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.

Thanks for the feedback on the dress everyone. botemp I had not noticed that it was an online only dress. I’ll see what my sister thinks and might order it to try. There’s another emerald green number in the running from Hobbs.

OCsockorphanage what great taste your son has. That coat is gorgeous.

auldalliance the floor cleaner sounds lovely. I bet it smells divine.

Congratulations on the job redlondonbuses Since you mentioned Architecture it reminded me that when I was shopping with my sister for her wedding dress I was talking to the boutique owner and she said the customers she finds hardest to find something for are architects because they’re so particular about form and symmetry etc. thought that was interesting given you clearly have a very keen eye for clothing botemp. The “easiest” clients... teachers according to her.

My sense is that H&M has got more expensive in the “regular” lines. I’ve never bought much there, but I did look at a cotton sweater there recently. €40 is more than I had thought H&M would be. Like I say I’m a bit out of touch though. We have a lovely big store here, but they didn’t get in the studio line for example. Some of the older stores feel quite grim inside.

I like the look of the mango skirt, but I’d bet the fabric won’t be as nice in real life. The shoes definitely look the part. Lusting after the pants attached. botemp would love to see the link.. “bless me father for I have sinned. It has been a decade since my last confession...”

My bargain equipment shirt arrived and it’s an epic fail. It’s a sherbet-y orange. I doubt it’ll do anything for me so I’ll be sending that back.

But a hoodie underneath the coat could possibly look good too...

Congrats, red! I get what you mean as it's a tough thing to navigate in the design industry. You can't appear to be too much of a fashion victim as you're all supposed to be highly original but you're not to look too average either. At the same time, especially since you're an authority of sorts in your new function, you basically have to advertise your own skills in your own aesthetic choices on your body. I think it's always about being on the lookout for things with interesting details or cut. In terms of grooming it seems to be universally less is more, perhaps with one distinctive feature like a sharp hair cut or a thick eyeliner, bare face with the same bold lipsticks, almost like a signature.

The cop out safe version is that sort of semi casual monochrome wardrobe as collaged (by me, saves me from posting loads of pics at once, if individual pics are preferred let me know) in pic 1. I do think it can go a tad ordinary as you really need to invest in good cuts and keeping them in good nick (dry cleaner, often).

Then you sort of have the art curator look in collage 2, that's very sculptural which can be done on the cheap if you've got the time and a frame that carries that well (quite balanced basically).

Collage 3 is another option, it veers a bit younger and plays more with colour and pattern, thus displaying your own skill in this area. I'd imagine if you have access to good charity shops and until you're working perhaps have the time to visit often, you can find quite a lot of these pieces to mix and match with.

I think it's probably also worth considering how you will teach/want to come across. So the third collage feels much 'friendlier', and I'd expect a tutor looking like that to be collaborative and supportive, whilst a lecturer might want the more intimidating aesthetic of collage 2.

In terms of affordable shops I'd say Uniqlo and Cos are the usual suspects. I'd definitely suggest browsing the Mango Outlet online and use the search bar to find the Premium collection (the attached pics are things that would be of use to you from the Mango Outlet, can't link due to regional settings).

Some more Mango Outlet premium pics.

Since you've not spent a lot for a while, I'd say leverage money towards footwear at first as this is the easiest way to lift up a wardrobe and a good starting point to dress around. I've been watching these for a bit, probably not the budget you're looking at (just under €300) but just to give an idea of footwear with a difference/interesting detail.

Bag I wouldn't worry much about, a novelty book bag seems more common than anything else.

Oh Elle, I didn't want to ruin your buzz previously but I knew that colour was very off looking in RL, glad you're able to return it though. You did check it wasn't 'Final Sale' though, right? As the US does not have our EU laws in this regard with returns.

Those brocade Dries pants are gorgeous! Would your sister not be open to a green ensemble? It would look fab with a (silk) tuxedo shirt in a cream that almost reads as a soft green and they're sort of green...

