Mudguards

and was wondering if they were any good in terms of keeping water off your legs, since they don't have the curved sides, otherwise I might go for some of the berthouds

They won't keep the water off your legs and component, even with skinny tyres.

Berthouds work very well, and probably the toughest mudguard you can buy for the money if quite fiddly.

but feel they are a bit too shiny and french postman bike..

Is your bicycle a post bike?