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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Ah love the pics Elle - I think they're my favourite, all-time style of trousers. I've also forgotten the brand? I think a tucked in top always shows off the waist. (Or in my case, half tucked, not because it's fashionable but cos I've never in my life managed to keep a shirt in my waistband and I'll be pissed off when it goes out of style and I'm left still doing it.)

I like the top with the collar / dangly bit and was going to say I think it works because the trousers are a masculine cut but maybe that was only in the 80s - men don't seem to be adopting them this time around. Anyway I still like it - I'd just try and shorten the ties slightly so that they point to the waist but don't actually touch it. And I'd keep everything else very simple.

I also like the navy dress bani - I'm always a sucker for a bit of asymmetry.

What's that? Who is this impersonator? Off for a look

Oh very nice actually although I think the least they can do is give me mates' rates. Or maybe I could model for them. With my mask on, obviously.

Thanks so much for all the advice everyone. Good idea re tying the dangle bits up! I love the tops selection botemp I have a proper gander at them tonight when I get a chance. You're very good. That shoptagr is great. Trousers were Celine for those asking- massively reduced @75% off and the last pair in a rag tag looking assortment in a department store. They are linen with a capital L though and even though they haven't seen an iron the weight help them still hang nicely IMO.

Banivani I like both dresses, but agree that the first one is a bit severe so it depends what you'd wear it for. Second one - the lily is interesting in a good way. I also like the Harper style from the same brand, but maybe the neckline is too high. www.johnells.se/kvinna/varumarken/residus/harper-texture

I love the idea of a shop with clothes modelled by masked Flos.

Loving the idea of a masked model Flo!!!

Thank you quirk for your kind comment on my sneakers and rug (sure it’s only a cheap aul yoke I got off Ellos for my daughter’s room ) (pretty cute though).

So the trousers are Celine? Incidentally I did spot some Celine today in Afound, the H&M group’s second hand offering. It was a pretty good shop actually - big and spacious and lots of things. Well worth a visit, but I didn’t buy anything there. (And the Celine i saw was some sort of shirt that didn’t interest me I’m afraid).

Right next door to Afound was Arket, where I tried on about ten things that fitted poorly but then bought these trousers www.arket.com/en_sek/women/trousers/product.viscose-trousers-blue.0632080001.html which were surprisingly nice but maybe a tad overpriced but I said fuck it (famous last words). Nice shop! I liked that they let you take more things into the changing rooms than at Cos which only let’s you take seven 🙄 (so that’s three items like since you need to take two sizes of each, such a pain). Went to Cos too but wasn’t enamoured with anything plus that changing room issue. Sadly didn’t find any sale prizes in either place.

Ive also tried on jeans in Weekday (nope, camel toe), a wrap dress in Hobbs that was too big (but good length, will keep an eye out for similar model), an absolutely lovely blue winter coat from Stylein that I just couldn’t decide to get for 2500 kr in July, you know?, denim cropped trousers in Karen Millen that didn’t fit ... we went to Beyond Retro and my eldest found a very cute summer dress and I tried on about ten pairs of trousers that were all so promising but too small
In the waist. But oh the glory of things going up your thighs anyway! I was just unlucky that day. And for the price they charge they could label their tags with clothes sizes instead of making you rummage inside the clothes for faded laundry tags IMO. I was esp taken with some wide legged trousers with a sort of wedge on the inside leg in a different fabric. Have seen a similar pair on one of the bosses at work but she got hers in Tokyo. One pair was David N Petites (I’m not but I gave it a go) and the other Preston and York, again petites??? they had a lot of petite trousers actually!

Also got a pair of wide legged linen trousers in black in Mango (I know) and a red tshirt and the last was def a bit too much but it’s my favourite red and I tend to go a bit stupid when I see it.

Had a lovely day with my girls, everyone got something so I hope we’re all happy. So hot though we were melting.

