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.

Hmm I was told that shoulders couldn't /shouldn't be altered on jackets. Basically everything but the shoulders. I took that as truth ( internet searches) but maybe it's a load of rubbish.

I buy a lot of 40s/50s stuff, with the big shoulders on suits etc. Where it will spoil the aesthetic/intention of the clothes, I let it alone and sell on. If it just needs a tweak, I take it to my seamstress. She has worked wonders, honestly, in making the shoulders narrower and making certain pieces wearable again.

Thanks, that makes sense. My issue with jackets is that in order to fit my shoulders they are always too loose round the waist. Or I get a smaller size and end up tearing the lining with my hug-like upper half. Not really hulk like but it's an annoying first world problem.

I have a lovely Jaeger wool grey and cream pinstripe jacket that I was going to eBay as it was just too large over all. Might see what a seamstress can do!

I love this thread... it’s amazing and has given me a heap of ideas to try!

I’m short, curvy and ample of thigh, very fair and auburn haired so as far from the French stereotype as possible. Black doesn’t really work for me, oxblood does though... can I pull this style off?

MidLife I use two people for alterations depending on the complexity. For relatively straightforward jobs, I use a seamstress who normally charges £12-£15 e.g. for tweaking shoulders or shortening sleeves. But she won't take more than say half an inch off shoulders. For more ambitious alterations, I go to someone more expensive who's a trained tailor. He's altering a men's mac for me at the moment: about 1-2 inches off the shoulders, taking it in slightly under the armpits, tapering the sleeves and shortening the cuffs (which includes moving cuff buttons). I probably won't have much change from 50 quid once he's done all that but it's a charity shop coat that was originally made by Gieves and Hawkes on Savile Row and exactly what I was looking for so I'm well happy. The only job he won't take on is altering raglan shoulders.

Thanks Flo

I would love to have something properly fitted to my shape.

Saw our neighbours tonight and they mentioned how French I was looking - thank you, these threads! (and new red lipstick - a Chanel one, 152, I think.) Outfit was skinny-ish jeans (charity shop) rolled up at the ankle, tan ankle boots, and grey merino V-neck from the Uniqlo sale, with a gold spear pendant necklace I got from TK Maxx a few weeks ago.

This thread is about as French as a Sainsbury's baguette. Just saying.

That's the spirit, whataboutbob - piss on everyone's chips.

This thread isn't about being French . I think you've completely missed the point.

Catherine sounds very chic.

Very interesting, flo sounds a gorgeous coat.

It's not about being french, it's about taking the aspects of french/parisian style that work for you .

Oh dear, I suppose we'd all better get back to the Boden catalogue

And if we end up not looking remotely French, so what? We'll still feel good about ourselves, and women feeling good about themselves is a win in my book.

I just use the thread as a much needed break from the buggerance of everyday life and it inspires me to make some effort with my appearance.

This thread has been great at giving me new ideas on styling clothes and looking better. People have been helpful and supportive, and given lots of ideas. I don’t mind how French (or not) it is, but it’s one of my favourite places on Mumsnet at the moment.

I’m a Wolford tights fan too. Anyone got ideas for getting them cheaply?

You sometimes see them in TK Maxx

It's not about trying to look French, bob, it's about adopting a bit of je m'en fous.
Which I think applies to your pissy comment...

Thank you bob I think we may already have our next thread title.

quirky I'm hoping it'll turn out to be the 'Jo March' coat I was whittling about on the last thread. It has exactly the kind of I-don't-give-a-shit elegance I was after.

I'm all for a bit of don't-give-a-shit-elegance. Snort at our next thread title .

I've certainly rediscovered a few things that I had/used to do, red lipstick, touche eclat, layering cuffs, my very red coat... as well as all the lovely supportive people (mostly) on here.

Of course this thread isn't French, for I have yet to contribute to it

Back home, leg muscles scarily stiff from all the walking but a bath last night seems to have helped. Will catch up properly in a bit.

Bof , Ok, I get the jist. Just see it as my contributing some French cynicism.

If you prefer a cynical thread then take your pick - S&B is normally stuffed with them. And sometimes they're fun but I think the cynicism is often a cover up - women taking the piss because they feel they have to apologise for enjoying clothes and fashion. I see this as an anti-naysaying thread.

why would you bother though Bob, there must be some threads that actually interest you?

Actually I think the premise of this thread is good now I understand it, but clearly my debut here has been very off. I don't know if it's any mitigation but I'd just finished watching Spiral last night and was feeling bleak.