Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet - Thread part deux

[TossDaily]

New thread for those of us who would like to let a little je ne sais quoi into our lives...

I'm no expert but the weight and feel of cashmere can make a difference to longevity. Some high street cashmere can be horribly thin. JCrew cashmere is generally very nice. I am all about feel so e.g. my quest for a soft sweatshirt has become rather lengthy.

I own no cashmere. Partly because of the cost, partly because I have had other fine wool jumpers bobble along the arms etc after about an hour and it annoys me. As cashmere combs are a thing I'm guessing it's the same?

Cashmere, basically it comes down to price. It got popularised at some point, then the cheap stuff came in and that's eroded the market somewhat. High quality has a sheen that's a bit hard to describe but once you see it and feel it both in weight and just how it knits and the softness it exudes, the other stuff just doesn't compare. Extremely delicate though. At the high street level, I'd personally buy Alpaca or Yak over Cashmere. They're generally mixed with wool or silk rather than 100%. For Cashmere, if you like slouch, go with the men's section. I like Della Cinna, they're made with Loro Piana cashmere (which are considered the best weavers of Cashmere) at a 1/3 of the LP main brand prices (but I get DC cheaper on Yoox). Italian sizing so actually quite snug to the body so good for women and usually, the brighter colours and smaller sizes are left.

I think a bit of synthetic is good in knits and coats as it just prolongs the longevity of those items (think around elbows and cuffs) but not too high a %, majority natural is usually the aim. Merino I find the best allrounder in terms of keeping well not bobbling, not needing extreme care, etc. I don't know why the Wool Mark isn't so much of a thing anymore, but there's still some stuff labeled with it and I've always found that to be better quality.

I think in the designer spectrum there are certain silhouettes that can only be done in synthetic or it would be so costly in terms of labour it could only be done as couture in natural fabrics. It was a bit in fashion the past few years but for example, neoprene (the scuba material) really allowed for new silhouettes to be created that couldn't come from any other material. I don't like synthetic that mimic a natural fibre purely on the base of cost (so acrylic instead of wool, polyester instead of silk) but a fabric that brings its own qualities and challenges designers to create new designs I think only enriches the landscape.

I've a few cashmere pieces and actually the only ones that have bobbled are my two Jaegar ones-which were actually bought new (where other pieces such as M&S were bought 2nd hand but lasted better). Best piece (in terms of lasting well/not bobbling/keeping shape) is from Whistles- still going strong with regular use (except summer months) for about 9 years. I should add that I wash mine at 30 though so they certainly don't get the TLC they require.

I am going to be controversial and say that I actively go for un-spendy cashmere because I've lost too many jumpers to bastard moths

I am predictably all about uniqlo cashmere - I know bo isn't a fan of uniqlo so am sure she can recommend an alternative. FWIW I have their crew neck cashmere jumpers in black, light grey, dark grey and navy, and a black roll neck. They're not going to set anyone's world alight, but tbh for everyday wear I just want good basics I can layer up, and which I don't have to treat with kid gloves.

Cross posts !

Thanks for the Mansur advice bo. I suspected that may be the case. I get very sucked into things I see on Instagram and often they're not the best example of something the brand makes. Will try and visit the saddle bag in person as that's lovely.

DS and DH both are napping and I've accidentally bought two pairs of shoes in the NAP sale (castaners). Oops.

Love the fedora methen. You look great and that's given me more ideas, along with bo!

Higher quality cashmere bobbles quicker (because it's so delicate, hence the combs) but it's much, much, softer and that's the trade-off. It also feels feather light, the difference is quite startling. Cheaper cashmere goes through a lot of chemical processes to give a similar feel of softness but it doesn't have those qualities innately. The average person is probably better off with lower quality since it requires less work to maintain and keep good but my problem with it is that you're still paying a premium for something that isn't really all that premium. All the chemical processing makes it quite similar to a synthetic fibre in a sense as it's so far removed from what it once was but still carries the label of a natural fibre.

x-post banana, actually I would say go to Uniqlo. As far as I'm aware they're the cheapest for Cashmere so you may as well just get it there if you want something Cashmere. High-end Cashmere is a bit of a hobby for fanatics as far as I'm concerned, like Denim nutjobs who only ever put their raw denim in the freezer (to clean) and things like that, you have to be pretty committed to it.

Oh, Canters, I found a fedora pic for you, it's on my phone, will post in a sec.

There's also a few MG bags in the Boutique1 sale (they're based in AED and London, prices are incl. of taxes and no import fees), they always price down massively in the sale, think the MG were going quite cheap on there.