Oh and re the dresses from Residus: thank you for thoughts! They are quite formal and whereas I do have an office job which lets me wear things like that it’s also working for the council which in Sweden means no pressure to be anything but wearing clothes so I don’t need to look like that. Ideally I want something that’s nice but can be dressed down a little so I don’t feel like I’m on the set of an American lawyer drama and failing haha. The Harper one is nice but I think I saw it and it was shorter then I prefer, sadly. Might go into the shop again. If the dresses are still there when I pick up my contacts it must be fate. ;)

Elle no wonder those trousers are so lovely if they're Celine . Good advice from bo about getting a length in between for heels and flats.

Some gorgeous things on those websites, bo. I think flo will need to expand her mask collection...

It sounds as if you had a good haul, banivani. I think trying things on and getting an idea of what works and what doesn't is always helpful.

Thanks Quirky and Bo - am enjoying the hat very much. Plus it is SPF 8000 (!!) so can get away with no SPF on my chin (where SPF seems to be contributing to my spots) if I have it on all the time. My children are also enamoured with the hat: it's apparently lots to fun to put on and mould into different shapes Yes I also wondered if the packaging was to avoid customs, Bo. There was no value etc on the package.

Banivani - I like your trainers too and you should tell your son that Converse are supremely uncomfortable and very narrow. I don't wear mine anymore. Tried them the other day and realised just how uncomfortable they really are!

I saw the Lily dress and the Amelia dress. I liked them both (perhaps the Lily a wee bit more but think the colour was influencing me) - do they come in other colours? Are they knee-length? Like the waistband/sash of the blue Lily dress. I couldn't open the link to the trousers you bought. It went to the starter page for the company for me.

Bo - yes I've tried the tinted Frezyderm. It gave a very nice finish but was slightly too dark for me. I think I could get away with it though - depends how fussy one wants to be! I could send you some samples if you like so you can test it yourself?

I also love the look in the second photo you posted Bo. I do like high waists! And the top in the last photo is interesting - do you think it's tucked in or is it asymmetric?

ToElleWithIt - what a great buy those trousers were!!! Celine with 75% off - well done

Oh i also like the bag you posted ToElleWithIt. I missed it the first time. Like the burgundy colour too. It's quite autumn/winter-y.

Thanks for all the lovely congratulations-you’re all so sweet. I’m only 6 weeks but so far, so good.
I have taken on board Bo’s wise words of advice and abandoned the eBay Isabel Marant scarf. I’d really been focusing on the colour (berry shades are my greatest weakness) rather than the shape, but agree that a rectangular shape would be much better than a square. Going to wait until the start of Autumn and treat myself to a really lovely scarf then with some real life shopping, possibly in Liberty’s.

Catching up on Bo’s shopping. I like the idea of you in a white summer dress but neither of the Antwerp options did your figure justice. Love the Dries blazer and also the Alaia boat neck - afraid I would have succumbed to both of those... @ChesterBelloc I bought a navy merino wool boat neck from John Smedley. Pricey but lovely. If the heatwave subsides before
my figure starts expanding, I’ll post a picture. I like the tan bag! Very chic. Really like the draping on the Mirae camisoles.

Nice Celine trousers Elle! My favourite look is the 4th one with the blue top. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for shell tops. Don’t tempt me with more bags! 🙈

Sounds like a lovely successful shopping trip Bani!

Lovely Peony! I wish you all the very best for the pregnancy.

On a different note, I'm looking for a matte fuchsia lipstick. More blue-toned fuchsia than neon pink. I've got Diva by MAC (which is a matte burgundy) and like the matte effect but I'm not sure the two pinks closest to fuchsia in that range are what I'm looking for. Must really go into MAC and have a proper check.

Has anyone used the MAC retro matte liquid lip colour? I've read some reviews which say it is very drying.

Alternatively can anyone else recommend a fuchsia matte lipstick from a more mainstream range I'm likely to find here?! So MAC, Smashbox. YSL, Dior, Chanel etc etc. Most of the Space NK brands, for eg, I can't find here I think.

