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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Make it your sex cardigan. Problem solved

YOU MONSTER.

This is the cardigan...

Yes, the free returns are swaying me, but I have to pay postage (god I'm so stingy)

I suppose you could turn the lights off...

Don't they do free postage over a certain amount? My cheap self always fronts extraneous shit to get the free postage knowing the returns are free.

Haha yes but I feel like it's abusing the postpeople (had a friend active in postal workers union describing the work related injuries they're getting since internet shopping is up but no of employees is down), also there's not much else I want!

I have found this to be my most inspiring idea of French of late. She is not even French but looks amazing....

My cashmere blazer arrived and now I have hauled the shoulder pads out it looks workable.

I'm not sure where I'm looking for leather jackets Bo! It's been an ongoing project for two or three years. When I have some time I will write down my "requirements" to see if any of you lovely ladies have any ideas and perhaps to be sure about what I really want (and not rule out styles which might actually suit me!).

You've found some nice stuff Iwanka. Good luck with finding boots and bag! How big a bag do you want? For kind of slouchy like you describe, why not check out Greek brand Callista? I have one for day time. It's big and fits everything it. Had it for maybe 3 years and it's certainly been flung about and it still looks great.

I like your top Peony. It's to a really interesting neckline. I like that kind of a little bit different thing.

When I tidied up my wardrobe a few weeks ago, I actually kept a lot of stuff for my eldest DD! She has a different colouring to me so thought she might like some of the stuff. Luckily I didn't have too many of those awful "classics"

I'm glad you asked about the anal bleaching and cardigans Bani as I was also lost with that one!

Is that your wardrobe Iwanka? It's very neat and tidy!

I just saw a skirt on Massimo Dutti that looked quite nice. It's called "Skirt with front slit detail" for €69.95. Might be nice for Autumn.
(Sorry I can't do links. Perhaps someone could kindly explain how to do them on the phone app).

I might keep Xing for a while, as long as no one's upset. It was used as a fake identity name in a recent Val McDermid novel.

Thank you for the dog's new name LittleBear. Gou3 she shall be henceforward. Otherwise I may be watching all the Studio Ghibli films again for a name.

Like your non-French style muse picture Iwanka. Very chic.

Arket are offering free delivery. Bought the box pleat dress in an M and an L to try.

Hope you like the dress when it arrives Bani. I like the dress itself from the picture but I didn't like how it was styled - I think it could look great with different (edgier?) shoes or boots and accessories. Great price!

Thank you Sophie, I feel it can go either way to be honest - it’s either great or terrible! The ties seem a bit childish the way they’ve done them in the pictures. I’m going to have to try it on with cardigans as well to see if it can be used during the colder months at all ;)

Hurray for free shipping Bani! That should make up somewhat for the no one will ever want sex ever again cardigan... Hope the dress works out for you.

Is it this skirt

Ooh it works, learned something new today

so I could have just scrolled down in my laptop and seen how to do links! Oh dear.... thanks Bo.

Yes that is the skirt. I'm undecided as I like the length and I think the waist (and the colour) but not sure re the split - could be a bit boho which isn't my style. I think I would need to try it on. I got some nice, simple tops from Massimo Dutti so I often check it out.

I like the split because it would be ideal to cycle in as it only starts partway down. Looks like it has a lovely movement to it, but agree you'd need to see it in RL to know for sure, viscose comes in a lot of variety IME. It can be great sometimes and awful at others, which kind of describes Massimo Dutti. I can imagine it would work well in your moderate autumn temperatures.

Lovely skirt! I'd be unsure about the split too. It's not necessary for movement, surely, so why. But I dislike front splits in particular, esp in pencil styles. My fecking knee poking out all the time, it looks weird. Had one once, wore it once, hated it all day. In a flowy style that shouldn't be a problem though?

Btw I may be appear to be ignoring all discussions of autumn. I suspect it is because I somehow regret not going for the winter coat I saw in Stockholm.

