Bonne année, Parisiennes de Mamansnet! C'est Le nouveau thread full of nouveau ideés!

[TossDaily]

Excuse the franglais.

Here it is - the third thread in the series, where we add a little je ne sais quoi to our lives, inspired by the style of our souers across the Channel.

Thanks to our top contributor and style guru Botemp, we are finding ways to lift ourselves out of the style doldrums with a slash of red on the lips, a touch of white where it counts, an insouciant scarf or even an over the knee sock or two for the brave among us.

Take it as far as you dare, Mariannes!

[ToElleWithIt]

botemp Yes I'm 5'10" and long limbs relative to torso. Thanks

The grumpySquirrel Lovely jackets

[bananafish81]

Bonjour mes amies!

This post is mainly replying to messages on the previous thread, have just skimmed the new thread and lots to catch up on!

I admire your dedication to washing woollens pink, I have an aversion to hand washing anything: it's the drying as much as the washing that's such a faff!

The bastard moths in my previous two homes are almost certainly due to there being immersion tanks located in the bedroom, meaning they could get very warm and thus moth havens. Absolutely didn't help putting worn woollens back in the wardrobe, but even if I'd washed every bit of cashmere after just one wear, I think they'd still have had a disco party in there

Current place has old wooden wardrobes in a much cooler room - so having frozen every jumper and gone nuclear with the moth protection spray in the cupboard before moving everything in, I'm hoping it'll be less attractive. That and I'll get my cashmere cleaned more often now it's so easy with Laundrapp perfect for lazy bastards like me

Inspired by your recommendations for an oil based body cleanser bo, I was in boots getting some more LRP Toleraine cleanser, and as it was 3 for 2 on skincare, I got 2 of the cleansers and a Bioderma body cleansing oil as my freebie to try. I currently use soap for pits and bits, and a moisturising shower cream on a puff for everywhere else, assume I just swap the oil cleanser in (slap it on directly? Or use the puff doodah?)

And yes, Dove definitely isn't soap - having worked on the Dove account at an ad agency, the Unilever client were at pains to correct anyone who referred to it as 'soap' rather than 'cream bar'. I know its defining feature is that it is specifically Notsoap, but still, pedantic as hell
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Also agree bo that the word 'tribe' is vomworthy. One of those words that trends researchers come up with alarming regularity.

I do also like a long pair of leather gloves - however my issue with rolled up sleeves isn't so much outdoors (because that's when I'm wearing a coat so my arms are covered anyway) - but indoors. If it's gloves weather outside then it's cold enough to be wearing a jumper, which means bare arms inside are going to be chilly - so rolled up sleeves are I'm afraid just a spring / autumn thing, when it's warm enough not to need thick layers!

I wandered around the sales this afternoon and have to say I felt utterly uninspired by loads of what I saw - much of the stuff in brands like The Kooples, Sandro and Maje was cheap feeling synthetic fabrics, didn't look or feel much different to anything in Mango or Zara. I did however snaffle a few bargains!

Got two collarless longer-length white shirts, both 50% off -not sure which one I'll keep and which one will go back, but got both to try on at home. I could happily wear a white shirt every day as a layer under cashmere, as I wear the longer length shirts tucked out at the back to cover my bum if I'm wearing the LL or my skinny leggings trousers. Your sartorial opinions most welcome!

No 1 is from Cos, I'm not sure if the puffy sleeves make me look a bit like an off duty artist's assistant, rather than deconstructed silhouette chic

No 2 is from Arket, more fitted, and full length sleeves

Possibly leaning towards the latter because I could wear heat tech underneath, but that's also me playing it very safe (as it's most similar to what's already in my wardrobe...)

Please ignore black bra under white shirt, obvs I would wear it with proper undies!!

Inspired by the thread I got myself out of beanie territory and nabbed this hat for 40% off in Bimba y Lola - not sure what style you'd class it as, but it's getting me out of my comfort zone and trying new things! The only challenge #firstworldproblem is that I can't wear my headphones with it on , so I'll have to suss out some decent earbuds for proper hat days!

