French Dressing Up - Part 2.

Friday 23 November 2012

Playtime again - what's in the dressing up box today? Sorry, cough, cough, clear throat, adopt serious voice. I mean, here we are again for the rest of the rules. 


French Chic - The Rules Part 2

  • Avoid Clashing Prints
  • Experimenting with keeping it tonal
  • Wear a silk blouse like a T shirt
  • Go easy on the heels
  • Draw attention to the decolletage
  • Show some flesh
  • Never be too perfect. 

* Go Easy on the Heels.

Okay, this doesn't mean stop wearing the heels but let's wear elegant heels. None of these  poledancer platforms, porn shoes and chunky clunkies. In Grazia, they are showing these beauties which look divine and are a stunning colour but they also happen to be crippingly high and look like they are one step away from an injury.



Once upon a time, I would have looked at those shoes and just cooed over them. Now I look at them and wince. Age makes you soft.

* Show Some Flesh.

So VB is saying it's sexy to go bare-legged ... even in the cold months. American tan tights are a no go. They had a lovely picture of the journalist in a pair of shorts and a pair of over the knee boots to balance the leg exposure ratio and in my thoughts - probably to minimise the cold.


Cold but cute

* Draw Attention to the Decolletage.

Make a bit of a feature around your neckline. Wear something which draws the eye ... but I don't think she means get your stack out. Yes, that would draw the eyes. Hello boys! They mean like Audrey Tautou below. So pretty. If you're going to make people look at your top half - look for the right reasons at least.


Photo Credit : Newsgab.com

I'm going to cheat again. I'm going to cover all three rules in one outfit and this is an outfit I'd been planning to wear for a friend's birthday meal until it had to be cancelled but hey, I can use it for this post instead .... and I am re-using some of the clothes seen in the previous post. Excuse me for not showing you some new exciting, different clothes but I'm enjoying some of the things I have so I'm just going to get them out again and get my moneys' worth.

My interpretation of showing some flesh is to get the bare legs out and wear a dress. Come on - did you really think I was going to parade round in a pair of dinky shorts with over the knee boots? You did? You really did? I have a cut off point for skirts and dresses which is just above the knee. Anything south of the knees goes a bit to pot in my eyes so I like to stop where I think it's okay. I know shorter is funkier but shorter makes my legs look chunkier. Fact. So I'm wearing my black lace shift dress. Quite simple, with sleeves (I don't like my arms) and no waistband (I like my food). 


Just a LBLD (Little black lace dress)

I bought this little black lace dress from Matalan for about £20 last year. I'm not usually a big fan of black lace dresses but I have to say I just wanted something to wear which wasn't the same top that I'd worn for the previous two Christmas do's. I saw this little dress, I tried it on and it fitted... so I bought it. I figured it could also be worn in the day time with just a regular grey cardi for a more dressed down look. Admittedly, I have yet to try this day time look. Admittedly, I live in jeans. Admittedly, everything is good in theory .... admittedly, admittedly.

Footwear. We're looking for a more refined heel. I don't have much call for heels these days but I do have a couple of pairs and these are about 4" high. That's my threshold. Just because the above Sergio Rossi's are sky scrapers, doesn't mean I have to wear sky scrapers. Sky scrapers are the epitome of non elegance when the woman is hobbling down the street in agony. However, a slim heel and a pointy toe might be all that's needed.  I'm wearing the same pair of heels as in the previous post. They're not very high but high enough to know I am wearing a heel. Pointy but not injury inflicting pointy. 

Fact - I've never had to shave my legs
Fact - my legs look anaemic (it's the lighting - honest, guv!)

I was going to wear this along with the Mango jacket featured previously to pull the look together a bit and dress down the dress. 

Tweed and lace.

And throw on a small bag for me to house the keys and phone. No Chanel this time - just a little black Chanel'esque style bag which my sister bought me over 20 years ago when she went on holiday in Spain and which I've still hung on to. I am actually quite attached to it due partly to it being made of impeccably soft leather and it's one of the few gifts I actually liked from my sis.

Old but loved.
And all together, it looks like this.

Ta dah! Or should that be "Ooh la la!"

That's me doing the coy pose

And that's it. What? Finished already? What happened to the last rule of drawing attention to the decolletage? Well I thought I would add a necklace but decided against it at the last minute as it wasn't sitting quite right on the neckline ... and then it dawned on me to take the advice of one Ms Ines de la Fressange which is to remove one thing before you leave the house and so I did - I chose to remove the necklace. Afterall, Ms de la Fressange is as perenially chic and French as they come and if it's a good enough for her, it's good enough for me and it also gives me the perfect cop out.

Well - that's the end of the French play-dressing - it was fun. What have I learnt? 

  • I like French style ... whatever it is - (Ms Alt and Ms Moss dress identically sometimes). Go figure.
  • I don't like having bare legs in November. 
  • Goose pimples are not sexy on bare legs.
  • I don't like wearing silk shirts in the daytime near children
  • I like dressing up for fun.
  • I like dressing up for fun. Yes I did mean to repeat that.
  • Carrying small black quilted leather handbags looks instantly French.
  • That Mango jacket goes with everything.
  • I like dressing up for fun :o)

Back to the joggy bots - it's time for UK cleaning style! And no, I'm not going to do a post on that.



