[127.72 MHz]

A light article from the BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160309-the-ultimate-symbol-of-french-cool

 

[Oldsarge]

I had one once. I decided it didn't suit me.

 

[Flanderian]

Thanks for that! Very much enjoyed.

Though when I first read your post subject, this is what immediately popped into my head -

 

[Fading Fast]

They don't work for me either - I look like an emaciated escaped convict in one, but my girlfriend wears so many version of that top that her wardrobe would drop by 15% if we removed them all.

@127.27 MHz, your signature line caught my attention as it echoes a famous quote by Rick from "Casablanca:"

I don't buy or sell human beings​

 

[SG_67]

Thanks for that! Very much enjoyed.

Though when I first read your post subject, this is what immediately popped into my head -

Were I to take up smoking, that would be my brand.

 

[Flanderian]

Were I to take up smoking, that would be my brand.

As you've discerned, my tongue-in-cheek observation was an allusion to notorious French reputation as smokers. But when I was one while living in Europe a half century ago, if I ran out of American cigarettes, this was actually my first choice. Brutally potent, but better tasting to me than other European cigarettes I had sampled.

 

[paxonus]

Thanks for that! Very much enjoyed.

Though when I first read your post subject, this is what immediately popped into my head -

That brings back fond memories from my college days. I worked part-time at a tobacconist, so I was always sampling the goods. This was my favorite at the time, the second being these:

 

[derum]

Were I to take up smoking, that would be my brand.

 

[Oldsarge]

Were I to take up smoking . . .

 

[paxonus]

Were I to take up smoking . . .

View attachment 23887

And of course you would need one of these to complete the outfit:

 

[Oldsarge]

With matching traveling cape. And, of course, only travel by train or cab.

 

[paxonus]

Preferably a Hansom cab.

 

[Oldsarge]

If one can be found!

 

[Dhaller]

It's interesting that no one here finds them to work; I never have either.

I think it's the wide neck which I don't like - it strikes me as feminine. Indeed, my daughter wears them, and the look fine.

It may just be that you have to have that kind of Gallic peasant physique - short, stocky (but not fat), maybe a receding hairline. I remember a childhood friend of mine - French - whose father had grown up in French fishing villages, and he was maybe 5'4", tops, and built like a cube, about as wide as he was tall. He was immensely strong, probably the strongest man I've ever known (and *real* strength, not gym-culture "how much can you press"... this was "haul the catch from the ocean and don't get your finger caught in the net or you'll lose it" strength). He could have worn one and it would have worked (although he only wore three piece suits, 24/7/365 - he took us to Disney World once, in July, and wore a suit. He was a beast!)

DH

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

And of course you would need one of these to complete the outfit:

I have one of those. Picked it up at Stewart Christie. One of my prize possessions and a go-to for my Holmes get up for fancy dress and Halloween.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

During my school smoking days, I favored Dunhills in the large blue double pouch box that would never fit in a school boy pocket properly.

Now I smoke the pipe about once every two weeks.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[SG_67]

(I'm not sure if James is wearing a proper Breton shirt given the collar, but cool nonetheless).

 

[eagle2250]

Even when James Dean and Ernest Hemingway are seen wearing "the shirt", the horizontally striped pullover has a decidedly feminine look to it! Not for me, Nancy. LOL.

 

[SG_67]

I agree. It takes a certain level of coolness to pull it off. I ain’t no James Dean!

 

[winghus]