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.

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Lovely to see it all back again, Elle, really like the pairing of the silk top with the AD skirt. Did you keep the Anine Bing skirt, wondering if that would work well with the silk top too, though obviously quite a dressed up look.

Consider the Dries skirt bought on Saturday sanctioned, despite or perhaps even because of the shine factor (Elle came to discover I'm quite the tinsel and shine exterminator). I agree with quirky that to me the point of this thread has always been about wearing things you love.

which shop did you get the Joseph top from? Trying to remember who carries it there.

Will add that the suede leggings were really lovely in the flesh, they were really deeply pigmented and absorbed the light really beautifully. No one tell Anish Kapoor, he might cry plagiarism. Chiming in that the Dries blazer is a lot better looking in the flesh, it fell really elegantly on the body, with a slight vintage feel in the way that it embraces your figure but the shoulders made it quite current.

Flo, Antwerp is indeed a fantastic place to visit. The sample sales are usually mid-late April and late October-early November usually. They usually announce the official dates 2-3 months ahead. Seasons are somewhat adjacent but at the previous S/S sales I bought a lot of A/W pieces as there was plenty of that too, not much S/S in the A/W edition, as far as I saw, but it's usually the least of interest to most. Will be happy to post on here again for anyone interested when the next dates go up.

Meanwhile I've mentally geographically relocated as I've been sucked in by a Korean drama on Netflix (not usually my thing at all but it's really different), Something in the Rain. It's all sorts of tender and calm, moves ridiculously slow but very immersive. Anyhow, I'm supposed to be paying attention to the subtitles but am constantly distracted by the female lead's glorious coats and bags and so much more. Very Parisian chic inspired with a contemporary Seoul twist. This is far worse of an influence in wanting to buy more coats and bags than grumbling about wide legs not looking as right with all my current coats. Seriously considering a Loewe Hammock bag now even though I'd sworn off bags at that price level since the quality only seems to be deteriorating whilst the prices creep up

Also, I admit defeat to Elaine N. Aron's HSP obsession with Asian culture, she does indeed have a point although I still feel she downplays the shadow side.

Sorry, and thanks Flo, will adjust expectations. My gut is saying go early, it'll be a really cold night preceding so I assume the morning chill will scare off some. Not expecting any actual vintage, I'm guessing 80s and up. I think I'll struggle to get a good fit out of 60-70s stuff and I doubt there will be high end vintage (advertised brands YSL, etc) from the 40-50s it would be far too cheap.

Thanks all!

botemp The Joseph knit was in that shop that we passed near Dries, attached to the “scene-y” restaurant. The tags said “Princess” although the bag had a different name on it, but I can’t remember what it was. I did keep the sating skirt, must try it with the top!

I should mention that I also had a look in a few shops I’d call “high-end high-street” (is there an official term for this) like B@sh, Zadig & Voltaire and Filippa K, but didn’t buy. Part of the reason was that I absolutely hate that the changing rooms don’t have any mirrors inside so you’re forced to go out to look in the mirror under the gaze of the hovering sales assistant. I hate it. I’m too self -conscious to spend proper time examining how the clothes look in the mirror with someone watching and I hate having to justify to someone why it’s not quite right. After that I headed to Cos, with no room in my suitcase, I didn’t buy, but I did like this shirt:www.cosstores.com/en_eur/women/shirts/product.frilled-v-neck-buttoned-blouse-navy.0628436004.html and this dress www.cosstores.com/en_eur/women/dresses/product.tie-up-wool-wrap-dress-dark-grey-melange.0701529001.html I just threw it on over my jeans because I was DONE with taking off and putting on my boots at that stage. I really like the shape, but I’m not quite sure where or how I’d wear it.

I really like the Loewe hammock too. A blue one popped up in the Browns private sale reduced to EUR 1,100, but if I was going for it I’d want brown. It’s gone in any case. Is that the Equipment shirt in French Nude that I spy in those screenshots too? I love the style.

It must have been Renaissance (monochrome interior with very high ceilings), Princess is sort of a chain of high end stores there and Renaissance is the contemporary luxury flagship.

I tend to refer to 'high end high street' as the street near the end on a Monopoly board Boutique High Street is maybe a better term as traditionally they're scattered in among those and why those high end high street brands are all desperate to get their shop in there. I agree they need mirrors in the fitting rooms though, I hate it and it's rare these days that a shop assistant is actually well trained/has a good eye for what suits.

Yes, definitely the cognac/tan colour for the Loewe, I don't like the blue at all. need to actually try it on first, it's probably a crap size for me anyhow...

Pretty sure it's an Essentiel shirt, the wardrobe is ridiculously high end which is rather hilarious as she's not playing someone very wealthy. Anyhow, it's nice to see and the show is engaging as well.

Cos shirt looks nice, the dress feels a bit late 90s/early 00s party wear. I'm not sold on it but it may have to do with going down memory lane due to reminiscent vibes.

*Equipment not Essentiel, mind is stuck in Antwerp (Essentiel is a Belgian high end high street brand which for whatever reason features in the Guardian a lot)

Elle that's a good haul . The Joseph jumper is a gorgeous green!

