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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Speaking of, I was more convinced by these shorts from Ba&sh than any others. Got very close to just taking them home with me. Think they worked better for me as the fly at the front is false and it has an invisible zip on the side which are my best type of placement for a zip on a trouser. They also sit quite low rise which works well for me on casual pieces. Unlike the others they’re not denim but a 50/50 linen cotton blend. But, I’m kind of concerned this would still be too warm? I’m so inexperienced with shorts and appropriate weather I was reluctant to pay the 78 euro asking price. Especially since I also saw a pair of Acne jeans at 70% (making it 84 euros) which I just see me wearing more, but then again, flattering shorts.

I left dazed and confused… but I am less panicky as I can find most of these things in Paris if in a bind, so will focus on fixing phone instead and not ordering 10,000 silk camisoles online today...

Banivani That sounds like a wonderful day. Glad you found something. I like Arket too for shopping in. It’s nice and airy.

IwankaTramp I love the colour of those boots, but would it be hard to make a pull on with leather like that? I always associate that really glossy burnished leather with stiffness and that probably won’t work for a pull on. Last winter there were a good few brogue-style boots with a zip on the inside, so easy to take on and off. Might be worth considering?

JonSnow I’m impressed at your abstinence. Those green trousers sound wonderful. We’lll all be hunting for them.

SophieLion Oh gosh, I don’t even know what Frezyderm is and I think I want some. I have not yet fallen into the rabbit hole that is the skincare threads. I have a very vibrant pink from Nars.

botempYou got through a lot!

I love the Cos silk trousers on you and the dress from there is lovely, but appreciate it doesn’t suits your lifestyle. The All Saints stripy dress looks great, you’re able to take all that draping on your hips.

I really like the lace cami with the high-waisted black shorts, what a shame that they’re not a good fabric.

What about the Mango cami with denim shorts?

On the shell tops: I finally got a chance to have a proper look and I really like a couple of them, but they’re on Yoox and when I click through the price is 40 / 50 EUR higher than is shown on Shoptagr. Am I missing a trick with Yoox? I’ve never bought from them before. Silk tops on Vailia also look promising.

I also agree on the pet peeve of no mirrors in the changing room. I hate coming out and having a shop assistant do the hard sell on something that I know isn’t particularly nice. My other new pet peeve is store just putting out each item in one size (the smallest). I know it makes the rails looks lovely and uncluttered, but it means you have to ask the shop assistants for everything and end up hanging round for ages. Also items that look nice in a 6 can look different in a bigger size. I also often want to eyeball 2 sizes and can generally tell by looking which one will fit.

Picture is the Jacquemus wide legs at work!

Ooooh I missed the run on to page 22 where you do in fact pair the Mango cami with denim shorts - ooops. B@sh shorts are great too.

Lovely trousers Elle

Hmm, yoox does fluctuate massively on price per country. I'm not sure why but the euro price is pretty much the pound price. Since they offer free shipping most of the time I do wonder if they just inflate the Irish prices to subsidise the higher shipping cost? But 40/50 euros more is a lot on those. They do swap and change prices now and then though, usually in anticipation for a new promotion. There was an extra 15% off on a lot of things promotion that ended yesterday so the next promo will probably be tomorrow or Thursday.

The pink cami or the lacy one I bought from Mango? I don't own any denim shorts though, I could get the skort from Stradivarius but I think it's just going to be too hot. I am contemplating just buying the pieces from Mango and Stradivarius, leave the tags on and only take them off if I wear them in Paris and return anything I don't end up wearing and don't really feel the need to own. Bit sneaky but not that different from hanging around the house until you return something. Just need to not have a cosmetic bag overspill

Anyhow, off again to get phone looked at. Fingers crossed it's a quick fix. Might have a look at the All Saints stripey dress again.

x-posted there, got it

Delurking to say, having grown up in a hot country (35c+ in the summer with 100% humidity) shorts and camisoles often make you hotter outside and colder inside because anywhere that hot is generally fiercely airconditoned. Loose linen, silk and cotton would be my advice, and definitely cover your shoulders as sun on skin makes you feel hotter!

I'm going to have to put this into practice next week as I'm working out of our Paris office and it will be roasting outside and freezing inside. I'm planning my outfits now and I think it'll be a rotating cast of knee-length skirts below and light silk and cotton blouses on top.