Yes the uniqlo cashmere feels a world away from acrylic, and for me it does a treat - it wears really well, and tbh anything that requires significant upkeep will end up being one of those things that's kept 'for best' and therefore ends up being fiendish on a cost per wear basis. I wear them as thicker, cosier versions of their Merino wool crew neck jumpers for when it gets cold - they're great everyday staples.

although the black roll neck with deep navy skinnies and black ankle boots hopefully looks a bit more urban chic than veering into Steve Jobs territory

Voila, Emanuele Alt does a fedora without looking like a Pampas Princess

Thanks very much for doing this advent calendar, bo. I've enjoyed reading it and it's given me lots of inspiration for the new year.

Bo, your knowledge, commitment and graciousness in answering all our questions is commendable.

I feel a million times better about the way I look now than I did about 6 weeks ago, thanks to this thread and in particular your contributions!

I wish you a very happy Christmas and a New Year in which you find the sweatshirt of your dreams 🥂

Thank you so much for the Parisian advent, it's been great and I love that's all about how you wear things you've got rather than acquiring new stuff. Emmanuel Alt just looks so effortless (I'm sure it's not).

I would definitely soften black with either navy or something white/pale grey peeking underneath. It's not my best colour but that makes it very wearable I think.

I have a cotton cashmere sweatshirt style jumper from uniqlo that was pale grey but I dyed navy (the pale grey is too similar to my now silver hair and I need more contrast), I also have 2 uniqlo extra fine merino jumpers that I wear year round that I would totally recommend. One in navy (again) and one in a soft purple. I personally love merino, as it's easy to wear and mostly doesn't bobble. I have one m&s cashmere cardi that I bought for silly money as it is a pale green and was wrongly sized as an 8 (I'm 10/12), I mostly wear it in autumn or spring due to the colour.

Merry Christmas everyone and here's to a chic New Year!

Oh no, no more advent?
Thanks so much for all the time and thought you've put into this bo.
have a few cashmere pieces, eBay finds. I do love them.
I must get something from uniqlo.
I get quite a lot of stuff from wool overs, but I find it can be hit and miss.

I went back and bought the peacoat yesterday. In light of our chat on oversized coats it's actually not too big at all.
I find vintage has a different quality. I also also tried on a few hats that were in a men's stall and found 'my hat' a lovely vintage grey suede fisherman's cap. Bloody brilliant.

Thank you so much Bo for all the time and effort you've put in to the Advent. Even just looking at your logo makes me smile!

It's been so informative and I have learned a huge amount from reading your posts - merci beaucoup!

Yes thank you to the mighty bo - really fun and helpful. I hadn't worn black next to my face for years and years but recently decided I can get away with it as long as it's a faded, washed out black rather than shiny and new.

Ok this little known Rick Owens and Joules collaboration. This pic shows the shape pretty well although mine is sleeveless - and cotton, not leather. I was mistaken about it being padded but interesting that I remembered it that way as it's a double layer cotton that gives it a very fluid quality. You can wear it open as in the pic, zip it halfway up for a bikerish effect or all the way up to your chin - it then folds back kind of origami-ish.

Sounds very cool, no? Even though I don't do sleeveless and high necks don't suit me (and even more importantly, I find them very uncomfortable) I thought I could layer it over a plain L/S Tshirt and leave it half open. I handed over my £6 without even trying on and came home feeling very chipper.

I've just tried it on again and I think the problem is that, objectively, I think it looks best / most interesting zipped all the way up and accessorised with bare, toned arms. That is so not going to happen. But if I layer it over a T and leave it half-zipped or unzipped, I look in the mirror and see this

Delurking to bow down before the mighty Bo and say un grand merci for this and the previous thread which I have followed with great interest. Joyeux Noël tout le monde!

I've been a bit busy to post, as I had Christmas Eve before the date with the DC on Friday and then after they headed off yesterday, some lovely friends asked me round because they knew I was alone.

Methen, that hat looks great on you, as does the rest of the outfit. So few people wear hats these days that I feel I have to be really brave to wear one, though some of them quite suit me. They're not totally compatible with my longish, thick, curly hair that I wear up every day, or with cycling, though.

Floisme I think if you wear that gilet with a dark long-sleeved t-shirt and with edgy trousers, there is little risk of you looking as though you've forgotten where you parked your Range Rover. A big try-on session is called for. Would it work over a slim black dress? (But I think you're in a trouser phase, is that right?)

