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!

Love this thread!
I'm in France and the jeans in this shop are the best I've found for a tight fit and flattering shape.
Not sure if they deliver to the UK though.
www.graindemalice.fr

ToElleWithIt Those jeans are perfection! Love the rise on them. I would go with your usual dress size if you want them to fit in the same style as the model (rather than oversized). Please do report back on fit etc. Am seriously tempted!

I came across this image over the weekend & would love to replicate it. Need to find some high-waisted wide leg khakis that don’t shorten my already short legs.

Edina I recognise those khaki jeans, they're from Next and I have them. Always get compliments when I wear them. Really wish I'd bought them in denim too.

Actually I've just been label checking my jeans and I think I over estimated how much lycra you need. Even my hideously stretchy J Brands (I know, I know - why haven't I thrown them out?) are only 2%. Mind you they're also 7% polyester which I hadn't noticed before I must dig out my Gap Long n Leans, which are possibly my favourite jeans ever, and check them too.

So just a tiny, tiny amount needed. I don't know how much they were putting in when they first started using it - all I remember is the thrill of having jeans that fitted for the first time in my life.

Hope you have a great time in Paris, bo - I keep seeing headlines about the Seine rising and thinking of you!

Thanks MadameBronte I will take a look at the Next ones but...I have been Insta-stalking and...Result! Just tracked down the woman wearing the khakis in the photo on Instagram (she's Monica Ainley, a fashion writer). Apparently they are from Gap. I reckon then, that they must be either these or these. Looking closely at the fabric grain on the IG photo, I think it is more likely that they are the latter. Although, my god, you wouldn't think so from Gap's styling!

Botemp - looking forward to your Paris update. Enjoy.

Flo, apparently 50 baboons escaped the Paris zoo too I'm imagining them as little Gondoliers on the Seine , but hopefully feet will stay dry. Should arrive in the next ten minutes, looks dry so far.

I should be working but now I'm sat here laughing like a loon at Botemp 's imagery of baboon gondoliers!!

Yes I think you're right Enid. I think her trousers are cotton rather than denim. But the hems on her's do look slightly frayed like my Next ones.

Floisme I'm very tempted by Gap Long and Lean, but think they've stopped making them? I think they would flatter me because I have narrow hips, flat bum and no waist

But how do they fit? I'm a standard size 12 with a 30" inside leg. I'd like to track down a pair on eBay if I can.

I don't think they've made them since skinnies took a grip Madeleine. I used to really like them because they were reasonably loose on the thigh, unlike a lot of flares/bootcuts. But they also evolved so - just to make Ebaying harder - they're not all identical. I had one pair that even I got rid of as they were insanely low waisted but the pair I've kept are probably either a 4 or a 6 which would make them 8 or 10 UK size. (Do Gap still use US sizing? I've not shopped there since they closed the local store down.) I'll dig them out when I get home and check properly.

Well, I tried my old 501s on (from c1995) and I could get them on but not do up the last 2 buttons. I seem to remember them being none too comfortable at the time, 100% cotton and no stretch, the legs looked quite flattering, though. Shows the vanity sizing now, the same size 30s I tried on recently were too big.

bo ha ha @ mars blusher, I missed that one! Might well have been though.
I had no idea by terry was a space nk brand. That makes sense. Cheeky as sat me down and proceeded to apply foundation all over my face. I don’t need foundation. I feel quite pissed off Bout the fact he did something without asking.
I had 2 people today tell me my skin looked good, one of them being my 1) year old daughter. I reckon the ordinary products are having an effect.

I shall check out the khaki wide legs, they look ace. I have a pair of khaki girlfriend chinos from gap but I need to wIt for the weather to warm up.

Gah, typos, I meant my 16 year old daughter!

Ah, the irony. I have just sent a pair of the high rise chinos back. The leg is ok but the waist is made for someone wearing a corset. Really odd sizing. They were ok, a bit odd really as the fabric was quite stiff and didn’t move well.

ProperLavs do you know if it was the first or second pair I linked to that you tried? I did wonder if the waist would be a bit pinched and the fabric on the second pair definitely look like they would be more coarse/stiff than the first.

edina as far as I can see they are the same trousers, just different pockets. They get good reviews on the website though. If could have sized up I would have, but my size had gone.

For those of you with over sized/ man jeans what styles have you got? I do love my many pairs of 501 CT all very different. The 23” are like loose skinnies, but the24” require a belt. However they do taper to the calf and I would also like to find. Pair that were looser all the way down.

Strangely, I have more success with Gap outlet stores rather than the normal ones.

Got my favourite pair of white, ankle length skinnies in Gunwharf Quays a few years ago for an extortionate £11!

So far these threads have cost me two shirts, seven merino tops from Uniqlo and Arket, three pairs of trousers and enough Kiko makeup to last a lifetime. Whoops, forgot the Parfois stole, a pair of chunky loafers, a big scarf and a cashmere jumper.

Have to say, it's been worth every penny!

I am sorely tempted by a pair of flared/very wide leg jeans on eBay. I just feel like pushing the boat out a bit really.

