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!

I used to get really stressed thinking oh but if I buy this then I'll have to buy that to go with it! So I guess I have streamlined in the sense that I tend to wear navy and white in the summer and grey and black in the winter. Bright colours are only knitwear, or silk tops in summer, and lipstick. Which are more interchangeable.

Actually I must link to the RL jeans I swear by 👖 will do so tomorrow

Yes that sounds like the sort of thing bo. I'm going to be in London in March so planning to do some shopping then, I think.

I tried to MK and went though a phase of being a bit obsessed with a 'capsule'. Agree that the concept of a capsule makes me want to chuck everything out and start again! I am a bit of an emotional shopper so it has been good to think about what I need and buy it when I do, rather then use shopping to cheer myself up. On the other hand, some of the best things I've had have been bought on a complete whim.

Bought two lovely pairs of Boyfriend jeans yesterday, from Levi- they were doing buy one get one free, so I have a dark wash and a light wash. Now to practice the half tuck with a shirt and make myself look like an editor of French Vogue I wish

Bo, you look very young and beautiful in that photo and I think the trousers would look good in a smaller size.

I read the Kondo book last year, and there are some great ideas, although the overall thing is too extreme for me- like Flo, I have clothes I regret parting with. One of her good ideas was to photograph things though - there are clothes I wish I had pictures of, even if they did have to go (because worn out for example).

I am 5’4 but with proportionality short legs, so think I probably look best in a slight bootcut (those gap long and lean!), with a bit of a heel; but it can be hard to tell in a mirror - I might take a ton of photos! Also, sometimes I want to dress in something fashionable/ practical/ that I just love, even if it isn’t objectively the most flattering.

Canters, I believe Boden have some very good plain workwear- their quality isn’t as good as it was but you might get natural fabrics at a reasonable price if that is a consideration for you.

Also, I remember capsule wardrobes being a big thing in magazines and papers in the eighties (often in red, white and navy!), with weird ideas like belting a long shirt to make a dress, or having the same top with trousers, skirts or a dress with no consideration as to washing!

I don’t think I mean weird- impractical! You would have been washing your one shirt every night! (Kondo does allow duplicates I believe).

Has anyone used the Stylebook app to organise their clothes? I love it, although it's time consuming taking photos of everything. You save photos of your entire wardrobe and can put them together into outfits (or generate random ones). You can also keep a diary of what you wear and see cost per wear of individual pieces.

Lots to catch up with, as we had a party for dd2 yesterday and were a bit busy.

boI think the YouTube channels on french makeup had already been mentioned, Violette and also Justine LeComte has a minimal makeup look tutorial (so many products). Complete link fail but an American one Christen Dominique American vs French makeup. The American looks very Kardashian-style fake, whereas the French looks really radiant.

Slouchy, indigo jeans sound gorgeous and Patti Smith, definitely l'attitude!

canters I love my levis and have far too many pairs of 501 ct and skinnies.What style did you get?

The other thing about me - and it's not something I'm proud of - is that I get bored with my clothes quite easily. But I've learned that there's a fighting chance I'll go back to them. I've been bored with dresses for the last year but it may be temporary. Of course I may go back to them and find they've dated or no longer fit, but I can't identify them yet so, apart from the short ones, they all stay for now.

I'm also with Tanaqui in that there are times when I just enjoy wearing something because I like it, even if it's not my most flattering look. Fashion is an experience where you can have as much fun as you like without breaking the law or (with one or two exceptions) risking your health. The biggest danger is that occasionally you look a bit silly.

And let's remember that 'flattering' is not an objective truth. You've only got to walk around an art gallery or look at some 1970s wedding photos to see that it's a movable concept.

Tan I will have a look at Biden, thanks.

Proper it's the 501s I got! I asked for boyfriend and that's what the shop assistant directed me towards. They're lovely! I'm so tempted to go back and stock up on skinnies whilst on offer.

Yes, I am still a fan of Boden, with the oft-repeated caveat that it needs to be plain. I think their sizing is generally fairly consistent and their customer service is second to none. Just wish their p&p to Europe was more competitive - I would be a more regular shopper if they offered periodic lures Just in case you're reading this Johnny

canters I think I have 4 pairs of 501😮and 3 skinnies. I’m wearing a pair today. Bogof is a bargain indeed.