And to up my scarf game, I also got this fab little printed number in Comptoir, also for 50% off

www.comptoirdescotonniers.co.uk/100--wool-printed-scarf-DAILY_3602.html#start=1

And I even resisted the temptation to buy another 6 different grey jumpers in various shops to add to my extensive grey jumper collection

Phew!

[shopafrolic]

bananafish that first shirt is gorgeous on you

[ilovecherries]

How over-sized is oversized? Is it a special fit, or is it just something that is too big for you? Oversized/slouchy is a look that makes me have a bit of a meltdown at the moment, as I fret that it makes me look like I did before. But inspired by Banana's new white shirts, I've dug out some white shirts I wore before. I've sold most of my plus size winter clothes now, the white shirts survived the cull because they went into the Spring sale pile. They are lovely (and expensive!) shirts, but they are size 24. Should I be wearing a size 14 which is described as an oversize fit, or as a 14 can I wear these 24s as oversized? These are the things I feel other women just know the answer to, and I dont have a clue. . I feel they look quite flappy round the hips and waist, and they are much longer than they were before - just above mid thigh maybe? Perhaps I should dump them anyway because of their associations. I do love comfortable and non-restricting clothes, but I also don't want to look like I'm hiding in my clothes any more. What's the chic option here?

[TheGrumpySquirrel]

At risk of being uncool, I really don't like "oversized" stuff. Yes, loose fit boyfriend style shirts, etc, ok. Not some of the big coats etc that are made "oversized" - they just look like you are wearing your grandads clothes imo!

Cherries I would buy new shirts.

[prettybird]

Have you tried cinching one of the shirts in with your new plaited belt to deal with your ever diminishing waist ilovecherries ? If that doesn't work, I'd put them back on the "For Sale" pile.

[ProperLavs]

banana I def prefer the second sir on you and am loving the hat!

[ibuiltahomeforyou]

So since uncovering 'my' look after giving birth this year, it's my first trip home to my family, so packing my outfits was interesting.

I dithered over packing my pleather leggings only to arrive as my DSis' for her to answer the door wearing... a pair of pleather leggings!

I have packed a stash of my French beauty products from my French advent calendar to share with my sisters and DM, too.

[botemp]

You lot have been chatty! I don't want pjs, just a flannel shirt/top now that it's chilly. Everything I've seen is piddly thin and horrible, the men's section offered even less (bottoms only) and it was all insanely priced or falling apart in your hands. Argh, will have a look at the cyber jammies, Arket, and check if J Crew on Zalando has some flannel in.

Proper, whilst it is likely that most clothes will have been 'dirtied' somewhere in the supply chain, in stores like Primark, where the USP is selling at cut-throat prices across the board, it goes from a maybe, to highly probable in many facets for me. Retailers that only compete on price can only achieve that by aggressively exerting pressure to get those cheapest prices, that affects far too many who already have so little. Very few can actually compete in those leagues.

I think it's also part of mentality wrt value. I know many will say, possibly again, this year I'll focus on quality instead, and then sort of falter somewhere along the way as the focus is far too much on buying certain fabrics (natural usually, but harder to find at a price point they're used to) and quite safe 'classic' pieces but that doesn't quite satisfy like a cheap high in a fast fashion emporium. However temporary, it's there and incentivises to repeat it, again and again, to experience it once more. For me, it doesn't sit right that something so temporary, that's psychologically used to manipulate further sales comes solely at the profit of corporations, not their workers and not their customers. To me it's a fallacy to think a contemplated wardrobe only comes from buying higher quality items in natural fabrics. The thinking should be, I'm going to be paying the true prices of garments from now on, which is a much harder pill to swallow. In the general that's at least 4x more than what most will be paying now, or buying in the secondary market (2nd hand/outlets). When the price is that high you automatically become more selective, you simply can't afford not to be.

