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

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

The Tkees, yes, they're quite versatile. Haven't checked NAP for them in the sale yet, they may be in there but they're cheaper in the US if you want to get them from there. I size up, but I do that with all of my summer flat shoes where the heel of the feet are completely visible, I think it always looks a bit odd when your heel only just sits on the sole and the back end bulges out prominently, but that may just be my feet

Strangely the AGL ones are only 210EUR here and they're now discounted with a further 40%. Was a bit at the price when I looked them up online for the picture, I'm assuming they've been mispriced.

bo your photos just reminded me to wear my denim skirt today. Just with a petrol t-shirt, though, no stripy gondoliers .

I've been charity shopping (again) and bought a mango dark, denim skirt in a kind of tulip shape and have had a revelation as to how good that shape is for me. I even tucked in my t-shirt, which I hardly ever do (waist not my best feature) but the tulip shape gives me more hips, in a good way. I'll definitely keep a look out for that style. I've bought another knot front summer dress, too, in a subtle off white/black leopard type print but maxi this time. It looks a bit boho but might do for some of the summer events coming up.

peony I feel you on the foot front, mine are also quite square with slightly sloped toes (Egyptian feet iirc) but a high instep. I did try on quite a few dune shoes/sandals in the House of Fraser sale, but most of them squeezed my toes horribly. I've seen those Hermes copies everywhere too.

Nice find quirky. I've hit a dry spell lately with charity shops. This time last year I was picking up silk shirts but all I've found recently is some pale pink cashmere - not a colour for me but I'll take a punt and dye it.

Total derail coming up but does anyone on here sew? I'm planning to buy a sewing machine to keep me amused in my twilight years and could do with some recs. I'd want it tough enough to deal with denim and canvas so I guess it would need to be pretty heavy duty. I know there was a long running thread about a year ago which I meant to save and now I can't find it.

Oh, come on, quirky, join me on the dark seedy side with all the other gondoliers It's made me remember the gondolier baboons of Paris, never managed to spot one though. Hope they finally made it back to the zoo though.

I think you're in luck as I've seen some tulip shaped skirts about in the high end, quite sculptural and slightly asymmetric, so it'll trickle down soon-ish I'd think. They'd be good sellers for A/W so I'll expect to see them then. Overall I'm seeing a sort of farewell to athleisure and embracing tailoring again, just not the traditional take, the waist definitely seems to be a new focus.

I've never really contemplated other people's feet shape much until that Justine video. No idea I had such 'desirable' feet, I've always considered them difficult as they only like expensive shoes and a high arch is challenging. Is there a regional thing to it with brands as well? Italian shoes work best for me and I don't get on with Northern European brands much (unless they're designer brands that are basically Italian). Chinese made shoes are always too flat and wide in some places, tight in others. American shoes (including trainers) don't work for me at all.

Oh, and yesterday's outfit. Not that anyone asked for it, but it is interesting documenting my clothing on a more regular basis. Should probably consider investing in a different mirror, quite like the dual setup that shop has in the gondolier pic.

That thread mentioned a Singer overlock machine at Aldi or Lidl, Flo. I think that's definitely worth investing in as not having one of those always limited me quite a bit. A friend's mum had one and it was always a dream to use one of those but she was rather protective of it

I think for a sewing machine, unless you want to do very fancy sewing crafty things (quilting, embroidery, etc) a basic one covers you pretty well. I have a very entry level Toyota one and that does most fabrics without complaint except real leather. So either that or a good second hand one would be my advice. Aren't the charity shops full of sewing machines over there? They're overflowing with them here (they get snapped up quickly) because it's a hobby a lot of people start but don't stick with. I got frustrated with my lack of skills (far too ambitious, really needed tailoring training, wanted to do leather pieces, lacked access to quality fabrics, and could never be arsed with practicing with the latest Burda catalogue and gaining experience through that).

Have there ever been subsequent series of the Sewing Bee, I really quite enjoyed that program?

Thanks bo - I remember an Aldi/Lidl rec too. I've only ever seen the cast iron hand machines in charity shops here - which look amazing but not really what I'm after. But as you say, a lot of people probably don't keep it up (hopefully I won't be one of them!) so there must be a source somewhere.

I'll have to teach myself pretty much from scratch. The annoying thing is, I could have learned the basics in school but refused as it was a 'girls subject' at the time. Not my finest life choice.

It appears the Lidl webshop sell the Singer overlock machine. Not sure if they deliver in the UK as well, it's only €150.

I started by taking apart old clothes and then putting them back together again, for me that was a better introduction to construction than trying to follow a pattern and having to follow instructions and hoping the fabric type works with the pattern and you've cut it right, etc. Plus the investment is low. Think YouTube may be your friend here, that wasn't around when I learned and would have been a great resource I'm sure.

Thanks, I'll take a look at Lidl. That's a good idea about using old clothes - I've got plenty of them.