Have a good weekend everyone.



27 comments

  1. Sue you had me in stitches with the 'stack' reference. Nice to see women keeping that away from the lime light! Got to say, I'm with you. Hell no to going cold with the legs! I'm definitely going to apply your French style tips. They really nail it. Love your look and that Mango coat is worth every penny! Enjoy the weekend. Woo hoo!

    xx Mandi
    www.findmeamuse.com

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    1. Mandi, I can't take credit where it's not due - the French style tips were from Grazia from Ms VB. I like the theory behind some of it but where the bare legs are concerned I'm with you - err no thank you. It feels okay (just about) when you're stood infront of the mirror when you're inside but once the door opens out to the world and the pimples pop out ... hell no. Yeah - I'm definitely a no stack girl.

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  2. LOl...I'm with you on the black quilted bag. There is something so French about them.

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    1. Failing the black quilted bag, don a beret and a stripy top and warble a bit of Edith Piaf. I'm quite proud of myself that I managed to avoid all manner of things stripy and beret and oniony.

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  3. You look fantastic. Love the simplicity and drop-dead elegance of this look. And I love the purse!

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    1. Thank you. I kept it simple because I didn't know what else to do. Sometimes, that works in my favour and then I pretend I'm working the less is more trend ;o)

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  4. Firstly, I love those Sergio Rossi shoes - I will wear shoes even if they are uncomfortable - I know I shouldn't!! The bag is gorgeous and the dress is a style I would wear (couldn't believe it when I read Matalan - bargain!) I reviewed the style guide by Inès on my blog a while ago - lots of great tips. I've enjoyed your French Dressing mini series - a great little format!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I used to be tough like you. But no more. I have been softened by flats and Uggs. I didn't read the book but I probably did via snippets relayed in various magazines at the time and just little bits stick in your head. I will hunt out your post and have a read.

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  5. Ooh la la! I love this look but I adore a black lace dress and the way you've styled it is tres chic...I just need to save up for a black quilted handbag now!
    Jane

    http://www.sickofmystylerut.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Now I would have thought you would have had a black quilted number stashed away some where.

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  6. Oh Lordy, you are so right about skyscraper heels - lovely to look at but not a chance in hell I'd be able to balance on them at this stage. Wow, wasn't that dress a great buy? And with those shoes and bag, a definite ooh la la! Thanks for the laughs this week!! Loved these posts

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    1. You're welcome Helen. I don't think I could walk in those Sergio Rossi ones but I know a girl who can - check out Mandi (www.findmeamuse.com) who left a comment at the top - now that girl rocks heels.

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  7. Sue...you are funny. But up here we're hard and have bare legs all year round non?!!!! I love skyscrapers and will never stop wearing them (my French mother says you have to suffer to be beautiful!!!!!!!)....although I do fall over a lot when I wear them!( not alcohol!)

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  8. Another fab look! I adore the dress, it is the perfect shape for my figure. Funnily enough I am waiting on the arrival of a LBLD - lets hope it shape proves to be as forgiving! BTW - drooling over those heels but couldn't walk in them I'm sure and as for bare legs in winter - no way! I stop wearing pumps so that I don't get cold ankles!

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    1. The shoes are divine. I never thought I'd hit that group which chooses comfort over fashion when it came to shoes but I have and it's hard to go back now. As for bare legs ... brrrrr.

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  9. You are genius wearing that coat with the gorgeous lace dress and the lower heels, chunky and warm with the delicate so so chic - perfection! I do not do the decolattage (sp???) as the girls are not what they should be (Sorry TMI) But love the Audrey Tatou solution to this!

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    1. Yes I think Audrey Tatou nailed it with this version of interesting decolletage. It is lovely isn't it? She just looks so pretty and chic. I don't have much of a stack to get out anyway but I would pass even if I did.

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  10. You look so so elegant! This is perfection! I love your quilted bag.

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    1. Thank you Lindsay. I've yet to go anywhere like this ... I can't handle the cold. I'm what they call "nesh"- I believe it's a Cheshire term to describe people susceptible to the cold.

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  11. I love lace! This is a great dress with sleeves and a nice forgiving shape - perfect. Would never have thought the coat would look so good with it! I'd definitely wear sheer black tights - surely the sheer sleeves are enough to qualify for the bare skin part?

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    1. I can't remember when I last wore a pair of sheer tights - it's been opaques or nothing. And you certainly have a point about the sheer sleeves - good 'un!

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  12. Sue, it may be a £20 dress with a Mango coat but you've managed to make the entire outfit look expensive and classy.

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    1. Thank you - too kind. I nearly went out like this on Saturday but with the blustery winds, rain and bitter cold - I thought better of it. And put my jeans on. I am so sad.

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  13. Another great look, Sue. And the dress was £20? Really? Wow, you really have an eye for bargains. First the coat from Mango, then the one from Next Directory, then this dress.. Well done.

    But now let's reflect on a little, almost harmless sentence you wrote above. I'll quote: "Fact - I've never had to shave my legs".
    Please tell me you're joking or else this latin, dark-haired girl here will hate you forever...

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    1. You can hate me forever ... and guess what - you have extra long legs to deal with - ha! There are some advantages to being a shorty!

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Susie So So