Le ridicule ne tue pas....les Parisiennes de Mumsnet

[AuldAlliance]

New thread for those hoping to add a bit of Parisian je ne sais quoi and je m'en fous to their style.

I find Ruby Woo does make my teeth look a little yellow - they're not really, but I prefer a more orange- red to avoid that effect. That said, for 2 pounds it's worth a go.

Bags are nice botemp I'd struggle with the Staud because I'm a klutz who always knocks her bag over and I have visions of the contents of my bag being strewn across coffee shop floors, but I like the clean lines. I like the Nico Giani Neli leather tote, but it's not as whimsical and a good bit bigger.

shipsong Had a quick look for you, but it's hard to find sneakers with same coloured soles. These Ugg ones were the best I could do. I like the jigsaw ones that RosieLig posted and think they're pretty smart.

Glad you got your jacket HolgerDanske and hope everything is okay.

I'm meeting my husband after work for dinner in a casual trendy place. In the past I would have changed outfits after work, but I took a bit of time last night and have an outfit that'll work for both work and dinner. Just need to undo a couple of buttons!

Well done Muubaa! for the RL stuff, Holger.

I'm not sure RW is a universally flattering red, but I would point out the mini is a different formula to the normal sized RW. A lot of people actually prefer it as it's not as drying but the colour is not exactly the same.

I'm assuming lower budget preferred if not buying at Mac, so if there's a KIKO nearby you can always try the 114 (true) and check the 113 (cooler) and 115 (warmer). People like the Kate Moss for Rimmel as well but no advice on which colours from me as I don't like my lipstick fragranced.

Elle, I'd enjoy the whimsy of the Staud for a bit and then get annoyed with carrying it by hand all the time, it does have a cross body strap but that takes the whimsy out of it for me, so still on the fence. I like that NG one too but it's far too big for me. It's kind of the issue I'm having and why I'm contemplating another bag purchase in under a year as most of my bags are just too big on me now and no longer suit my proportions, a bit 'bag with a person attached' syndrome. I also feel bags are a bit in flux at the moment, both price and shape wise, I've been yearning for more relaxed silhouettes but nothing feels quite right. I've looked at Jerome Dreyfuss but it all feels a bit old hat now, but I guess I want something like that but a bit more current, fun and a bit of whimsy but without the boxy formality that screams 'look at my bag'.

I find bags incredibly difficult on the whole - I only have 3, not counting the rucksacks I use for walking. 1) a basic black shoulder bag (Radley) that's actually perfectly nice but needs refurbishing. There are no silly dogs on it and even the logo is in black so hard to see. 2) a tan-ish tote bag I bought last summer, it has quite nice shading on it, but it's not leather and is beginning to fray at the corners, so I do need a replacement. I think it was a House of Fraser one, isn't Maison de Nimes one of their brands? And 3) a slouchy black leather backpack from & Other Stories, which is very nice but not enough in itself.

I do have a black pebbley Ralph Lauren one that I got given a few years ago but I hate it and never use it, it's too stiff and stand-upright-y.

I do feel I need to up my bag game. I could do with another tan sort of tote, better and I'd also like something in red that's vaguely fun, and something in a vaguely dark blue, probably more shoulder bag sized for both.

My problem is that I don't like anything with a logo on it, not even a Gucci or a Chanel logo, and I don't really have hundreds and thousands to spend (am thinking about £250 max for the tote - I quite like the Loewe woven one that I've seen around lately, but it's nearly 10 times that - and about £100 max for each of the other two.) But within those price brackets, so far the only thing I've found that I like is a suede messenger type bag from & Other Stories.

Everything else is either logo-y, or too recognisably from a brand or shouty, or a horrid shape, or too stiff and boxy, or it has a pompom or tasse - which I would cut off but it seems mad buying a new bag just to cut bits off it - or it's the wrong shade of tan/red/blue, or it has a gold chain strap, or I don't like the texture (not a great fan of pebbley leather), or I don't like the buckle, or some other small thing that stops me buying it. And I don't like half moon or saddle bag or bucket shapes.

Suggestions welcome, if I'm not asking for the completely impossible. :-)

Have added some Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm to my collection of French gear - I usually just use Lypsyl but thought I'd try out the Nuxe.

CatherineMaitland, a few years ago I bought a Lambertson Truex bag that would have retailed for $$$$ for about £75 from here. It's a US alternative to Vestiare and can be worth a trawl, though you can never shop to a plan.

I don't even trust my judgement with bags anymore. I think I've become a bit weary of the "It" bag phenomenon. I don't know if my memory even serves me correctly in this regard. I know that there were various iterations of the "It" bag in the last couple of decades, but it feels more omnipresent now. I can't tell if it's the bags, or the influence of Instagram or just my age, but I really feel over "It".

As a consequence I just really don't trust my judgement on bags any more. I'm also over spending big money on them. I like the look of the Loewe hammock bag and have always loved the look of the Hermes Lindy, but just can't contemplate spending that kind of money (the Loewe) on a bag even when I might have in the past, not the Lindy (that's definitely out of my price range). I've been sitting on the handbag sidelines for nearly a year now and I don't see that changing any time soon. I just don't trust my judgement to pick something with longevity!
CatherineMaitland Stories has this bucket bag which is fun and red.

Blimey, OCSockOrphanage - that's a fun site to look at!

Do you have any idea what international shipping costs might add? I am in the UK (mainly.)

Thanks, Elle, I think I saw that but it is too stiff for me. I totally agree about the It bag...they are not only too expensive for me but also, it's a bit too much like having the It coat or whatever at school for me to get into. Plus it's only ever It for about a week.