Sory, ILoveMrDarcy, but that outfit to me reads quintessentially English. Nothing wrong with that of course but you asked whether it looked French, a Parisian version would be a much more lightweight fabric worn looser and belted. The shoes are neither this nor that, too low to be a pump and too high to be a flat and a bit too wide and not really covering up but showing too little at the same time (the French have a bit of a thing about toe cleavage). The fit of the trouser would be much sharper and the Breton a thicker material. To me, this outfit is more an interpretation (with certain compromises) rather than the original.

Flo, you've reminded me that my mother had the most amazing Japanese builder's trousers, we searched high and low for them all over Japan with clumsy translations on where to source them. I've attached a pic of a similar pair (hers were a beautiful deep indigo) but they sat differently on her, higher on the waist and a little less puffy. You could also play with the narrow bits at the ankle, lowering them for more or less volume and they easily tucked into boots.

Elle, as I thought then. I think it's less about having mass to ground you but that you need a certain visual line to balance you out. Pistols, once worn in, sit quite a lot lower, to me, they're now the perfect height for my length but I'm a good few inches shorter so for you I can imagine it no longer makes sense and is more like an overgrown shoe. You could have a look at a midi boot, your lower limbs are slim enough to support what is less of a flattering cut to most. These from Z&V may work. I do like the Joe boots on there for you as well, but it's probably pushing it for work. (Pic 2 are just to illustrate the mid-calf boot and how it looks on as opposed to an ankle boot, unfortunately, those are no longer available from Isabel Marant). You could do the less fitted (so they're essentially straight in the shaft) OTK in leather, OTK styles are surprisingly good at balancing heavy thighs out but as previously discussed a tad limited. The Isabel Marant wedge sneakers could work, and although it's been very much a fashion shoe this previous summer, the Miu Miu ballet flats. It's delicate but with all the extra hardware and ribbons it has enough body to not disappear on you (which I think would be your challenge with most shoes).

banana, I quite like the COS shirt on you, the Arket I'm not sure about, maybe it's the way you're standing but you've gone from a banana to an apple in that. Ah, the Atoderm is good too, Enid uses it. I also like LRP Lipikar CO and the Eucerin one. You can do either, foofy thing or straight on skin, it foams up a tiny bit. Love the hat, was trying one on myself today from Helene Berman (pic 3), though in black, this colour isn't as nice in RL. Despite the pompoms not Pampas Princess one me at all. Also came across a lovely tartan Johnstons of Elgin cashmere scarf, was really nice with the black shearling of my coat and as I hoped made it slightly less severe. Unfortunately, it was one of those pidly decorative ones in the men's section so I just need to find a bigger version of it now.

Oversized is one or two sizes bigger, maybe three, cherries. 14 to 24 is far too much I'd think and you have to take into account plus size clothing is generally cut differently. An oversized shape is usually taking an otherwise stiff fit and wearing it in a drapier fashion. When I refer to it, it is more the 'boyfriend fit', which to my ears is a relatively new term, and not the highly conceptual sculptural (the fit remains rigid, just scaled up) semi-cocoon higher echelon of 'thinking fashion'. I only really know COS on the HS to venture into that territory tentatively.

cherries, I gathered some pics, but I'm too tired to post more now. Just wondering where you're at with exposing your body at this size? And yes, humidity matters, and if it requires a lot of travel, really long flights usually equal bloatiness for one or two days so if you're in between sizes best to take the larger in that case.

[ToElleWithIt]

Thanks so much for the thoughts on the boots. Very tempted by those Z&V ones. I have one pair of mid-calf boots that I think look well on me so you're right that it probably is a good length. Unfortunately they're too high to wear all day. I adore the Isabel Marant pair, but only managed to turn up a very expensive pair on eBay and with no returns I'm wary. They are beautiful. Any thoughts on these IM Boots Not mid calf, but maybe straight enough to balance?

I'm trying to move my style dial more to French today. I have a navy shirt under a grey merino crew neck sweater and both sleeves rolled together. Just skinny jeans and the clumpy black boots, but it definitely looks more pulled together than my usual casual wear. I think the shirt collar helps. My husband even complimented me on my outfit this morning, so that's welcome!

