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

999 replies

AuldAlliance · 02/02/2018 13:34

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
247
TheGrumpySquirrel · 10/02/2018 16:11

Well parisiennes I've not been posting much but reading along. Been thoroughly depressed at the lack of trouser options for the upduffed, especially as seraphine is made for stick insects with a football up the jumper.

HOWEVER I took inspiration from your Levi's upsizing bo, and today I bought 2 pairs of boyfriend jeans from mint velvet (very un chic brand but bear with me) and they are (1) 98% cotton so not that horrid thin denim with tons of Lycra in it (2) very generous in the waist so that I can fit them easily over my expanding belly (3) look great worn very low and slouchy (4) have nice turn ups so show a bit of ankle therefore not drowning my whole figure.

I'm a uk6/8 pre pregnancy and I think a 10 now, but I bought a 12 which looks great now and a 14 which I'm hoping to be able to wear into the third trimester! Victory! I was feeling very frumpy in leggings all the time.

Next challenge - work trousers (I've ordered the seraphine faux LL but not hopeful given their sizing, although I did go up 2 sizes - and I do need something smarter too...?!). I hate wearing dresses as legs are properly fat now. I'm only 13 weeks! 😭

ProperLavs · 10/02/2018 16:52

Good luck with that grumpy. I was about 7.5 stone pre pg ( I have had 6 babies). I found that right at the end the only thing that fitted were one pair of gigantic maternity leggings in a size 16, even my other maternity clothes didn't fit any more. It's hard to imagine how big you can get! Well done on trying to look chic. I gave up after about 20 weeks each time!

AuldAlliance · 10/02/2018 17:33

Elle those macarons look fabulous!!
I've never dared try, and have contented myself with perfecting my madeleine recipe...
Have a great time at the do.

Bo thanks for the tips. I'd been thinking about a jumper dress for the flight. I'm spending a night in a hotel at the airport on arrival, so can just look like a sack of tatties till I get to my room.
The conference is academic and, I believe, to be held in a university library. In France that would mean it'd be freezing and draughty, but I'll adopt a layering strategy for then, too.

Catherine, enjoy Brittany.

OP posts:
TheGrumpySquirrel · 10/02/2018 17:47

Ah well proper they'll buy me a few more weeks of denial at least Grin

ProperLavs · 10/02/2018 19:15

proper yes and don’t forget you’ll need them again once you’re out the other side, so to speak!

TheGrumpySquirrel · 10/02/2018 19:26

Well exactly! 💁🏻‍♀️

ProperLavs · 10/02/2018 21:21

God, I was talking to myself?
I need some warmth and sun. I can't hope look chic with the umpteen layers of clothing I need to see me through this ghastly wet, cold and windy winter.

RosieLig · 10/02/2018 21:49

Hi,
Thanks for all the lipstick tips- that Estee Lauder one sounds good. I am a terrible lip worrier though so maybe I’m doomed!

Off to France tomorrow but not much shopping where we’re going unless you like bling and/or ski wear Grin

OCSockOrphanage · 10/02/2018 21:59

We have just had the triennial bargain sale for our local posh frock shop. You can't go with a list because it's where all the odds and end finish, but I bought last summer's Annette Goertz textured carved cream trousers (to replace sad old white jeans) and a lovely fitted and flared black taffeta cocktail frock. (LIlith if anyone cares). With pockets! There were other temptations, but I resisted bravely.

OCSockOrphanage · 10/02/2018 22:02

More for Bo than the rest of you, I have also bought the new BeautyPie Japanese skin care range. It's similar to Shiseido's offer and I am looking forward to trying it properly.

bananafish81 · 10/02/2018 22:45

Am very inspired by the Levis up sizing, I have always found boyfriend jeans look ridiculous on me, I see others looking sexily 'undone' in just-slouchy-enough boyfriends, but every time I've tried them on, I just look like I've got a baggy arse

I did take a pair of Levis skinnies into the Levis store to get the bottoms lopped off, so I could roll them up without cutting off the circulation in my ankles (and didn't trust myself with a pair of scissors to do the raw edge hem myself). They did it completely gratis - might have to pop back to the Levis store to have a look at sizing up to get out of my skinnies rut

