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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Congratulations to SockJr 🥂 and well done on commitment to style and fashion by ignoring the heat in the name of it I shall relinquish my crown of impractical dressing temporarily to him.

I had a browse on Etsy and similar for Moygashel linen and think my grandmother had some of it. I recognised a few dresses (the very traditional ones with contrast embroidery) and they had a few of those linen wall coverings with Irish blessings around the house. She may have picked it up whilst on holiday there, apparently they were cursed by gypsies on the boat ride over and had a record number of flat tires and it never stopped raining

Return those Zara trousers Bani, I went through a linen pair from Zara in the space of a month once (and therefore never again) and it wasn't small at all. I'm trying to think of shops I love in Stockholm, ever tried Hope Sthlm? Is Carin Wester still trading? There's an Acne Studios outlet somewhere as well. And don't laugh, well not too loudly, I always find great things in the dingy sales racks at Urban Outfitters in Stockholm, only ever in Stockholm though

Catrina, could you repost that recipe. I thought I had screenshotted it but can't find it anymore and I saw some passion fruit on offer at the Chinese supermarket.

So Antwerp was a bit of a washout yesterday. It was a bit odd tbh. It wasn't for lack of trying or lack of fantastic offerings at great prices but I was back in that H&M space except without the instant gratification rush or ever making it to the cash register. Looking back on it I think I may just have been in one of those can't be bothered moods but it was also somewhat dissatisfactory because it mostly ticked things on my list but it all felt like settling somehow. I think I've crossed into too thoughtful and discerning and there just wasn't any joy in it, it all met a criteria and had lots of other positives but nothing felt 'right'. I can post pics where you can all tell me I'm insane for not snapping it all up, but not sure if you're all interested in that plus further mememe ramblings as I try to make sense of it all.

I agree that the linen trousers should go back, but the dress sounds lovely Bani I want to seethe Antwerp rejects, Bo! Still shopping vicariously here...
In fact (all being well), I’m not going to be doing much shopping / only shopping for accessories for the next few months. That’s because BabyPeony#2 has started cooking. Still very early days though (5 weeks) so 🤞🏻 everything goes okay.
I’m already missing shopping! But am trying to enjoy my normal clothes fitting for the next few weeks.
On the accessory shopping, any thoughts on this Isabel Marant scarf I’ve been stalking for some time? It still seems a bit much (various offers have been rejected) but now that I’m not going to be spending money on anything tight...? Have successfully managed to negotiate a pay rise so fancy a little treat.

Am absolutely going to look for that coat picture!

Flo, honestly Zara isn’t that much to bother with. but for some reason I find more in that fast fashion place than in my Swedish high street chains. 🙄 the dress is only a cheap yoke, pure cotton jersey but thin and temporary. But oh so comfortable. I have trouble giving up on fast fashion too. First of all my budget is not big. I live in a country where I have to be prepared to spend a lot of money on practical clothes, to actually protect from snow and rain. I haven’t got money left for fancy shit. I cycle so can’t wear things that’ll be ruined on a bike ride. If I want to try out a new silhouette I’m not likely to pay masses for it - I buy H&M or second hand. If I’m going to pay 2500 SEK (what MaxMara linen trousers cost in the sale, gorgeous but twoandahalfthousand) those trousers are going to have to be PERFECT in style and fit. Nothing experimental. I wildly regret spending 790 SEK on those COS trousers I’ve ended up never wearing.

I’m afraid I’ve almost talked myself into keeping the trousers girls. Your sensible admonitions haven’t helped. But I have a few days to decide/come to my senses. Linen trousers don’t last anyway. I’ve bought cheap I’ve bought expensive - the crotch wears out in a year anyway. Bo - funnily enough I tried on a pair of Hope linen trousers today thinking of your chiding voice - but they were more slim fit style and thus I couldn’t lift my leg in them (ie not pedal a bike). Also fit is meh. Swedish designers... I just find that the quality does not correspond to price! Carin Wester has always line in the big department store Åhléns now -mostly polyester but some good things too! I like her stuff in general. Don’t know if she still has independent stuff.

It’ll be a cold day in hell before I wear Acne Studios. Pretentious feckers. Also I’m sized out of them. Clothes for skinny Stockholmers.

Love to see eAntwerpen rejects though!

peony lovely scarf. No comment on price as I’d be afraid to spend that much on something guaranteed to be forgotten on a train haha.

Congratulations peony & co

On the scarf front, it's kind of pricey as it's mostly wool rather than cashmere, similar pieces go for around a €100 on Vestiare which is generally the higher priced second hand market. The Etoile line generally isn't that expensive compared to the main line and I think what they're asking would be about the new price. Also, just practically, if you start showing around that time, do you really want the extra bulk up top that a square shaped scarf like that would give?

