Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Orangutans in Paris make for poor gondoliers

[botemp]

The sunshine might be fading from our passion fruit punch but we're looking forward to what autumn will bring.

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

There's a thread somewhere about Celine. I'm all for a touch of the ridiculous in fashion but Hedi Slimane's vision for womenswear makes me want to weep. And I think losing the Phoebe Philo effect leaves a massive gap on the high street.

Peregrane glad you liked some of them. I believe only the largest H&M shops carry the Premium line, I always order online. Are vouchers still usable for online purchases?

Hahaha I never ever read the articles from Toast, I really like some of their clothes and appreciate that they still bother to print things on beautiful paper so the catalogues from them are always appreciated.

Bo I think Aeyde website shows different things in your country, no 20% off in the UK. I saw the pumps you liked from them in a recent Burda of all places. They looked weird on the model’s foot (and I’m sure you wouldn’t style them Burda way).

Elle I like that jumper and skirt on you, I wonder if it’s a silhouette that just needs getting used to if it’s different to what you usually wear. I know what you mean about boots, I bought and returned some biker boots with embellishments from Kurt Geiger last week, they were making me feel really self conscious. But I do feel that my old shoes are not working with the new things I have to wear and I’m leaning towards some version of cowboy boots (but not cowboy all the way iyswim, just the long pointyish tow and chunky sloping mid heel), similar to what Bo posted.

Great find Floisme!
My mum is visiting and she’s amazing at making things. I just bought some herringbone wool fabric and silk to line it with for a princely sum of £14. I’m thinking about going for a version of this skirt but maybe I should experiment, I’m inspired by your skirts.

Peregrane, after this last week with Kavanaugh and, on a more superficial level, Celine, I could probably do with some terrifying 'kick 'em in the balls' boots

The less said about Celine the better for my blood pressure but since it's too low I can probably afford to get a bit worked up about it again, it felt very tone deaf to me. I wasn't expecting anything in the tradition of PP but the casting of rake thin models, extremely young, extremely white, in club wear that only seemed to glorify thigh gaps and simply would not size up in any sort of flattering way left me far more seething than expected. It's not just a break with tradition, it's mocking a much needed female perspective and sensitivity that was quite unique. It felt insulting somehow.

Needless to say I'm also trawling Vestiare and eBay and some other places. Elle, are you a 38 in Celine? If so, I've seen a fab skirt for you that I'll PM the link of, if you like.

I wondered if a word cloud and some sort of generator is involved in the yoga retreat speak too. That plus predictive text...

I've always used the Siderius brand for ox gall soap, I suspect it's Dutch or Belgian. The Germans use it quite a bit too. It really is brilliant, also great for grass stains that have sat for too long. It's been a life saver many times. I'm glad it worked brilliantly for you too, Peregrane. I've been in that anxiety ridden headspace when it's something you tried on and you don't even like it. And you're right, if you spend a lot of time deciding, paying a premium for much loved pieces in your wardrobe you need to look after them well too, it's all part of the same conversation.

Elle, can you tuck in the jumper a bit higher, sort of half in half out so that you have more of a waist? Soz about infectious #bootproblems.

As for the Chloe boots, I do think they'd look good on you with skinnies and opaques but not sure what else. Do you still wear a lot of skinnies? They will probably date soon enough and then you can probably pull them out 5yrs on again but there is the risk that they'll be all over Instagram for a hot minute then never to be seen again, except in poorly imitated high street knock offs. Would they be appropriate for work?

Speaking of cheap knock offs, saw Zara has an ankle boot version of the Aeyde kick 'em in the balls in the TRF section will probably go have a look though

Jon, the 20% off was with Zalando. It was localised to here though as it was part of National Glamour Day (the magazine organises it).

Not restricted to here, but it's the last day, there's a Rains secret sales on Vente Exclusive currently. I've ordered two of their more expensive thermal raincoats and a tote bag (with zip) to try. No nice bright colours so I went with navy and dark brown.

Burda, not Burda

I know what you mean about embellishments, Jon, I'm very annoyed with them at the moment. I had sort of written of the whole Western trend but the more modern streamlined versions actually are a bit of fresh air.

I really like the jumper and skirt Elle. I think I'd go for tan boots if I had some...just a bit softer.

I thought it was the antithesis of the brand under PP. The looks were unoriginal and they casting and lens through which we were looking at the models felt inappropriate in a #metoo era. I wonder if it’s the gap of a few years that has made it feel so? If so, at least that’s one good thing to come out of it. I hated the fascintors. The only thing I liked were the boots #bootlove and maybe some of the mens looks which I understand will be available in women’s sizes. I still wouldn’t buy them on principle though.

