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!

banana thank you

Just back from the salon and love, love, love my hair. Very happy.

Went out for lunch - charcoal roll neck slouchy jumper slightly tucked into black skinnies, boots, mid grey wool scarf and black peacoat plus red lipstick. Felt great and received a couple of compliments including my lteenage DS.

You really can't go wrong with black + charcoal + red lipstick. It always works.

Everyone's outfits sound lovely.

I have taken the plunge and bought a cord skirt.

floisme VW trousers are so cool. Wear well.

bananafish81 sounds like you’ve found boots. The Dune ones are nice and it they fit well that’s a plus. I love that skirt + tights and clumpy boots look. Lusting after these Ganni ones. I kid of like the yellow laces but they could be swapped out for black. Glad you got your trousers too.

I tried on the stories skirt again. I’m a bit unsure. The quality is nice and the button detail nicely done but I think the length might be a bit off on me. Neither fish nor foul? I think I’d maybe prefer something a little shorter for casual. It might be nice for more casual days at work though?what do you think? Feel free to be critical!

Love the sound of all the outfits!

That skirt looks lovely - suits your slim legs and can be dressed up or down.

Could anyone link me to the thread where the measurements/body shape are. There are three threads now and I have trawled but I can't go through so many this evening but I will do so again. Tomorrow I am heading into town though and I really want to go with some guide in my head for once

Bo. I managed to get one of those Soeur skirts on Iris - thanks for the heads up, that was a huge discount.

Grumpy that is an amazing op-shop find.

I rocked my skinny white jeans today with a louche grey vest and a quilted denim jacket to go to brunch today. My husband commented that I was "off skiing in Aspen." Which is, er, I guess, a good thing?

At brunch there was a perfectly Parisian type at the table next - dark grey skinny jeans, logo t-shirt tucked in, perfectly messy hair, stacked bracelets and smudgy eyeliner. She would have been in her late 40s, and couldn't have looked cooler.

Swooning at some lovely purchases. I have been following and did a lengthy response that vanished! So just briefly:

*nail buffing- I'm also a big convert. I usually apply nail varnish twice a week, but if I know I'm going to be really busy, I just remove, buff then add oil. Shiny bare nails look so much better than chipped varnish.

*bras- I went rl shopping into lovely little bra shop. I tried some very gently padded styles BUT they all had that sort of glossy finish so I still feel they would cause silk camis etc to 'slide'. The search continues for something a bit lacy to peek out of tops. If you lack volume up top though (and have a chest on the smaller size), I bought a fab one from Calvin Klien (pictured). The padding is shaped almost like a hand scooping and holding up each breast (pictured). It gives a lovely shape under clothes.

*In my rl sale shopping spree with my mum I got some lovely items, I spent a fair bit of time looking at composition of material, stitching etc. I decided against several heavily discounted design items that previously I would have bought simply because they fit, even though they weren't quite right and I wouldn't have paid full price for them. So thank you to this thread as the bits I bought, I love.

Phone about to die but will post about shoes/ebay after.

Just to add about shoes, I but these Russell&Bromley shoes from ebay for £5! Inspired by my pins of Clemence, I intend to experiment with a more simple shoe. Normally I would wear pointed flats/heels with such outfits buy love this look and think it would be much kinder to my broad feet.

I think I'll have to be very careful it doesn't just look like I've stuck on my grandfather's shoes though!

Nice pics, Methen, I seem to do trainers, boots or sandals (in summer), I've completely got out of the habit of shoes but need to explore this a bit, I'd be interested too see how you get on with them. £5 bargain, too.

Grumpy what a great find! Am loving reading about everyone's purchases this thread is such a joy. Am getting so many compliments at the moment when really the change in what I'm wearing is subtle, turn up her and a swish of a scarf there.

Love all the pics.

I honestly had forgotten how much fun dressing and beauty could be...I know it sounds daft, but I had forgotten I could enjoy it, I am really grateful to these threads & everyone who's contributed, for bringing that feeling back.

I managed to get a start on the summer stuff, will aim for a once a week drop or so.

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The Foundations

I think it was quirky who said summer and warm weather clothes are harder to pull off because there’s nowhere to hide. I’m inclined to agree and it’s not so much about hiding the shape of your body it’s just that you have to do what you normally do in fewer layers and usually less area to cover/dress. Whilst there’s very much a conscious switch up in materiality and colour palettes it is the finishing details in the accessories that become more crucial. Since the colour palette is limited (more on that next time) the accessories often act as one of those colours.

Leather is popular, in the traditional colours of tan/cognac, dark brown, black and occasionally red/raspberry, mustard/yellow, bottle green/turquoise. Often matching shoes and other leather accessories (belts, bracelets, trim on a hat, etc.)

Also this lovely 100% silk top for about £7 delivered. Plan to wear it with a bit of lace cami or bra showing (already arrived and lovely but pretty low).

Quirky-will let you know. Hoping they don't look too frump-tastic when they arrive.

Chango- what a boost. I defo think the small detail seems to be in the key.

Those who don't brush hair (to encourage natural curl), do you brush it at all when damp after you've washed it?

Should add that I plan to wear that top in summer with high waisted boyf/ flared jeans.

Speaking of shoes, there really isn’t much variety and most of it hails from Spain. Gladiator style sandals are popular (brands like K. Jacques or Les Tropéziennes ) as are Menorcas (like the ones sold at de Toujours ), Espadrilles with or without a wedge (Castaner and many many similar brands, most French fashion houses will have a version).

