Friday, May 27, 2011

Francophone Friday: Oh là là

  Skirt, Bangles: France (Jacqueline Riu, beach town trinket shop) / Top: Charlotte Russe / Shoes: Buckle clearance ($7!) /  Necklace: J Crew Factory / Earrings: Gabes (Monet) / Headband: Nordstrom (Gift from super sweet Mother in Law!)

I'm starting a new series called Francophone Fridays. You can check it out here, where I explain it and will link up the posts. In essence, I'm featuring outfits with a piece from France and some little tid-bit à la français.

I decided to start with the phrase oh là là, since I use it so frequently :) See here and here, for example.

Ooh là là {notice the double o; it's important} is actually an English misspelling/ mispronunciation of the French phrase Oh là là {with one o}, which actually translates to Oh dear, Oh my, or Oh no! As Madame Lawless explains it here, "it can indicate surprise, disappointment, commiseration, distress, annoyance... any moderately strong reaction to something" and "can be strengthened with additional s, always in pairs."

I heard my French host mom use the phrase with many là làs for various purposes: when she couldn't find her keys, when something spilled, when her son wasn't fast enough to set the table, when her kittens got into mischief, when she saw a pretty piece of jewelry in a shop {and again when she saw the price }, etc.

In English, where we say Ooh instead of Oh, it's more commonly used to express Oh wow! or to talk about something risque. We tend to take foreign phrases/expressions and make them our own.

So Frenchify your diction this weekend and take one of the many opportunities that are bound to come your way to exclaim, in your best Frenchy accent, Oh là là! Feel free to draw out that final or tack on a few more là làs, then follow it up with a grandiose eye roll.  And voilà, your life will be complete! Or just feel more a bit more cultured. Either way, I promise it'll be fun :)

P.S. Post linked up here at Frenchy's French Obsession Party!

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This post was featured for the French Obsession Party! Merci mille fois*, Frenchy!
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*Merci mille fois = Thanks a million
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10 comments:

Liesl said...

So, So pretty and I love the shot of you with the Eiffel Tower! Lovely blog and fashions!

Liesl :)

Ashley said...

okay, i SERIOUSLY love your outfit! love love it! I just found your blog!!!! SO cute!!!

Anonymous said...

ehem: oh là là là là là là - that skirt is looks awesome on you. The colour is amazing with your hair (especially the way your gorgoues white top seperates the two stronger colours) Love it!

Cassi said...

Ah, merci! C'est trop gentil :) Thank you for such lovely comments! You darlings are too kind!

Artfully Awear said...

Oh, such lovely photos! What a great go-to look as well.

I'm a new follower!

Cassi said...

Oh, and Steph- well done and thank you on your use of oh là là :)

Liesl said...

P.S. I just bought a skirt almost identical to yours this weekend! :) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for such a sweet comment too!

Morgan//Nuts and Bows said...

Ooo! Love the outfit girl and your hair is so pretty!

Meet Virginia Design
Check out my Giveaway from Stella & Dot!

Cassi said...

Liesl- can't wait to see that skirt! Morgan- thanks :) I entered your giveaway!

Unknown said...

Cute! Thanks for linking up!

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