I was thinking more the men's section of Hope, Bani. Your tight self should probably get acquainted with Yoox, so long as you know your size and preferred fits with brands you can buy quite cheaply there and free shipping offers show up often. Extreme ends of the size range tend to have the most choice there, Max Mara trousers tend to go for under a €100.

In Stockholm I remembered the Lisa Larsson vintage shop is always worth a nose, although it is very vintagey, bordering on costume, but I'm sure at least your daughters will enjoy it at least. I quite like the SoFo area in general, despite being full of pretentious twats, as it's a bit different than the usual offerings.

Ok, will get cracking on blurring myself out of pics again for the Antwerp rejects special. I fear some navel gazing verbosity up ahead [santa]

Also, before I forget, since we're discussing fast fashion again, don't mean to jump on the moralising train again but read a really good article on it this morning that tackles the subject from a lot of interesting angles that goes beyond the worker's salaries/exploitation question and pulls it out into the macro level as it's now developing in Ethiopia. H&M's response is a bit weak and woolly in there but still an improvement on Zara's (not part of the article) usual response of it's nothing to do with them.

theintercept.com/2018/07/08/ethiopia-garment-industry/

Ignore the comment section, unless you want an insight into the bizarre mindtraps Trumpians people set up for themselves

Bo here’s Auld’s recipe

Nice to see your ok bo.....

Oh the MEN’S section. Wouldn’t have thought of that since I have such an, ahem, womanly figure. Hm. Haven’t fitted in menswear in many years but sure, worth a shot. Look forward to the verbosity! ;)

My daughters are very different: one likes second hand and quirk but has no money so we’re talking Oxfam, the other buys Filippa K and Massimo Dutti. ;)

Interesting article, Bo. It’s good to be moralised to now and then to keep sight of what we need to work against. BUT that said - the annoying thing is that so many more expensive brands make clothes 8n the same places so what does it matter?

Was in London on Saturday and walked past Cos on the King's Road. I thought of you all but sadly had all the DCs with me and there was no way I was going in with them Loads of lovely clothes shops actually on the King's Road and a Space NK (and I had to walk past them all). I really must go home for the weekend on my own so I can take advantage of London shopping!

There doesn't seem to be much love for Zara on here but I have found some ok pieces there. All fast fashion I guess but if I'm going to buy something that isn't classic then I don't want to be spending a lot.

And that article really makes one think Bo. Good you shared it.

Thank you for reposting catrina , hoping an alcohol-free version will work just as well

Bani, men's fashion is a bit less slim fit these days and with all their crotch needs they have ample space in the thigh area already there so it's worth a shot. I also think the current fitness obsession of bloated muscles is contributing to the wider fits there.

I'm saving the verbosity for tomorrow, but will promise to do it! I did actually purchase something this morning that I'm very excited about but I'm not mentioning it until it's shipped since the Jacquemus order is turning into a bit of a headache currently

I think there is that dilemma with high-end brands being just as bad, though one could argue it's less disposable as people generally take better care of high purchase items and are less likely to get rid of them quickly. It's why I tend to look at care labels both for fabric content but also where it's made. There are certain countries I just don't want to buy from as they're stuck in that race to the bottom that doesn't seem to benefit anyone but the large corporations that leverage their power position purely in the pursuit of profit. (Higher end) European brands are massively moving into fabricating exclusively in the EU (I suspect there's a lot of EU incentives facilitating that) which guarantees at least a 'fairer' setup but then you get into the whole protectionist market arguments and you never know the full extent of the supply chain.

I particularly liked the China angle in that article, Sophie, there isn't much reporting on that but China is 'expanding' in a sense and they're doing it primarily in Africa, investing heavily in natural resources and mining it and cheap labour in general. Considering their track record I find it a tad unsettling. The sexual assault angle was new to me, but it's rather ridiculous that I never contemplated it before considering it's mostly young women on their own.

I feel everyone should make up their own mind WRT fast fashion, I have my own weird constructs to justify the occasional purchase. I don't think I'll ever be free from it entirely. Even with unlimited funds, I think I'd still hesitate on experimenting with new shapes or silhouettes at the top end.

Hello all,

I've been lurking on and off since the first thread, but struggled to keep up. I know some of you from the skincare thread .

Sophie have you received your Global Babe hat yet and if so what do you think of it?

Thank you.

Bonsoir!

I have been lurking, but RL has been a rocky road these past few weeks, leaving little headspace for clothes, etc.

Congratulations to all who deserve them (that'll be all of us, then, I reckon...).

I'm glad the punch is a success. Funnily enough, I have two work friends coming over tomorrow evening to celebrate our having made it to the summer break, and I've bought a pineapple to make the cheaper version. The recipe is similar, but I'll post it if anyone is interested, as it has a secret ingredient.

It's baking hot here. I've been wearing these a lot, rotating a black and a blue one. Am contemplating a white one, though I know it's impractical. Good value for money. Don't know where they are made, though... Mine are a little sacklike as I've shed a couple of kilos, but they are very forgiving either way.

