Black and white picture show

This is a first for That's Not My Age, I don't normally do the red-carpet round-up kind of post but Blogger's near-death experience has obviously had an impact. Blog-loose and fancy-free, I was idly flicking through the Cannes Film Festival images yesterday when up popped Cheryl Cole in a sleek white Stephane Rolland evening gown - two days after her big-haired American debut wearing what looked like someone else's clothes. Huge improvement. Anyhow, I got to thinking about style and such matters and realised that some of the more wearable Cannes looks were simple monochrome outfits. Actually, I think Tilda Swinton's blouse could be described as nude, but hey let's not quibble over a few shades on the colour spectrum. I can't wait to see We Need to Talk About Kevin, read the book on holiday a few years ago and couldn't put it down. Bet Tilda's ace as Kevin's mum.






A simple understated attitude feels kind of appropriate on the Riviera. All very elegant, very French, very Coco Chanel. Speaking of which, here are a couple of photos from the Chanel Cruise Collection show:




Stella Tennant does casual glamour. Watch the Chanel show here.



Oh and three cheers for Ines de la Fressange in Roger Vivier flats.




Photos: Getty, EPA and Reuters

Weekend Style

Kerfuffle over. Team TNMA back in residence. And hooray for a long, lazy weekend in London. So, I actually can't stop wearing my coloured jeans and chinos - though not at the same time, I alternate, obviously - and that's exactly what I'll be doing over the Bank Holiday. And now that I've grown accustomed to a brightly coloured bottom half, I'm thinking of diversifying. Soon my wardrobe will be blushing with pride. That's Not My Age loves a summer jacket, and this soft pink Current Elliott number looks lovely with chinos - and it'll be good with flared jeans too. Got both of those, plus enough stripey t-shirts to set up shop next to the Grand Canal in Venice. Mmm...there's a thought, I could do with the extra Euros.



That's Not My Age has also been pondering the delights of the Mum Bag. OK, I know that this is the kind of thing Alexa Chung and her mates carry off with ease but this blog is all about grown-up style for proper grown-ups. So forget about the youngsters for the time being, just remember to keep the rest of the outfit slick and never ever do Mum Shoes and Bag at the same time. I like this Tula shoulder bag, it has a real seventies, Linda McCartney-feel and I bet it's got compartments!



And now that Ines has spoken, I'm on the look-out for a pair of Parisian Style penny loafers. Research tells me that the Church's version is near-perfect, so just need to start saving - or maybe I should get myself and my t-shirts over to Italy!


Photos
Jacket and shoes: Net-a-Porter
Mum Bag: Tula at Radley & Co

Parisian Chic est arrivé

If you're bored with me blathering on about Ines de la Fressange click away now... I have the new Parisian Chic style guide in my hands and I'm about to use it. Inspired by my new book, I created this lovely still-life photo for you. The stripey vase and tulips (a French home needs fresh flowers) have a Gallic twist, non? According to the model du jour, you don't have to be born in Paris to have Parisian style - and Blackpool does have its own tower.

So, this charming style guide has a posh scrapbook kind of feel, with lots of photos, notes and sketches by IdlF:




I know, there are hundreds of fashion books out there, and some of the Parisian Chic tips we've definitely heard before, but at least this is witty and believable. After all, this model and consultant for Roger Vivier does have thirty years experience in the fashion industry. And who doesn't adore simple French style? I'd rather look like Ines than Trinny and Susannah any day of the semaine.

But this isn't Ines, it's her 17 year-old daughter, Nine. With a chapter on Fashion Botox: don't dress like a teenager, trying to look young is the quickest way to look old, and tips on lifelong beauty - it would've been nice to see IdlF modelling herself. In fact, I seem to remember seeing images of both mother and daughter together, but maybe they're from the French edition (?)

Anyhow. These photos show you how to achieve Parisian style with some not-so-basic basics:





Ines' Paris provides some excellent insider information; where to shop, where to eat and where to have yourself some family fun. Making this a city guide as well a journal of Parisian style. And there are chapters on beauty (That's Not My Age is pleased to learn that mascara on the lower lashes is a French faux pas - I've never worn it because it looks odd. How chic), Parisian deco and how to host the perfect dinner party: keep your guests hungry! The longer they wait the more they'll tell you how delicious everything is.

J'aime Parisian Chic, bien sur. Now all I need is a pair of penny loafers and a cheap Eurostar ticket.


Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, by Inés de la Fressange and Sophie Gachet.

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

Quote of the week: Inés de la Fressange

The 53-year-old model is turning into a regular guest speaker for That's Not My Age, and if like me you're experiencing a mid-week, mid-March energy slump, here's some helpful health and beauty advice from the fabulous Inés de la Fressange:

1. If I wanted advice on looking younger, I would ask Karl Lagerfeld, he looks younger now than 25 years ago. But there is no way I would drink all those Diet Cokes.

2. I never ever go to spas - I loathe places that smell like humid Japanese restaurants and where they treat you like you're in a psychiatric hospital. Go to the bar at The Ritz instead!

3. To feel better about my lifestyle, I watch documentaries on old rock bands and I feel like a picture of health.





Do you have any top health and beauty tips?


Quotes from Vogue, April issue.

Quote of the week: Inés de la Fressange

In the week when Romeo Beckham, aged 8, made a surprise entry into GQ magazine's Most Stylish List, it feels right to turn to an older model for some sensible advice. Reminiscing about her on-off-back-on-again relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, Inés de la Fressange, 53, recalls a promotional tour in America, in the eighties, when the pair stopped their limousine at a hot dog stand for sustenance. KL (dressed in a tuxedo and carrying a fan, of course) only had a hundred dollar bill, so came back to the car and sent IdlF (full-length dress and pearls) back to buy the hot dogs:

'Never go out with rich people - you always end up paying!'


Wise words.



Photo: Eric Ryan
Quote: Harper's Bazaar