Don't worry OC - I have found the shipping info.

Glad you like it! I don't look at it very often, and often see nothing when I do, but I presume she's in quite a luxe catchment because of the stock she sells on. The shipping costs were okay, for a US site, and my bag is great quality, brilliantly organised. (The designers' brand was bought out for them to create Tiffany's leather division). Preloved obviously, and with some wear, but actually I sort of prefer some mileage. Fairly sure the total damage was about £80, but sterling was stronger then.

And I am not about It bags either! TKMaxx is my usual hunting ground, but being ancient, I don't really mind as long as the shape works for my desired silhouette, which changes over the years.

I am now being tempted by the little Vuitton EPI tote, which is quite a steal (I think, but correct me if not) at $380. Not that I am going to buy it, but it's rather covetable.

It's not even it bags anymore, it's just a fast fashion cycle at the top. By the time you can splash out on one it's already out of fashion the next day, it's taken away the 'specialness' about them in a sense.

I hate the narrative around them too, they're not an 'investment' or a 'treat' for eating pot noodles for the next month. They're purely self-indulgent things, you buy it because you want to and you can. The Danse Lente bag I bought a few months back was the first in years that I saw and instantly wanted but it's been many many years in between of being very tepid about bags in general. I've often considered making my own, it's not too far out of my realms. I've looking for a simple tote but everything feels off, I know exactly what I want but it doesn't seem to exist. My sewing machine claims it's able to sew leather but I'm assuming only really thin leather. Any of the more experienced sewers got any experience working with leather? Though a course linen might work too I suppose.

Sock, were you not smacked with massive import duties? Without exception, everything coming in from the US (but other countries- completely random) gets stopped here. For us anything over 150euros gets extra heavily taxed, it's usually half or more of the price paid.

EPI's are probably the only LVs that I don't dislike, although the Sophia Coppola ones have their charm too. I always fancied the EPI weekend bag, but then I have a weakness for all weekend bags.

It's last days of the French sales, Soeur and a few brands have added a discount on top 15-20%. Ended up ordering an APC charcoal scarf from Le Bon Marche (confusingly 24 Sevres online) after looking for one everywhere this weekend. Then ended up tossing in a pair of silk wide leg Stella McCartney trousers to get free shipping . If anyone else is interested code SALE20 gets an additional 20% off and almost everything is at 60% off already, so effectively a little over 70% off. They do ship to the UK (4 €), I checked this time, and shipping is fast, returns are free. It was supposed to arrive today but due to a high volume of orders it was delayed, they sent a very polite email to inform me though.

Bo, customs/import duties into the UK from the US are not levied on previously owned/secondhand items. Anything new and over about £50 is hammered though, and they have become much stricter since online shopping became so big.

I wouldn't buy an It bag, though I did quite like that little EPI, and apart from the BV woven Intrecciato totes (spelling?) and the Loewe Puzzles, I've never been tempted by one. That said, I got a great pleather (TK Maxx clearance) bargain several years ago that at first glance could be a BV. There's so much work in them: even the (very good quality) Japanese fakes on sale in the Middle East were over $400.

Really, Sock, AFAIK that's EU policy (not Schengen), you haven't all Brexited yet so am curious how the UK has an exception for used goods. It used to be like that here too but they changed it to include used goods with the EU rules.

I feel your pain about the bags. It's like I want something that's minimalist but luxury at the same time 🤔

If you can buy with a French address then the Lancel website is usually good. I have a bucket bag from them that I love (second pic, but in aubergine). You can also buy Lancel in some airports. It's not crazy expensive either.

My only other handbag is a Celine belt bag in black (first pic). I don't think it will date badly unlike the "flagship" Celine tote with the wings?

I'm definitely a bag person not a shoe person but I've yet to find my next bag love.

Actually it looks like Lancel now ship internationally, yay!

Actually I forgot, I also have this one which is smaller but not too small to be useful

www.lancel.com/en_uk/crossbody-bag-4921.html

I bow to your superior knowledge Bo, but wasn't hit for duty/VAT when I bought the last one. There's a value threshold I think and although it hasn't been raised in forever, second-hand seems to pass unnoticed. Fairly sure that second-hand goods are VAT exempt here. I have got another LT (a little tan leather tote) up on my screen now. At just over $100 plus postage, it's not dear....

can you spend as much as you want from the US and not be hammered then?

when it's second hand I mean!

I've just been looking at M Hulot - I like the simplicity but they are still not quite what I'm looking for, somehow.

"I don't know" is the answer. It's three or four years ago that I bought mine from that seller, and then it just turned up by post. Likewise, I've never had a problem buying scent decants online by post, but anything despatched by an obvious r-etailer has been assessed for duty/VAT based on the declared value.

US import makes a lot of things not worth it, I agree. Is there no import tax on secondhand, then? Last time I paid it, most of the charge was from the post office administering the custom fee!

Not bags at all (going for the cheap option ) but I bought a faux leather, quilted/waffle black mini skirt in the charity shop, yesterday. No label, but looks quite well made and £4.50.

A brief consultation with Google suggests I was lucky that time. The value threshold above which duty is levied is £36 (and it's been that since the 1990s!) VAT is payable on secondhand goods when resold, but only on the seller's margin.

www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad says differently.

Taxes and/or duties apply to anything, new or used.

VAT (plus the stupid admin costs which are usually more than the VAT) owed on:

Gifts worth more than £39

Any goods over £15

Customs duties are owed (on top of VAT) on:

Anything under £135- No charge

Gifts worth £135-£630 - 2.5%, but rates are lower for some goods

Gifts above £630 and other goods above £135- The rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from

That's me told then!