Summertime style musings from RRR-er-Mary:

Isn’t it amazing when you go abroad that no matter how much you try to look like a local, you never do? When I say amazing, I actually mean a little depressing. After recently being in Paris I felt the shame of looking like a pasty Irish girl in a bizarre assortment of interestingly matched clothes! Not quite the cool Parisian chic I was attempting. Knowing that I was heading off was adequate incentive to “shop till I dropped” buying little silk shirtdresses, black court shoes and casual yet fabulous scarves. Thinking that when walking around Belfast I was the epitome of French cool upon arrival I got the cold hard stare in the ‘Metro’ from these amazing, beautiful and in control French women. I suddenly felt ridiculous! It took me a week to discover some secrets: wear plain flat sandals with a classic black dress, look a little annoyed at passers by, possibly even buy some cigarettes to feign smoking! I love Paris and have come to realize that the French ‘chic’ look is not something you can pretend to have. It’s a lifestyle, an attitude and a natural style. French women don’t wear crazy experimental fashions, they wear something classic, that fits perfectly and they’ll have it forever.

We create the style of our own towns and cities. That’s why we will always look out of place somewhere else. It’s because we are, completely out of place! Embrace your pasty complexion and lack of tan! We have to wear big coats and scarves because it gets cold here! However, bring back from your holidays the beauty and knowledge of seeing how other people live and dress, work small changes that you’ve learnt abroad into your wardrobe and then you will become totally unique!