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.

*Botemp * I can finally answer a question for you! I recently bought a grey crew jumper from Arket (online) and its sizing is similar to Cos, Arket is perhaps a tad smaller when I compare both a Cos jumper and an Arket jumper side by side (both size small). It could be just the material as the Arket one has less give in it but I’d say it is slightly smaller fitting than Cos.

BO the app sounds interesting, what is it?
I too am throughly sick of the cold.
Now we have this Siberian wind blowing in and it's all even worse than before.

Auld hope the weather cheers up. Still, at least you are somewhere different .

I had another parents' evening to go to last week. I looked barrel-like, all wrapped up in a thousand jumpers and big coat. Still I had red lippie on and was told I looked very glamorous. It's amazing what it can do impression-wise.

Vintage fair was disappointing. I bought some 1970s crockery bits that made me nostalgic for my youth. And a not really vintage but I liked it Art Deco poster. Big stall of some lovely Biba - esque frocks that I am far too old and apple shaped for. Some real fur

First time poster, long time admirer of these threads. Can I just ask: are any of you sahms to small ones, and if so, how are you working your daily footwear? I mean, I love a pump in summer (the dune ones, in my opinion are definitely worth the extra £ for comfort) but in this weather? Bare ankles: tres chic, tres fucking cold

I'd agree with @Theshipsong about the Arket sizing being smaller than Cos, but I think it's partly because their stuff is more fitted anyway.

I'm in Madrid at the moment and have been checking out feet - not a bare ankle in sight! They're smart but not daft.

Treated myself to Ruby Woo at the airport and absolutely love it, feel much more put together than usual.

For me, the bonus of more cold weather is that some of my very favourite clothes are winter coats. But it needs to stay dry - my poor bad weather coat is efficient but unloved.

Goose I love ankle length trousers / jeans although my small children days are well behind me. But not in this weather. No. I've tried and tried and tried with boots but I just can't get it to work. I think a thin streak of sock can look ok but, for me, it's that flash of bare skin that really lifts it. I've no time for clothes that don't keep you warm so I've been wearing full length for the last couple of months: narrow leg, tapered or skinny with ankle boots or Solovairs (similar to Doc Martens). Sorry if that's not helpful.

And sorry the fair was a disappointment Gibbons It's a very hit and miss game. I enjoy the chase nearly as much as the catch so it doesn't bother me too much, but it's only been the last couple of years, when I've had no caring responsibilities, that I've been able to put the time in again.

Ooh, Auld, was wondering if you were in the US already. Only slightly off topic, I mean it is French and frozen, any intel on Picard? Our supermarket has just started selling some of their things, mostly the terroir stuff, was quite impressed by the ingredient lists being fairly clean but have been left wondering if it tastes any good? Never buy much ready-made, or frozen for that matter, but the croissants looked exactly the same as the Delifrance ones.

Thanks for the info on the Arket sizing, everyone, I did put an order in when it first launched, sent back all the clothes but couldn't remember if it was just down to sizing or just general 'not what I expected/wanted'.

Proper, it's United Wardrobe, it's not in the UK though, just NL, Belgium, France, and Germany. Though they're continually expanding, so I'm sure they'll get to the UK eventually. It's mostly teens trying to sell off their old wardrobe to buy new things but it means the not so mainstream designer brands go for very little money as teen tastes are rather limited.

Shame the fair didn't pan out, Gibbons.

Goose, I don't really know where this idea comes from that the Parisians are all running around bare ankled. When I was there it ranged from 4-14 degrees, they were still swaddled in hats and scarves at 14, actively complaining about the cold, and nary a bare ankle in sight. Ankle boots are very popular, heeled and flat (Chelsea boot types, but usually a narrow model rather than chunky, almond or pointed toe rather than round). Combat boots are popular at the moment (but more the under 40s), otherwise, they have fun with socks in colours, metallics, patterns, etc. Flat knee high riding boots are always on standby (often in brown or camel), etc. etc. They'll wear trainers with black socks, like the New Balance ones (sorry forgot the model number now), Vejas, or Stan Smiths.

Ooh Madrid, well Midlife. I'm not a fan of the Costa del Sol or Barcelona but really like Madrid and Basque country. Once spent an entire mini break in Madrid eating chocolate cake for breakfast everyday Found any good shopping? I always like to look for shoes and bags there.

Sorry, also meant to add for Goose, that ankle boots are often in a contrasting colour so they pop a bit, doesn't have to be a bright colour but just not necessarily in the same tone/family as the trousers/opaques, whereas trainers or flats like the Bobbies tend to be in the same colour scheme.

I always have chocolate for breakfast. I think it's best eaten on an empty stomach. Must be dark choc though. I sometimes add banana.

Just spent the morning browsing El Rastro market. If you want vintage leather blazers, stall after stall selling them for ten euros. Rejected a tan leather coat and now on my way to the airport bitterly regretting it!

Bought navy suede brogues for 30 in a sale yesterday, sadly no joy with bags but the airport shops look promising!

Me too Flo, I'm one of those annoying 'just one square of really dark chocolate a day' people and it's the start of my breakfast. I find it good against nausea.

Make sure to have some chocolate cake at the airport to forget about the leather coat, Midlife, I'm sure they'll have some.

Ombar cacao cru 90% cacao bars are fabulous for breakfast and goûter. And as an en-cas...