I like the images Iwanka and the blazer looks great

BotempI did not need to know about Delvaux - adds to Euromillions list

Nice top Peony – I may be slightly biased though. When I first saw it I thought it was a dress that I own…which then made me get out said dress and wear it today. It’s very sombre, but appropriate for my day today. It has a matching jacket too. I need to figure out a way to accessorise it to make it a bit less funeral-director though the neckline does make that a bit tricky.

Cardigans are tough to get right for me. I have a few twinset type ones and I can’t remember the last time I wore them. They feel a bit twee. Time to move them on I suspect. I do have a slouchy fluffy cardigan for casual wear and that gets lots of use.

I really like the box pleat dress banivani I laughed at the idea of you being a wide-legged equivalents of a tanorexic. I’m maybe the opposite, too used to skinnies so that anything straight legged and out feels billowy! I think the trousers read more wide from the side. You can see that in the video here www.matchesfashion.com/us/products/Jacquemus-Le-Grand-Pantalon-wide-leg-wool-trousers-1169664

I swing around on the issue of cultural appropriation. It does depend on the relative current and historical balance of power between the culture being referenced and who is doing the referencing. Wholesale lifting of designs and relabelling is not something I’m keen on. Taking traditional fabrics or garment shapes and interpreting them in new ways is much easier to sell as appreciation rather than appropriation. I remember a number of thought-provoking pieces being written around the time of the “China through the Looking Glass” Met Gala. I also think that designers should probably steer clear of outright appropriating item of high religious significance.

SophieLion Skirt looks lovely in motion. My concern would be that standing straight-on it might go a bit bulky on me, but that’s my figure and it might suit you perfectly.

I’m still swithering over the tops. I’m annoyed at the Yoox ones being so much more expensive. The Stella one is 100 EUR more. I don’t mind spending money on clothes, but I hate feeling ripped off. I like this Philip Lim one best, but although it’s my size the website say it fits big and to size down… hmmmm www.yoox.com/ie/37838751CG/item#dept=women&sts=sr_women80&cod10=37838751CG&sizeId=4&sizeName=10 I love the navy Sies Margan one, but I need a top to go with both my black and khaki trouser so I’m trying to be sensible. I know I could do black plus navy, but I think it may all get confusing with the pattern as well. I may well post tomorrow advising that I’ve bought the top and the matching skirt!

Elle I should probably start a Euromillions fantasy wishlist on Shoptagr... get the skirt

Navy can work with khaki though but it depends on the khaki as it can go a bit mustard/brown to green. Now you have me mulling over the Ba&sh shorts again as it is a surprisingly versatile colour, especially for summer. Hmm...

I'd feel ripped off too but I do really like that Philip Lim top, it's the one I'd earmarked as my favourite for you too. Philip Lim definitely comes in roomy though, I wear a US0 with them and it's not tight at all. I'd offer to forward it but that would pretty much be the price difference. Any chance you're holidaying somewhere in the next month where the prices are lower?

Love the dress btw, I'd try bracelets (I think you were contemplating some of the Bangle Up pieces) but with the jacket that would probably be lost. Maybe the shoes could switch it up, something equally sculptural but not (all) black? Or if you've got anything in emerald or another dark jewel tone?

Bani, you should have gotten the coat I really like the length on that, especially knowing you're tall. Doesn't Ahlens offer to courier it from one of their shops to another?

Forgot to mention earlier, my Vanilia silk camisole dress came in yesterday and I don't know how I was thinking that I could wear that out on the streets. I was either blinded by heatwave panic or flattering dressing room lights, but just no.

Frezyderm tinted is great though. I understand your initial 'OMG it's too dark you need to be a lovely olive Grecian goddess for this' freak out, Sophie, as I went through that myself but it's a really good match for me once rubbed in. It's a bit more matte that I'm used to but otherwise great. It pumps out far more than the normal Frezyderm, and comes out a lot smoother at that, anyhow so far so good can even skip the concealer (which is usually the only thing I wear in terms of base).

