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.

Coincidentally I have that top on today peony!

I must have been typing my post when Bo posted because I missed those grey / mink Aeydes - wow they're so cool!

That skirt sounds lovely OC. What a bargain.

Ha ha! It looks great on. Would you say it is a true red or a scarlet? Was a bit put off by the “coral” description (not a colour that does me any favours), but decided to give it a go.
I think we might have quite similar taste in clothes...

I'd call it red with an orange undertone - so scarlet? It's not coral IMO.

Bonsoir, mes tres jolies Parisiennes! [Instantly exhausts schoolgirl French, unless anyone needs to know the time, or the current location of the ruler].

I need your help / inspiration again... I have been busy and I am getting to the point of landing some freelance work. This involves meeting people, in person, without a toddler in tow, and looking like a person to whom they wish to give their money. Eep.

I don't need to go full corporate by any means - it's much more casual, with personal quirks (I'm doing web design). For my first meeting I went for navy cropped chino-type trousers from Gap, an oatmeal-coloured lightweight sweater, brown jodhpur boots (trouser rolled up enough to expose an ankle), my favourite earrings and, of course, a red lip. But you know, I can't wear that every single time. So, assuming I have very little to spend, where would you spend it for maximum flexibility and slightly quirky chic, please?

I was on an earlier thread (had excellent advice from Bo) and lost track of you all! (work, life).

But peony, I saw your comment about the history of blue...there was a fascinating series on BBC4 around 6?years ago, on the history of colour.

I wonder if it was the same person- he was so interesting, and I have looked at colour quite differently since then.
He did a programme on (I think) blue, red, gold and (perhaps?) yellow.

The blue was particularly intriguing- he went through Picasso's blue period in detail.

Wow, I love grey suede too bo, very chic and versatile. I absolutely would not be able to wear those shoes, they would cripple me!

Has anyone seen Justine's videos on foot shapes and shoes, it just reinforces the sorts of footwear I can manage. My feet are getting better and more tolerant of different styles (thanks to Katy Bowman's foot exercises) but they are "Egyptian", the toes slope in decreasing sizes, a bit wide, with a high instep. Pointy shoes are agony. I did dig out an old pair of Cafe Noir, very pale grey western boots the other day, but foolishly wore them all day with lots of walking and suffered for 2 days after. Strictly, for days where I'm only walking a bit.

Adelica yes, same person (James Fox). I was at university with him and he was extremely charismatic and knowledgeable even as a 19 year old.
I am holding back on the Bobbies shoe order. Suddenly not so sure about the gold sandals and whether they will look nice if your feet aren’t incredibly tanned. The cognac suede ones aren’t available in my size and I’m now not sure about the wooden stacked heels on the other cognac pair. Plus good to spread the shoe buying excitement across the month!
But I have been browsing the l’exception site following Bo’s cognac l’exception shoes and I think I’ve found my summer scarf! Also like this more wintery one.
Finally been browsing the lookbook for the next Sezane drop - like this swimsuit but not sure whether it would be long enough in the body

zippyswife -I rarely post (still looking for the ultimate blazer

RosieLig -I need some blazer help! I’m looking for a decent navy blazer. I want it androgynous in style do not at all fitted. But not oversized. Struggling to find one in navy.

Floisme -Rosie I'm buying more and more second hand menswear and getting it altered, mainly on the shoulders and sleeves.

I've always been a massive fan of men's blazers/suit jackets. This goes back to my days of being a Smiths/Morrissey fan in the 1980's and scouring second hand shops. I still check out the men's rails in second hand shops (where I still buy a large proportion of my jackets and some other principal garments). A nice jacket, faded jeans, nice loafers, crisp white fitted shirt but with feminine touches like a floaty scarf and hooped earings, bangles. Can't go wrong.

I recently bought two second hand men's jackets, both of them for less than a fiver. A Jeff Banks wool mix blue (a beautiful blue colour) single breast and an M&S linen light camel colour single breast two button summer jacket. They are slightly big on the shoulders but I think I can just get away with it (will ask dd, who is fashion mad and who I always get an honest answer from)

The downside for me is that I have quite narrow shoulders, so have to be careful. Sometimes though I think the heck with it and embrace a wide shoulder look. One of my favourite classic looks is wide shoulders with shirt lapels flattened down over the the jacket, the wide pointed shirt lapels' 1950's look

'Seamstress'. I'm a seamstress and would honestly try to avoid having anything tailored altered if you can. It can be done and done reasonably well but it is a faffy job (especially padded shoulders) but it will always alter the original shape of the garment, even if only slightly (unless you unpick the whole garment and re cut it !!!). The cut is sooooo important

Doing a post and run from what I promised to post yesterday for Tokyo and ages ago for Auld Will catch up properly later.

I've stuck them in a Google docs so not to clog up space here and anyone can easily save it, I've starred my personal faves in the 2nd hand docs.