[quirkychick]

Love those Japanese trousers, bo. I bought a pair of thai fisherman's trousers from plumo this summer, super cool in the very few hot days.

Maddeningly, my tablet is not showing me the links to all the lovely stuff. Grrrr.

[botemp]

Since they're suede and probably too large in the calf they'd probably slouch into mid-calf on you which isn't a bad thing but IME those very thin soled suede IM boots (like the Dickers) are torture on the feet despite not being all that high, there's practically nothing between you and the impact of the pavement. I personally am more sensitive to shoes that don't cushion the impact due to high arches, so may very well not be universal. I do think that looking for a straight shaft is a good guide for you in terms of balance. Laurence Dacade may also be worth a look, they often have a lot of mid-calf styles and the summer shoes that go up quite high on the ankle may suit you well too.

I've just had a quick look on Vestiaire (can link but you need to be signed up I think) and there's a pair of the IM Arnies in EU41 for € 410 (which you could probably negotiate down a bit), they don't look worn at all, or hardly, to my eyes.

Scots, where else can I look for a scarf in Royal Stewart tartan? The one from Johnstons really is too small and they do have a picnic blanket (or a proper plaid!) but I think that would be too big. All the others I've found are the same 180 x 25cm size. I'd like something a bit wider but the most I've come up with is 30cm which isn't really much more.

[botemp]

I was lazy in the linking quirky, I only linked the Z&V boots. I can't remember if I kept those Japanese trousers of hers, I kept some of her more iconic pieces not for myself so much but just to remember her. I'm going to have a dig later on and see.

[Floisme]

Amazing trousers bo and I'd love to see a pic of the Japanese ones if you do find them. I'm very drawn to interesting shapes at the moment. I also have some Thai trousers somewhere - bought at a festival, as you do But it wasn't the style that rendered them unwearable back in my normal life, it was the fabric and the hopeless one-size fit.

I really struggle with the price of high street fashion. I love clothes too much to be able to resist and yet I know they're cheap for a reason. I swear some of the stuff in M&S is cheaper than it was 20-odd years ago - and I don't mean cheaper in real terms, I mean the prices are literally lower. I think we'd get the shock of our lives if we had to go back to footing the real cost ourselves. It's partly why I've reverted to buying second hand as much as I can but I fall off the wagon all the time.

[ilovecherries]

bo, Tartan Online does a RS shawl, but it's 137x137 so probably the wrong shape. Johnstones of Elgin are usually best I've found, but as you say quite slim at 25cm. The last time I was in Jedburgh Woolen Mill (they don't seem to have a website!!) they are selling tartan wool cloth by the yard, which might be an option. They carry a vast range of tartans and royal Stewart is fairly common so they'd probably have it. Or finally this place: www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/Stewart-Royal-Modern-Colours-/40756?filter_searchterm=Royal%20Stewart

[prettybird]

I was going to suggest Edinburgh Woollen Mill too

Did find this but it's probably still a bit small at only 50cm wide.

https://tartanblanketco.com/products/cashmere-oversized-scarf-in-stewart-royal-tartan?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwoPx1fmu2AIVirftCh17ngsHEAQYBSABEgLQ9vD_BwE

[ilovecherries]

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the Tartan Blanket Company. I have an oversize Black Watch lambs wool scarf from there (wrestled from my dad!) and it's lovely. And still going very strong, even though it's quite old.

[ilovecherries]

Actually just looked, mine is actually cashmere. I love it :). When I was fat, one of my indulgences was cashmere scarves.

[quirkychick]

It's not just your link, bo, none of them are working on my tablet today . I might try the laptop later and see if it's the mobile site.

I think I will check out that tartan blanket company. I have issues with boots and shoes, plantar fasciitis and hamstring tendonitis nearly a year ago meant I could mostly wear only lowish heels, but that hurt my back, so I've gradually managed to wear flat shoes over this past year and now I have trouble with lowish heels... agh.