As I've been losing weight on the MN HFLC Boot Camp, I can only allow myself a single square or two of very dark chocolate

On another topic, I've seen this top with a cross over back that I think I'm going to buy the pattern for. Might even be able to try the "casual tuck in at the front" with it. Will need to decide what yarn and what colour to get.

I'm another square of dark chocolate person . I usually have mine mid-afternoon with a green tea. Madamfrog thanks for the recommendation, too.

Bo lots of the Picard stuff is good, though I've never tried the croissants. Their pastry, pancakes and waffles are fine, so I don't see why the croissants wouldn't be.

Must dash...

I'm with flo on the bare ankle thing, it's been hovering around freezing here for ages and I still see people with bare ankles and trainers. It is such an English thing, though, to dress for the weather you want, rather than what it is and then complain about it! I definitely wear more skinnies in mid winter, as I can tuck them into winter boots. I have an ancient pair of brown, suede, furry boots that are calf length that I wear in the worse weather as they're warm, weatherproof and have good grip. Also, a navy hiking style pair from Celtic & Co, some black, sheepskin biker style ones too. The shorter or looser trousers and bare ankles, I'll save to spring.

Did anyone see the article by Ines de la Fressange in Stella magazine? Talking about dressing when you're older, basically keep evolving your style: "You are never too old and you should never lose interest in what's new now" and not saving things for best: "In France, we mix sophisticated things with casual things. We will wear the silk with the denim".

I can’t seem to get the bare ankle with trainer thing right (not that I would wear it in this weather!)- last autumn I spent ages looking at students carrying it off, and it seemed to be something about the top of the trainers being flat that made it work, but I could not get it right! Anyway it makes my legs look even shorter so I will ignore it in a huff. I am going to wear my cosy timberlands today (after I walk the dog in about a million layers and my lovely warm but unstylish sea salt coat!)

I think it's about where they hit on the ankle and that it's a bit like working out what your best hemline length is - i.e. different for everyone. I admit I'm a tad obsessive though.

Bit of snow overnight but it's dry for now and I'm trying to decide between my poor hardworking Seasalt coat (which doesn't deserve to be treated like I do) and my lovely Harris Tweed which is suprisngly water repellant but doesn't have a hood.

I know Flo- my seasalt coat is warm, waterproof, fits a lead in the pockets- but somehow I just don’t love the way it looks! Feel very ungrateful!

Oh oh oh!!!

Can I join??!! This is totally for me. I have become rather dowdy and frumpy and last week went a little mad on Amazon buying books about french chic.

Off to read all the threads!

It does make me cross that I live in a rainy country and British designers are supposed to be sooo creative and yet not one of them seems interested in designing a bad weather coat I might actually want to wear.

Anyway it's still dry so tweed wins. Well they used to climb Everest in it back in the day.

Sorry, cross posted with you Feng - come in and get warm.

Goosegettingfat I'm not a sahm, but I have 2 very young kids and in the evenings / weekend I have been wearing my chunky black boots loads - they're kind of combat style, but with a little bit of brouging. I am under 40 so I'm happy to hear that this is Parisian! Skinny jeans obviously work tucked in, but I've also been wearing dark denim straight legs rolled so that the cuff sits on top of the boot. I wear a pair of slightly battered riding boots for the park and when the weather gets a bit better I'm going to break out my Veja trainers.

AuldAlliance - Interesting on the North Americans being more dressed down. I often find the same when outside the big cities.

Floisme - I love coats too. My very favourite items.

botemp Your description of the sample sales really makes me want to go. They sound so fun! I find Arket fairly true-to-size as high street goes. It's possibly a fraction more generous than designer sizes, but not so much that I'd size down unless you're between sizes.

midlifecrisis Brogues sounds lovely.

I have a bit of a hankering for all things Western at the moment. Saw a picture of Emmanuelle Alt attending the shows in a denim jacket with a kind of Western blanket trim. I have a screenshot on my phone, but can't locate it on my PC. I also fancy a pair of Western boots. Mid- heel.

Still haven't had time to try on Uniqlo stuff. The weekend was too busy and I'm trying to try on stuff properly i.e. in good lighting and with proper underwear, t-shirt etc so that I can evaluate it properly.

I don't like really dark chocolate! I prefer the stuff in between milk and dark - somewhere around 45% and if it has a bit of salt in it, even better!

Wow I just use "properly" three times in one sentence. Time to break out the thesaurus.

I’m a coat obsessed person too. I tend to buy cheaper coats mainly as I buy two to three every year as I grow out of love with them quite quickly. The ones I love are the more expensive ones so maybe it’s psychological or maybe I just take better care of them.

This year I was determined to buy a nicer warm jacket that didn’t feel so grumpy and bought one from Superdry. I loved it initially but am already neglecting it. I’ve come to the conclusion that any sort of padded jacket simply can’t look smart enough to make one feel chic wearing it.

I’ve been on the lookout for black ankle boots to wear with skirts for a long time. I dislike black shoes to begin with and beer towards burgundy when brown or tan just won’t do. I need black boots for certain dresses that I have avoided wearing dye to lacking the right colour footwear.

I have returned numerous pairs. This weekend I bought a pair of sock boots from TopShop. They were in the sale online so thought it was worth a gamble. They might be the answer to my black shoe dilemma. Does anyone have them? Is my desperation causing me to think ugly boots ‘will have to do’? Do they look really cheap ie they are very cheap.

m.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/buttercup-boots-7186792