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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

Sorry @midlife just realised it’s you not @ methenyou in the marais!

Also if you are a fan of the traditional Parisian jambon beurre sandwich, le petit Vendome down from the rue de la paix does probably the best one of the capital, there s also a little sit down restaurant area which does a lot of the French classics. Not cheap cheap but not a rip off either, especially for the area.

So here are bo’s mother’s Tobi / Japanese Builder Trousers. As you may know I have a soft spot for extreme trousers and these do not disappoint - both fabulous and utilitarian in one. Think Dior’s New Look meets army surplus. Amazing sculptural quality - they almost stand up on their own.
They’re big on the waist and the ankle cuff is loose so today I’m just wearing them tightly belted round the house while I decide if I need a tailor’s intervention.
One of the things I love is that the ankle cuff means that despite the width, they’re still practical in bad weather. I’ve taken a couple of photos in boots and fitted jackets and now can’t find them (new phone). Hang on....

Two more pics here I think. I really like them with the dark blue tailored jacket - it reminds me of an Edwardian riding jacket.
Thank you bo I feel very privileged.

They are gorgeous Flo and Bo.
(Typing that has randomly caused to pop into my mind...

I like Elle's black trousers, too.

I've been keeping up, but the weather here is so awful that I don't feel summery at all. I did, though, order this and it made me cross.
The green shirt dress I ordered was tiny, so I ordered an M in this, and it is huuuge, so it looks like an oversized dressing gown on me.
The linen is quite thick and the thread is a very shimmery gold which I find too flashy, so I'd probably not have kept it. The sizing still annoyed me, though.
It's a shame, as I used to wear that kind of shirt over a vest top back in the days when I lived and worked in a hot, humid climate, and I'd been hoping to find something similar.

Oops. Chuckling at Bod so visibly present on a thread about how to be stylish...

Flo, I'm so glad they found a worthy home . They look great on you and I love them with the navy jacket especially. Think my mother had something similar with a sort of back peplum thing, I'm explaining it poorly but it was a bit of a trend a while ago to have blazers that were very tailored at the front and then had quite a billowy structured back with sort of tails?

I'll do the Zara group rundown later as dinner is just about to come out the oven and I need to pop into the city centre quickly after.

quirky, yes Bershka is probably taking note of but it's a bit like Stradivarius and Monki -mostly crap, however, a few gems.

You'd be forgiven for thinking Bershka is bit like TRF (the Young Adult section in Zara) for those with Kardashian aspirations but if you ignore the glittery shit, the sequins, the high elastin content stuff, the very loud music and overly glossy interior you may actually find some interesting pieces. I usually just build up a wishlist online and then seek it out in store (fabrics are very hit and miss, prices are a lot lower than Zara). I may just pop in if I have the time later to look at some things, the jacket in Pic 1 is pretty much a Jacquemus design. Pic 2 could go very provocative on a very curvy body but potentially quite an elegant piece if you're more slight on top. Pic 3 is a really easy looking linen blazer with an interesting pattern in fun summer colours. Not at all what the rest of the shop is like. They also do a lot of organic cotton basics at quite low prices.

Flo, I love the riding costume image! The fitted tailored jacket works perfectly for the trouser proportions.

They've reminded me of some raw silk harem trousers I owned 40 years ago, with a very exaggerated dropped crutch, which were an everyday staple in humid summertime NY, so much so I wore out two pairs (tomato red and taupe). The red ones I wore with a pair of canvas dance boots in shocking pink/orange (also worn to death); I stalked Capezio for several years for replacements.

Beautifully warm and sunny here, so I grabbed very wide, 7/8th, black poplin Lilith trousers bought (several/many) years ago in the sale and a plain black Henley, with dry cement grey walking sandals. It feels quite chic, so I shall retain my illusions by not attempting a selfie. I am most impressed that Flo, who's the same sort of vintage as I am, has mastered it so well, including the little masks! Kudos! (How d'you do that?)

The mask is a real one Sock - I'm not that adept

I spent the afternoon playing dressing up and, out of everything I tried with them, I like the riding outfit best although I have some proper lace up ankle 'bootees' that would look better than my very old Dr Martens. I just need a small black hat with a veil to set it all off. In fact I've got one somewhere (but no horse).

There's a bit more info about them and their history here and also more recently in this article in Esquire although it's so pretentious I never made it to the end.

Love, love, love those trousers flo and bo (I can remember Bod, yes ).

Floisme I love the trouser on you. The jackets works really well with them too. I love that you used an actual mask - that has really tickled me.

I haven't been into a Bershka in years botemp. Those pieces are the sort of thing that might make me reconsider.

Raw silk is just gorgeous.

Disappointing about the sizing Auld.

Love the trousers on Flo! Especially with the jacket.
MD blazer has arrived via kind colleague. Only tried it on quickly at work and it is a good fit everywhere apart from the join of the sleeves to the main bit of the blazer - the armholes - where it feels a bit tight. Mystified about this as do not have particularly fat arms. Not sure what to do about this. Returns position obviously very tricky as did not buy it myself and do still really like it. But not sure whether it will always bother me. Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone. One thing I’ve realised from those photos is that I need some new Dr Martens

Yes, Flo definitely wins the incognito award! Can't believe I failed to mention the delight that is the mask.

I got booted out of Bershka last night as they closed sooner than I thought. Saw some lovely red shoes but the quality is just shit but I may keep a lookout for something similar. Will try again sometime this week and report back on anything worth looking at. I mostly just buy linen tops from them and Stradivarius, they're the same as the ones from Zara but slightly more fitted (they have an xs where Zara only had s) and they're cheaper.