Thanks everyone!

I lost another post again... Don't know whether it's my phone or MN but it's getting a bit annoying.

Trying to briefly recap again:

I'm all for a gofundme campaign to expand Flo's mask collection and venture into her newfound modelling career

I'm about Celine at 75% off. That is all.

Happy to hear you had a successful day out, Bani. Interesting to hear about Afound having a bit of Celine, we're getting one in the Autumn but I thought it would just be H&M brands.

What colour hat did you get, Sophie? It sounds very impressive if it can withstand tiny little hands manhandling it all the time Very kind of you to offer to send me samples but I really need to order this week to make sure I have it in time before going to Paris, my SPF from Japan had to be sent again due to still unknown reasons to me. Think I'll try the tinted version, I can always order another untinted one and mix them to get a better colour match.

Peony, the blazer and Alaia jumper were very lovely and if I worked in an environment like you and Elle do they'd make for great additions but they'd be a bit like neglected children in my wardrobe/lifestyle.

Sophie, wrt matte lipstick, I currently quite like the YSL tatouage one. It doesn't feel drying on the lips at all, lasts really well through at least a meal or two and has a good precise applicator though I prefer to wear it just on the centre of my lips and then blended out to the edges as the colour is quite intense which is nice at other times of the year but feels a bit much now. This way I still get the punch of colour but not that overly manicured feel. The online swatches don't really feel representative in my mind though, I wear it in 10 which is a bright pink that leans red but the online swatch is a much darker red. You can also try Chanel, not sure on their matte formulas but they really excell in the reds to purples range in terms of colour.

I'm having a bit of a wardrobe panic I checked the weather forecast for when we're in Paris and the 'coolest' day will be 30° and there's three consecutive days of 35° I can't even remember being in that type of heat for a long time. I'm eyeing every silk thing in my wardrobe but not sure if it'll work or not. Am I just going to be a giant patch of sweat? Linen not fitted to the body might be better IIRC (but then again, it was the Middle East so covering up was necessary). I think I'm going to go on a desperate scramble for some of the ever elusive silk camisoles tomorrow and succumb to just shelling out a tonne on different online ones in various sizes if I don't find anything tomorrow. I think I'll ignore the fast fashion abstention as well in my blind panic. Please tune in tomorrow for the madness in full technicolour [santa]

You’re going to be a giant patch of sweat Bo, that’s for sure ... but silk camisoles must be great surely, you could pack enough to change three times a day and they’d still take up no room in the suitcase!

Evian spray and a fan (one of the fluttery ones not an electric one) botemp - that's how the Parisian ladies stay cool.

Yes that's what I was thinking Bani, I was planning to pack light but with this weather I'd want the ability to change at least twice a day and then probably for the evening again. I could do quick hand washes of silk items but then the hotel would need to have a good iron available which isn't always a guarantee.

Evian spray, Lillian, that takes me back. Don't think I've heard anyone mention that since the Supermodel era as they all sprayed it religiously and therefore so did I. I'm more devoted to the Vichy Thermal Water for my skincare routine and I have the Bioderma SPF water spray for top ups which is probably a better choice as it actually gives a bit of extra protection rather than breaking it down. My grandmother had some lovely silk hand fans I could dig up but I remember them being quite big, but then again, she was teeny tiny.

Chanel liquid ink matte (or whatever it is called) in Choquante is quite fuchsia on me, and I think it is blue toned. Not brilliant at judging but it definitely makes my face look colder.

Hello everybody, I’ve been lurking over the last theead and now that I’m satisfied that you’re not all enablers can I join you please 😀.

I have been really enjoying the thoughtful and interesting conversation here, and great recommendations for brands I haven’t heard of before.