2nd Hand Shops in Paris

Outlet Stores in Paris Central

The list for outlets is a bit short as there are more shops but I haven't kept track of all of them but they're usually a few grouped together a few doors down from each other, especially in the Marais and around Sacre Coeur.

Hello al of you, glad I've found you again!

Thanks very much, botemp!

Delurking here. I haven’t caught up on the last few days but just wanted to mention that Everlane is doing international delivery until Monday. I’m tempted but have spent quite a lot the last couple of months...
Keep up the good work!

peony thank you for the name- I had forgotten.

I've found the series that he did on Youtube. Yea!

I’m still on the hunt for a perfect blazer!

I got a really nice Sandro double breasted straight fit one from TK Maxs for £60. It’s almost perfect but isn’t lined.

I got a nice black Gap one from a local second hand shop. It’s got nice lining inside so looks good with sleeves turned up.

I nearly got an amazing masculine Margaret Howell one from a local charity shop for £12 but it swamped me and looked ridiculous! It was a great tweedy green brown shade.

So no perfect blazer yet!

Marks and Spencers are going some really nice linen pieces. I got a lovely striped shirt and 2 plain tops for about £80. The striped shirt will look great tied.

Margaret Howell for £12

I would go back and get it and pay whatever it takes to have it altered.

Hi everyone, I've been away from the thread for a while due to work and pregnancy (have now gained 10 kilos fml). Had to switch to maternity dresses as work trousers just a disaster. Not me at all. Weekend wear much easier! So am focusing on accessories and shoes until September....

@peonylover22 what did you go for? I've just bought 3 pairs of shoes from bobbies! Flat loafers and 2 pairs of chunky heeled pumps in the sale. Thanks!

Rosie, go and buy the Margaret Howell jacket and post it to Flo or we'll never hear the end of it! I'm sure she's good for £12!

@TheGrumpySquirrel I haven’t actually pressed go on the Bobbies order yet. What exactly did you buy and how is the sizing? Thought I’d see how my Sezane and Carvela shoes worked out before burning through my entire salary on the first weekend...
Re the pregnancy weight gain. Be kind to yourself. If it helps I started piling on the weight right away and put on 4 stone in total (not sure how) and I’d lost the majority of it by 9 months pp. it’s all gone now. I know what you mean about suddenly feeling like your life is a fashionfree zone and not feeling like yourself. I promise it comes back! For now, if you want to shop (on stuff other than maternity wear): shoes, bags, hats, scarves, jewellery, cardigans, makeup.
In other news I did a light bit of shopping whilst toddlerpeony slept in the pushchair yesterday. Sadly wholly unsuccessful. I’d gotten quite fixated on the idea of a shirt dress during the April heatwave as perfect work and weekend wear. Tried on one in Warehouse which I had seen online and thought met all my criteria. Total fail. I looked like a lumpen dinner lady. Cheap fabric? Wrong length? I don’t think mid calf is very flattering on me. Anyway that has utterly quashed my desire for a shirt dress.
Also had a denim trying on session in Levis. I’m contemplating the 712 style (slim) in a 30 leg to give a 7/8 length on me. Probably mid blue. Wore some old wide legs today. I do not understand what you’re supposed to wear shoe wise with them!! I rolled them up a bit and wore them with chunky shearling boots. I looked really stupid

No get it and keep it for yourself Rosie. You may need to find a fully trained tailor to do the alterations but they're out there. Even if they charged £100 you'd still have a bargain.

peony my love for wide legs is well documented but I can't get them to work with boots and God knows, I've tried. I wear them with either brogues or plimsols so they don't come out much in winter.

Sorry I went back and it had been sold! I will keep looking though as there’s been some great bargains in there.

I like wide legs with chunky trainers, or wedges. Hard to make them work with smart shoes.

@peonylover22 I literally just ordered these (in pics) today. I hope they don't come up small as I'm a true 38 but sometimes need a 39 in heels. I'll let you know!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm normally 57kg but started this pregnancy at 63 already, and now I'm 73! Really hope I can limit it to 80 but still got 16 weeks to go! And my style is usually skinny jeans with oversized tops which simply doesn't work any more. I did manage to find a couple of smart work dresses but I'm not a dress wearer usually.

Flo glad it’s not just me! Here is a shot of today’s jean + boot fail. Ce n’est pas chic! They’re really long so unless I get them shortened I don’t even think brogues / plimsolls will work
Rosie what about this MD blazer? It is an open style and I was initially dubious about the buttons but now I love it. Pictures on MD website make it very hard to see what it looks like so here is me in mine.

Wide legs need flat shoes (with heel lifts... eternal gratitude to Bo for the heads up!) BUT imo, if they are longer than is currently fashionable, they are okay with heels covering the whole foot. It's a slightly glamorous Italian look, I always think but the rest of the ensemble needs to be equally glossy, which isn't often required in the mud country.