Trainers are popular too, usually in a summer material like canvas or linen. The ones by Bensimon are well liked, they’re dirt cheap and come in a huge variety of colours and aren’t an in your face trainer. Dip toes (a Chanel invention) are always popular too, either as formal work shoe in a low back heel (sometimes a sling back) or flat, optically they’re a good pick as the lighter colour elongates the legs and the darker tip makes for a dainty foot.

From the first signs of the sun in spring the ballerinas do come out in full force in a variety of shapes and colours. Repetto is a very popular brand (although personally not a big fan). Things like slides and slippers are worn as well, of course, but you’re more likely to spot them worn on holiday rather than at home.

In case you’re wondering about sensible footwear. Yes, the old standby, the Birkenstock, is definitely spotted on French feet, often worn under a stretchy pant in silk or thin cotton but it’s rarely the iconic model, rather the slide version. Celine and Isabel Marant tend to have an upgraded version of it every summer.

I have too many jewelry pics

Apols, posted the next post before this one, so wrong order

Jewellery gets a switch up too, the stacking continues but added to it are pieces of fabric and leather to give an element of texture that we’re missing when saying goodbye to knits and large expanses of leather. It can help emphasis the thinner parts of you like the wrist by stacking slim fitting cuffs with more ropey textures, or elongate the neck with thin dangling earings. Aurelie Biedermann, has probably been most influential in this aesthetic and whilst the moment around that has somewhat passed the groundworks of it still remain and it is good to counter more voluminous billowy shapes when dressing.

It also helps give shape to relatively simple pieces (like a white tee) using that as a canvas to showcase the jewelry whilst creating lines of interest at the same time. At the same time, a slight move is made from the very fine thin banded pieces to more delicate cuffs with interesting decorations that can pick up colours from within the limited colour palette to give some life.

Bags switch up too, gone is leather for the most part, in come fabrics like linen and canvas (sometimes coated). Every picture of French summer style often features that blasted Birkin basket, but in all honesty unless someone’s heading to a market I’ve yet to really see someone wear that seriously. Plenty of raffia though.

A tote is ubiquitous (the ones by Vanessa Bruno as pictured in raffia in pic 2 are still loved), but a standard saddle bag is also quite popular.

Bags definitely are more casual in summer, two very popular brands for this are Jerome Dreyfuss (Isabel Marant's OH) and Antik Batik, both quite laid back and despite being quite busy in a sense, design wise, still very much fit in that pulled back aesthetic, of just the right amount of 'not too much'.

Sunglasses, on you at all times. French light is harsh and a bit of extra protection from the sun around the most delicate skin is always nice too. Classical shapes are popular, in traditional colours but if you’re inclined to have a couple they can be a fun way to switch up

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Love the scarf Peonies and that IM jacket is an amazing find Grumpy

It's OK Flo, I'll come across something nice within days to tempt me again, I'm sure. Think you're very right about a hairdresser understanding that essentially you're not prepared to do much about your hair. I've had great technical cuts in the past but they'd only look great when styled and horrible otherwise, more often than not those hairdressers all assumed (why I'll never know) that I was lying when I said I can't be arsed to do much more than shampoo, condition and maybe a leave-in styling product.

Methen, I only brush the night before, usually before applying the CR lavender oil in as that needs to sit for a few hours. You can do this with other oils too I'm sure, Rice Bran Oil is a good one that I've used in the past. I'd put a towel on your pillow though, the CR doesn't seem to transfer but RBO can transfer a bit.

So pleased the Casablanca trousers came in as you wanted banana. I know it's very different depending on feet but more affordable shoes are just torture on my feet. All shoes hurt until they're broken in but cheaper shoes never stop so I'm just a really bad judge of the difference.

bellabelly's book mention has reminded me of a book rec, Lullaby by Leïla Slimani have only read the sample chapter so far (only just released) and have ordered on the back of that and this The New Yorker Review, although not for the faint-hearted at all I expect. Can't really tell if this is going to be as infuriating/torturous as A Little Life again but she did just win a major prize in France.

I agree that the skirt is neither here nor there, Elle, you have amazing legs and they just make it sort of meh. I think the length is just off. A shorter and straighter silhouette would do more for you I think, especially if it's for casual wear. I'd be inclined to return it.

Theshipsong, I think we've mostly discussed people on an individual basis, shape wise. A few things were linked, from all of that I've bookmarked the Trinny & Sussanah Flow Chart and the the 12 body shapes as it seems the easiest to comprehend and takes into account height.

Was super excited to find some Isabel Marant sneakers yesterday which both looked great with black socks (rare for that type of model), on account of the black lip on the back and could easily transition into summer and replace a similar pair that's at the end of its life. Discounted 50% and I had a you buy too much stuff here loyalty discount for another 20euros off, last one in my size and then... they couldn't find the other shoe or the box . They promised to call if they ever find it but I'm not getting my hopes up

Thanks bo some great ideas there.

I don't get on with summer clothes at all and I don't buy nearly as many, which is probably no bad thing! I need coverage - not just out of vanity but because I have to be careful in the sun - and also structure and a lot of summer stuff is just too flimsy and droopy for me. So I tend to stick to a kind of uniform: trousers of differing shapes/lengths, L/S shirt (preferably silk or cotton, sometimes linen if not too saggy) and brogues or leather plimsolls (I don't like trainers). I find that some variation on that theme will get me into most places.

It means accessories become very important, both to keep the look modern but also to stop me getting too bored so I'll go back to your posts and read more carefully when I've got more time.