I have been on a self-imposed one year abstinence from shopping for clothes and apart from a coat and a shirt in the Arket winter sale I didn’t buy anything for a year. I have continued to look at catalogues and websites but not having any intention to buy has been so liberating. In the past I would get into a wild panic when a sale or new collaboration email drops (I mostly shop online being a working mother of two small children) and would just have to buy something. Madness.

This time also gave me good opportunity to have a really good look at what I already have, give away a lot of it, rediscover some old things and even repair/alter some others that have been waiting as projects for a while.

Since the one year was up I did have to buy a few things to cope with heatwave clothes appropriate for work (my shorts and backless sundresses weren’t cutting it) but not much: I have got some light loose trousers from Cos and a tshirt from Bimba Y Lola. I must have tried tons of other things though but they all went back. I was also recently on work trips to Amsterdam and London and happily came back empty handed after having a good mooch around shops.

I have to say I am starting to think about autumn and winter things, I would love a simple toffee colour jumper and green wool trousers, nipped in the waist. A new bag would be great too, I only have one that I carry all the time. I’m thinking of getting a cognac APC demo lune and one of the vintage Coach messengers in black.

Welcome out in the open, Jon

I wouldn't recommend the APC demi lune as they don't age all that well. They scratch and loose shape quickly and the zipper is a bit annoying to get things in and out of which is rather disappointing considering what they charge. I'd recommend looking up any mainstream bag you've got your eye on at Vestiaire Collective as it'll give a good indication of how it'll age.

I had attached bag in cognac as a backup option in case the Rokh one didn't pan out for me. It's by a Canadian brand called The Stowe and I could only source it in the UK and Switzerland but it was less money than I expected, around £200 IIRC. I'll look up the model name and UK shop if it takes your fancy. They also did another style that was very much like the demi lune, just a touch sharper.

Did someone mention autumn?

Hi Jon I recognise your user name from way back and I'm very impressed by your year without shopping. It's something I should be able to do but the flesh is weak. Anyway autumn, I've had my first catalogue, from Poetry. Why they send it I've no idea as I've never ordered but no matter, I read it cover to cover and wanted everything. I'm sure I don't really - I do like their commitment to natural fabrics and their styling has improved no end but there's always something about the cut or the length that doesn't work for me. But what I really noticed was all the chocolate, conker and deep rust. I've not read up on the autumn winter shows but if brown is making a comeback I will find it hard to resist. I've missed it.

I'm slightly dismayed to hear H&M are venturing into the second hand market. One of the reasons I like it is that it's beyond the reach of the corporate arm. If they end up squeezing out the independent traders I will not be impressed.

bo I had missed that you're off to Paris! With those temperatures I'm afraid I would cover myself from head to foot and stay indoors until the sun went down. Have a great time.

Welcome Jon! Great username.

Sitting back with popcorn to enjoy Bo’s summer heat panic shopping. I find a loose sleeveless dress good for very hot days in the city.

Thank you for the bag recommendation bo. I did wonder if the zip would annoy me, and was planning a trip to London to try the bag and see in the flesh. I wasn't 100% committed to the APC anyway, it's a very trendy bag and I worry that I'll get tired of seeing it in a year or so. (As an aside, I mourn the loss of the colour yellow, it used to be one of my favourite colours and now I'm so bored of seeing it everywhere).

I love the shape of The Stowe you posted (and thank you for reminding me of the Montreal designers in general, I forget that they have a great scene, and that their bags are available in Europe not just their tiny boutiques). However, I thought that the colour wasn't right, I imagined something deeper brown with a tinge of dark red/rust rather than orange. (I only have one bag for a reason, I find it so hard to decide on the right one).

And hello again flo, I think we coincided on several threads praising the return of loose trousers. Not shopping for a year was actually surprisingly easy, it's simple actually: looking at things is only curiosity and pleasure, while buying is not even an option.

I'll have a look at Poetry catalogue, I agree that in the past their shapes seemed not right for me but I do like sound of those colours. My family has (jokingly) made me promise no.more.black and I have to agree, my wardrobe is at peak black and feels too strong and sharp on me.

