French / Parisian style if you're not skinny

[DanceBeneathADiamondSky]

Or even slim! I'm a tall size 18 or thereabouts and all boobs and hips.

Please don't recommend I lose weight - as if I haven't thought of that 😂

But, I love the whole effortless, Parisian chic look I see everywhere these days.

I actually lived in Paris years ago and definitely could have worn it then, but didn't really get into it.

Thinking things like camel trench coats, loafers and jeans with shirts.

Has anyone who isn't a wee slip of a thing managed to pull this off without it veering into the f word territory? Not fuck - the other f word we aren't allowed to say....rhymes with grumpy

I'm 39 if it matters

I’m a size 14, 5 ft 5, and live in Paris. I deliberately don’t aim for the Parisian look; my body shape just doesn’t support it. I do have an amazing single breasted Royal Blizzand raincoat. It’s vintage French from the 60s and looks amazing on. Instantly makes me look smarter. I have smartened up considerably since I moved here.

I was rather touched when the lovely young Frenchman in the busy ski shop, needing my weight to adjust the bindings, leaned in and asked in a confidential whisper that was clearly designed to spare my blushes:
”And ‘ow much do you weigh, Madame?”😀
I’m a size 14 and was wearing a ski-jacket, but clearly he could see enough to be concerned!