Well I think for architects a wedding dress is probably the hardest thing to find. I wouldn't even know where to begin, I'm shuddering at the thought... Huh, this could explain why most female architects I know aren't married or were married before becoming an architect later in life

Re H&M, I used to go there for their basic, classic range, the L.O.G.G. one.
Their chinos and shirts were great.
Then they changed the cut and sizing of the chinos...and I struggle to find anything there I like. I also suspect their production methods must involve sweatshops and considerable environmental damage.

Bo, the hair mask says: powdered green clay, castor oil (I thought I'd use coconut), infused rosemary (for dark hair) or infused camomile (for light).
That's it.
But I fear you're right about the clay and its tendency to linger. I'll see.

In the meantime I'm making a pillow spray, as DS2 has been having trouble nodding off since the clocks changed.
I've borrowed a book from the library and am copying out lots of the recipes. There's mascara, deodorant, face powder and all sorts in it. Though I only use deodorant out of those three...

H&M actually scores pretty well on ethical working conditions and environmental policy. It's quite impressive considering the size of them, Zara practically has to be forced into taking minimal measures where H&M does seem to give a shit about the future and takes an active role, especially with the newwe launched brands. I think that also sort of explains why they feel more expensive these days, the quality hasn't gone up, and in places it's probably worse as cotton prices have sky rocketed, but the prices have been consistently high, especially in comparison to others like Primark, etc.

I have my own personal list of stores who will never see another penny of my money but H&M aren't on it. I may have been guilty of seeing what I chose to see, and I know they've been caught a few times using under age workers, but I've always taken comfort from their doing reasonably well in the ethical scorings - even while also wondering how they manage it.

What makes the difference for me with H&M is that they've taken it as a point of improvement when they've been caught out (considering the size of them it's almost impossible for them not to at times) where other brands (Zara, particularly comes to mind) have a 'hands off' we have nothing to do with this, blaming the suppliers, etc. as a first response, always failing to acknowledge their own culpability in the supply chain as a whole.

That's good to know. I confess I tend to lump H&M and Zara together in my mind.
WRT the environment, I kind of feel that the whole principle behind shops like H&M, where they have so much stuff, so many ranges and such a quick turnover of stock to follow trends, is ecologically unsound as it must lead to huge waste. But I've not studied the issue very much and may be maligning them unfairly

Yes I think acknowledging when you're in the wrong is so important. For example, Primark were, I believe, the first to hold up their hands after Rana Plaza while stores like Benetton and Mango took two years to pay up.

Speaking of which, did Zara ever settle with those unpaid workers?

The workers in Turkey (I think)? I think that was a classic example of 'nothing to do with us' as they were working for a supplier who had been paid by Zara. But I did think there was some resolution eventually.

I do agree that the fast fashion cycles are a poor effect on the environment and in that sense you can lump them all together, but saying that, the things I've picked up from H&M have always held up well, they do tend to be from the more expensive lines (the pink label Trend, Studio, Designer Colabs, Premium, or Conscious). I have a few odd bits from the Divided line as I like the aesthetic but that lasts 2yrs at most, the other things frok H&M last m far longer, I'm pretty sure I have things that are over a decade old.

I'm being nosey Flo, who's on your retailer shitlist?

Anything owned by Philip Green, unless he pays up the BHS pensions deficit in full. (They reached a poxy settlement with him - not good enough.)

Mango and Benetton - not the only culprits in Rana Plaza but the way they dragged their feet for 2 years left a particularly bad taste.

Asos - this is purely personal. I have friends who've worked for them.

Inditex - if they have settled up with the Turkshis workers I may reprieve them.

I'm not suggesting other people avoid them - campaigners don't recommend boycotts anyway - but I just don't want them to get any more money from me.

Thank you! Lisette40 and thank you so much for the link to the book, it looks like it has some great advice

ToElleWithIt Thank you and so true! Architects are definitely hard to please. When it comes to any other form of style other than fashion I have really clear and strong opinions, with fashion I know what I like but find it hard to execute for myself. A wedding dress would be really hard to choose!

