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...

[BWatchWatcher]

I wash my merino jumpers in a cold handwash cycle with shampoo.
No bobbling!

[ProperLavs]

I hardly ever wash my posh woollens. They are always worn with loads of layers underneath. They get hand washed about twice a year.
I too am always very cold and have at least 4 layers on even in the house.
I have given up being stylish until it warms up a bit.
I am currently hankering after some beautiful vintage hats on eBay, but will wait to do tops until I have had my colours done in Jan.
Still badly wanting a pair of leather leggings that I can actually afford..

[botemp]

Well, that's why Merino is great, it washes well, restores its shape and is least likely to bobble of all the wool types. It really gets underrated, but probably a good thing as it keeps prices down. It's great mixed with otherwise more delicate yarns too, like silk or cashmere, compensating some of their weaker points. Cashmere does really benefit a trip to the dry cleaner now and then.

I do like a an elbow sleeved (or even longer) leather glove in winter to not succumb completely to the functional look and you can still do the foldover that way. Probably not so practical with Raynaud's though.

The Cos leather trousers are on offer in burgundy at the moment, Proper. Don't know if they're budget compliant but less than usual at 30% off.

[SplatPancake]

I used to do a lot of wool and fibre based stuff and often used Eucalan, a no rinse specialist wool wash to wash my own woollens. It did a good job, but it smelled of lavender, which I can’t bear.

My tops don’t smell (especially since reading the “soap not shower gel” threads 😉), but I truly am a bugger for tea/coffee drips or unexpected toothpaste marks (usually from the children, not me 😬), so washing happens often in this house.

Only accident I’ve ever had was with a lovely uniqlo cashmere V neck. It’s shrunk a bit, was an oversized man’s small, so now fits me “properly” - just s bit chunky and felty, but v toasty and going strong after 7 years.

I’ve ordered a black rollneck (cashmere, man’s, uniqlo) in the sale and am watching a nice coat in [[http://www.comptoirdescotonniers.co.uk/double-faced-wool-coat-DEXPRESSO_3510.html#start=1 Comptoir des Cottoniers]] and am not buying anything else.... for the minute

[botemp]

I've just read this article on Nyden with the 'mind' behind the brand or /Nyden as it's spelled there .

I will reserve judgment until I see it but it does all sound a bit first-year art school/wannabe philosophers, empty concept nonsense that I'm a bit allergic to. Mostly because I know how easy it is to use that kind of rhetoric to push your own creative agenda through and I'm scarily good at it without any form of resistance. Good to know we're way ahead of the curve on here by creating our very own digital fashion tribe

On the commercial side, they seem to have it figured out in a way only the business savvy H&M would, it's like their designer collabs on speed, emulating the Yeezy and Supreme 'drops' nonsense without having to camp out the night before. It'll be interesting, that's for sure.

[SplatPancake]

Oh God Bo, that sounds exhausting....

[botemp]

Yeah, I won't be rolling out my digital sleeping bag and waiting in line anytime soon. Tribes FFS, can't remember when we last heard that, was just subcultures for a bit, but no now we're back to tribes. Was it the 90s, or am I just confusing that with those carbon dating tribal tattoos?

[SplatPancake]

[RoseWhiteTips]

Merino doesn’t “bobble”.

[BWatchWatcher]

Damn, I thought I'd stumbled on a magic formula.

[Tiddlywinks63]

I love this thread and will definitely miss it, it's bucked up my older, grey haired grandmother drag and kicked me into making the most of myself instead of trundling along into oblivion!
I put bars of unwrapped nicely scented soap in with my wooden and cashmere jumpers which appears to work (or perhaps clothes moths haven't found me yet?)
Here's to a more elegant moi and many others in 2018!

[Bloomed]

I chuckled at the Nyden interview Bo. I too shall spend the evening entertaining the idea of the universe being a hologram ...

[TossDaily]

Bonjour all.

I'll start thread 3 later, shall I?

[LazyDailyMailJournos]

Splat yes the 'soap not shower gel' thread was very useful. It's made a big difference and I'm pleased I switched.

Toss - big 'Oui' from me for a new thread!

[Methenyouplus4]

Would also love another thread.

Splat / Lazy- could you summerise the main point of soap versus shower gel? I use soap (to cut down use of plastics) but curious about other thread.

[Methenyouplus4]

Splat- I remember on the other thread about looking groomed they said men's cashmere is a great option , apparently TK Maxx is great as often have small sizes/ pastel colours etc heavily reduced.

