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| Barbour duffle coat (£125 from an outlet), Levi's jeans (outlet), Kickers boots and Ralph Lauren breton top. |
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| Warehouse faux leather jacket (£55), Peter Jensen printed tunic (discounted from £190 to £25), skinny black jeans (£30) and Jigsaw flats. |
Now that I'm zooming closer and closer to the 4-0 mark, I've started to pay more attention to ladies of similar age group. I pounce on friends, raid their wardrobes and pick their brains about their fashion sense. Thankfully, I've got very good-natured friends who are happy to accommodate my requests.
I live in England where it's cold AND wet 295 days of the year. While I could only gaze in admiration at the teeny tiny shorts on many bloggers that I adore, it would have an adverse effect on the general public and I, should I ever attempt to wear them out. One, I would stop traffic and cause a horrific crash along the main road as I go about my usual school run. Not for the right reasons, of course. Cellulite, stubby legs and denim shorts do not complement each other the way crepes and Nutella do. Secondly, I would freeze into an ice block before I arrived at the school gate.
I've long admired Sandrine's style. She's a Parisian transplant who still adopts the French way of dressing. You may remember her when I interviewed her here. She's a bargain hunter, doesn't follow trends, wears minimal make up, has a small closet and only buys what she truly loves.
"I didn't buy it because it's a Barbour jacket. It would've be an unknown brand but I bought it because I love it and it has a nice finish. Some of my clothes are from quite a few years back. I'm happy in them so I still wear the clothes. I don't have a big collection of clothes because I've never ever had a big wardrobe. I'm frugal but I like quality, shape and texture."
We sat down over lunch that she'd prepared, along with another friend while we discussed about the different sartorial trends in the countries we've lived in - England, France, U.S, Malaysia, New Zealand and South Korea.We giggled over gang-nam style that has infiltrated the world and marveled about escort service for women in Seoul. Ahh... the things we discuss....
Until next time when I raid yet another friend's wardrobe!
I was just reading about Gang nam this morning, I'd never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm spying Kicker boots above, oh boy I LOVED my Kickers when I was a young un.
Sandrine looks great - besides her clothes, her haircut really suits her!
ReplyDeleteBTW - I can't believe you are anywhere near 40. Seriously. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks so!
Love all the caption and the way you write your post it makes me smile here. I truly believe in every word that she says. It's really important to buy what you really want, depends whether it's a designer or not. Everybody has a choice.
ReplyDeleteLove how cool her outfit is. On most days I'm just like that minus the boots and the jacket or I'll sweat from top to bottom here.:)
Congrats on being nearly 40 and looking great!
audrinajulia.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLove that Barbour jacket - it has great detailing. She looks simple chic in your photos. I keep trying to have her enviable streamlined approach to my wardrobe but I've recently realized that I'm a "collector" when it comes to clothes and often keep certain pieces more for an emotional attatchment than any real use. I need a bigger closet.....
Off to Google Gangnam. Intriqued....
Gangnam style - look classy, dance cheesy :P It's actually a suburb - really posh suburb near Seoul (if I'm not mistaken).
DeleteI think you're perfect the way you are. If I didn't move about so often, I probably would've love to end up with a collector's wardrobe.
Love her style and fashion philosophy! I'm trying to be like this!!! Sometimes, I fail miserably. :)
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth, i had no idea what Parisian chic's style was until i started reading your blog . I have to say i admire such minimalist looks with an edge which hopefully i can adopt and adapt to fit my style as i am getting older. Liie her, i am not necessarily "all about brand" customers - i buy what i like regardless of the brand.
ReplyDeleteI would probably stop wearing shorts at 35 so better hurry now before those cellulite and spider viens take over my legs...sigh. All signs of glory, right?
She looks fabulous, casual yet stylish x
ReplyDeletelove both of your outfits! i'm wearing almost the same outfit as the first outfit today ;) i love utility jackets! they are perfect especially for rainy days! btw...i'm glad to see that south korea made it to the sartorial list!!
ReplyDeletehi Jin, the photos are of my friend, Sandrine. Both of my friends present at the lunch are originally from South Korea :)
DeleteShe is totally chic! And your entire 2nd paragraph made me giggle. Love you keeping it real! :)
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
I feel the same way, when people post beautiful looks on their blogs and I think "I could totally wear that" until I realise that i could NEVER wear that.
ReplyDeleteYou look great!
I love these looks - real people wearing real clothes that I can relate to and ... possibly get away with wearing. Unlike the shorts you mention :o) Though I wish!
ReplyDeleteSandrine is so chic. What a fabulous group of ladies you and your friends are.
ReplyDeleteI loved her comment on buying something because she loves it. Actually had a recent discussion about the state of fashion and its (current) disposable nature so this is quite refreshing :) You have such lovely friends! x
ReplyDeletesteph / absolutely-fuzzy.com
Love Sandrine layers - and that rooftop looks incredible! Also I have similar boots to her - they are so handy - and that makes me so happy that such a chic woman is wearing them.
ReplyDeleteI like her 2nd outfit so much. And it's so cool that she has her own sense of style and doesn't follow trends.
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with a striped shirt!
ReplyDelete♥
http://style-chameleon.blogspot.com/
LAST DAY!
POW! shirt giveaway on my blog!
Sandrine does have lovely style. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteCamille @ WILDFLEUR
I love her style! Have a great weekend Marlene! :)
ReplyDeleteAhh..the poison of oppa gangnam style. Even my two and a half year old can do that infamous horse riding dance. ZzzzZZ...
ReplyDeleteI love it when you raid people's wardrobes and adore Parisian style or our idea of it!
ReplyDeleteShe has really great style. I love that she is thinking of fashion as being practical and what she likes rather than buying for a label, trends or what others like. The gangnam reference made me laugh. It's everywhere here too even on cupcakes!
ReplyDeletexx Mandi
www.findmeamuse.com
Oh she has such great style. I love the outfit with the ballet pumps and leatehr jacket. I wish I could pull of that cool, nonchalant look. Love her attitude towards what she buys x
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ReplyDelete