Bo, I'd like to add my thanks to the chorus. Your advent calendars were fab and I'll miss them.
Would you be up for a decorating challenge? I need to paint some walls and doors in my house, and I have certain constraints, including getting them to fit in with my multi-coloured carreaux de ciment. I have no eye for colour, and I remember you mentioning that when you go out you spot poor décor, so I thought you might be able to help. After Christmas, obviously.

Joyeux Noël to everyone and here's to a stylish 2018 in which we are a little more self-confident and a little more daring.

Yes, thank you so much bo! I have been mostly lurking and lapping up your advent calendar. I'm going to have a massive wardrobe sort out in the new year. Our move to Paris has just been confirmed! We will be leaving at Easter.

Fabulous Advent Calendar, Bo, thank you so much!

A very Merry Christmas to all my fellow Parisiennes. I do love these threads so much!

And Schmalex I'm not even a little bit jealous. Honest.

Excellent cashmere advice! I think I'll have a shopping trip in January to see and touch some in real life. Rather than online which is where I do most shopping.

Thank you for starting this thread and for everyone's contributions, it's been such a relaxing thread. Looking forward to carrying on in the New Year, we'll all be Fab-u-lous by the end of 2018! Thank you very much Bo for the inspiring advent calendar.

À votre santé 🍾🥂

Has anyone tried these leather leggings?

I do hope I didn't mess up , I could have sworn the Lutheran tradition is to end the Advent on the 24th with a nativity scene (no chocs or anything just boring pictures). I did enjoy writing it up every day and hope it's given the much-needed impetus for those looking for it without the idea that you need an entire new wardrobe and to look at clothes a little differently. I wasn't expecting any gifts this Christmas (per the usual) but all your lovely comments about how it's made you all feel about the things you already own, how you're stepping out of comfort zones and finding it liberating, and, more importantly, how many of you have started talking about yourself in a much kinder positive tone. I'll treasure that all like a lovely set of gifts . Meilleurs voeux de bonheur, indeed.

Flo, is it similar in colour to that too? I have a lot of RO in that khaki green and I find it works best with similar tones and not as much with black as you'd think. However, I'd try it over a worn black leather jacket (so none of that buttery shine but the heavily worn in faded stuff), or with a long sleeve top in a similar shade with orangutan length sleeves that go to the knuckles, or something semi-sheer if you're up to showing arms in that capacity. A textured knit (like mohair or similar) in a similar tone with or without a roll neck may also work. I think a contrast in materiality/opacity would make it more workable than colour potentially? Velvet would work too if it's a similar colour. For the bottom half you can go with a floor length straight skirt in true Owens style or go a bit wild in the trouser department, as RO is oft want to do. It would be very busy but I do love this pic with the men's oversized cargo shorts, slightly rolled up, over another set of fitted white (corduroy?) trousers tucked into boots in the midst of winter. Probably put together because it was awfully cold but there's something really fun about layering several items that are technically the same thing in different lengths, so coats over coats, trousers over trousers, etc. Harem trousers could potentially work too? or depending on the size you could sell it to me for twelve quid

AuldA, I generally stay away from the DIY/Property boards because for whatever reason I find it slightly odd to be giving away that kind of information for free. But post a pic of the tiles (I love a good cement tile, especially if they're from Morocco as often the case in France) and I could probably give a suggestion. You're SoF though, right? It'll bring an extra challenge as natural light is so distinctively different there than elsewhere and why you have all the cool sculptors hang around there.

Splatt (and others), I actually found a really promising grey sweatshirt in the &Other Stories sale. It's cropped and fitted, just a tad concerned that it may be too cropped, I'm dead in the middle waist wise so it can be hit or miss. Have ordered but don't expect it'll be here until after NY. I bought that and a few other bits (to get free shipping) but most of it is the designed in LA stuff which I'm usually not all that compatible with so I expect most if not all will get returned. Athough I got a really lovely square fringe silk scarf from the Paris Atelier which I think will be great for spring.

THE sweatshirt - not sure if it shows the sale price (it's half off) as it's a VIP sale thingy. This is the access link to the sale, hope it works. Banana's beloved ankle boots are also in it for 30% off.

Bloomed, also see Ann Demeulemeester, Gareth Pugh, Helmut Lang, and Haider Ackermann sorry to feed the obsession

botemps thank you for the lovely advent calendar. I’ve followed along with great enjoyment.

Here’s wishing all of you a joyeux noël 🎄. Happy and stylish Christmas to all.