Yes please to the pineapple punch recipe auld!

Hello again, Auld! I was actually thinking of using some pineapple 'ice cubes' (basically frozen pineapple chunks) to put in it. I've also been looking at frozen maracuja pouches (as far as I can tell it's just 100% passion fruit pulp) that they sell at a Brazilian store. It's €6 for 4x100ml pouches which seems more economical but maybe the taste isn't as fresh. I'll weigh out the price of 16 passion fruits first and then decide. Very curious about the secret ingredient in the other recipe.

Hiya, Pups am also interested in the Global Babe hat feedback if you've received it already, Sophie.

Pineapple punch:
the same as passionfruit punch, but with juiced fresh pineapple (a juicer/blender and a sieve are needed here) instead of passionfruit and with...a capful of Ricard/Pernod.

Am trying to think of non-alcoholic versions: I think the ones where we lived were all made with mixed fruit juices on a base of fresh orange juice. Orange and passionfruit/pineapple and a pinch of powdered vanilla would be nice, with lots of ice.

Frozen pineapple cubes might well work.
My recipes are all from an island where these kinds of fruit grow easily (I once chucked a passionfruit out of the kitchen window in a hurry as we were leaving on holiday, and a few months later had fresh passionfruit growing up my bougainvillea bush. Those were the days...).
But there is no reason why they wouldn't work with frozen fruit. And experimenting would be fun...

Passionfruit are 0,85€ here.

In Croatia i saw several gardens with passion fruit climbing up the fences ...

Re thigh room in clothes you’d wonder that more women’s clothes don’t reflect that big bums are all the rage, right? 🙄 In my search for jeans this year I’ve tried on men’s jeans too but they don’t come up over my clearly mahoosive thighs. Unless I go up to a waist 38 maybe and there are LIMITS.

The Chinese expansion into Africa is quite unsettling. They bring money and infrastructure but they’re very exploitative (rich, coming from a European, I know)...

Interesting article, bo. The garment industry has such a long way to go.

Congratulations peony .

I'm jealous of the pineapple punch, a couple of summer's ago I developed an oral allergy to pineapple . I'm fine with passion fruit, though.

That's weird, I thought I'd posted on here last night but I can't see it. Maybe I got the wrong thread Anyway probably no great loss, just me musing on fast fashion - to which I am still partial so I'm no better than anyone else. But I do think we need to be honest about where it comes from. The price of clothes is so cheap now compared to 30-odd years ago, and while some of that is down to technology, it's mostly wages.

I've posted before (on other threads) about having to save up to buy even basic clothes in the 80s. The main reason I got into second hand was it was the only way I could afford to buy more. This was when I was in a professional job. We just didn't have that many clothes and had to consider every purchase.

Anyway thanks for the article bo - I'll go and read it properly now

And congratulations peony - lovely news

Hi Pupsie and Bo, no the sun hat hasn't arrived yet. It was something like 20 working days for delivery and I ordered on 14 June. I was going to update you all once it arrived.

Hello AuldAlliance, that linen dress looks lovely for this type of weather. I like the blue one. We do actually have a Next here in Athens!

Phantom posts are a thing, Flo, I've sworn up and down I'd posted random musings only for them to disappear. Most of the time not a bad thing I'm also convinced MN hides other people's posts sometimes as I'd never seen them before whilst remembering the posts before and after it

Auld, they're €6 per half a kilo here and 3 for a euro in an out of the way supermarket which seems pretty reasonable in comparison but still a bit of an investment. I was actually thinking of using Ame in the grape apricot flavour as the rum substitute. Since it's naturally sweetened I figured I could skip the sugar syrup as well or use less. I've always assumed Ame's a French non alcoholic wine alternative but maybe it's a local thing or even German? The raspberry bramble one works well in a mock Bellini.

Bani, men's jeans are the exception, they're really poor fitting if you're curvy IME.

Mango chunks would be nice too, quirky. Can you have that? Or just have Bellini's (with or without alcohol), they're amazingly delicious in hot weather too and everything for it is in season now.

I will wait patiently with you, Sophie

I've received my shipping notification, well actually three so here's hoping I didn't order three Anyhow, I've finally found myself a bag, hopefully, final judgement when it gets here tomorrow from Italy. Won't be to everyone's taste but I really like it. It's by Rokh, another Phoebe Philo protégé when he worked at Celine. South Korean originally, I seem to be having a bit of a love affair with the SK designers at the moment, my wishlists are full of them. Only launched this year, am hoping it's not too floppy and retains its shape and is actually practical in real life. Have attached pics and will attach some others from his collection that caught my eye.

Some extra pics, and an interesting article on the brand on Vogue UK

Think the top in pic 2 is from another brand.

Oooo the pleated skirt in the second pic caught my eye Bo. I can't work out whether I like the very short layer on the RHS or not though! And I'd want it in another colour. Not too fussy, am I?!