A stylish person you once saw who you can't forget

[iCod]

Me, Southwest West France about 1979
We were still agog by topless women, but there was this one woman who had a gold chain around her tiny waist and she looked brilliant and I just thought today she must be dead by now
Who do you remember seeing that made an impact?

Yep! 😂

A very hot October Mediterranean holiday. Practically had the island to ourselves except for this Italian family of 4, kids same age and genders as ours. We seemed to be destined to meet on every remote beach, out of the way restaurant, town square etc. they were all cool, effortlessly stylish and serene while we were hot, bothered and quietly bickering amongst ourselves…in our supermarket swimming outfits😂their kids did say our snorkels were superior to theirs - and of course the kids spoke perfect English too.

I often wonder if they think of the scruffy red faced English family 10 years on!

Last year at Bodrum airport I spotted a very elegant lady, she had grey hair in an immaculate bob and was wearing a midi length red linen dress with elbow length sleeves, silver Birkenstock Madrids and minimalistic silver jewellery. She looked amazing and cool calm and collected amongst all the hot and bothered holidaymakers.

Very much enjoying the large number of older people described in this thread.

Years ago in the rather unstylish UK town I live in I saw a woman dressed immaculately in a three-quarter coat and pencil skirt with her hair up, smart shoes. The colours were neutral but not boring and suited her perfectly. She looked poised and not contrived in style and just perfectly at ease.

My ex worked with a man who's girlfriend was the sort of woman on this thread (not quite 'Only saw once')

She was about 5'8/9,a size 20/22,long blonde hair,perfect make up and just oozed 'that something'

She didnt follow trends,she dressed for her in the most classical,well made clothes in neutral colours that just suited her

She had the most perfect hair and make up

She was my girl style crush

Another one was when I was coming out of work

It was the tail end of a heatwave and she was walking towards sweaty old me wearing black skinny jeans,white top,blue denim jacket,black converse and a few rings on her fingers

Her hair was that perfect swishy and perfect make up

I've tried many times to recreate that look and just look dumpy

Oh my goodness ! I just love Audrey Hepburn.. for her style and for who she was.

Mine isn’t about the clothing as I saw this woman at a swimming pool in Iceland when I was on holiday there 8 years ago. She was about late twenties and the way she moved and held herself was just incredible. Hard to describe but I just couldn’t take my eyes off her. It was like watching the most elegant and sleek and powerful big cat as she walked and sat and stood. Every movement very controlled and relaxed at the same time. I was thinking about her again the other day and wondering if she was maybe a dancer or gymnast, but it was more than that. It was as she came from another dimension! I’ve never seen anyone else like that.

When I was at university, I once had a conversation with a fellow student. She was dressed in grey trousers, a black button-down shirt (possibly silk), and a slouchy white cardigan. She looked amazing and really stood out among the other students who were mostly wearing jeans and T-shirts. I've never forgotten how effortlessly stylish she was.

A few months ago I was in Madrid with my husband. We were having breakfast in a cafe on a rainy morning, and a group of three people entered the cafe, two men and a woman. They all looked amazing, the men in well-cut blazers and trousers, gorgeous shoes, and trench coats, the woman in a grey shift dress. I think they were co-workers on their way to a meeting. I had to force myself to look away, I didn't want to think I was staring at them!

@NeverDropYourMooncup Mrs. Watts sounds amazing.

A woman i saw on the tube years ago wearing simple but obviously hugely expensive clothes, drinking champagne from an actual champagne glass. She had a bottle of champagne in a cool bag sort of thing and kept topping her glass up. I wanted to be her so badly. She was wearing blue cropped trousers and a spotlessly white top, cardigan draped over her shoulders, gorgeous leather tote bag. I had to go to work or I might have stalked her for the rest of the day.

I mean, how cool do you have to be to be sitting on the tube looking gorgeous and totally chilled and drinking champagne? I want to be her so badly.

Another wedding guest one, in a sea of fussy floral dresses in garish colours. She wore a plain light teal satin dress, midi with a pleated skirt and wrist length sleeves. Understated, pretty and elegant.

I am with @thedevilinablackdress . It is so encouraging (for a woman in her 60s) to see so many older people mentioned here.

I thought it read like an extract from something; I think it was the reference to the other Brownie pack, when we haven't heard about any Brownie pack (along with the style of prose.of course).

I was just in France this weekend and marvelled at how chic they look in the heat- white linen pants, a floaty white top, stylish sun hat. We dress so badly in the heat!!

An older woman in a hotel lobby quite recently. She was with a group who seemed to be going to a wedding. She was wearing an off white suit and silver boots and she looked immaculate. Everything about her was just right.

OP, why do you assume your South of France woman will be dead now? 1979 was only 47 years ago, so unless you're going to tell us she was about 50, she may well still be alive.

