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!

My mum likes knitting Aran sweaters so we have a few too many. One of the delights of living where I do is that there's a good woollen spinner making great yarns in natural dyes, and with a range of patterns that are a bit more exciting than the very traditional styles. here for anyone who is crafty or has a knitting Nora. But as you have been warned, knitting in real wool has become very expensive; the last time I bought yarn, it cost over £80 for a (big) cardigan before the time involved, which was a good couple of months, so you have to be happy with deferred gratifications. However, they do last more or less forever; we have a couple my mum made for my step-father who departed this planet some 30 years ago, still in excellent condition.

For anyone who is keen on traditional knits for their OHs or male relatives, my DH (who is 6'5" with very long arms and even longer body) has bought proper 4-ply Guernseys from Le Trictoteur in the Channel Islands. They will, if asked, make to measure for anyone who isn't a standard size in a week or so. They weigh a ton, but are extremely warm and virtually wind and water-proof, hence fishermen still choose them. They have the same kind of authentic workwear chic that BoTemp's French catalogue offers.

Apologies if this is too much information about rural chic! Don't get me started on wellies.

I am still dressed for the mud and rain: think cashmere V neck, men's climbing jeans (Kuhl) which are wonderfully slouchy with perfectly placed pockets. Outdoors, I add a baker boy cap or beanie, red lippie and an insouciantly wound huge scarf (to catch the raindrops before they hit my neck), a Swedish hooded parka and Salomon walking boots (with shoe lifts, more thanks to Bo and her links).

I love those roller skates, sure you don't want a roller disco . If not disco, then 70s rock? Or punk? Patti Smith, obvs.

Oh, Aran jumpers, I used to have a gorgeous one my grandma knitted in the 80s,98g gone sadly.

Don't know where 98g came from!

Do Celtic & Co have any Aran jumpers? They often have pieces from Donegal wool.

OCSock my rainy day school run outfit, usually has navy parka (Craghoppers and totally waterproof) with baker boy hat or beanie; this morning with Meduse short rainboots and red pashmina. Trying to mix practical with a little Parisian/french chic

I'm not sure if I am too late to join in. I have been in a clothing/style crisis for too long, as well as becoming gradually unhappy about buying cheap, synthetic fabric items. With the new year, I'm hoping to slowly make some changes and your thread seems the perfect place to get going.

Celtic do have some cabled jumpers, but the patterns are not true Arans, nor do they appear to be knitted in proper oiled wool (which you probably don't want -- it can smell). Quite nice and much cheaper than Elle's echt Aran knits.

Never too late, Overina.

Just rushing in to post a pic of my bootcuts, though I realise a lot of water has gone under a lot of bridges since that particular exchange. If I'm feeling really daring, I'll post a pic demonstrating how stoopid I look in skinnies...

I'm thinking about asking my friend to knit me a cream chunky Aran type jumper. Can't seem to find what I want anywhere. I want one to wear with my wine cord skirt. Which I think would be a very Non Parisienne outfit but all the same, I want one.

Love the roller skates! I'm actually going to Donegal in a couple of weeks, never occurred to me to go shopping when there! £300 jumpers are sadly not in my budget but I can nose about and report back.

Is it possible to wear a brooch without it looking old fashioned? 🤔 I'm having a sort through some things and come across a round crystal/rhinestone brooch. Pewter coloured metal, grey and white/clear stones, about an inch and a half diameter. It's very sparkly and I really like it. My huge burgundy wool scarf falls out of place a lot. Wondering if it could be used as a scarf clip?

Actually I've just given it a wash on some jewellery cleaner and the sparkle is making me very happy so I'm definitely going to wear it.

Thanks AuldA, that weather site gives me both the colder and warmer temps. Think will just have to err on the safe side and continue my Jon Snow impression. Bootcuts look great on you!

Oh, Elle, that Inis Meain website has gotten me all greedy. I love the look of their alpaca (one of my fave wools) Aran and the cropped boatbuilder sweater and the hotel looks lovely too, a perfect place to stay in and enjoy the surroundings when it's pissing down. Now my 70s roller disco (but no disco music) birthday plans have competition in a holiday to the Aran islands. Thankfully it's still months away.

I think I do want a proper Aran as cable knits can be really hit or miss on me. There's a giant rack full of them at a local vintage shop but they've taken all the labels off, some still have care labels but only if they have a Woolmark stamp which makes me a bit suspicious about the others as weirdly they look pretty new. They do all weigh a proper ton, though. But they're charging 85 euros which I find a bit steep for a mystery second hand one, no sizing either. I have seen Aran's in Paris. Especially on men, can't find loads of pics though, but I've seen them aplenty. I also quite like the idea of a men's Aran cardigan to wear with shorter skirts, possibly as outerwear.