I've been wearing my lovely Soeur trousers loads, thank you so much for the top tip bo - consider them my gateway drug to a slouchier silhouette Grin

bananafish81 · 10/02/2018 23:30

Also following on from boob chat on a previous thread, finally got around to ordering some new bras. Measurements say I'm a 28D but the choice of styles is v limited, and those I did try on were desperately unflattering. I fared lots better with a sister size, and hit success with the 30C. I found the Calvin Klein Push Positive non wired bras were exactly what I was after - a moulded cup, plunge, t-shirt bra, and being non wired they are insanely comfortable. Also got on very well with the Chanelle Irresistible Push Up T-Shirt Bra for something similar-ish (but underwired)

Not very Parisienne as they're not silky or lacy, and very plain & simple. But for small boobs with no volume up top, and smooth lines under clothing, they're terrific

cactusbutt · 11/02/2018 04:25

Second part of the Everlane order arrived - the white t-shirt, I'm pleased to say, is both opaque and flattering. The skinny mid-rise ankle jeans, as a previous poster mentioned, are low on the elastic and thus hold everything in very nicely.

I'm keen to try Everlane's cashmere next - my husband got quite excited by the charcoal grey cashmere hoodie on the site -which I'm sure I will end up wearing all the time.-

My nightwear has been a mix of scruffy vests and shorts in recent years (don't get me started on my underwear drawer, which is a sad mix of knackered supermarket knickers and t-shirt bras), so decided to up my game and order a gorgeous silk slip from Marjolaine, which as bo has mentioned, have some serious discounts on eBay.

It arrived to coincide with a run of hot nights, and made me feel very glam indeed - until this morning, when it had an unfortunately run-in with my toddler's breakfast. Any tips on getting Weetbix off silk? I am sure this sort of thing never happens to Parisians.

AmethystMoon · 11/02/2018 08:06

cactus are you in the UK? I didn’t think Everlane deliver here?

botemp · 11/02/2018 12:39

Who'd have thunk the Levi's upsizing is the thing most people would be latching onto on this thread. I actually did a mini challenge of no jeans for the past week which was quite enjoyable as it forced me to look at my own wardrobe a little differently as it has become quite jean centric. I found some great casual combos that I'd otherwise probably wouldn't have thought of. I'm going to try an all skirts and dresses challenge for the coming week.

Grumpy, I did try to spot some pregnant Parisians whilst there but I hardly saw any. The ones I did see just wore the same things as any other Parisian. I did, rather silly, finally figure out that the 1 + 1 = 3 store is actually a maternity store Blush This is their website : www.1et1font3.com/ they currently have an extra 10% off on the sales, maybe there's something for you there. Admittedly, I've only seen it through the store window and it pretty much looked like normal French clothing with a bit of room for a bump. I used to remember there was a brand Formes, but I think that wasn't French at all, think it got renamed.

I've been curious about the BP skincare offerings, not that it's available to me and I have heavy resistance to the membership model. Will look forward to hear your thoughts though, Sock.

banana, when you get to baggy arse stage you need to persevere and go up one more size, that's how it was with me anyhow.

Funnily enough I've been uhming and ahing over a Chantelle bra, it's really lovely and delicate lace but it's white. As mentioned before, I find white underwear a bit odd and bridal. I've found it in other colours online but the white is half price, I may just have to bite the bullet and embrace a bit of white, it actually did look quite nice against my skin tone. I also like that Irresistable push up, banana, the balcony version is terrible for me though.

cactus, I'm probably a bit useless as I pretty much use ox gall soap for everything, I have no clue if that is widely available globally but it's the best stain remover I know, especially with grease, even if it's settled in after a wash. I use the ecover version of oxi vanish for anything that needs whitening and vinegar is always a good stanby. Weetabix is just crumbs and milk though, right? Quick handwash with delicate soap (I have Dr. Bronner's or Ecover) should sort it.

Amethyst, cactus is in Australia, one of the rare places Everlane ships internationally to for reasons I do not understand Angry. I did plug Everlane into eBay and found some interesting bits, looking at a beautiful yellow washed silk shirt. I was yearning for a bit of yellow, the darker egg yolk/mustard suits me well (think it's a neutral dark hair thing as it's a notoriously difficult colour). Can't make up my mind on the sizing though as I like it a bit roomy but if it's like most US brands my size would probably already be roomy, how do the sizes compare to euro brands, cactus and others who own a bit of Everlane?

Tanaqui · 11/02/2018 12:49

I particularly like a white bra if you are wearing a top that is loose around the shoulders so it might show if you move- I don’t particularly like bra straps on show, but if the top is the kind that moves I think white looks much nicer than nude!