I’d love the skirt link please.
I’ll think on the boots for a bit. I think I could wear them on no meeting day either with skinnies or perhaps with a narrow, but straight leg turned up to sit just on top. Could be weird, I’ll have to try.

Jumper is not tucked in. I’m sure I could manage a half tuck, but I might still look a bit waistless.

Thanks for the soap info!

I saw Hedi Slimane described as the Donald Trump of fashion, which is both amusing and terrifying in equal measure.

It does feel rather eerily accurate, it felt like an erasure rather than a departure of what came before it.

I'm not sure how commercially successful PP's Céline was but I think it was quite unique in that for even to those that couldn't afford it, you felt understood and accomodated by her aesthetic. I struggle to name another designer that does that as well.

There's a lot of speculation that Slimane will bring in the cash, as he did with Saint Laurent, but I do wonder if that crowd that adores him really wants more of the same and are still out clubbing. Is clubbing even a thing anymore...

I believe, on the basis of F* all, that Slimane will crash Celine. When PP was in charge, she understood how women look at their bodies and dress to disguise the common, perceived flaws. Which made it woman-centric rather than fashion-driven. I worry that her ethos is already lost.

PP's Céline felt ahead of its time, not in a futuristic conceptual way but presenting a type of woman that was otherwise rarely acknowledged or seen. Slimane's vision feels like a wrong sort of nostalgia, the same type that resulted in the Trump win.

I do worry though as PP was the most high profile woman centric designer. Hannah MacGibbon whose short tenure at Chloe we were drooling over previously, never really seems to have worked at the same level elsewhere. Louise Trotter announced her leave at Joseph a few months ago, I'm not sure where she's heading either. I think PP indicated she wouldn't be working anywhere for a bit, the landscape feels very barren as a result. There's Clare Wright Keller at Givenchy but I've never felt that same spirit in her work.

Feels like the Sunday Time is now trolling us tips tin foil hat

I think I did mention we'd know for sure if they were lurking if tan boots and biscuit coloured clothes would be featured next

They could at least have picked a different skirt!

Boots are going back and I'm leaning towards not ordering my true size, or not until I see what else is out there.

The ST Style team are clearly fans and lurkers. I thought that skirt looked familiar, Elle, when I flicked through the pages, along with so many of the slightly more under the radar designers we've noted.

Liked the Balenciaga gingham boots in one of the editorial pictures, although they would fail any CPW test. Shall wait for the homage version...

Lovely, lucky find, Flo. Adore those market stalls and charity shops; there's a very useful one near me which can turn up the odd gem.

XingJr was sent to chef school with the right shoes! (The kitchen clogs were recommended, but he's not found them supportive on long shifts so he's been wearing a very old pair of Timberland boots. (If I said there was an aesthetic dimension in his reluctance outright refusal to wear Crocs clogs, would you believe me? Thought so!) The Skechers/Kickers may be an idea, thank you. When he has some time off to shop.

They do Xing - you have to rummage but I told my husband that morning I was feeling lucky and there it was

But before I self combust with smugness, I've just tried on those harem pants in fine wool this morning (see a few pages back) and taken them straight off again. Definitely a mistake, I think, albeit not an expensive one. But hey what are holidays for?

I really like that skirt Jon and I'd love to see your fabric made up. My mum's side of the family were seamstresses, for which I was totally ungrateful till it was too late.

The new boots (Andia Fora) from Yoox sale turned up with UPS today. I love the comfort, but am not so sure they work brilliantly for style points.

@botemp and her chic coven - where do you stand on cigarette pants with the front split hem? I covet a pair, but can only find them online at shein or ludicrously high end. Have they totally jumped the shark and I've missed out on their microsecond in the sun? Did everyone else shrug and go meh, victoria beckham?

(@Flo's skirt find makes me think of the unworn Anglomania skirt in my cupboard - fluted hem tweed pencil skirt that gives such a great wiggle, but I have never been able to find anything to wear with it. It is high in the waist and I am short in the body so tucking in makes me look proportionally odd but overhanging the hem gives a look of a Mitford sister going to feed the chickens. Maybe it needs to be set free in a provincial Oxfam)

JackieReacher I love the visual images!

I'm sure others will have better advice. Is there anyway that you could tuck a top into the skirt and add a wide belt over sitting slightly lower, so giving the effect of the waist being an inch or two lower?

Hmmm I just got an email for 15% off NAP and 10% off Browns, but I'm struggling to see a suitable boot. I don't have any brown or tan boots so that feels like a gap to be filled.