Botemp you are so AMAZING! Thank you so, so much, you have totally nailed the aesthetics I'm aiming for and each collage perfectly represents the different facets and looks I've been imagining. Thank you for your recommendations. Collage 1 is probably what I thought I'd be able to achieve with what I have and a few key purchases, Collage 2 is gorgeous and perhaps as I elevate up the ranks is something I can aspire to but Collage 3 is the sweet spot and you're exactly right; hits the balance of collaborative and supportive which is what I'm aiming for initially.

I LOVE the Mango Premium pieces - so good. Bo if you ever think about starting up personal shopping let me know (seriously)! and thank you again.

I'm surprised Benetton still exists these days. I didn't know that about Mango, they do seem to be making changes of late, I'll have to have a read up if they're making those changes across the board as well.

I've never understood the Topshop appeal, I remember people were obsessed with it and it wasn't available here so you had to travel internationally but when I first went to one I looked like this --> The quality and fabrics seemed awful to my eyes. I don't think I've ever bought anything there or the other Philip Green businesses.

Interesting about ASOS, I tend to avoid buying from giant internet retailers somewhat as I fear they'll simply swallow up any competition in the long term.

Red, forget personal shopping, I'm now left wondering if I should not go into the business of sourcing wedding dresses for architects instead, clearly it's an underserved market

I forgot to add above that &Other stories would be good for collage 3. Unfortunately their mid season sale just ended (but the COS one is still going, I think) and Monki can be good sometimes too, albeit a bit younger but there are gems to be found there and the price point is low.

Just to be clear, I'm not in any way trying to put people off Mango or anywhere else. That was just my own personal, very inconsistent hit list. If I really had the courage of my convictions, I'd only shop at People Tree. (I don't.)

Love the collages. I'm definitely a 2 at the moment - very drawn to a more severe look. But I used to be more of a 3 and, who knows, I may flip back.

Didn't read it as such, Flo, and I did ask. When the Rana plaza incident happened I was on a complete high street for quite some time, so it was quite easy to lump them all together as one conglomerate of miscreants. It's sort of been drilled into me from a young age that anything too cheap should be treated as suspect, so I tend to use that as a guide mostly, but it remains such a minefield and I'm pretty sure I'd never be able to do with clean hands, despite all precautions. It does look like Zara set up a fund for the Turkish workers but whether that means they were paid in full I'm not sure about.

I was very much a 2 for quite some time, I quite enjoy the intimidation factor of it. I'm leaning into 3 a bit but that's more my off duty wardrobe. It does all seem to be blending into one though

*high street ban

Yeah I quite like the idea of looking intimidating.

Happy Easter!
Tulips from my garden, and eggs we coloured using vegetable dyes...
(Avert your gaze from the rumpled tablecloth...not v Parisian chic)

Tulips haven't bloomed here yet. It's been very cold though. DS and I still fancy the red coat.

Loving Botemps architectural/art tutor pictures.

I've seen tulips in the shop here but I'm not quite convinced they're locally grown, have only seen crocuses and narcissuses so far. Your Easter table looks lovely, Auld but it's clearly missing a Sainsbury's baguette

He still hasn't bought the coat yet, Sock? Does he not realise there's a whole thread of women who have been financially starving themselves and their bank accounts for over a month, lusting after that coat...

Klaxon alert.... we have gone 50/50 on the coat, with the proviso that we both have to love it! Will post a picture, of DS probably.

Excellent news! Looking forward to pics...

That's great news!

The shirt was final sale BUT the colour is so different in real life that I've emailed them to complain that it's not even close to an accurate representation. Hopefully they'll take it back on that basis.

I love collage 2 above.

I feel like ethical considerations are definitely coming to the fore. A recent NAP survey asked would I like to see information about the ethical / environmental information on each brand. I definitely would be interested. In general I try to steer away from fast fashion and prefer to buy items produced in countries with decent labour laws and working conditions. However I'm also acutely aware that I can only do this because I can afford to so it would be a bit tone-deaf (let them eat cake) of me to preach too loudly about how everyone should avoid cheap clothes. It's a difficult area to navigate. I think that in a lot of cases second-hand is the answer, but that requires one to be time-rich, which in a way is a different kind of privilege. Tricky!

Had a nice dinner out and rehashed my jeans, boots, cami, shirt and belt combo.