what is it that makes European women so groomed?

[frazzledoldhag]

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agree expat/ mimied - i do cycle part way to work and in all weathers. my hair looks crap, curls up from the wet and squished down by the helmet and even though brushed as soon as i get to my desk never looks really tidy

sunny weather a must for tidy hair.

though myself and the hairdresser are yet to be aquainted....

the lovely fabric is part of my current obsession with nordic design labels, but also the femininity of the styles....

i have just spent a half hour on odd molly looking at dress after dress i would love to wear....

"At least go into the toilet to apply it" - yikes expat - you'd be lucky to come out of some train loos without a communicable disease.

Talking of matters lavatorial though, my sister lived in Italy for some time and did point out that, despite our awful summers, British women do love pastel colours and cheap thin fabrics and generally give the impression that they are 'dressing in toilet paper'.

Everybody's 'naturally messy'. It's whether you bother to do anything about it that makes a difference.

Had an interesting experience today. Went for a run and on the way back I popped into Sainsburys to get some bits. I was dishevelled and sweaty. I frequently do the same in Asda. In Asda no-one looks twice. In Sainsbo I was aware of disapproving stares and a few just audible comments. So does that make Sainsbury more continental than Asda? I wonder what would happen in Lidl

I confess to getting poshed up to go to Sainsbury and Waitrose. Happy to go into Tesco in my pj's though

Is it also down to earing make up?
as someone who looks like a corpse with out make up I do not go out without full slap- anywhere- though I use nude colours so it looks nautral.
However, doing a straw poll on the train/ cafes etc I amamzed at how many women do not wear any make up! Have they no vanity at all?

Everyone unless they are a dewy 16 yr old looks better with a bit of foundation, blusher, mascara and lip gloss. Doesn't have to be caked on, just a bit to take off the pallour.

I think that looking good means you make sure your hair is clean, cut regularly in a style that flatters, havig neat nails- not long, jagged, or chipped bright polish.

Agree that the fleece is only to be worn when walking in the country not for shopping etc etc.

earing- wearing, of course.

i dony like all the hair colour english women use
why do women have gren stripes in their hair

lady you havent been blonde for years

The fake blondness is ridiculous, isn't it, Gorg?

Blonde doesn't mesh with certain skin tones, that's why it's not so common.

But the Holly Willoughby, fake blonde with olive skin look is naff.

A thought has just occured to me regarding hair. When on holiday in Italy, I can leave my hair to dry naturally into beautiful pre-Raphaelite curls. At home, despite best efforts with hairdryer and Frizzease I have a birdsnest.
The damp British weather has a lot to answer for.

Oh yes expat! This is my pet hate when i go home. Black roots and bleached blond. WHY??

it looks horrible, doesn't it, Laquitar?

i mean, all you have to do is see a photo of Donatella Versace or Madonna to know it's a shade that does not work with yellow-undertones.

that's why you don't often see stark blonde people from regions where skin tends to be darker.

sorry sorry frazzledoldhag (I bet you aren´t really a FOH) back to Helsinki....but if your dh is norweigen then a lot of the nordic stuff will be familiar to you....

Helsinki is not chic like chic parts of france, spain or portugal. The first weeks there I was quite surprised at how ungroomed people looked. They put together the strangest patterns, colours, shapes (check out marimekko fabrics and you´ll see what I mean) and it does not always work! However, when they are groomed....

• they pay attention to make up and glasses. Finnish women seem to have great skin (thanks to the sauna?), either that or they do good make up. Glasses always seemed to suit them...IKSWIM.

-they do layers. In winter you need to be able to shed warm layers when you go inside. The inside of houses are often about 22- 24 C so when you come in from -10C you need to unwrap. I used to wear tights under trousers but if I was going to be inside for long would remove the tights. Also lots of overtrousers worn - like bin bags....VERY useful for when it rains or is cold and are out in the country or at the playground with kiddies but SO nasty to look at. Invest in a pair that fits snugly if you are going to do winter sports or spend time outside in the snow.

• they change shoes indoors. I have seen many people arrive at the opera etc with sturdy winter boots and then change into the high heels they are carrying in their bag. In people´s houses, shoes come off at the door(no holes in socks then!).
• they spend their money carefully. They buy expenive/ better quality things which will last longer. And look nicer...
• they wear knee length boots and the visible bits (shoes/boots, gloves, scarves, hats, bags) kind of match...

But what we really need is a Russian woman to come along and tell us what the secret is to looking glam in the cold. I could spot a Russian woman a mile away in Helsinki - even with ice and snow on the ground they would be wearing their high high heels. It was high heeled boots, tight jeans (though I think there were tights under them, but was unable to confirm!) tight fitting duvet jacket (but the longest length allowed was just past the bottom), very expensive handbags. Hats only when it got really really cold.

I found clothes were expensive in Helsinki and the selection was not great. Except for the extreme cold things (which will be easier to find there, though not cheaper) stock up on essentials before you go.

finnish women over 40 all BY LAW
have to have odd glasses, dyed red hair cut into an angular crop
non?

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..funny that

i rest my case

omg. Am finnish.

haven't read whole thread but just back from softplay where, it turns out, a group of French mums meet every Monday.

Not much grooming, style or beauty was observed by moi.

That is unfair on the whole nation- I left a little bit of my heart in Finland. at the picture of Halonen....though some Finns criticise her for not been stylish or groomed enough.
Bet you have a different point of view Bobbiewickham? Just started a language course here and the most beautiful and most groomed student was Finnish!

That is unfair on the whole nation- I left a little bit of my heart in Finland. at the picture of Halonen....though some Finns criticise her for not been stylish or groomed enough.
Bet you have a different point of view Bobbiewickham? Just started a language course here and the most beautiful and most groomed student was Finnish!

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You can find the answer as to why British women do not look as good on the make-up thread.

Looks like most of the UK do not use make up out of principle, and think there is nothing wrong at all with the way you look without bothering even with a mirror.

Tis in fact a feminist issue it seems, and MN women think wearing even mascara makes you vain and shallow...

am having fun on here tonight!!!

Was it Coco Chanel who said going out without makeup on is pure vanity?

I was in Rome in October and was disappointed by the Italian women's dress sense. They almost without exception were wearing skinny jeans with boots over them and a duvet jacket. All very high quality of course and they all looked immaculate. It was like the national uniform, very very boring.