French chic……..can you create it?

Mine was during the funeral and I stand by what I said. I am taking no notice of the thread police. I had to wait until I saw them all this morning.
I know someone who marched behind Diana's coffin and they had trainers on as they knew they would not manage in shoes. No comments were made to them about the inappropriate dress.

BTW my post was timed at7.48, so hardly during the funeral

Sarah74

Maybe during the funeral is not the most appropriate time to comment on what someone was wearing?

I didn’t appreciate that this thread was only to be about during state funerals.
Pardon me for expressing a personal opinion
The thread police are busy today.

Brigitte and Emanuel look pretty tidy today

Have you seen her today? The epitome of discreet chic dressing. They had been on an incognito walk around London yesterday and obviously did not change. A lot in the Queue was certainly not dressed appropriately for the occasion but for the weather and comfort.
Jill Biden today is the usual barbie doll the only Americans who were ever Chic were Jackie Onasis, Grace kelly and Nancy Regan.

Maybe during the funeral is not the most appropriate time to comment on what someone was wearing?

Equally unimpressed by Emmanuel whose trainers were similarly inappropriate for the occasion.
My point is that they were not queuing, but guests of HM government and the RF.
And I identified Brigitte as the thread is about “French chic” - not a word generally associated with male dressing.
No excuses.
Of course today is formal, but if you think back - those planning to queue to pay their respects were requested to dress appropriately - concessions being made of course for camping out or standing fir hours and hours, even overnight.
No, no excuses!

Maybe she was trying to look like all the other people queuing and did not think it a fit place to make herself stand out, if you're going to signal her out look what President Macron has on his feet.Today is the time for formal clothes.

I immediately thought of this thread and “French chic” when I saw the attached picture of Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron “paying their respects” yesterday at Westminster Hall.

Black skinny jeans and trainers? Brigitte Macron seems so determined to be “down with da kids” that she has forgotten what is proper for what is in effect a sombre and formal occasion.
I don’t think anybody need be intimidated by “French chic” do you?

I think I'm probably 500 miles north of you Sago.
Everyone in this part of France has now swapped their summer wear for waterproofs. Even their navy macs look smart, compared with my Joules parka! But then they do have an affinity with the sea round here.

foxie48

My recipe for "chic" is clothes that fit properly, the right shoes. a good hair cut, make up that enhances rather than dominates and great posture. Once all that is in place, the ability to forget about it and just be relaxed and happy. It's not about nationality, it's about attitude. No, I don't always have it but just sometimes I feel I'm almost there!

Love your attitude foxie48. Just think of all those poor English ladies sitting in French restaurants looking around and feeling Gauche'not relaxed and happy as you suggest. even depriving themselves of a pudding and then trundling out with their tartan shoppers that they pretend is not theirs because it ages them along with the flowery dresses that would probably hide a multitude of sins if the right one was chosen.

OPhere in another region of France now and I can honestly say I was the “chicest” in the supermarket just now!
I’m not showing off, the competition was not strong!

Re Italian men and clothes, for some years dd1 had an Italian boyfriend* (still in touch many years later) - met while they were both working abroad for the same NGO.

He told me that in the Italian workplace you are judged largely by your clothes. He said they will sum up the brand and cost of everything - ‘Even your belt!’ - his exact words.

I protested that he must surely be wildly exaggerating, but he insisted that he wasn’t.
A year or so later I asked a young Italian colleague of dh (working in the U.K.) whether it was true, and he said yes, absolutely.

*He was an architect and his own style was very casually but stylishly a mite scruffy, IYKWIM.

Italian men on holiday tend to wear well cut shorts, sometimes with a belt, well fitting short sleeve shirt or Lacoste type polo shirt, sunglasses, women tend to go for dior style sundresses or shifts, , ankle length capris with a smart top. jumpers or cardis around shoulders , elegant designer bags. Yes I do holiday in Lake Garda or Iseo, with Italians. I’m off in a couple of weeks and panicking about my wardrobe which will I have to pack into a carry on bag. It will be the end of the season and everyone will be bringing out their autumn/ winter clothes which will be predominantly black or navy.

Apologies, I was off in an other world there☺️

I will never forget…….one day whilst shopping in nearby Aix-en-Provence an Italian gentleman apologised for bumping in to me…looking down at me with smouldering eyes, sensuously saying, scusi, it was almost impossible to concentrate on what I was buying. Swoon!

Sago

Esmay Pau is one of the most affluent,cosmopolitan French cities I have visited.

How odd - I’ve just been re-reading The Last Chronicle of Barsetshire (Anthony Trollope) in which the son of a wealthy archdeacon says he’ll take his intended wife and go and live at Pau, because it’s cheap - after his father has threatened to cut off his income if he marries the daughter of an impoverished clergyman who’s been accused of theft.
That was set in around the 1860s though.

Sorry, meandering.

I wasn't even chic.

Marydoll

A smouldering Italian.

--In my dreams--

A smouldering Italian proposed to me years ago.

When I was about 17 I sent my photo to my Italian pen friend who showed it to her brother. Next thing I knew I had a love letter, photos of a handsome Italian looking moody, protestations of undying love, an invitation to Napoli and a proposal of marriage.

Idiot!
?

Joseanne, thanks!

A smouldering Italian.

In my dreams

?
Was he Spanish?
I prefer a Frenchman myself

Marydoll

Joseanne

Casdon these were the sort of cardis I meant. A label called Pause Café.

You temptress! I'm now off to have a look!

Try

www.pausecafe.fr/automne-hiver-2022?lang=en

They might be available in UK.

Calli, you looked so good, I was worried my verrrry rich boyfriend would fall for you! ?

I was very Marydoll

Why didn't you invite me on board for a G&T?
Perhaps I didn't look chic enough.