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!
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Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!
993 replies
TossDaily · 28/12/2017 11:00
OP posts:
PeoniesforMissAnnersley ·
30/12/2017 16:47
bo for colours and style (about 4 hours with a light lunch) it was £250, a total waste of money in my case 
literally haven’t done anything with it at all, colours was better than style in the sense that I could see that eg burgundy which I adore made me look like a corpse so I avoid that now, but on many of the others (warm green vs cold green for example) even the colour stylist admitted there was very little in it and neither one looked amazing or terrible so it left me feeling very sceptical... then she decided I’m a warm autumn.
I have very pale almost blue skin, green eyes and black hair and was sure I was a winter!
ilovecherries ·
30/12/2017 17:11
Bo, I was £160 at HoC, and I have to say it was a total waste of money. That was only for colour - would have been more (double I think) for style as well, but the thought of putting my 34Ks into a colour that would have made me look like a Laura Ashley sofa circa 1988 freaked me out do much I cancelled the style appt. She also didn't seem to get that I was looking for ideas for a wardrobe that would carry me through the next couple of stone of weight loss - in August I was just at the point where none of my existing clothes fitted, I had just gone into larger 'straight' sizes rather than plus and I wanted a wardrobe that would take me through autumn into winter and would take me from size 18 to about 14. I didn't need cocktail dresses or statement pieces (or expensive classics!), I needed a bit of a uniform for a few months, with easy lines and in colours that were flexible enough to go with each other. None of that seemed to fit her script though!
I also didn't reply to your qu upthread asking about how comfortable I was with exposing (can't remember your exact wording) my body now. I think I'm pretty pragmatic about it, and psychologically I'm fairly relaxed about what my body looks like now. I realise that to half of S&B it probably seems ghastly, but part of this process for me is that I've had to learn to like myself a lot more than I ever have in the past. You don't get to the size I was without some damage, but I've just decided I need to accept it. It happened for a reason, and at the time I was doing the best I could, so I won't hate myself for a bit of crinkly skin. Having said that, I burn so very easily it's easier to manage covering up with clothes rather than sunscreen everywhere. My arms are in ok nick for my age and don't have stretch marks. My stomach has actually survived weight loss better than I dared hope, and I have maybe 3 stretch marks on each side of my lower abdomen. I don't have masses of loose skin that needs to be contained, just some crinkling, although I think the final stone I have to lose is probably mostly on my stomach, and I do have a smallish CS overhang. Boobs are big but they always were so I'm not expecting to lost much more from them. My neck and chest are my reward for a lifetime of sun dodging and lashings of spf 
. My lower legs are fine. My upper leg IS a mess and while I don't worry if I'm wearing swimwear I generally like to keep them covered. Having always thought I was an apple with huge boobs, there is an hourglass emerging, which is novel! What I've never liked though is any sense of my clothes strangling me in any way, whether that's neck, waist, cuffs etc. I do like comfort - and because of my accident, I need to feel stable on my feet.
It's very lovely of you to do all this thinking and researching for us.
shopafrolic ·
30/12/2017 17:51
Thanks bananafish I am near a COS tomorrow so will take look :)
I had my colours done twice. First time by a stylist who diagnosed me as an Autumn, second time by HoC who said jewel winter and I could really see it.
Luckily for me some of my ** colours are black and grey , but also scarlet and fuchsia which I do love. I ignore anything that I don't like!
I must have spent £££ when I got my Autumn diagnosis on new clothes, most of which I never loved and I then got rid of. I would say if you have colours that you love wearing, and that people compliment you on (or say you look well when you wear them), stick to those. I'm glad I had mine done but I do break the rules. It did teach me that I suit blue toned red lipsticks and bright fuchsia and I have learnt that I look much healthier with a bright lip but I guess the same can be said for most people (that bright tones lift the complexion).
explodingkittens ·
30/12/2017 19:10
I have just bought two pairs of pure wool trousers, for work. One slimline in navy (Costume National) and one slightly wider in black (Stella McCartney). Both from TK Maxx online so have taken a bit of a chance but they can always go back, right? I have a lovely black linen blazer from Whistles which will look beautiful with the SMcC's.
Actually I need to ask about black and navy together. I personally think it looks fine generally but have always felt it's a bit of a style no-no? @bo, any thoughts?