A few years ago I was coming out of Tescos and a woman was pushing a trolly with a young child in it towards me, in the few seconds I was aware of her she just had this aura, just in jeans and a T, sunglasses , but her hair and make up make up flawless but it was the posture, stride, confidence I was just struck by her presence - a few minutes after I’d passed her I realised it was Abby Clancy , maybe it’s a model thing but just the way she held herself she was stunning and drew the eye. I’m often stuck by clothes but it was little to do with clothes never been aware of anyone who has that something before or since.

Yeah. She prob was.

im banning people mentioning celebrities btw.

I was on holidays in Lucca a few years ago with dh & was so impressed with the general elegance of how so many people dressed. 3 in particular stick in my mind.

One morning we were sitting a a table outside a small cafe in a quieter square, away from the main busy area. It seemed more local (though we just stumbled upon it) & the people coming & going from the cafe were speaking Italian & greeting the staff etc

Anyway it was a wonderful people watching spot & i was enjoying it immensely.

I saw two seperate women there who stood out.

A older woman came out of an old building on the square, clearly old style apartments. She was in her 70s at least, slim build & she was just so elegant in a super simple way..she was wearing a roundneck, knee length, sleevless a-line shift dress. Navy cotton or linen. Zero fuss. She had one longish string of pearls & her hair was in a low chignon. She had tan leather sandals. T-bar with a v low block heel. They looked v simple & elegant for day wear. She had a straw shopping bag & looked like she could be heading out for her morning supplies. I was deeply envious of her poise & how every element of her presentation at 9am was just so 'right'.

Later that morning i saw a younger woman walking along in a blue & white cotton sundress. The type with a fitted bodice & thin straps & a wide gathered midi skirt. She had flat light brown leather sandals with a strap, a leather tote the same colour & her long fair / blonde-y hair up in a loose high pony tail looking swishy
She was all golden limbed & vital looking & i was mesmerised

One night we were having a late night drink at the main square & a bunch of italians celebrating a birthday (there was a cake) were a few tables away. The birthday girl had a blonde bob, v golden tan & she was wearing a short black loose dress & red high block heel t-bar sandals - she looked incredible & i spent the rest of that holiday scouring every shoe shop window for those sandals, but sadly never found them

They were a bit lke Esska but nicer.

I often wish i'd been born Italian!

Years ago, on the tube, I sat opposite a woman with large-framed glasses and this Gucci jumper and orange necklace.

I've never forgotten what she looked like. I was so intrigued.

many years ago, in a little bistro in Skipton, the waitress, dressed in a boat necked black top, slim fitting but not tight, wide legged black trousers, and red ballet shoes (I think it was just at the beginning of the ballet shoe trend).

Her glossy dark brown hair was in a looped pony tail ( where the tail is sort of caught up in the tie, but its not a 'bun' ), minimal make up, very lightly tanned.

The way she carried herself, her calm demeanor, her look, and just that 'something', equalled instant girl crush. Whenever I have something to go to, I always think of her.

I must confess I have often copied that look, even growing my short pixie into a pony tailed length, and I definitely developed a joy in red shoes.

Alas, though I still love the simplicity of the look, I cannot wear black any more - the shadows it casts on my wrinkles is horrible -and my ..er..'generous... apple shape does not suit slim fit tops.

I have 2 memorable ones.

In 2002 on Capri, a woman in her late 40’s who looked like Diane Lane, dark blonde hair. Wearing a white t shirt, white trousers, a tan belt and tan loafers. Utterly gorgeous and elegant.

in 2008, in New York, I was there in May, with no rain gear. Ran into a Banana Republic to shelter from a downpour - my hair was long and very wet. A woman in her 80’s was in line in front of me. She wore a trench coat; jeans, loafers and a rainproof trilby to shelter her beautiful white hair. She was so elegant, I went up to her and said she was inspiring. I used that outfit as the template for wet-weather dressing for years after.

Oh my goodness I absolutely love this thread!

One of my Aunties is this embodied. She is effortlessly chic. She has the most gorgeous necklace stack of real gold chains picked up from her travels in Aisa. She wears chic little neck scarves, and wide legged dark blue jeans. Way before it was trendy. She collects old Vogue magazines and knows everything about art and culture.

I just have to add about the bit that matters most - she has a proper geordie accent, beautiful wide open smile, bright eyes that light up whatever you're talking about. She is so genuinely interested in everything you have to say, with reams of fascinating and unbelievable stories to tell her about her own life and travels. She has experienced true grief and the most unbearable of tragedies but is able to live them with them in the most extraordinary way by finding minute moments of joy in the most mundane - she will be genuinely uplifted by the way the light hits a particular rose in her garden. She loves to laugh and cry with you in the same breath. I think its somethig to do with how at peace she is with the world, she has an air of 100 percent comfort and acceptance of herself, which ultimately translates to feeling 100 percent alive in presence becuase you feel seen.

I feel like you would get all of this from just one look at her.

Hot day on the tube and coming down the other escalator was an incredibly chic young black woman in a tailored white trouser suit - she looked amazing.

Also a Sikh guy at a nightclub in 501s, white t-shirt, white turban, gold bomber jacket and gold rimmed Elvis style glasses. Love how he wore a classic retro American look with his own twist.