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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Hope the tests went okay botemp Lovely pictures. I particularly love the pink and white striped dress with the smocking. Any idea who the designer is?

quirky I hope that mini quirky makes a speedy recovery. The pollen has been horrendous this year. My asthma and hayfever are interacting horribly this year.

I can imagine it must be frustrating banivani. It’s hard enough to find nicely cut piece in good fabrics at reasonable price points if you’re a straight size never mind if you’re trying to find something in a non-standard cut.

peony Your bag turned out really well. I could not agree more about the shops being not up to much at this time of year. Some of the A/W stuff is coming in, but it feels all wrong to be looking at it in this weather.

I have a half day in town to shop on Monday which is an absolute rarity for me, but I think I’m going to have to prioritise underwear. I’m badly in need of new t-shirt bras and have held off buying due to ongoing pregnancy / breastfeeding fluctuations. Now that my size has stabilised I need some plain bras. Any recommendations? I like a bit of padding, but more for smoothness so nothing very heavy. I also fancy picking up a lace bralet, thought it could be nice under some of the low-backed tops / jumpers I own. Underwear and jeans are the two things I prefer to buy in person.

Yes they're silk, Flo, but I'd probably wear the nude spanx under them again unless I go out and find a good pair of cotton seamless skin coloured ones today (which I might do, need to return something anyhow) as the Hanro ones turned out to be not that great with the Toteme trousers (brilliant in other situations).

I've sort of revived my interest in summer clothes by digging through my old closet and experimenting with it a bit, but, syeah, it is getting a bit mundane.

I do think there's some truth to that in terms of quality Flo, I have low and high end pieces that look very similar but wash and dry, and wear very differently and it's where money shows but then again a high asking price doesn't guarantee it either. Those pieces just never make it into the second hand circuit. I feel it's always interesting to see what does consistently hold up. For example in Paris you see a lot of Eric Bompard cashmere in the consignment shops and it's all in amazing condition. If I ever felt like investing in cashmere that would definitely give me confidence with them.

Certain brands are definitely better at it than others, there's a lot of labour and skill that goes into it but not everyone invests in it. Speaking of, I've been sucked into a Dior videos rabbit hole whilst waiting on appointments this week after watching the , which was a bit of departure for Maria Grazia Chiurri stylistically, in that it was very heritage based but beautiful to see nonetheless and for whatever reason I felt it did have a very strong woman's point of view in it that hasn't really been seen at Dior before. I also loved which showed the fabrication process of pieces of that calibre.

Elle, she's a French celeb wearing it at the Chanel show and if I had to guess she's been dressed by them as she always has been previously. Sorry. I really liked that waist detail as it stopped it from being a very sweet little girl's dress.

I like Simone Perele for smooth t-shirt bras with minimal padding (more smoothing), they have a good plunge fit for me but Chantelle can be good too.

I have a second hand Margaret Howell source (I would tell you where but I'd have to kill you afterwards) and it's a level of quality I'd never encountered before. The first thing I ever bought of hers was a linen, collarless shirt which I nearly walked away from because I'm not a fan of modern linen and it didn't look anything special when I tried it on. But it has amazing all-day qualities - it does crease but it doesn't go limp and saggy like most linen does. I have a few 50s/60s linen jackets which are similar. One is Moygashel linen which I can remember my mum and aunts talking about in hushed tones.

But no, not all expensive brands have it. I adore Vivienne Westwood but it doesn't, or at least the Anglomania line doesn't, possibly the top end does.

Glad to hear tests went well, Bo.

I like silk in theory when weather is warm but in practice it shows sweat very well/clearly, doesn’t it? But on the other hand it dries quickly so...

Re quality that shows in lack of creasing etc - I went into Marina Rinaldi shop in Split (just curious) and it was mostly polyester for a lot of money, wasn’t it. So admittedly maybe good quality polyester that’s just wash and wear and no saggy arses but you don’t know until you buy. Wasn’t tempted by offerings that day anyway. I’ve realised I don’t like the trousers I bought in Cos last year that were a bit mad fisherman. They are a pain to iron and seem to attract dirt. Pity, because pure cotton makes them comfortable.