Madame (I've just realised I got your name wrong in my last post - sorry ) Those Long n' Leans are a US size 4 - so 8 in the UK and regular length, which comes up quite long but then flares always are longer. I'm normally size 8-10, increasingly a 10 in trousers/jeans and they still fit although they're snugger on the thigh than they used to be! They're still very flattering though if you're heavy of thigh. So I would say they're about true to size. I hope you can find some. On reflection I've hardly ever seen them in charity shops which suggests a lot of people have hung onto them like me.

Proper as I'm sure I've said (and probably more than once!) I adore wide legs so I'm cheering you on. My only proviso is that if they're ultra wide, I do prefer a higher waist and at the moment, a lot of the second hand ones are from the last wave (early noughties) so quite low waisted.

corset waist, you say, that sounds right up my alley. What size did you try, Proper? Will see if I can find some here.

Probably have too many thoughts. Also shopped an embarrassing amount in a short time period. Will look for pics tonight as the mirror here is at an odd place for photos.

Yet to spot a baboon it doesn't even need to be a gondolier outfit, I'll happily settle for a Breton

Scarves, scarves, everywhere.

Forgot everyone reads books on the metro.

I've been asked for directions twice within an hour of arriving in Paris, by French natives

Forgot how many homeless and beggars there always are.

Also forgot that they can be just as effortlessly stylish as any other Parisian. Had some serious jewellery envy for a man who had dangled a cuff on a necklace like an oversized pendant.

Parisian women seem to be actively coveting a suede camel trench coat. The Madame Le Figaro I read this morning echoed as much.

Forgot you still have to show the contents of your bags at any medium to large building or shop as an anti terrorism measure.

Parisians and I have a different interpretation of mild weather. Hats, who wears hats and mittens over ten degrees?!

Got lost in a giant Sephora, then decided I wanted none of it. I have reached peak Sephora I think.

Found some Helmut Lang LL in my size (really rare) and discounted but it did nothing for me. I think I'm over LL

Bought the Rene Furterer Dry Shampoo on a whim as the Klorane was sold out. I think I like it better.

Found a bargain basement where lots of designer items were 80% off. Bought a stunning skirt from theory among other things. I love it all to bits.

Only managed one floor of the Le Bon Marche, bought some Flo trousers (well that's what I thought when I saw them, high waisted, wide legs and slightly cropped) thought I'd try them on just to see and finally got what Flo was on about. Think it helps that the material is really stiff with a ironed seam down the middle so it reads more vertical than wide.

Accidentally stumbled upon a Soeur outlet, it was closed should be open from today though

There was more but I've lost count. Oh food, yes very good as always and I somehow seem to have regained a bit of lost appetite.

Also, I will never make it as a street style photographer, I'm too damn slow and far too often distracted by the clothes to remember to take the photo. I've attached some attempts, had to crop them as I took them from far away so the quality ain't all that great. I want to he that dashing older man in the green cape when I grow up, alternating with Yoga woman on odd days of the month

wow bo you've hit the shops like a real pro. I'm rather but it sounds like you're having an ace time.

The utility chinos were in a size 2. I could do them up and they weren't dreadfully tight( but no way could I put on any weight and still fit into them) BUT I really can't stand any sort or restriction round my waist and these were high and cinched. They fitted well on my hips. The legs were wide buy not obscenely so. i tried them on in the dark grey.

That sound like a fabulous trip. I'm impressed at being mistaken for a local. That is the holy grail!

Speaking of suede coats, I like the idea of this suede safari jacket The asymmetry I'm not sure about and I'm not buying anything else, so it's a theoretical discussion!!

I love the man cape!

Bo sounds like a great shopping trip. Cape man is certainly something to aspire to. I have a navy wool cape lurking in my wardrobe (COS, I think, from a few seasons back) that I really like but don't wear nearly enough. I might need to get it out more often this coming autumn.

I had a minor style victory inspired by this thread yesterday. I was running a press conference, outdoors, in a tropical location that required long sleeves, trousers, hats and closed toed shoes for safety reasons. This would normally be a bit of a fashion disaster zone for me, as my default summer work look is dominated by dresses and I panic when I need to default.

I wore my new Isabel Marant chambray shirt, sleeves rolled to elbow and tucked into a pair of mid-calf culottes, with navy and pink brogues/derbys and a straw fedora, a dash of Ruby Woo and my big old tortoiseshell sunnies.

I felt great, had plenty of compliments, was comfortable AND met the stringent OHS requirements. Taking Parisian style to the tropics!

cactus that sounds very chic! I really struggle in the heat full stop, let alone would manage formal with such dress restrictions.

Gorgeous photos bo. It is very cold here, so hats and gloves are necessary. I love the man cape too, but struggle with anything that might come undone while with dd2. It sounds as if you got some gorgeous things. I'm hankering after my old suede trench, mine was dark brown and I wore it till it fell apart. It was very useful (not in torential rain, though).

We went out to the theatre last night and I went for my aubergine/purple velvet coat, cherry red pashmina, deep red patent/Croc bag, fedora and kiko berry red as a lip stain. I felt warm and chic.

Sounds like an amazing outfit cactus

I'm getting a pay rise next month - want to reward myself with something fun that will instantly add to an outfit eg bag or scarf? Or shoes?

What's the one piece you guys would pick in this situation & why?