what is it that makes European women so groomed?

[frazzledoldhag]

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Oh, Nicky has the most fab cardis! (but is she not a bit Boden????)
I always chunter about how many (nice) coats she has as well. I don't have as many jumpers as she has coats!
Ditto Amanda Thing in that old man thing- Old dogs, Dennis Waterman thingy. Amanda wears at least 4 different coats every episode.

The only thing I didn't like about Nicki's wardrobe was the Fair Isle dress. But agree about most of everything else.

Mind you, it helps if you have THAT face and figure!

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Actually, I seem to remember seeing a documentary on the bbc (or maybe reading an article in the guardian or something) on Finland, where up until a few yrs ago they hate a very high rate of obesity and heart problems. The government forced a program of healthy eating and exercise that apparently has been very successful.

Coats are the only thing I like about winter. You can hide a lot under a smart coat.

Aitch, as it happens I am going to be working in a museum in Paris, so the museum curator look would be appropriate. But I cannot get your link to work! can you post it again?

it was only a google images search for alice rawsthorn, do a wee search for her, perhaps you can't link to them or something.
simple japanese pieces the way to go for a brit in euroland, imho, accessorised without much caution. don't even try to compete with them, do your own thing. GREAT haircut necessary though.

here I'm loving her prada bag

pmsl this thread is so funny, prizes to bellissima and Bucharest

Bellissima, so true about FO women in long skirts, even flowery. What is that all about

Karma, that's sort of true, but I sometimes go to a rather overpriced cool hairdresser in a posh area near my mum's when I'm in the UK, and I really notice how all the women that come in look like they've got a bird's nest on their head. They've all clearly waited until the last possible minute. No concept of maintenance at all.

But yeah, the centre of Rome is very dressed. Go to a suburb and it's like a night out in Newcastle.

Romanarama - waddyamean we are not dressed doon the toon??? Just cos we are too hard to wear coats and tights. It's not January any more pet!

Ahem, returning to the good ladies of the FCO. Once went to a conference there and the female chairperson was mistaken by some chap for someone rather more lowly. As she bristled (in every sense of the word) with indignation, part of me felt sisterly solidarity, and the other part thought well pet, if you will dress like a disheveled St Anne's don circa 1976...

I agree with the general consensus that there are British 'fashion trends' - and I use the word fashion in this context extremely loosely - that are just not suitable for the typical British pearshape. Or for any shape for that matter.

Leggings teamed with smock tops, preferably strappy

Why do Brits either wear smock tops or skimpy muffin tops?

European women often opt for a well cut cotton blouse rather than a shapeless smock. Or a silk top, wonderfully cut.

German women are exempt from the European women dress better rule. There are still too many frumpy women with frilly cardigans in Germany. Saying that there are some very good shops in Germany. Boss, Escada, Mexx and Esprit.

I'm not quite sure on the policy on tights.

DH thinks I am mad to need/want to wear tights in summer for smart events -and it's true that you often see French women bare legged when wearing a cocktail dress or similar, but bare-legged only really works if you are slim and very tanned imo.

Oh.

Also - taking it a step too far - has anyone noticed the weather ladies on TF1 here in France? - they do mutton dressed as lamb to a tee - bare arms, short skirts, no tights etc and they are not of the age when any of those things are appropriate.

This is fascinating, I'm reading and absorbing (much good that it will do me). Can anyone do any links to someone who exudes "chic librarian"? I also think that some people, regardless of nationality, just have that indefinable something - you know the sort, they can wear a sack and look fabulous, and not necessarily because they have a wonderful figure/face.

A lot of the stuff here about matching handbags and shoes makes me think of my Grandma, who had not only matching bags and shoes, but also hats, gloves and coats. But really, if we all went down that route then a)how would we afford it all, b)how would we find the room to store it all and c)where would the time come from to assemble such an outfit?

No, no, no matching bags and shoes it's not done anymore by the under 70. At least here in Milan.

I googled librarian chic and came up with this blog

Great blog.

I love The Sartorialist

Franca, I love it too.

Interesting blog. That woman looks fantastic, I love everything about the way she looks (except possibly her hair).

kirtstie allsopp is fat librarian chic, imo.

mutton dressed as lamb is big in Italy. Often you see someone from behind and think it's a teenager, all flowing locks and miniskirt, then she turns round and she's in her 60s . Or maybe she's not, but leathery skin is also massive in Italy what with the national super-dark tan obsession.

i do think the outfit is for meant for a different woman.

Romana, dd'you know how we say Mutton dressed as lamb here in Italy?
Di dietro liceo,
davanti museo...