Come join us, Overina! Always welcome to join in

Mary, do report back on the Donegal finds. I do always like those very functional items that have been around since forever because they're just so functional and long-lasting, like Sock described. Going to have a nose at Le Trictoteur next.

Enid, brooches seem to come and go a bit as of late, this past winter you saw a lot of clusters of brooches together but it didn't really catch on on the high street. Also pinned to the fisherman's cap. They do always work on a scarf, especially if it's slightly buried in there and gets revealed by its lustre, I used to fasten faux fur scarfs with them a lot which is a touch old-fashioned I suppose but I figured I was young enough to juxtapose it.

The Maje jacket with flares were brilliant btw, so brilliant I forgot to take pics Didn't realise the furry collar was detachable which was nice without as well. If by some miracle I end up finding nothing in Paris or it gets discounted further a bit I'll probably buy it.

Quick question for Elle if you're around... may I ask what size your Raey skirt is please, and what size you normally wear in jeans? Am contemplating an order...

Sorry to rush in and ask for help without commenting on posts. Will try to read back in a moment. As others have said, these threads are so inspiring, thank you all so much.

Auld you look fab in your slim bootlegs. Bet you look good in skinnies too but totally agree the boot cut is a great shape for you.

In that case, please look for Le Tricoteur... I mis-spelled it.

Ooh, all this is reminding me that I have a v old cable knit cardigan, which was my dad's when he was about 20. It's v thick white Scottish wool, with buttons made of twisted leather, and I wore it lots for mooching at home/as a dressing gown when I was 16-17, before leaving home. It is huge on me, as he's 6'4, but I adored it.
It's at my parents' house, along with a much loved paleish green cashmere cardigan that was my Granddad's, which I wore so much that it's all holey around the cuffs. I can still remember the softness of the cashmere. Maybe I should bring them here - but we have moths, and mild winters.

I've also remembered that when I was that age, about 15-18, I wore my Dad's shirts. Must have looked a bit of a tit. Though there's a lovely chambray one I nabbed for a nightshirt that I really might try and dig out next time I'm there.

Sorry, just rambling.

The pic of the bootcuts is just a follow-on from previous posts about whether to follow trends or stick to a style you know suits you. Now I'm past 40, I CBA with trends. I just take the bits I think will look right on me, if there are any, and ignore the rest. That outfit in the pic is particularly staid, as it's what I wore to work today...
I'll ask for it to be pulled in a day or two.

Bo, I was in Monoprix at the weekend and bought a checked/plaid/tartan nightshirt in thinnish, yet warm brushed cotton. Not flannel, but soft and cosy. MIght be worth a look if you're near a Monop' in Paris. Can't find it on the website. They had it in faux Black Watch and white/beige.

Auld I too am a bootcut devotee!

I like the concept of skinnies, but as a pear, they are not easy for me to wear, and I’ve given up trying.

mrsthomas skirt is a ten and I’d consider myself a pretty straight up ten. Any brand described as “true to size” I would be confident that a uk10 would be the best size for me. Jeans are tricky. I have 26-29 all of which fit so I don’t really know. I find jeans vary so much depending on brand and cut! Sorry that’s not very helpful re jeans!

I made a start a week ago by overhauling my underwear draw and bought ivory and black sets of lingerie from Rosie for autograph. Silk and French lace, enough sets for everyday, no idea what to do now though!

An Instagrammer I follow believes you should only ever need nude, black or pink bras. And showed a photo of her beautiful lingerie drawer filled with delicate, filmy bras [sobs with envy]

Auld you look wonderful in bootcuts!

Also, just wanted to say this thread is really helping me to appreciate my own body shape and think more carefully about how to dress it. I feel I have zero useful advice to offer anyone, so apologies that my posts are mainly asking for advice for myself- but this thread is a great resource. So thanks ladies.

Bo, the weather this week has gone from about 5° in the morning to 15°-17° in the middle of the day. Layering required...

You do look wonderful in bootcuts, Auld.

I have quite long (proportionally), slim legs, but quite "toned"/with a defined shape. I find I wear most styles of jeans, except perhaps mom jeans, due to being to curvy/high waisted silly name too. I tend to wear skinnies more in winter, due to being warmer and I can tuck them into my winter boots, but balance them out by wearing them with chunkier boots due to being an IT. I like flares in summer, they look great with trainers or sandals. I could probably do with some straight jeans this spring and I'm rediscovering bootcuts (thanks charity shop for an indigo gap pair).

Talking of body shapes, there was an interesting blog post on Myfitnesspal a while back about people training for certain body shapes, saying how much is inherently your own genetic shape. For instance, I don't think I would ever get six pack abs (not that I want them and especially after 2 c-sections) because, I can easily put weight on my belly. However, I quite naturally have a thigh gap, rounded bum whatever my weight, so it's kind of accepting your good bits rather than trying to change them.