Home now and took a spin around final sales yesterday. Channelled French thread and went into a local boutique. Not tempted by patterns or shapes 😩. Did try on jeans from brand called Craven, solid thick denim. Retail at 240 euros but half price sale atm. Sz 42 didn’t go over my legs. Sz 44 did but waist super low. So that was that. Then in different shop tried on a bunch of trousers from Rodenbjer that just didn’t fit well enough to justify price even at 60 (!) % off. I don’t look good in them. Is it because there are genuinely clothes out there that I look better in or is it a case of me being in denial about current body shape? Tried on different silhouetted dress www.ahlens.se/Mode/klanningar-15184/wera-stockholm-klanning-gron-89925344/ because very cheap - armholes dipped to well below bra. But otherwise maybe!

That's Irish linen, isn't it, Flo? The Irish are much underrated since they just produce the fabrics but I do believe it's generally acknowledged as a superior quality. They recently started selling J Crew here in the department stores and whilst most of it wasn't that appealing to me I did really like the look of their Irish linen shirts, think there was even a specific mill mentioned. I think Everlane and another similar brand (whose name I've forgotten) also have special Irish linen shirts.

It's a rough guide but IME, brands that focus on fantastical designs tend to invest in that, fabric and cut is less consistently good. If they're quite sober, minamilist, tailored, etc. but less cutting edge you're more likely to get fabric and cut payout.

Would tailoring things to fit not be an option for you Bani? And if you're between a 42-44 you should still be able to fit into regular Max Mara, their stuff isn't all polyester like Marina Rinaldi.

Irish linen is very very good. I’ve never been able to afford any myself but feel my irish half getting patriotic and the mere mention of it. I long for retail to focus once again on emphasising fabric qualities and differences - heavy herringbone linen, light handkerchief linen... but I agree, everything has to be there, not just great fabric but no cut or style.

Bo, haven’t found a tailor I trust I’m afraid, so risk buying something expensive that doesn’t fit and then gets botched in tailoring. Well, hemming is ok but apart from that. But you know what, I’ll have a look in Max Mara next time I have a chance. For you! 😘 I have to stop assuming things won’t suit me or fit.

Looking at all these higher end shops you lot recommend means my Facebook ads have changed. Got recommended www.bitestudios.com today. Have to say stuff like that is sort of my inspiration/dream!

I like that dress, banivani. It might be a case of trying lots of things on so you know what suits you best. Also, as bo says it might be worth getting things altered, if it's a smaller matter like the armholes too low.

Elle mini quirky is much better, thank you. Antibiotics and a slightly stronger dose reliever inhaler seems to be working, it just seems best to keep her off and go back to school on Monday.

That's interesting about the quality of fabrics, the magazines years ago used to do a compare and contrast with a high end outfit and cheaper high street alternatives. Of course, with good photography the cheaper version looked just as good, and you wouldn't be able to tell how the outfit looked at the end of the day or how the pieces would last (or wash!).

There used to be an English label, Joyce Ridings (now dead, sadly, and the label too), which always had fabulous thick linen summer clothes. I have just decided to have a quick Ebay trawl, but it's worth looking for in consignment stores, as the shapes were lovely, flowing styles and very wearable. They were extremely expensive new, which is why my wardrobe is not full of it.

Definitely look at Chantelle bras, which wash and wear well and are subtly minimising without the crushing, spreading effect of M&S minimisers.

It's hard to remember linen used to be a luxury fabric. I don't suppose they still produce it in Moygashel - I'll try and remember to google it later. I've never come across Joyce Ridings but I'll look out for it - thanks Sock.

Irish tweed is lovely too although I only ever see it in country clothing stores.

Sellers now describe it as a bit Lagenlook, which I feel is not true, although the idea is present. And the sizing is definitely not Lagenlook, it comes up small.

By contemporary scales, it would be tightish.

Never heard of Ridings but it looks like lovely stuff. Linen is quite a popular fabric here with independent designers, but sadly IMO the quality of the linen isn’t always great and the designs can be - basic,to say the least. Home made. :/ but it’s a certain aesthetic that’s popular here.

Speaking of linen as a luxury fabric, I remember reading a piece about cotton in National Geographic once that said that Jesus would have been swaddled in linen, wool, maybe even some silk but the three kings would have been wearing cotton robes ...