Love that dress, Elle, and the top, Peony! I'm a sucker for twisted/draped/architectural details on one's top half. And thank you to whomever mentioned the navy wool boat-neck - sounds gorgeous, but I'm currently one of the people buying all your cast-offs in charity shops!

After looking at your pictures again, Elle, a more radical approach, but I think it would lift it from funeral director territory if you raised the hemline a touch, not full mini but maybe around 10cms to get it around mid thigh? And I'd be tempted to take up the sleeves on the jacket a touch too, but that's probably more personal preference.

Ahhh elle, any trousers called Le Grand Pantalon will be right up my alley.

Although a problem for me atm with the current wide leg styles is that they often do front pleats (à la menswear) and since I'm tubby the pleats are a bit deformed and don't sit right. Flat front options plz.

LOVE the tops. They look lovely. But agree they have to fit in with other things. The Philip Lim one looks very versatile.

Swedish designer Gudrun Sjöden has quite openly used Sami patterns in some of her designs as well as referring to them as "Laps" which is considered very derogatory. She didn't back down either and went on to say that "negro" was also acceptable so she's not in our good books any more. But this to me was def appropriation, the Sami weren't allowed to speak their own language and their artefacts were burned up until a short while ago, so deciding their patterns are under no copyright and free for the stealing is not on.

BaniVani, your knee poking out of the skirt split constantly reminds me of Angelina Jolie's leg in that dress she wore a few years ago to the Oscars! Anyway I don't cycle (Athens is too hilly for that for starters). Think I need to try it on and see....

I quite like that coat without the belt too BaniVani. What is it made of? It looks shiny. It doesn't look like such a heavy winter coat in the photo.

ToElleWithIt - great dress. You have a lovely figure. I don't think the skirt would look bulky on me as I am quite slim but again I guess I should try it on.

Bo, your comment about the camisole made me laugh! I'm sorry it didn't work out. Happy to hear you like the tinted Frezyderm so much. I'm not olive-skinned either. Two of my DCs are and my DH - it's such a lovely skin colour!

Oh I walked past Max&Co and saw a shirt dress in the window which made me think of you as you've been trying a few on recently. It was also paired with a messenger bag. I'll try to send the photo I took.

Went to look at fuchsia matte lipsticks briefly too. Now rather confused. I saw your YSL no. 10 Bo and it's a lovely colour but I think I wanted more pinky. No. 20 looked more pink.
Also looked at Chanel that was recommended and considered no. 6 Framboise. Then decided I liked the Dior lip tattoo in no. 761 (natural cherry) which is more reddy-pink than fuchsia (and that's when I realised it was quite similar to your YSL no. 10 Bo so clearly I was going round in circles ).

I do actually have a fuchsia one (and matching lip pencil) but it's not matte. I wanted a matte one as sometimes in this heat, the slight sweatglow around one's mouth coupled with a more glossy lip colour isn't a great look! Perhaps using the lip pencil would help (I'm lazy).

Any ideas anyone? My colouring is the same as Winona Ryder's or Anne Hathaway's (without any hair highlights as they sometimes have). thank you!

Oh stupid phone won't let me post photo. Just says "loading" when I try to post and never actually does it

Sophie, I think I did mention MN tech was a bit rubbish earlier today...

Ah yes, the year Angelina's leg went to the Oscars and we forgot all about the person attached to it The way they pose for the red carpet is a little insane though, as is the makeup.

I used to shop quite a bit at Max & Co still have a lovely wool coat from them. I think it's supposed to be the Max Mara little sister shop for when you're in your twenties but the fabrics aren't as great anymore.

If you already have a colour you like I think Smashbox does a lip mattifying product. Think it's called Instamatte or something wanky like that and completely knocks out any shine or you could wear the lip pencil on its own all over the lip.