Speaking of raw silk, Elle, I keep thinking I'm finding some and it's all lookalike stuff made of poly blends

I've come across that with MD, peony. They can cut tightly across the chest, and then the arms are attached straight to the main body rather than slightly turned out. Is it lined, as that will tear, but sometimes removing the lining can give you the extra mms you need to wear it comfortably.

Raw silk here, but not your size botemp toteme-studio.com/product/cali-blouse-raw-silk/

I don't suppose any of you have seen these Mango trousers in real life? I think they look great, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of lining so I'm wondering if they'll be totally see though!

That's annoying about the arms peony

Aubergine dress and black blazer today with mink coloured suede shoes.

Link would help for the trousers shop.mango.com/gb/women/trousers-loose/belt-line-trousers_23085631.html?c=05&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=retargeting&utm_campaign=campaign_uk

I had a few things from the Massimo Dutti sale I was keeping an eye on, but sadly they disappeared very quickly in my sizes. Oh well.

Love the Mango trousers! But have not seen them in real life. I find Mango quite hit and miss, some things are lovely and some are just strange. Also sizing can be wild.

Uterque sale started last night as well, didn't see anything except some lovely red mock croc sandals but they were only available in small sizes. Reminded me I still owe a rundown of the Zara group.

Zara sale officially starts on the 21st here for anyone holding out for that, may be a different date per country though.

I can pass by Mango tonight and check, Elle. I need to be in the area anyhow and it appears to be in stock in store.

Have you received your black trouser order yet? Sort of related, how many black trousers is too much? I've sort of been avoiding incorporating too much black in the past few years but it's creeping in fast and heavy now, probably in response to lack of proper summer bag and getting a black winter coat. Saw a really nice pair from Acne Studios when I went to look at the skirt again (as it's now on sale), trousers seem a better buy though at 100% wool, but the thin kind so it can go in different weathers (with a layer underneath), they looked great with the old slides but they'd go well with ankle boots too. They were really nice and sharp but I've bought quite a few trousers recently and quite a bit of black (also needed a size smaller but have found some online). I've bought three pairs of black trousers (possibly more, I'm probably purposefully forgetting more in self sell mode ) in the last nine months or so, feels a bit excessive but I really do quite like them

Wearing my red Mango trousers with an APC t-shirt (with red letters) and IM trainers today, H&M linen jacket over the top when going out. It's a bit chilly today.

Quick snap of today’s outfit. Wearing cognac Bobbies on feet. Was a bit unsure about whether belt was a bit Wild West / Sherwood Forest but decided to go for it. The blouse is a silk Sezane number that I bought on eBay. First time I’ve worn it and I’m really pleased with how it drapes. Quick shot of MD blazer too. I decided to keep it after all, and actually the arm issue is resolving with wearing, seems to be loosening a little. Phew!
I’ve been too busy at work to do any sales shopping this week! Quel horreur!
I did notice that the Liberty sale is now on and that there is a fair amount of Isabel Marant in there.
Had my eye on a few Reiss silk tops and a berry pencil skirt but they all slithered out of my basket before I could complete the purchase
I would like to see a photo of your outfit today Elle, the colours sound lovely.
Bo there is no such thing as too many black trousers...

Elle, I've just seen it in the flesh and it's unlined and felt a bit overpriced for what it is. Quite flimsy linen, not the type to crinkle/drape in your favour. Also a touch darker than in the pictures.

These at Uterque (not in the sale) may be an alternative? They're viscose rather than linen though.

Forgot to mention earlier, Uterque has free shipping for the first 24hrs, of which three hours are left now. Sorry, should have mentioned it before.

Thanks for checking botemp. That’s a shame, but you’ve saved me a fiver postage! I like the striped ones but loves the length of the mango ones. Or at least the y look long?

Slides are nice. I saw a Zara pair online that looked nice too, but I haven’t seen IRL. They are also a pair of Dune ones that call to mind the classic Hermes ones but they’re all over Instagram “influencers” and that’s putting me off.

peony I love your top. The covered buttons are so pretty. Jacket looks great too and for looks fine. Nice find.

Outfit for today. It’s very work-y. Previously I would have worn black heels, but I like the lighter colour. Makes the outfit less totally predictable.

Trousers arrive tomorrow. Still my only sales purchase.

I was wondering if those Hermes sandals were the new Instagram Gucci belt/loafer/Bella Freud sweater/Cartier bracelet/obvious wealth signifying item of the season. I've been seeing imitations everywhere and since I ignore Instagram and influencers I had a feeling it was them driving this trend. Suppose they go nicely with those floaty dresses.

I've actually tried both of those slides. The ones from Zara are not comfy at all but they do look nice, the yellow are surprisingly cheery. Don't think they'd last long though.

The Dune ones were some of the most ill fitting shoes I've ever tried (I've got slight Greek feet) but if you're wide-ish and square they'd probably be ideal.

I did quite like attached from Attilio Giusti Leombruni. The suede makes for a nice change though they do come in black leather too. However, as visible in my attempt to be a gondolier pic, the colour is a bit off with my skin tone. Maybe they'd be okay if I perma fake tanned myself all summer, but I'm not that consistent with it, only really bother when there's a lot of bruising.

Oooh I DO have wideish rectangular feet. Maybe I should give the Dune ones a go?!

The Dune ones won't work for me in that case. Suede ones are gorgeous, but a bit spendy for me right now. The Bobbies are serving me really well. I think if I do get another pair of sandals I may go for those leather flip flops with the thin straps that you mentioned before. I tend to get on well with flip flops and find them comfortable.