[ToElleWithIt]

botemp Thanks for the heads up on the IM boots on Vestaire. I've made an offer on them and also on a pair of Laurence Dacade mid calf boots that are studded with buckles. I'll see if either offer is accepted. You're right about shoes disappearing on me. Those sock boots that are all over the place at the moment put the fear of God in me - they'd put me straight into Ice Dancing parsnip territory.

Loch Carron have Lambswool Stoles though possibly a bit big at 75 x 194cm? www.lochcarron.co.uk/stewart-royal-modern-lambswool-stole/

[Ididnthearanything]

Have had a little spare time back at work over the last few days and have absorbed myself so thoroughly catching up with the last 2 threads. Fabulous reading.

Like many of you here, while I still love the odd bit of Zara, Mango, H&M and its offshoots, I am becoming more and more intolerant of 'fast ' fashion. I cannot abide only getting 2 wears from a piece of clothing. So I am loving everyone's measured approach to fashion here. And it's made me wonder is there an 'optimum wear number' that makes an item of clothing ethically worth it. Anyone know if such a thing exists?

banana I love the Cos shirt on you.

And the PJ chat. I find it harder and harder to find decent reasonably priced cotton. Primark used to be ok but the last couple of years I think their cotton is very poor. And feels bleurgh, chemically or something. But I also resent paying (what I consider) too much. I may have to move my 'too much' goalposts. I notice a lot of companies using modal in pyjamas. I know I know it's sort of natural, but I hate it.

Apologies in advance as I may not contribute much. I don't often get much time to browse, read or post. Love the thread tho.

[ProperLavs]

I do like a lot of the styles in Zara but the quality is very hit and miss. I have a pair of very thick dark check legging/ trousers from there that are still going strong after a year of wearing and garner compliments. I've had jumpers that fall apart after one wear.
Expensive is of course relative to income and my income is very low so I try to get second hand better quality items if I can. Even shops like cos, whistles etc are out of my price range sadly. So I have to try and look good on a very restricted budget.
I think. Decent jackets and accessories can lift an otherwise cheap outfit .

[AuldAlliance]

My Comptoir coat has arrived!
It is beautiful.
Lovely fabric, gorgeous colour, very well made.
But I ordered a 40 rather than a 38, and it is very big on me.
Partly the cut, I think.
The model in the green coat on their website doesn't wear it buttoned up in any of the pics (but the pic where it is lying flat shows how wide it is) and the model wearing the blue version has her hands in the pockets in the one picture where it's buttoned, and I think she is pulling the fabric forward a little so the coat looks more fitted around her waist.
I can't only ever wear it flapping open, especially in Philly in Feb, which is partly what it's for.
I've e-mailed them to ask about exchanges. I have to pay P&P to return it, which will probably be about 12-15€, so I am worried that it is the cut and will still be a bit baggy one size down. I don't want to get a 38 and then pay another 12-15€ to send it back, too. But a 36 would probably be too tight around the shoulders. Their nearest store is a 50min round trip in the car, otherwise I'd go and try them on...

To add to the debate, I never buy anything from Zara. I get a lot of stuff from Esprit, because they have free delivery & return and they still have a fair bit of 100% cotton clothing if you look.
Since I'm never really in fashion, and I try to buy decent quality in natural fibres, without having a big budget, I keep things for years. There is some summer stuff I have had since when we were in the tropics, and we left in 2005...

[Floisme]

I have some second hand Zara that's pretty good quality e.g. a jersey jacket that's 90% cotton. I would say it's in the last couple of years that it's gone to the dogs - likewise H&M.

I don't pretend I only buy second hand for ethical reasons. It also means I can afford brands that would be otherwise out of my league e.g. this year I've discovered Margaret Howell, Celtic and Co and John Smedley. But it's time consuming - it works for me because I no longer have caring responsibilties and because I treat it as a hobby. It's also totally random e.g. I've bought 3 wool coats this winter - all stunning but hardly a 'balanced diet'. I'd never advise anyone they can build up a whole wardrobe this way.

[Floisme]

Sorry - I don't mean to imply I only buy second hand. That might be my aim but it's not the reality. In fact I've just been checking out the new Lemaire for Uniqlo preview And I draw the line at shoes.