I'm another person who can't predict which items I buy will turn out to be true workhorses. I've also noticed that I tend to *save* nicer items such that I tend to dress shabbily too much of the time. I'm trying to change that and tell myself that I deserve to look nice.

I bought quite a few NAS items and a few more are on the way. I've returned most of them because they don't fit/flatter and/or I have decided they don't play well with my other clothes mostly proportion-wise or don't quite mesh with my as yet undefined style. I am struggling most with blazer alternative jackets. I have concluded that I love Nordstrom because their generous return policy enables me to ask myself for a long time: Is this item a good purchase? Will I really wear it? Is there something about it that keeps me from reaching for it?

My quandary: Do I keep or return the red trench I bought? I went for a year or two or maybe even three without wearing my gray trench, which was in shreds and which I must have bought in the '80s because it had huge shoulders and was mid-calf length. But does that mean I don't NEED a raincoat? I hate to use umbrellas so I think I just coped with getting soggy. This trench has a hood so it takes care of my umbrella aversion, but last year it only really rained during one month, so I am second guessing myself.

LF, I'd agree that a beige or nude bag would last longer than a white bag, though my cobbler may say "not much" -- because he made a point of berating me for buying nude/beige shoes for this very reason! He said they are impossible to clean. Even though he did a darn good decent job.

But more than that... I just love having a white purse. This one is optic white -- not even cream. And I always get so many compliments on it. It just works with my own personal color scheme (blonde hair). Much better than beige. Beige doesn't like me so much. It's all the rage right now so I have incorporated touches here and there but along *with* white..

This thread is on it's fourth page! Wow!

There is no one way to be stylish and that is a *key* point. AT LAST we live in a fashion era that is a lot more celebratory of varying body types, complexions and style personas. A true break through! I have lived in the Far East, Western Europe (actually in France, LF - I am waving to you :)! ), Africa and America. I also frequently travel all over the globe. It becomes more and more clear to me how style is a celebration of individuality and personal expression, and that there is no one right way of expressing it. I love that! It's so very liberating for us all.

I like Shiny's point about her white bag. As a light blonde, a cream, bone or white bag is a slam dunk choice because it picks up the colours in our hair. A tan or beige bag would not have the same attractive and crisp effect. The point is that you have to choose *your* white. For some it's optical white, for others its a cream and for others it's a light tan. I hope that makes sense!

LF, I do apologise if I am gushing but you bring the poetry of the french language to your English writing and it really is a joy to read!

I do need to work harder on my budget, it is those pesky sundry items which I fail to calculate, this month it was the L'Oreal Professionel Mythic Oil and a new lipstick.

I am also playing with a very small budget of around £30.00 per month so I have to work extra hard to obtain a level of quality which is satisfactory, however, I am blessed to live in the Scottish Borders were a local crafts lady will sew a very fine leather handbag for around £75.00 and there are celebrated mills (with factory shops) which produce some of the worlds finest cashmere.

I think it is wonderful to have such a global style forum were I may be inspired by an Indian Kurti one day, the musings of a Parisienne the next and apply the principles of what I have learned to my wardrobe in semi rural Scotland.

Just wanted to say that this has been a most fascinating thread!! The Parisien life is very distant from my small regional city Australian one, but you have provided such an interesting glimpse.

I have been thinking about it all day and have all sorts of thoughts about how to intersects with my own habits, but since I plan to get up at 5:15 tomorrow morning to run and should therefore go to bed I'll only mention one; that you have resparked an interest in the ethics of clothing and I have been looking into this today. I would be interested in that list you mention from the WCC if you could PM me with it too.

Thanks LF and all the posters

RoseandJoan,

Although I am pure-blooded French, I was brought up in the UK and studied medicine in Edinburgh, specialising in Gynae/Obs at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavillion of the Royal Infirmary. I LOVE the borders, and most of my nicest cashmere sweaters are Pringle or LochCarron! What a small world, huh??

My French forbears were Huguenots who fled persecution, finding refuge in the UK, and then some of them fled again to become some of the Founding Fathers of the USA. I was the first member of the family to move back permanently to France when I met and married my (very) Parisian husband, Thierry who is a professor of oncology here in Paris. We have a home near Fort William though, which we retreat to as often as possible! We also attend the Church of Scotland in Paris. So you'll understand why I had a wry smile when you said on the other thread that I brought 'poetic French to my English'!! I can't wait to share that with my children who think Maman speaks French with a very British accent! LOL!

LF, This is the most extraordinary thread and I am saving it to read, because it is so rich with insight, wisdom, culture, practicality and pleasure. I haven't read through the entire postings, but I literally wrote down your sentence, "Can I use this to make at least two new outfits, by combining it with existing pieces?" Brilliant common sense and something we know intuitively, but needs voicing in order to stay focused and directed with trends that both inspire and tease.

I loved reading about your various stylings and outfits with the YSL tuxedo jacket and I could just picture each one of them. You drew a perfect example of investment purchases. Buying quality over quantity in clothing, bags and shoes is so very French and reminds me of Inge's book selection, "A Guide to Elegance" by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, that we read this past Spring. Add Ines de la Fressange and all three of you are helping me to be less impulsive in buying something so quickly.

I just want to say thank you for opening up this very informative topic. Now, I have even more questions, like what color is your new Burberry trench coat? (Black, classic neutral, a color?). Also, I'm intrigued about your skin creams and potions, too. Perhaps, some of these have already been answered as I haven't read the entire thread, which I hope to do later today.

We all learn from each other and this has been a great gathering with everyone's input.