Also can I just have a quick moan about how hard it is to find quality items on the high street. I am wearing a J Crew dress that's a few years old and was struck by how decent the quality is for high street. I know it's at the upper end of "high street" and not really very Parisienne in style, but it is really well made IMO for the price. Fabric is 100% wool, fully lined (in polyester, but you can't have everything). Nice seams and hems and they've even anchored the lining to the outer so you don't have to keep adjusting the lining. I wish it was easier to find pieces like this nowadays. Am I alone in this?

JackieReacher at Mitford sister going to feed the chickens! I'm proportionally short in the body too, I have started tucking things in again (I never thought I would) but find it works better if the top is slightly loose so there's a bit of drape at the waist, would this work with your skirt? It sounds gorgeous btw.

I've been to tkmaxx and bought a Benetton, black felt fedora. I was really looking for a cap in a less warm fabric than my felt lined wool one, but it was £4:49, and it's much softer than my other fedora, plus I put it on and thought, oh, yes! I also bought a Lily and Lionel modal leopard print scarf in what bo calls wet cement and black. I have been looking for a replacement animal print scarf to replace a grey one that bobbled as it was cheap acrylic.

Excuse the wanky layout photo . I seem to be all about the accessories this season.

We're in a coven I'm just going to say this now, I will always have some sort of prior engagement on the full moon when we're all supposed to run through the woods naked whilst menstruating in sync.

Ahem, anyhow, Jackie, trouser fashions tend to be tied to footwear. Cigarette trousers suit very feminine footwear choices like high heels and ballerinas which just feel out of time at the moment, hence why they're scarce.

You could give the skirt one last try with a polo neck in a light colour (white would be good but I know not everyone likes that colour so close to their face) with slightly too long sleeves to balance out the lack of length at the top with an optical illusion.

Xing, I much approve of XingSon's outright refusal to wear crocs, I'm a long standing proud member of that club. Hope he's not still working the insane hours.

I got the NAP email too, Elle, Matches is also offering 10% off. I unsubscribed to Browns awhile ago as their copy edit was irritating the hell out of me. I agree there's very little out there WRT to boots. I've ordered another two pairs from Zara that I had been waitlisted for, in burgundy and white. It's more for giving them a test run through my wardrobe than anything else, getting round to the idea of other colours as it's slim pickings. They do also come in tan but it's a bit of a 'dirty beige' to my eyes.

Peregrane, did you ever hear anything from Arket? I put in an order for some basics from Weekday in their mid-season sale, payment went through but no confirmation from them or anything...

Quality high street is definitely a rarity these days. It's why I generally don't look at it too much as the quality difference between the mid-low end of the high street and the upper end is hardly distinguishable. All Saints is ridiculously priced for what it is. The French aren't exempt either, the Kooples is terrible quality.

Love the wanky arrangement, quirky, TKMaxx has been a bit of a disappointment for quite some time here, only managed a Kevyn Aucoin lipstick bargain over the past couple of months.

Did I ever hear anything from Arket!
I now have a library of email correspondence with them, and a total of about seven attempts to place the order, the last of which was apparently successful. I only know this though because I registered and it shows up in my account - no email confirmation whatsoever (which one of the CS folk claimed would be the proof that the order worked - well apparently it isn’t). I finally succeeded yesterday and it shows up as having been packed the same day, but not shipped yet. I keep refreshing because I am counting on some of the items by the end of this week...

I feel a bit for their CS team, they replied really fast every time, but seem to be let down by an unbelievably shitty infrastructure. Turns out my attempts apparently failed because their website, at least in this country, only works properly in Firefox or Chrome. Safari and Edge are out. Safari!! And the CS phone number in their standardised email signature is not actually registered... I really want to like Arket so I hope they’ll iron these things out. Else they’ll have to face the wrath of the coven!

I’m obviously no expert on ox fall soap, just to add that I used a different brand, attached, so the magic might not be brand specific.

Also chanced upon this photo from the Dries van Noten SS19 collection while reading up on the Céline debacle. It seems a bit atypical for the brand - I absolutely love this outfit and reckoned it might have other fans here too.

Speaking of Arket, noticed they are having a sale (along with everyone else.) Nothing I really like the look of though apart from some V-neck jumpers, and I just don't need any.

I've gone a bit mad today. Think it was the Maje belt that needed an outing. Possibly look like Dolly Parton on an off day...

DD said, 'What's with the bling?'

Love your look Hairy!

Jackie it’s so frustrating when you have something lovely that just isn’t right for you. I like a high waisted skirt with a cropped, boxy top (and a longer T underneath) - would that work for you? Admittedly I’m quite fond of the Mitford sisters look! But if not yeah sometimes if you love something, set it free etc. I’m sure it’ll find a happy new home.