[SplatPancake]

Methen I think it was something along the lines of soap can actually remove the “oily” layer on the skin where the stink-causing bacteria can live/thrive, whereas shower gel can’t (because if the difference in constitution of the liquid). This is not a damaging “oh god, soap dries out my skin” fallacy.

Lazy might remember better than me - I just started using gorgeous Neste Dante soaps again, and feel a lot cleaner!

[LazyDailyMailJournos]

Pretty much what Splat said! Some soaps can be drying because of this, but you can counteract it to a certain extent by using mild soaps that have glycerine in them, so they aren't as drying as ordinary soap.

I've alternated between soap and shower gel for years, depending on what I fancied. I hadn't used soap for a while when I read the recent thread and was inspired to go back to it. Having done so and been mindful of the info shared on the thread about minimising smell, I have noticed a difference; I can still smell the soap scent on my skin 24 hours later.

It's also much more cost effective as you only use what you need - whereas with shower gel there's always the danger that half of it slides straight off and down the drain! I bought a two in one body polisher from Boots - a bath puff on one side and a loofah on the other, with a thick strap across it to go across your hand. Works a treat - get it wet, lather some soap onto it and off you go!

[botemp]

New thread is fine by me. Why do people think it all ends just because MN only allows a 1000 posts on a thread?

Oh Bloomed, I somehow managed to miss that gem . It all makes perfect sense now not.

I wasn't on the soap/shower gel thread (never used shower gel myself) but if we're talking pits, then I think it's a two-fold thing, most deodorants are silicon-based which creates an artificial seal on the skin, so it doesn't actually remove perspiration, it just locks it in and adds a touch of fragrance to mask anything that does somehow get through. If it's not removed properly (especially the extra strength, long lasting ones) it builds up (much like silicone can build up in your hair) and it's therefore not working as it should and storing up old transpiration under a nice warm little seal at the same time that positively reeks when it breaks through (think of it a bit like clogged pores). You have to view traditional soaps a bit like a solid oil cleanser, oil dissolves oil better than anything else but needs a surfactant to help it along (soap saponifies). Silicon has properties like an oil, so it tends to be more effective at keeping away that buildup as it actively breaks it down. I don't see why a shower gel with a heavy duty surfactant wouldn't do that job as well, but those tend to be the really drying types so probably not that popular and best avoided on those grounds.

I've always been a fan of traditional soap for the pits and a liquid cleansing oil for the rest of the body. French pharmacy is great for these, giant bottles that cost next to nothing. Usually marketed at eczematic skin, which is great as it doesn't dry your skin out or rob it of natural lipids, I rarely use body lotion.

[boldlygoingsomewhere]

I also started using soap again and noticed a lovely side effect was a reduction in KP on my arms and legs. It hasn't disappeared completely but is much better.

I'll join you all in the slatterns' bench - I also try not to wash my woollens and denim too often.

[ProperLavs]

I've yet to find a soap that doesn't aggravate dd3's eczema though. I have a Dove soap and I hate hate hate the smell of it. I do find soap very drying, much more so than shower gel.. if anyone knows of a soap that is actually moisturising please do tell

[ProperLavs]

splat that comptoir coat is just like the peacoat I bought! Well except mine is already used and worn in .

[AuldAlliance]

Dove isn't proper soap, though...

[explodingkittens]

Just delurking to say how much I have enjoyed these threads and yes please to another one!

I have been inspired to give my wardrobe a proper clear-out and have realised that it's not new clothes I need, but new ways of wearing the old ones, and this thread has been great for inspiration.

Am looking forward to striding into the new year all chic and french-like

[botemp]

Get a cleansing oil Proper, the Avene Xeracalm CO is really great for eczema prone skin (but I use it with no eczema and love it too), doesn't dry at all, removes dirt but not the natural lipids. It's fragrance-free and I often recommend it to use on the face for those who have it there too as it's so gentle. It's been a life-changer for a poster's DD on the Fantastic Skincare threads.

I only use soap for the pits because the pH of soaps are too high, properly alkaline when our own skin barrier is acidic (which is how you want to keep it). Sweat itself is highly acidic so the slight disruption to your pits pH level with soap isn't such an issue but on the rest of the body, it's less desirable as we're unlikely to sweat in the same amounts there. Cleansing oils are pH neutral, shower gels will be a range of pHs, but often slightly alkaline too (but not as high as soap).