I have been ill in bed for days now and catching up on the thread. Nothing to contribute, I'm afraid, unless you all want to talk about pyjama fashion again?

But you have just done me the massive favour of reminding me I got a Patti Smith book for Christmas. Thank you.

Just trying to catch up with these amazing posts and advice.

Been to paris loved it.

Read French women dont get fat.

I wish my wardrobe was more classic and minimalist.

I know i need to be ruthless with wardrobe sort out .

But im 25 weeks pregnant and just dont feel its the right time.

In recent years i been a size 12 and mostly on a diet.

Right noq feel huge gone for black maternity trousers black /bkue maternity skinnies, black leggings, black maternity dress .

Tops just gone larger uk size 16 and 18 moslty sale or cheap.
Got tops mango sale
Few tops/scarfs Primark sale

Dont want to spend a lot for sake of few months.

Got 3 larger coats charity shop.

Really unsure what to do about hair which is long and colour a dyed reddy brown.

Brought myself some new makeup in jan sale to cheer me up.
Also some reduced trainers/boots as figured can wear them once baby is born.

So any french style tips for pregnancy or post pregnacy/ new mum.

With red lipstick do you use liner and something keep colour on like lip cote as find brighter colours on me can look messy.
Any reccomendation budget or reasinably priced red in the uk?

Do you all moisturise?
My nails are non existent.
Do french womeb fake tan as im naturally fair and pasty.

Where to buy

Wide legged trousers
Ciggerette style denim jeans
Leather leggings

All at reasonably priced uk retailers?

Also wanted a Palestinian print scarf.

Need to learn new ways tie scarf as always found scarfs useful with breastfeeding.

flo I have quite a small amount of clothes that I wear each season, but but but... I have several nice things that I have put away from years ago that I have kept and go through from time to time. I think I'm old enough to know that if they're good quality they may come to feel more current at a later date. I know I have a couple of slim, tuby, maxi skirts that just don't feel right atm, one is navy, boiled wool with a kind of sculptural hem, another is a Rene Derhy for La Redoute, purply taffeta one I bought for a wedding. Both lovely, and I can see myself rediscovering them when they feel right.

3asabird Congratulations on your pg. I agree that you don't necessarily want to spend loads when you are pg, I would buy some nice accessories and makeup, as you can continue to use these regardless of pg state.

3asabird
Nails - I would keep really short anyway and get some of the quick dry spray and one coat polish for quick nails when DC allow (until they can at least watch 15-20 ins of tv without shouting!)
cigarette jeans - Boden Cavendish girlfriend?

3asabird for red lippie I'm quite partial to the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte reds.

As the wise people of this thread have suggested, it's best applied with your finger for a more subtle look. I don't use lipliner when applying lipstick this way, but I may be doing it wrong.

Thanks guys rimmel definatly within budget.

Treated myself to far too many sale trainers.

Also got a few sale scarfs Primark.

Want to buy less and better quality omve baby is born and size weight stabalises.

Chocolate teabag not 1st baby not sure they ever outgrow rowing and pestering me.

Will take a look at boden.

Wonder how french women do maternity and post natal?

My French colleague bought regular dresses from Cos when pregnant. All the extra fabric in them made them perfect for maternity dresses.

Well, I did try but think I'm going to pass my new Ruby Woo onto DD. I just think it is too harsh a colour, and finish, on my middle aged skin.

Love the colour but just don't think it's flattering on me

My super-discounted Souer button-thru A-line mini in bronze velvet arrived today.

I've teamed it with an &Other Stories striped tee, bare legs, tan sandals, a silver wrist cuff and massive tortoiseshell sunglasses.

cactus that sounds very chic!

3asAbird french women get dietician and physio advice to get back into shape post-natally . Which might explain a lot. They are also monitored a lot during pg, so they don't put on too much weight (which may or may not be a good thing).

Bare legs cactus? Not in the uk then?!

Haha, no, sunny Melbourne which was a balmy 30 degrees today.

I think I went bare-legged about three times a year when I was living in the UK.