Incidentally I loathe ordinary bras under racer back tops! Although I don’t mind a sports bra under a racer back at the gym. Does anyone wear spaghetti strap tops/ dresses in the summer, and if so, do you go strapless, matching, or contrasting with a bra?

botemp · 11/02/2018 13:08

I'm weird about the visibility of bras too, I think the worst (personal opinion) that was ever around, were those see-through plastic straps.

I don't like seeing nude bra straps either, by definition they're not supposed to be seen, ever, so they just look off. All my nude bras bar one are strapless, the one with straps hardly ever gets worn as a result. Under strappy tops/racerbacks/etc. I go strapless, I just find bra straps distracting then but I really don't mind a visible bra strap peeping out under a loose top or for the entire bra to be somewhat visible under a garment. Quite like the contrast of a hot pink or red bra (black feels a bit cliche, go figure) under a white top as it gives a bit of shape definition I'd otherwise lose in a boxier/oversized fit.

As mentioned above, I'm bit odd about it, not very consistent on it either, except I will always loathe the plastic see-through bra strap and it's going to take some really creative genius for me to reconsider that.

ProperLavs · 11/02/2018 16:56

Pregant French women reminds me of being in Lyon with mu mum a couple of summers ago. We were in Zaea in an extremely long and non moving queue. Not like the Zras in the uk. The guys behind the till were not actually interested in getting the queue down- a french thing maybe? I don't know.
Anyway as a consequence the people in the queue were getting fed up. Suddenly a heavily pregnant woman comes up and goes straight to the front of the queue and plonks a huge bundle of clothes down. My mother, enraged by this, challenges her in broken french and is joined by proper french people who also have a go.
The women turns round and simply says 'enceinte'. apparently french women get to go to the front of the queue even if capable of doing some heavy duty shopping right in the middle of summer.

ProperLavs · 11/02/2018 16:57

ah typos- we were in ZARA.

AuldAlliance · 11/02/2018 16:58

I don't like seeing straps, generally, other than possibly a flash at shoulder level below a boatneck type top.

Years ago I'd go braless rather than flash straps. Now I just avoid tops that would mean showing straps. I wear sports style bras under racerback vests in summer.

Strapless bras I find alarming as I worry they'll slip.

I don't mind white bras as long as they really are white, not greying. Under white I wear skin coloured bras, usually.

OP posts:
PinPon · 11/02/2018 22:23

I’m not a fan of white bras - much prefer any other colour...

ProperLavs · 12/02/2018 07:53

I can't get that fussed about bras tbh.

quirkychick · 12/02/2018 08:05

Omg, those plastic bra straps. They were really popular a while back, but they really didn't look at all invisible, just like you were wearing really shiny bra straps!

I have a burgundy bralet (?) in lace with a racer back, that I don't mind showing bits of the straps, I suppose because it looks like a cami/top underneath, and I usually wear it with similar colours, purply, soft violet or dark grey.

cactusbutt · 12/02/2018 08:21

bo, compared to French sizing Everlane is definitely on the roomier side. I'd definitely size down if I were you.

ToElleWithIt · 12/02/2018 09:05

Thanks for the well wishes then hen night was fun. Thanks for the style inspiration botemp I was leaning towards a silk cami and jeans, so I did that with a black washed silk shirt and belt. The only "Western" boots I have are my pistols which I am not feeling the love for, so I went for the Laurence Dacade studded boots, layered necklaces and a camel hair hooded jacket over - my leather jacket with fur collar was somehow making the whole thing lean a bit "Russian glam" - not in a good way!

I love a nice white bra. It must be pristine though and I don't mind it peeking through a shirt or a hint of strap.
For racer-backs I have a front-fastening Calvin Klein bra that I posted before which works well. Also some of my Chantelle bras have a nifty little hook on the strap that means they can be easily converted for tops with a racer back or cut-away sleeves. Like the photo attached.

For shoestring straps I usually go for strapless bras which can be tricky for me as I'm allergic to the silicone that some brands use to give grip to strapless bras, so I need to find ones where the band fits really well and no silicone.

OCSockorphanage I love the sound of your buys. Nice to have a local shop like that

bananafish81 I had the same issue with trying to go oversized. I must have another go.

Enjoy France RoseLig

I managed to get an hour to myself on Saturday and did some experimenting with wide-legged trousers. I really liked the high-waist and fit of the stories culottes, but I hate the zip on them. It was a good experiment though as I'll look for something in a similar shape. If anyone sees any I'd be grateful for the heads up. I also tried a magnificent pair of Alexander McQueen ones that felt very Japanese. They read more like a skirt, but they felt magnificent on, so heavy. A bit more than I want to spend right now though culottes

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