what is it that makes European women so groomed?

[frazzledoldhag]

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In South Europe we have -usually- thick hair, so you can go weekly to hairdresser and not wash it between visits. You couldn't do this if you have fine, oily hair.

Also, they don't do comfort. When my mum came in uk and passed Clarks she nearly fainted.

Personally i prefer the way British women dress. More eccentric, more individual, more creative.

i think that someone working in europe in the summer should consider the museum/art curator look. alice rawsthorn looks good, if a little dark on top. the euros don't do japanese as well as arty brits imo

although i would remind everyone that we are also euros.

Agree with a lot of other posters. I work in Paris. At first I felt sooooo frumpy next to the other girls at work (I was in shirt & suit) so I carefully watched what they were wearing and adapted it to my style (pretty classic). For what it's worth, I still buy a lot of my clothes in England but combine them in more of a French way.

At the moment, the women in Paris are wearing :

• Lots of dresses (mostly over long-tees or thin jumpers) with high heel boots (very few flat boots)
• Almost never a trouser suit (and those who do wear them tend to look frumpy)
• Layers (tops obviously)
• Some very nice, stylish accessories BUT never too much. Sometimes silk scarves
• A touch of make-up, but rarely an over-made up face (I rarely see a French woman and go woah! Too much foundation!!! And if I do, I then walk past and discover that she?s a tourist)
• If trousers, well-cut, and a more ?interesting? top
• Nothing skimpy in the office

The 3 women currently in my office :

• A black dress, little pink cardigan, matching pink earrings, black high heeled boots. Slight make-up, groomed hair
• A light grey dress, black belt, long black necklace, black high heeled boots. No make-up, silky long hair
• Lovely swirly black skirt (she?s really petite and looks fantastic) plus top and fitted jacket. Large necklace which perfectly matches the jacket. No make-up. Beautifully coiffed hair

Bucharest - yy to applying make up in public being akin to public bottom wiping. You are v funny.

It's definitely down to grooming rather than the clothes they wear, isn't it? Europeans tend not to have that crystal meth careworn look that British women often have. Perhaps it's because they have facials and actually try to get rid of cellulite with creams and buffers? They seem to be much better at making the best of themselves.

Another thing I notice, especially when I first get to England, is the greyish, poor diet complexion. No matter how lardy an Italian matron may get, or how many teeth she's missing, she always looks like she's nommed a healthy dinner. (maybe a bit too much of her-own-weight-in-pasta sort of thing, but at least her skin doesn't look sort of chickennuggety)

Putting make up on on the train - I honestly couldn't care less what my fellow commuters on the 7.08 think as I apply my makeup. Don't deny me my extra minutes in bed!

I will qualify that by saying that applying foundation, powder, bronzer etc may be un peu de trop in public (not to mention messy), but there's nothing wrong with bunging a bit of eyeliner on is there?

And to join in with the sweeping generalisations, when in England I often look at someone and think "do they own a mirror?"! Because too often we Brits wear clothes that just DO NOT FIT.

I do think a lot of Brits should not, by law, be allowed to buy grey non-lycra leggings. (or whatever they're called this time round.) Especially those that finish above the nuggety ankles.

In fact, manufacturers should be fined for even making them. How much does a bit of tummy toning lycra cost?????

Seriously - I do have a problem finding jeans to fit me at the moment.

Why do all manufacturers make trousers / jeans that awful hipster / skinny cut? I look terrible in them but can I find a pair of jeans that are non-hipster / skinny? Let me answer that question - no.

If anyone works for M&S or somewhere please note: My legs are chunky and a builders bum is not good on someone in their 30s.

Bellissima, ROFL at Herpes scarves.

Bucharest, your complexion comment is so true. I also think a lot of British women are not aware of their best feature, or their worst -- they have never really assessed themselves properly, and don't seem to know how to accentuate the positive and minimise what needs minimising.

Have often wondered at this chic Continental women notion. I think we think they're more together because:

• we mostly see them in the summer when people tend to look better, at least when not in swimwear, and our view is tinged with benevolent holiday spirit

• they are a bit thinner or look it, possibly because of the smoking, better diet, having darker skin/tans...

• they are more conservative in dress. A stroll on a posh Spanish plaza of an evening is a feast of faux old-school britishness, quilted jackets, cords, viyella check shirts, smocked dresses for girls and flannel bermuda shorts for boys. A bit boring but less error

French women are definitely not more groomed, as other people have said we only notice those who are. Take a turn around Carrefour on a Saturday and rejoice. I think that when a British woman is beautiful she outshines all others, something about the skin, the individuality, the naturalness of it all.

I have seen commuters do full-blown make up application on a train in Italy too.

And! Continental women look good in navy.

I look like I've recently passed away in navy.

Ali - try Gap

Well if we are all munters compared to those beauties on the continent then there isn't much point in worrying about grooming is there? Hurray!

And I can't stand navy! Mum is always trying to make me wear it.

Its funny how a lot of the things that are being said about continental women sound like my granny's rules. She was born in 1899

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When you say European...are you including Germans?

And really, the last time I was in Helsinki, I was most unimpressed by their lack of style...but most impressed with the Fins ability to speak English.

No! You will invest in some skin brightening creme, apply a bit of that moisturiser/gradual tan stuff and look fashionably pale but healthy.

Nothing worse than too much tan.

PMSL frazzled

I think a great example of British style can be seen in pretty much everything the character Nikki wears in Silent Witness. It's quirky, smart, ecclectic, stylish... very nice indeed. Of course, she is a fictional character dressed by stylist... but it's sort of that librarian chic thing.

Librarian chic. That's our British strength.

Lynette, I was waiting for someone to mention the Germans (I didn't dare)... at last ! Surely we all feel better thinking about their mullets?

Frazzled, stop worrying. You will be fine

Librarian chic is my fav style and still popular here in (once) trendy Milan.

Another not so secret is lots of water. I find the women I know rarely drink fizzy drinks, occasionally fruit juice but plenty of water.