This thread is about as French as a Sainsbury's baguette

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

I've been lurking on this thread for a while and decided I should say hello .

Initially started following because I spotted the very knowledgeable and lovely Botemp was on the thread (I'm on the skincare thread with Bo) but I so enjoy reading all your posts and looking at the photos and links. You are a very well-informed, stylish lot!

Good luck to your son for his exams OCSock.

ps Bo, I know this was from the other thread but I did order the Global Babe sun hat so will let you know when it arrives and if I have to pay duties. It was cheaper to order from Singapore (inc shipping) than the UK.

Look forward to hearing about the sun hat. Hadn't realised they were sold in the UK as well, I'd only seen their international site, might make it more worthwhile for me as I could then return it easily if it's far too big. Is it just the same company on a UK domain?

quirky saying that I did get a lot of 'can you see her knickers' glances

I'm usually more of a skirts and dresses person (it's such an easy way to get dressed without thinking about it much) but am totally all over the lovely trousers out there at the moment. Saying that, I have an easy figure for both, as it's all very waist centic. When fashion is a lot more up and down it's a nightmare for me.

I saw attached sculptural skirt at Weekday but I didn't like the material. They had a few others with similar sculptural quality but they're not online. COS will definitely have some, they always have some sort of tulip shaped skirts in their collection.

Placemarking as have just found you lot again and the "watch this thread" thing refuses to work for me.

Beadily keeping an eye out for all your wonderful tips as to how to add a little more Parisian chic to my life.

Helmut Lang, obviously. My autocorrect isn't very good at modern foreign languages!

I will keep a look out at Cos in the autumn. I might need to rein in the spending atm. There's been quite a lot of expenses this month.

Hi Bo, I like the skirt in the photo you posted. In fact I like the whole outfit. It's my kind of style What is Weekday?

The UK sun hat site was www.beachflamingo.com. I did email them to ask about delivery charges to Greece but they never got back to me.... Still, as I mentioned, the UK hat cost was more than the Singapore one inc. delivery. I ordered it in black as decided it would go with most things plus black is a good colour for me plus won't get dirty (was considering the white too)!

Greek fashion - there's Zeus+Dione which started up a few years ago. They have some lovely things but pretty pricey. For bags there is Callista which is very popular here and great customer service but not sure where else they have reached yet. Also Sophia Kokosalaki who I know for sure is in London (and quite international too to believe). I know quite a few jewellery designers. One was def at Paris fashion week. Polina Sapouna Ellis - some of her stuff isn't to my taste but other pieces are outstanding and so unique. Based on ancient Cycladic and Byzantine designs.

There's also Brown Thomas in Ireland but not sure if they deliver overseas. Plus there are 3 different sizes of the hat and not sure which one they have.

Thanks to all who have kindly wished SockJr well for the last papers; his fate will be sealed on Friday.

Peony, Celtic's showroom is okay, worth a look if you're near Newquay anyway, but less so if it requires a long detour in summer traffic; they have occasional samples that don't make the main range but it's much what you'd expect from the catalogue aesthetically. If you wanted a sheepskin coat or boots, it would be something to consider, but the discounts weren't wonderful on my only visit some years back. Roo's Beach, also in Newquay/online, is apparently good and has an interesting, well-chosen range of clothing and accessories, but I've not been in don't often go that way.

Thanks everyone for the sewing machine advice. I'll check it all out and I'm not rushing to make a purchase straight away. The plan is to start off by making a few things from scratch cos I want to understand better how clothes are constructed. But I probably haven't got the patience to do it well and longer term, I'm thinking more about altering and customising, probably not leather but certainly denim and tweed. So far I've only looked in John Lewis but agree MidLife that they look terribly flimsy. There's a specialist sewing machine shop not too far away so I'll probably take a trip there.

I vote for the wide legs. Obviously. But I might even be tempted back to skirts if sculptural becomes a thing.

Good luck to your son, Sock

Hello again, Gah81, if you don't mind me asking, would you be willing to share some of your vintage etsy finds you mentioned over on another thread? I'm really quite curious what gems I'm missing out on as I find etsy just too large to really search through properly.

quirky, I can't recall what size you are but I think I still have a COS 3/4 sleeve dress with a tulip shaped skirt in a petrol colour. Think it's a medium but the hem needs to be repaired. You're welcome to it if I can unearth it and haven't gotten rid of it already.