I just Kondoed my wardrobe as well and got rid of 4(!!!) binbags of clothes that went straight to the charity shop. Still can't believe I had so much that could have gone. I got rid of almost everything with a print, not in a natural fibre, or that I'd been hanging onto hoping to slim back into them post babies - I thought they were timeless classics at the time, but when seen in the cold light of a Konmari process they were quite shiny fabrics or out of date shapes (black low-rise boot-cut trousers...eek).

bo I liked the b&sh shorts and the mango top, too. The stripey Allsaints dress looked great as well. I'm not surprised you were confused after trying on all of that!

It's interesting, humidity does make a huge difference. I remember being in Singapore and you'd accumulate so much dampness on the skin (from the air and just sweat) and then freezing to death in the aircon. Thin flimsy clothing was good there. Paris will be that stagnant city heat which is different IME and I will be making use of public transport, well so long as I can stand it, so covering up just feels really counter.

I do tend to experience heat like Sophie. I prefer to wear less and the sun on my skin doesn't really bother me that much, I only really notice the added heat when I'm out of the sun and tend to clam up in things with sleeves.

It is only predictions so far, it may very well drop down to the lower thirties which should be a lot more manageable. I'd check my phone but... it's still being an arse. Turns out the charger is malfunctioning so have had to order a new one which won't be here until Thursday but I'm still thinking there's something wrong with the battery as it jumps about a bit but they said that may be due to the charger. May end up having to just buy a new one, how else am I going to share Paris pics?! I hate choosing one though, they all look the same and I get too distracted by comparing all the features that I take forever to pick one. Argh. I thought there was a MN topic for it but can't seem to find one, maybe it was just a random chat thread I clicked on once.

Hello Xiaoxiong, looks like I'm the only person who doesn't like fabric on me in the heat I do actually wear long-sleeves etc in the heat but it's only to protect my skin from the sun rather than to be cooler - if I'm making sense.
Fair point that it can can v chilly inside with the AC - if there is AC (I'm thinking of most of the London buildings again!).

I very much enjoyed looking at all your potential purchases Bo and reading all your comments. Lots of lovely things. I was interested in your comment about All Saints as I do have a pair of good sized shoulders on me! Don't care for them much myself unfortunately. I will have a look at All Saints. Quite funny as that striped All Saints dress also caught my attention. I have hips too so think the draping would be ok on me. I also quite liked the tight fitting white (was that All Saints too?!) but I agree with you that that style of dress can get hot. I have a similar RL dress that a v kind friend just gave to me because she no longer wears it. Love the shape but it's soooo hot!!

Elle - yes the Frezyderm SPF is very night but sadly I can't use it as it gives me spots. Bo - I would say the coloured one is more like a tinted moisturiser consistency than a heavy foundation. I'm not an expert with foundations though to be honest. Getting cross with my chin as as soon as one spot in under control, another one pops up

Ah X post with Bo!
Good luck sorting the phone out. Technology is amazing until it goes wrong.....

Ah, Sophie, meant to mention, I quickly ran past the Dior counter as well and they've expanded their Dior Addict lip tattoo line with summer colours and there were some lovely pinks and what I'd describe as fuchsia. I don't own that formula but know some that do and they're really happy with it.

Tinted moisturiser sounds good, that's about as much coverage I can stand. Just hope it stays put, I'm always paranoid about staining clothes that aren't mine.

The All Saints dress is called Riviera, they have a version of it all the time. I can't find this one on the All Saints site though. Just a long sleeved version in black. The white dress is also All Saints but I only photographed the price not the style name, can't find it on the site either. I do have to say that I find AS rather overpriced outside of the UK, especially the bags get marked up to ridiculous prices.

Correction, I did photograph the dress name, it's 'Tina'.

Xiaoxiong OMG 4 binbags! not bad going. Rofl at the "timeless classics" - yes, that's a trap I'm falling into all the time ...

Elle lovely trousers - but to me they don't look that wide? Perhaps I'm being like tanorexic except with trouser leg width. Was thinking to myself yesterday that maybe I can sew a pair of SUPER WIDE linen trousers in a very thin fabric and it'll be all drapey and gorgeous haha.

Very envious of you all who find such lovely silk clothes. I tried on a silk dress in Arket just to check out the fit, but it's a horrible blue brown zebra pattern (why????) so I couldn't buy it. But IF it comes in a nice colour ever ... When I was in COS they had no nice silk left (in my size) at all. Beginning to think I missed trying some things on actually, but their 7 item limit limits me, babes.

