Cheap Chic

Liking the Vanessa Bruno collection for La Redoute. That's all.

The Parisian Flea Market

In the words of my favourite northern miserablist, 'I'm throwing my arms around Paris.' Is it just me or was Morrissey looking a little bit like a tatty Elvis in Vegas at Glastonbury last night? Anyhow, last weekend Monsieur et Madame That's Not My Age gave the French capital a great big hug. After a leisurely breakfast on Saturday morning we hit the Porte de Vanves flea market (marchés aux puces) in the south of the city. An excellent spot for mid-century nick-nackery, clothes and books. Now I like the market at Porte de Clignancourt, once you've got passed the kebab vans and cheap tat, the covered area is fabulous. If you buy antiques on the New King's Road, Fulham, then this is the place for you but at That's Not My Age Mansions it's shabby chic all the way.




I nearly bought these 1950s Orangina glasses but transporting fragile items is always problematic, as Amy Winehouse's tour manager knows only too well. Here are some of the superior bric-a-brac stalls and lovely people we met at Porte de Vanves.









And although we were beaten to a gorgeous Art Deco globe by the woman in the top photo, we still managed to pick up two new orbs to add to the collection:





The flea market runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am - 1.30pm and is a couple of minutes walk from Porte de Vanves Metro station.

Le Week-end

This post comes to you live from Paris. Instead of relaxing with a glass of wine at a chic little bistro in St Germain, I'm wrestling with a foreign keyboard in an internet cafe. Blogging, it's like an addiction. And, having seen Point Blank (A Bout Portant) this week, I'm half expecting to witness a police chase through the Metro. If you're planning a trip to the cinema this weekend, Point Blank is the best film I've seen all year. An action-packed French thriller (not to be confused with the late 1960s John Boorman film of the same name), an adrenalin-fuelled-90-minute-rush through the French capital.



Another French film I can't wait to see is Potiche with Catherine Deneuve, though I'm told that Deneuve is more popular in England than over here- where Isabelles Adjani and Huppert reign.



On-going research into the secret of French style will involve taking Les Vélib over to Merci:





That's not me, it's Marie France Cohen the lifestyle store's owner. Followed by a trip to the Musée Bourdelle to see the Madame Gres exhibition. Whilst I teeter on the brink of a Blogger Breakdown, Mr That's Not My Age is entering into the spirit by sporting his birthday scarf - I said scarf! Ah well, at least we have Ines de la Fressange as our tour guide.



Photos:

Potiche: InStyle
Marie France Cohen: Liberty blog

Predictable, moi?

It's Saturday morning, et mais oui, it's Inés de la Fressange. Yes, I know the 53-year-old model and latest That's Not My Age grown-up-style-crush is becoming a regular feature on the blog, but this week IdlF became the 'Paris Ambassadress' for L'Oreal, so I figured she's worth it. And, whilst Jennifer Anniston's, 'I'm still in love with love,' quote on the cover of Red magazine (May issue) makes me want to gag, inside, the Q&A with Karl Lagerfeld's muse more than makes up for it:

Best everday outfit: I moved house a month ago and, when I unpacked my clothes it looked like the wardrobe of a maniac. It was one navy blue sweater after another, about 10 pairs of white jeans and hundreds of black penny loafers.

Best designer: Phoebe Philo at Céline. I buy two or three things each season and mix them with items I wear all the time, like cropped jeans and ballerina flats. Then I'll add diamonds, or a beautiful crocodile handbag with an old trench coat.

Best style advice: My grandmother used to tell me that the older you get, the more you have to be very neat, very soignée. When I used to visit her in hospital, her hair would be perfect and, instead of medicine on her side table, there would be perfume.


IdlF also says the best thing about returning to the Chanel catwalk was being allowed to have normal hair, her own shoes and not having do that silly dressage-style walk, that models do. So there you have it. The secret of French style: choose classic colours and simple shapes that work with what you've already got, keep hair and make-up as neat possible - and best of all, wear flat shoes.


And now I'm off to buy Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, by Inés de la Fressange and Sophie Gachet.



Photo: L'Oréal

French Style

En vacances last week, as well as lolling on the beach, That's Not My Age conducted a minimal amount of research into the secret of French style. I was on holiday, remember! Here's what I found.... a very dapper gentleman (above).



Excellent use of a sunhat - and the obligatory nautical tee.



Mais oui. The French know how to accessorise.



A classic white line shirt looks fab teamed with eye-catching jewellery.



Check out the Helen Mirren hair style and pussybow blouse.



Great haircut, great bike!


NB Most of these photos were sneaky snaps so merci tout le monde and I hope you don't mind. You all look fantastique!