Sophie, Weekday is part of the H&M group, it's a bit street style Scandi cool. They used to be painfully normcore but they seem to be evolving a bit, stylistically they overlap with COS and Monki in places. Demographic would be Millenials by my best guess. The overall aesthetic may not appeal to everyone but all their denim is organic (and unlike H&M sizes are consistent) and so are a lot of their basic t-shirts and tops and it's quite affordable and downright cheap in the sales. I've linked the skirt above, I've just checked they don't seem to be active in Greece yet so I'm not sure they deliver there but Asos stock some of their collection and I'm guessing they do ship to Greece.

I'll check the flamingos site what is is with these names? Global Babes and Flamingos?? I feel like I'm short a pair of really thick false lashes and a sickeningly sweet mojito to buy at these companies Brown Thomas delivers here as well, so that gives options.

I'm familiar with Zeus + Dione, I quite like it but it does feel a bit too much holiday wear for here. I'll definitely check out the others. Ancient Greek Sandals are also familiar but I always suspect they're a bit of a ripoff compared to what you'd be able to get there locally. Think Mary Katrantzou (spelling?) is also originally from Athens. Think there was a bag brand that drew my notice at some point as well, run by sisters?

Also keeping fingers crossed for SockJr

Another also, can't believe I haven't gushed about this yet, I was totally delighted to read Phoebe Philo will be the new head designer for Bottega Veneta. I should probably get a bag fund ready in anticipation...

Good luck Sock Jr

Just popping in quickly to volunteer my services if you need something checked out/ sent on from Brown Thomas. I’m in there fairly often.

Deeply unchic, but I am so cold (it's 12C and wet here) that I have resorted to my winter weight mohair socks... and envying anyone experiencing summer.

According to a news app, the new head of BV is Daniel Lee, who was Philo's #2 at Celine, Bo. It would be prudent to start the bag fund regardless; you don't have to spend it there. And thanks for the positive thoughts on SockJr's behalf!

Thanks Bo. ASOS do deliver here but I recall it was a pain sending stuff back (and unfortunately I inevitably send stuff back - just had approx 15 bras arrive from 3 different online sites and I kept ONE!!! Just one.... another one was a maybe but at £43 it wasn't worth keeping a "maybe" )

I keep seeing COS mentioned on this thread too. Where are they from? I've sometimes found some nice bargains in H&M - recently spotted some black and white striped loose shorts for €12 and they have come in so handy! And also see Hush a lot on Mumsnet.

The Zeus+Dione current collection is very summery/holiday-like - you're right. Greek island hopping. But I remember going into one of their shops around February and they had some beautiful things (remember a skirt in particular) which were stunning and much more wintery. But £££££ !

Yes Mary Katrantzou is from Athens but now based in London. I'm not sure if Callista Crafts is two sisters or not. It's definitely two women. One is a ship-owner's wife. Not sure what other bag brand you might be thinking of. Hadn't heard of Ancient Greek Sandals. Had to google. You see a lot of these types of sandal here - especially on the islands in the summer.

Didn't know about new head designer at Bottega but I do love their bags

bo I am a large 10 or small 12, or medium and 5'7". That would be very kind, if you still have it and are sure.

Wow, SophieLion I've just looked at Zeus + Dione, very gorgeous but ££££s.

Hi bo - of course :) happy to. I can't show pictures as it could be identifying to those who follow me on instagram.

One thing I should note: I am an hourglass shape, so I tend to hunt out silhouettes which suit me. My speciality (such as it is) is therefore finding midcentury stuff: slim pencil skirts, nipped waist, peplum, structured, the odd cape but always always with a super-fitted waist. This may not be what you are after.

In fact, it was the difficulty of finding things that fitted a 24" waist and 37" hips without having everything altered that first drew me to true vintage. Anyway, enough about my odyssey...

Tips:

1. know your measurements. For midcentury, it is particularly important to know the waist measurement. You can then hunt on Etsy using search terms eg "1950s suit 24". This narrows it down a lot.

2. if you find an item you like, look to see who has "liked" it. Have a look at their favourites and if your styles seem similar, follow them. I have been lucky and found people with styles and sizes similar to mine but who are far more active at searching. I then just look to see what they have favourites - helps filter it down.

3. once you have found a seller on Etsy whose stuff/era you like, follow them on instagram. You often get deals, previews, can ask for tags when something is posted etc.

4. instagram part ii: vintage sellers are super active on instagram, so once you have a good idea of your favourite designers ans styles, follow the relevant hashtags.