Give my head a wobble, would you? Succumbed to the lure of fast fashion and sales today and got a pair of cream linen trousers in the Zara sale, sz L that are really too tight in the waist. I should return them, shouldn’t I? Not to mention that they’re unlined and I have to buy Special Knickers. But all the talk of cream linen seduced me ...

banivani I think you've already talked yourself out of them!

Linen gets a hard time on here (not this thread) but I agree that there's linen and there's linen. It can look gorgeous or a crumpled mess. Those Joyce Ridings clothes look lovely.

Yes, I’ve noticed people moaning over linen here but like you say, there’s linen and linen. I love it myself. On the Female Fashion Advice board on reddit someone posted an inspiration album for linen and there where tonnes of things I liked on it, esp a pair of very thin, blue, superdrapy linen trousers that tied in the front [sigh]. Loved them. Unfortunately, being a cycling person means I only get cheap linen because linen trousers only last a year for me :(

Haven’t talked myself out of them yet. Linen DOES stretch so MAYBE the waistband will and also I MIGHT do all my Pilates exercises really well for a month and then they’ll fit perfectly?

I'm a linen moaner I know there's some good stuff still out there and I love vintage linen but the way the cheap modern stuff goes limp and droopy within the hour drives me nuts. It was fine when I was firmer of body but now I need clothes that counteract the sagginess and cheap linen accentuates it.

So I guess it's a thumb down from me for those trousers bani but then you probably knew that already

Haha I know! Wide leg linen trousers of a vaguely menswear droopy style (in Swedish we say “gubbyxa”, old man trousers) are my catnip I’m afraid. I just mooch around in them and am happy. These require me to suck my gut in and focus on posture though.

I love slouchy wide legs. Adore them. It's just that fine line between slouching and drooping.... I have to be very careful.

Anyway Zara is one of the most unpredictable shops I know e.g. some of their tailored stuff can be really good. So very hard to judge those trousers. Alternatively do their big sister Massimo Dutti have anything similar?

They might .. am going to Sthlm with my daughters next Saturday to shop (we just decided today) so might pop in and look then :) hopefully we’ll be catching the very end of the summer sales then.

Zara are so unpredictable, and the adage of “quality shows in the wash” really does apply to them.

If I had money and could try on I’d buy Catherine Hammell, another ad that keeps popping up on Facebook. As it is I’ve done an eBay alert instead ...

The awesome Shibumi coat went to leavers Speech Day and prize-giving and was admired by everyone, including the Head and the Head of Rugby a man built of iron and steel who would not normally speak to SockJr (a lifelong team sports avoider).

Clothes open doors! ;) I don’t remember the coat in question, did you post a picture that I missed?

Auld I just wanted to say I made your passion fruit punch last night and absolutely loved it! So much so I went and got a load more passion fruit this morning to make another batch today! Thanks so much for the recipe!

Bani, I think it was on thread 2. There is a pic there, if you can be bothered!

As soon as I get on a computer I will be :) (on phone too faffy)

Had a surprising find in the Zara sale, a jersey dress from their basic range. It’s a silhouette I’d normally not look at, a higher round neck and quite loose on top. But since it had a sewn-on wrap i looked twice. It reminded me of the Kielo dress pattern by Named that I’m very drawn too. www.namedclothing.com/shop/kielo-wrap-dress/

It’s def fast fashion and not in the spirit of the thread but the testing of something different in terms of silhouette is, so I have to thank you all for helping me open my mind a bit. :) it’s very comfortable and I’ll get a good bit of wear out of it nonetheless!

SonofSock's coat is amazing bani. If I remember correctly it's a joint purchase - well worth looking for the pic. Are the A Levels over now Sock?

I really like the shape of that Kielo dress bani - it looks both interesting and flattering. Zara is one of those shop I can never be bothered with (plus we don't have a local branch) but I may be doing them a disservice.

I must admit I still have a bit of a thing for fast fashion. It's a guilty pleasure for all kinds of reasons and I try and keep it in check but I always think women who say they like clothes but never follow it must either have a huge budget or never try out anything new.

I facilitated its purchase Flo but then DH intervened and paid for editing of 10 years of miscellaneous family videos to be put on on to one tape, so I now have to beg for use of the magnificent coat. That said, DS nearly baked to a crisp wearing it yesterday. SockJr was congratulated, by all sorts of folk, (mostly parents TBH) for his nonconformism, but his friends took the mick a bit. Generally it sounds as if it was a hit.