Went out to friends last night and wore a black-and-white breton under a charcoal Toast 'gauzy' wool shirt, with the sleeves rolled to show the breton. Black skinnies, silver converse, red lips (love this discovery, feel fab with a strong red lip!) and my new short crop styled to show all the silver . Don't know how French I looked but I felt wonderful and got lots of compliments! I do think perhaps the shoes were a step too far and probably stopped it being 'chic' but it was a strong look compared to what I would usually wear.
ProperLavs ·
30/12/2017 19:47
sounds great kittens. it doesn't matter whether we look french or not does it? What matters is that all these tips help us to feel a better version of ourselves and when we feel that we look good then we shine and when we shine people notice us.
I had a thought that no matter how well I dressed it wouldn't look great unless unless I tried to hold myself better. It might sound silly but I spent today shopping trying to remember to hold my head up ( like I had a string attached to it), eyes straight ahead rather than looking down, shoulders back and down and moved more from the hips ( but not in an exaggerated fashion), rather than my usual apologetic shuffle .
It was interesting to notice how much more confident I felt and people did notice me more. Hopefully that wasn't because I looked like a twat. 
botemp ·
30/12/2017 20:13
Zippy, Yoox will also have an extensive selection of blazers, you can pick materials, colours, etc.
Speaking of Yoox, Methen, I know you mentioned wanting to upgrade your denim shirt, I have two from Isabel Marant Etoile, and though technically not really denim they are brilliant as they're woven like a denim and look like it, but not as stiff but you can just wash and leave to dry on a hanger and require no ironing. They have a version of one I have on Yoox in a 14 (all of mine are a size or three bigger, I prefer them that way). I'm expecting they'll do some sort of promo on NYE or NYD.
Chango, did you use a lip pencil? I usually spend more time lining the lip than applying a lipstick. I think Lisa Eldridge also has a good tutorial on it.
Lovely, AuldA, I know it's not just any purchase for you so I'm very pleased it's worked out so well for you 
I am in 
at those prices! I thought it was 60 quid or something, it feels very exploitive somehow as it will mostly attract and target women who aren't that confident in dressing themselves and possibly not that confident generally. I'm clearly in the wrong line of business with those price tags
Peonies, ochre can look amazing on burgundy, maybe not have it right on the face but I think it's strange to avoid it completely. Funnily enough before this I had sort of been 'feeling' the colour, as in I had a hankering for it, but not the horrible mustard we had a few years ago and I'm seeing pop up in pockets through my French newsletters now, although it's always been a staple colour.
That's why I asked, cherries, it can be very different per person. I was completely comfortable in a bikini at a size 12, completely not now at half that size. You'd expect the opposite but there's no rhyme or reason to it, I know plenty who are beyond delighted to be able to wear 'less' now no longer feeling the 'need' to hide it all before where people the same size would be horrified at the thought (for themselves).
Ooh Costume National trousers are great exploding, I've wanted a coat from there for ages. So annoyed TKMaxx don't do an online shop here, will have to check in store. They had loads of Stella McCartney in last time I went in.
I think navy and blue rules are a bit archaic. If you look at vintage clothing you can sort of see why, in a lot of the more generic fabrics and less advanced dyeing techniques black was never as deep as it is now. It sort of reads flat. It's also why the black and colour rule existed, it just didn't work sometimes. Navy also isn't the colour it used to be, again deeper and richer. They're more compatible now and selected to be able to do so. If your clothes are older and have faded a bit then you can trip up again, though.
MyNewHobbyIsGin ·
30/12/2017 20:53
Wow lot's to catch up on and think I'll have to reread the last couple of pages - lots to take In!
Banana if you are anywhere near a Rigby & Pellar they are amazing. They fit by sight, so will take size and shape into consideration. Ok so they are not cheap items but will last. I now buy in the sale, so am due an order in this weekend! I find them so comfortable and have now amassed a range so I don't actually wear any other brand.
Am also settled in for Spiral at 9. Have finished the first series of Call My Agent and really enjoyed. The episode with Audrey Flerot was so funny.
DH has been playing Zaz (a former Monmarte busker apparently) which was tres cool. I told him It must have been the influence of living with someone truely chic. Me: him 
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Pinkpeppermintteaforme ·
31/12/2017 09:45
I went from a 32 AA to a 32 FF after pregnancy and BF for 6 years
Do not rate M&S at all -they fit with too large a band and too small a cup-dreadful.
Panache and Freya fan here .
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