Have a great time in Paris bo. Silk is a good option in the heat but I find loose dresses much better than trousers, they eventually cling and really show the sweat. I've been wearing a couple of my gauzy cotton dresses and they were perfect in super heat.

Well, my heat panic is now at full code red as the prediction is currently 36,37,38 . I'm actually wondering if following Flo's advice and staying home may be more sensible except I wouldn't even bother getting dressed as I've passed out in the heat before and since I'll be on my own during the day I'd rather not wake up in a foreign hospital... but it won't be much cooler here and at least the hotel will have air conditioning so I'll just have to take it really carefully and take lots of leisurely breaks and keep a lot of cash on hand and take taxis when necessary. Or just try to remember which department store had the best air conditioning and just shack up there for the day. On the plus side, even though I avoid the sun at all costs, I don't burn easily so that's less of a concern for me.

Sorry to say, Flo, but brown is back with a vengeance my boie des rose, browny-rose and terracotta hankering is easily transforming into browns and ruddy tans in A/W and for the full-on 70s palette, complimented with orange.

Didn't think about that angle with Afound, would be curious to know what the pricing was like there Bani? I'm not the best judge on it but I do sense the prices have been appreciating in the second-hand market at quite an accelerated rate for some time now.

I'm heading out in a bit peony, so get the popcorn ready. So long as it's not prosecco flavoured, never tried it but the idea alone offends me for reasons I can't quite articulate. Perhaps I'm missing out on something sensational, feel free to correct? I was right about truffle crisps being a huge letdown though.

I'm going to look for loose fitting things in silk, thin cotton or linen. I'm also going to venture into stores I usually skip over for whatever reason. Where I'm usually fussy about fit I figure it's less of importance now. I'm wearing my sleeveless Acne Studios shell dress in silk today which is partially lined and it's already feeling a touch suffocating at 28 degrees...

Interesting, Jon, it was the colour that didn't have me convinced of The Stowe one as well. Although in some pictures it's much darker and in others, it's listed as Paprika and quite red. I figured I needed to see it in the flesh but regardless it felt more A/W to me than S/S which was what I was primarily seeking. I would say the APC is a bit of a known silhouette and has been for some quite some time now, it doesn't feel tired to me though. They do make it in saffiano leather now which should stop it from scratching up quickly and the croc version should be similarly more durable than the standard veg tan.

Hey Jon, if you find those green wool trousers let me know, ok? Sounds lovely. I've already got them in my mind's eye. :)

Forgot to say that I went past the Totéme section in either NK or Åhléns City but wasn't that impressed, a bit dull. The same sort of thing I see all the time in Sweden. :/ With the exception of an ivory raw silk sort of djellabah type garment - but I wouldn't wear that myself. They didn't have The Trousers. (might have been suffering from shopper's fatigue though)

Hello jon, well done on the no buying. I try to just buy things that fit "gaps" in my wardrobe, though allowing for occasional buying things I love.

bo loose, natural fibres sound the way to go. It's boiling here too, favourite wrapover, loose linen trousers and a cotton vest top is the order of the day.

flo I often get sent the Poetry catalogue and have never bought anything either! Wrap London is very similar too I like the natural fibres and often smoky, soft palette. I have a fine, knitted linen cardigan from Wrap in a soft violet which has lasted quite a few years. I think they both do quite a wide range of sizes iirc.

Brown really is back then? Excellent. I may celebrate by painting a bedroom wall 70s-student-brown, although I'm not sure what my husband would make of it.

Yeh Poetry are one of those who so nearly get it right but never quite manage it for me. Shame as I do like their colours - even the blacks are a bit washed out.

I was in Istanbul a few years ago when the temperatures were similar and didn't leave the hotel before 5pm most days. It worked pretty well although I can't remember what Paris shopping hours are like.