Flo, I have my mum's ancient sewing machine (it was her Christmas present in 1967 or thereabouts, I remember going to choose it!) but I don't use it much, although it's a current objective for my retirement. Hers/mine is a Husqvarna and it works fine (especially after I had it serviced for £50). It has most of the bells and whistles any beginner could want and was, in its day, a huge step forward from the old hand-cranked machine she had before. It has attachments for heavier fabrics like denim (maybe not leather though). If you have a sewing shop, they might be able to help you track down a good secondhand machine via an engineer, or Gumtree/equivalent.

Do you have good fabric shops around you?

Today’s outfit, with bonus photo of the ballet back (had to crop out my bottom which looks enormous in this skirt 😱) Also shows new shorter hair - result of yet another Peony v hairdresser miscommunication. It was a bit of a shock but I’m becoming accustomed to it.
I like Bo and Elle’s outfits yesterday.

@Floisme my first sewing machine lasted nearly 30 years, my second barely 5. I don't think they're well made these days and it's not worth investing if you're not going to get much use.

Thanks for all the recs @botemp , just got back to the UK. Lots of travel problems this week so I was arriving back in Le Marais post shop closing and too exhausted to eat! Managed a Japanese in rue des Grevilliers but the whole week felt like a wasted opportunity to eat at someone else's expense! I have my bearings now and will try to revisit soon on a non work trip.

Only shopping was a COS jumpsuit

Shame you got delayed midlife. All the more reason to go back!

Skirt sounds lovely quirky

Nice too Peony. I think the new hair length shows it off nicely.

Bit of a mememe post coming up. Black trousers. I’m a bit bamboozled. Culottes I really like, but need to size up. Slimmer leg is more in my comfort zone, but I really want to push outside a bit. What do you think of the wide legs? Just put on —creased— white tee as a bit unsure how to style.

This post is Jacquemes wise leg and Racil

Racil side on and jacquemus slimmer leg.

Btw I’m with you on the shoes botemp. I have narrow feet and high arches and I rarely get on with UK high street shoes unless adjustable.

Raey wide legs

Also outfit for Friday night drinks. Not sure about jeans and shoes together but I only brought those into work with me so I’d no choice.

Elle, of all the pictures, I like the culottes and the Raey wide legs best. The culottes I love on you.

Checking in quickly, am scouring all the men's sections today, not for me for a change but it did get a bit mememe in the COS men's section, wonderful shopping partner that I am will post pics later.

Elle, I like the first Jacquemus pair and the Raey ones the most. Although the Raey ones do appear a bit big from the front, like they should be sitting a touch higher? May just be the length that needs taking in? I like the culottes too but they don't feel as corporate to me.

The slim fit are a bit safe, I agree, it may be better with a shirt but I think the other pairs have a lot more interest and feel a bit more worthy of the investment involved.

Sock are you A-level stress free yet?

Another vote for the culottes.

I sent all of my La Redoute order back, one dress had clearly been been worn as it came creased up with bits of grass in it and deodorant marks. Everything was huge on me too.

On holiday but voting for the culottes. I also like the Jacquemus wide legs.
Oh Catherine that’s so annoying. You’d think they’d check!
Seem to have acquired yet another stripey top This one is a fine merino knit from Celtic &Co. lovely and soft and hangs nicely. Quite big - this is a small. Been wearing it with cropped 712s today, navy supergas and new red lipstick.

A Level stress is reduced next week as there are just two papers left, the hardest maths papers....... And then I have to worry about the post exam binges...!

Lovely sweater Peony.... are you in Cornwall?

Oh well - returns are free! :)

Lovely outfits today and yesterday, peony. Your bum looks perfectly normal sized imo. My hair is currently a similar length, though much curlier at the moment and I'm coming from shorter hair. It's a touch challenging as it's neither long, nor short, so can look a bit odd to me but I'm quite grateful I can put it up when it's warm.

Yesterday's and today's outfits. I'm ridiculously overdressed on both days but I'm having the period from hell and feeling especially rough from it so I wanted to wear things that made me feel the exact opposite.

Yesterday (not the best outfit pic but it's the only one I took)- Dries van Noten trousers (the ones from the sample sale, love them), mustard-greenish halter neck top with a dark brown silk scarf as the tie from Hugo Boss (ancient), H&M linen blazer, Chloe heeled sandals, found the bag in front at TKMaxx, not my thing and unlikely to buy it unless I intend on smuggling toddlers across the border, but I loved how it matched my outfit, especially with the outlandish proportions.

Today- the preowned (but new) Helmut Lang skirt I picked up for a song from the UW app, Margiela boots, and my newly acquired Frisur cotton sweater.

Thanks Sock, no actually in North Yorkshire but the weather forecast wasn’t that auspicious so I thought I could justify ordering another knit... It’s the perfect weight for changeable British summer weather. I am off to Cornwall at the end of the month for an annual girls’ weekend which I am VERY excited about. Is the Celtic showroom worth a visit?
Good luck to SockSon for his last papers.

Elle love the culottes, too .

bo gorgeous Helmet Lang skirt, it reminds me that I have a very assymmetric skirt that I wore to work in school (sadly, not Helmet Lang...) and had a colleague desperately tell me my skirt was tucked into my knickers. Er, no, it's meant to be like that . Looking forward to tulip and sculptural skirts in the autumn. I'm usually a trousers girl, but seem to be having a dress/skirt moment.