5. the ooh la la vintage selling groups on Facebook also have a good selection of clothes, sorted by era.

6. be prepared to move extremely quickly - often the really popular items go in seconds.

And voila! It pays to be dedicated. I have a few favourite designers and normally search for them on etsy/ebay/instagram about once every few days.

Bon soir mes amies. I've been recommended to this thread as someone who is small of waist but larger of arse who is trying to look a bit edgier and avoid moving into floral 50s dresses until my next decade.

That's really useful Gah, thanks. So far I've hung back from buying vintage online as I find real' shops much more enjoyable plus I don't really want to get sucked into that cycle of buying stuff that turns out to be unsuitable so you then have to sell it on - I spend too much time online as it is. But more and more dealers just don't put their best stuff in their shops any more and it's only because they know me that I can still sometimes get hold of it. So at some point I'll probably have to give it a go or give it up.

When I was young I loved 1920s/30 dresses but they've been unaffordable for a long time (I blame Kate Moss) and now just too hard to find plus too floaty for me anyway. These days I'm more into tailored stuff but, unlike Gah, I'm often the wrong boob-waist ratio for 1940s. Later 50s/early 60s jackets and coats work better for me.

Welcome pumpingRSI. You might want to go back and read this thread (and maybe the others) I think there are links at the beginning of the thread. The first thread, certainly, had loads of chat about body shapes.

Gah that's really interesting, I love the dress you posted on the expensive thread, gorgeous.

Justine has a video about changing fashions, comparing couture in 1978, 1998 and 2018.

Welcome pumping! Are you a pear shape or an hourglass?
Gah thanks for your vintage Etsy tips. I have never really looked into vintage because I assumed that as a size 12 and 5ft 10, it would all be too small. Any thoughts? I’m a definite pear: 39.5” hips and 29” waist, 32D chest. Longer than average torso but most of my height is in my legs.

Thanks for the offer, Elle, but it looks like BT no longer sell the hats.

Sorry, you're right Sock, the article which I'd read have amended it and owned up to their mistake. It'll be interesting regardless, although Celine's former bag designer under PP moved to Mulberry (as creative head of the whole brand) a few years back and I haven't really been wowed so far but I think that would have been a tough ask as Mulberry has never really been my thing and it would be financial suicide to tinker too much with their heritage feel.

I feel like we should have some French fete ready and waiting for you (I assume SockJr is catered to already) on Friday when all the A Level stress is done and dusted

Sophie, I've just remembered that Zalando also carry Weekday, perhaps they're better with returns?

COS is also part of the H&M group, the more grown-up part of it (see also Arket), less influenced by changing styles and traditional patterns. Someone described it as Brutalist Scandi Architect on here once and it's a very good description. Very good quality natural materials (for the most part) and well made. However, because they're so nontraditional it takes a bit of getting to know what does and doesn't work for you from them. It gets written off a lot by many as only for body type X or certain ages but if you shop there it's very noticeable how wide their demographic is in terms of ages and shapes. I think it's definitely one to shop in store, I've been buying from them for well over ten years and can sort of see what would and wouldn't work for me on their website but I'd probably still be sending the majority back. My general rule of thumb with them is, if it looks shit on the hanger (and often on the model on the website) it usually looks fantastic on me. Probably my specific body shape though.

quirky, I'm sorry, I had a dig and it appears I have merged two dresses into one. I did get rid of the tulip skirt one with the hem out, but that was a navy wool one that was really past its best. The petrol one has sort of a tapered in hem but it's not a full-on tulip skirt. It's also an L but I think it was one of the rare pieces I bought at COS in a larger size for a better fit. I can take a picture of it and take measurements if you're interested in that, I don't think I wore it much as the length is a bit long on me.

Thank you Gah, that's really informative and helpful. I'm of similar proportions (23" and 35.5") so 40s are the best era for that or that's just your preference stylewise? I've always liked 60s and 70s stuff but that always seems to suit straighter up and down body types IME. I'm a bit hesitant about 40s vintage as I have a bit of a 40s face so don't want to end up looking like a time traveler... I have been scouring a bit for original Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein 90s pieces on eBay, don't know if that officially counts as vintage but I am seeing the prices slowly creep up, so I suppose it is now. Will see if etsy has any of that too.

Welcome pumping, come join us at Tiny Waists R Us™ (not obligatory to have one, but I probably complain about catering to one enough on here to cover everyone ).

