I wore them with confidence perhaps they would actually look fine.

That red suede skirt/black poloneck look is amazing. So simple, so effective.

Love the suede skirts ... I’m 5”2 and scared of wide leg trousers...

Catherine Thank you for giving me an excuse to dust off my favourite fashion quote of all time:
'Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.'
Adam Ant.

As for whether they work, I think a lot depends on your ankles. Mine are slim and easily the best part of my leg these days so I'm very happy I can show them off and take the attention away from my thighs or my knees. Also, as I've said, I think where they hit on the leg makes a big difference. I don't know if there's a rule about it, I just mess around until it looks right.

And even if I'm deluding myself and they don't work, I don't see how I can possibly look any more ridiculous than I do in skinnies, which I cheerfully wore for the last decade.

I'm only an inch taller than you Peonies and I find the trick is to go for high waisted. That way my leg look longer. In fact I think narrow legs can be harder to wear if you're short cos there's nowhere to hide. Admittedly I may just be bored with the narrow leg silhouette and looking for an excuse.

I think it's also down to proportions of torso to legs. I'm really missing about 3-5cms or so in the legs proportionally and a cropped wide leg trouser makes that painfully clear on me. A long palazzo style that covers most of your feet works really well. I can do cropped wide-leg trousers like in the second pic of the last post -although technically more a carrot trouser than a wide leg- when it's fitted or tapered at the ankle but a blunt crop or culotte style just doesn't work for me at any cropped length.

Ooh, thank you! I love the suede and leather skirts with a slouchy jumper and it's interesting to see the shoes they've paired them with.

I love slouchy trousers but my issue is usually failing to bother to take them up to the right length, I'm 5' 2 and buy them intending to shorten them and then end up wearing them with hasty safety pinning instead. Anyway I'm supposed to be getting dressed for work now but will look at the pics again later!

Catusbutt I like the sound of the IM chambray shirt. I must keep my eyes peeled for one.

Skirt pictures are fab and timely because I've been meaning to buy skirts for ages - thanks botemp. I have lots of pencil-style work skirts, but very few shorter casual ones, literally only 2 I think and one is very short. It's a style that actually works well on me so I can't really think why I haven't bought more. Love the idea of a suede or leather mini. Any steer on where to look?

Have been having success with the lipstick too. I dug out an old tube of Tom Ford Scarlet Rouge that's probably a stepping stone to full red. It's a kind of coral-y red and not super-pigmented, but it's a lot stronger than I'd usually wear.

Laurence Dacade boots arrived and they're a perfect fit and heel height. I'm wearing them to work today. I'll try to grab a picture if I can. On a practical note, any recommendations for socks to wear under slightly high boots? I can feel my normal socks starting to move around. I'd love a slightly higher sock.

It's really something you need to internalise, it's easier when you shop in person as either the shop offers alterations (think Uniqlo even for free over a certain amount) or the alterations shop is nearby. It's the online stuff that tends to linger annoyingly.

A reminder that I promised previously, the sales have now officially started in France. Soeur is offering up to 50% for those who were waiting that out.

I sometimes find thin hiking socks with a reinforced heel good Elle. Sounds a bit odd I know but they're tight without being constricting and you can get them in various lengths.

Depends on budget really, Ganni has a very nice a-line leather skirt but it's substantially cheaper in Euros than in Pounds and All Saints have a similar one but there the price difference is the reverse. French brands usually have the cognac suede ones, IM often has it but not sure if she had them this year. There's a lot of velvet and/or corduroy versions about this year. Soeur has one, it's priced down a bit more aggressively at irisfashion IIRC but limited sizing.

'Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.'

Thanks Floisme, I need to try to take that one into everyday life!

Floisme I use that quote too, usually when my DC's are worrying about fitting in at school/friends.

Love all the skirts Bo I agree it's good to see how the entire outfit is styled. I saw a short A line one in the Zara sale and asked DD if she thought I was too old for it, sadly she said yes and tbh I think she's right. Still lots of inspiration here.

m&s red cord mini I saw this pre Christmas- not A line enough for me, but a decent nod to that pictured upthread.
I love a good a line mini with opaques. I've been teaming them with shirts since thread 1 which has reinvigorated them a little!

Does anyone use lip primer? I found a lovely old lipstick - Smashbox Sunset Junction. It's an orangy red, with a slight hint of gold. Sounds crazy, but it's feeling like a nice entry for me as I don't usually wear lipstick. It really does lift my face. Only downside is that being lovely and creamy and therefore wearable, it just doesn't last. I should try applying it with a brush, but wondered if a primer might help.

Thanks for the suggestions re:eyes
Have dug out a Nyx primer that was great and am goingto go through my huge stash and sort it out.
Found 3 UD palettes I never use as they dont have staying power but will try with the primer.
I need to pare down so that its manageable