Bo - shirts aren't dresses, no no. You look great of course but yes, I'd be wondering if you forgot your trousers. I'd be that person. I'm sorry. ;) Also some of the items are very transparent - can't believe they had the nerve to try and talk you into them! The COS trousers are lovely. You're lucky to have the opportunity to go back!

Sorry about your phone, hope you get sorted. Hate buying phones. Phones and bras.

Wearing my new Arket trousers today - I see above that my link didn't work, I get that all the time when people link here; it's because the links are country specific I think. Changed country to UK, trying again! They are lovely, but the elastic waist is a little loose. To hell with sizing anyway, right? They're a medium and I ought to be a large.

Forgot - thanks bo for Vanilia tip - I quite like them!!! Odd website though, imagine shipping internationally but insisting on Dutch?

Bo, thank you for checking Dior. That's very kind of you. And for the All Saints info - I'll have a look online later.

I think I might have to ask all of you to help me in my quest to find the perfect leather jacket but I'll be back another time with that!

bo I salute your shopping stamina!

I actually really liked the long sleeve linen dresses on you although I guess we can’t see as much detail on the photos. The Mango camisole is a great find. I loved the black Cos trousers too but they may not be ideal for your Paris trip.

Elle those trousers look amazing!

Xiaoxiong ha yes to falseness of classic pieces. I have just packed for holiday and took out my highish heel sandals from the suitcase as most of the time I just return them home unworn. They seemed such a great idea when I bought them (and paid a fortune) as they were supposedly an investment piece but I forget that I feel silly wearing high heels and they’re impractical for running after my toddler. I should probably sell them and just buy nice flat sandals (or two) for going out.

I'm sure the Vanilia website is available in English as I ordered in it thinking it was a bit odd but couldn't find anywhere to switch the language

Well, Jon, I may have admirable stamina but I'm also vain and chose a more flattering image to share. Attached is probably a more accurate depiction of the fit where I'm the picture of malcontent, perhaps more Puritans than Amish though. A rugby playing one at that. My shoulders end about where the tag does. I think in the right size this would be a great dress for someone (these were a rare EU34 but I'm a size smaller than that, occasionally two, in this fit it would probably be two). A wash may have sorted the stiffness on the shoulders out as well but it would still have been too much fabric for me, I think.

I feel a bit of a tit now like in that picture. Phone seems to be working okay again, for now. Battery isn't draining itself anymore and it allows itself to be charged, albeit very slowly. Hopefully it won't crap out on me but I do have a preferred one earmarked now. I think it's just been one of those days, my orders still haven't arrived, the Frezyderm pretended to have been here and missed me before its time slot which is bollocks as I've been home all afternoon and the Vanilia order is still saying it's coming but I really doubt it at this hour.

And also... I checked the weather forecast again and now it's a reasonable 29-31°. I'm very pleased with that prospect but probably could have done without my fully self induced frenzy.

I do find it quite interesting that we have posters on here clearing out there closets by the bin bags where others are eagerly snapping it up in the charity shops.

No bother, Sophie, I was lured in by pretty colours, saw the lip products and remembered they were meant to be very good and they'd be the type of colours you'd been looking for.

Were you looking at All Saints for leather jackets? I'm no expert but it may be worth seeking them out on eBay, apparently the older ones are better quality than the newer ones.

I've only had a quick scan of the pics bo but the standout ones for me were the slip dresses. Fit and underwear issues aside, I think you look lovely in them. And actually that green dress too, ok not so much the shape but the colour looks great.

Off for a proper look now.

All those with European knowledge - is Allude cashmere good quality?

Could you also recommend some niche bag brands that are quality leather but not shouty/blingy?

I know they are not very fashionable but I scored a camel pashmina for under a fiver today. Looking forward to pairing it with my navy stuff come autumn.

Good point about leather type and boots. Clearly I need two pairs 😁

These are my current finds on Ebay.....

Pure collection cashmere rollneck £18 plus postage
Pure cashmere blazer £18 plus postage
Pashmina £2 plus postage

Allude cashmere oversized cashmere £25

I just need a bag and boots and I am done!

Well those things depend on budget surely? I'm not familiar with Allude but then I find Cashmere rather uninteresting. I've mentioned before that Eric Bompard pieces always looks impeccable in the Paris and Antwerp consignment stores.

For bags, if you've got the budget and are more on the elegant side Delvaux definitely fits the niche/understated criteria. I feel Burberry gets a bit underrated in the same category, passed over for Mulberry I suppose but the leather bags can really be quite nice. Valextra can also be worth looking at which is a touch more contemporary.

Thank you for the bag ideas 🙂