I have no idea when I'd ever wear it but I love the idea of a proper flapper dress, Flo. Will probably need a mortgage for one of those these days and then realise I don't have the body shape for it all. I also quite liked the androgynous styles of the 1920s, when women first started wearing trousers as a mainstream thing but I fear this wasn't much a mainstream thing and just an image formed by modern costume dramas where the token liberated sister in the aristocratic family has an act of rebellion by not riding side saddle and wearing trousers all the time to everyone's horror.

I did some damage yesterday , a black playsuit at Weekday and it was bargains central at H&M. Everything was stickered down ridiculously low and then there was an additional 30% off, so I got an orangey red asymmetric silk camisole (actually silk mixed with a bit of viscose but it feels and looks like silk) which was just under €5 at the end , another black cotton camisole for €2, some silicone sticky things to wear instead of a bra (€5) and I found some seamless underwear, a set of two for €4 but one is a horrid white so I think they'll be reserved for an extreme emergency or something. Will post pics of the playsuit and camisole later.

Felt strangely unsettled by it all though when I unpacked my haul at home, I didn't spend much altogether (the Weekday playsuit was only €15) but it felt a bit like spending for spending's sake, despite being quite sensible about my purchases (only the playsuit wasn't a necessity of my 'to buy list'). It's just the aspect of fast fashion that bothers me, I could have endlessly spent more and come home with bags full. There's an initiative here for people to give up clothes shopping for 3 months from June 21st to raise awareness for the environmental impact of fast fashion. Don't think I can commit to that but I think I will try to boycott the fast fashion shops, perhaps with a few caveats for basics that are difficult to find elsewhere (like linen fitted tops). Although those caveats (and designer colabs) are my usual exceptions for buying fast fashion, perhaps it'll be more of a challenge to just do a full on boycott.

That last point is really interesting Bo. It can be a fine line between the nearly triumphant glow you get from bagging something you've been coveting, or a great bargain, and the sickly feeling after too much pointless shopping. I don't want to appear in any way critical of the premise of this thread, after my, ahem, shaky start here. I've picked up some great tips here ( and as a result bought the perfect tan sandals from Sezane) . But sometimes shopping leads to ambivalent feelings. For example, after lusting after a pair of grey Paige jeans, I was ecstatic to find them at 1/2 price in the liberty sale. Receiving them was quickly followed by the realisation that I don't have the right trainers to wear them with. And so it goes on. I believe economists call it the capitalist treadmill.
I've decided to pull all my clothes out in a couple of days, do an audit, put new outfits together, identify what if anything is missing then look for a few specific pieces and call it a day after that. Charity shops excepted. Will let you know how I get on if anyone is interested

Thought of this thread today when I spotted and overheard a herd of stylish French women discussing their finds in the changing room. We were all in Oxford Street’s Primark

Oh, don't worry bo, it was a kind thought. I have just signed up to Cos with a 10% discount . I'm sitting on my hands as I need to rein the spending in a bit. Though, I'm feeling quite virtuous in that my recent spends have been handmade greek sandals from Etsy and mostly secondhand charity shop buys. I did need some more proper summer clothes, but think I need to stop now and wear and enjoy what I've got.

Just to balance out the recent skirt and dress purchases, I've spent the last two days in funny trousers, channeling flo . Yesterday, I wore my black, thai fisherman's trousers, now I've worked out that I need to wear them low, as in mid-rise, rather than on my waist, just worn with a plain tee. Today, my dark brown, linen trousers with a kind of wrap panel, again with a plain, navy tee.

You magazine had an article about insider brands and named Sezane for Parisian chic, also Arket and Staud.

Allo allo. Pretty sure I'm hourglass, fit a size 12, small waist and sticky out 34DD boobs tho they are def lower than they used to be thanks to the kids. But the boobs generally balance out the bum so I don't fall over

I love Weekday and just bought a white linen dress. Need to style it well tho otherwise I look like a middle aged milkmaid. So funky jewellery, big earrings and trainers me thinks.

Yes Quirky. Zeus+Dione is £££ because it was originally all made by local artisans, top quality fabrics, raw silks, silver buttons, etc. etc. Not sure if it's all as local and authentic now though....

Thanks Bo. I will check out Zalando. And also thanks for the Cos info. I chuckled at "My general rule of thumb with them is, if it looks shit on the hanger (and often on the model on the website) it usually looks fantastic on me." Your purchases sound nice and look forward to photos.