Not on the same level, but I picked up a grey, John Smedley merino roll neck in the charity shop today for £4.50. It's a small, so quite fitted, but should be great for under jackets. I need some more jumpers that are thicker than my uniqlo, ultra fine merino for when the temperature drops.

That's a bargain quirky, temps are definitely dropping quickly here too. Possibly snow next week I may go and have a look at the Uniqlo thermal collection with Alexander Wang but I'm a bit wary as it's synthetic, I believe. I do struggle a bit with thermals as it's nice when outdoors but I'm often too warm indoors.

bo I have some of the uniqlo heattech, which is very soft, thin and synthetic, but does keep you warm. I have overheated on the school run before, as if it's too hot it can be a bit sweaty if I've been walking fast (it's quite a hilly route, unusually for Norfolk!).

I will need to get out some of my thicker jumpers, but I'm pretty sure I need some new ones too. I struggle with chunky jumpers, I really like the idea, but often find them 1) unflattering on me, as I'm an IT and can make me look top heavy and 2) they don't fit easily under coats and jackets.

I hear you on the coat / jumper struggle quirky sometime it feels like it would be handy to have a coat in a size up to accommodate chunky jumpers.

I'm wearing the suede leggings and green jumper with boots to work today. They feel like leggings, but read like trousers as long as you don't see the waistband, because they're not stuck onto me. They're so comfortable. I can tell already that these will get worn to death.

We have a new arrival in the office - she's from Paris. I'm trying to think of a non-creepy way to say I'll be watching what she's wearing, but all of them make me sound like a stalker. Observations so far - only straight legged jeans, cuffed just above a pair of ankle boots, with a polo neck is practically a uniform. She also puts a square of dark chocolate into her porridge in the morning!

Thanks quirky, I think I'll give it a pass then as I overheat easily and will fork over the £££ for the Hanro 70% wool and 30% silk thermals I've always bought although their XS is a UK10 so it really needs to fit well. May have a look at Arket or Cos in case they have something similar.

Big jumpers can be a bit bulky. I do prefer to have some sort of shape in them, either a turtleneck that can stand up by itself or something of interest with the sleeves. I also like wearing something longer underneath so it becomes more of a dress, a shirt dress works quite well in my case along with some thick woollen tights and chunky boots.

X-posted there Elle. I'm all for stalking I could actually do with some straight legged jeans but I've just found MIH jeans (my usual supplier) has gone into administration and they were already a bit tough to find, will have a nosy on Yoox as I'm not sure what size I am with them anymore.

Hi everyone.

Made it to La Rochelle! So far, Vannes was absolutely horrible, and so expensive. Guérande was full of very smart casually dressed people. I can only dream, LOL. Lots of down jackets but not the huge puffa-type things.

Loving the sample sales pics and the suede leggings!

Has anyone ever done one of those department store style advisor things? I really want to find some differently-shaped jeans for me, but I hate the hassle - considering trying the John Lewis short-cut.

I was wondering how your travels were faring Catherine. I've only ever been approached in a department store, which felt somewhat odd, I assume it was based on whether you looked like someone who would buy rather than the before makeover photo, I hope Wasn't all that interested but they seemed nice enough, one of them still regularly stops me to ask where I've bought something.

Doesn't Selfridge's have a dedicated giant denim department with a personal shopping service. Think there's also a denim shop that's quite famous for it Donna Ida, maybe? That is if you're looking to spend a fair bit though, I'm not sure what the JL price point is when it comes to denim. I've actually heard good things about H&Ms personal shopping service, may just be local of course, but I have had good jeans from them in the past.

I've never tried a personal shopper but the John Lewis one gets lots of recommendations on here and, if you go into a big branch, they should have a good choice of price points. I think you're right bo about Selfridges having a massive denim shop. Does Brix Smith-Start still have that denim shop in London? I think it was called 'Start' but I've just googled it and nothing came up. I never went but allegedly she could sort out the perfect pair for you the minute you walked in the door. Failing that, H&M normally has a big range of styles so you can a good try-on there, as long as you remember to take at least 3 sizes of everything into the changing room.

I love a chunky jumper but I have to be careful with them these days now that I have boobs and an arse. But I find a coat with raglan sleeves is best for accommodating them - I have one shaped like a man's overcoat, not oversized but I can get a jumper and a jacket underneath quite comfortably.

I can't face the UK news today but I've just been reading about the Mary Quant exhibtion next year and it's cheered me up a bit. I can still remember what a stir she made at the time. I'll definitely be making the trip. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/nov/15/there-was-nothing-before-mary-quant-vanda-new-exhibition

I love a chunky jumper, but I'm not sure they love me! Most of my jackets and coats are quite slim fitting, as I tend towards broader shoulders. I think I might start looking like the Incredible Hulk if I sized up coats to go over a chunky jumper too.

Thanks botemp and Floisme! Didn't think about H&M. At the moment I have clothes from 8 to 14 in my wardrobe that all fit so I can cope with taking lots of sizes.

Need a new accessory for La Rochelle, if not for Paris - a bicycle with a cut-down wine crate as a basket. And a little white dog to sit in it.

Hello again everyone! Back from my holiday in English Harbour, extremely relaxed and a bit tanned, having bought nothing more than one simple T-shirt, made by an artist friend, who chose the shape very carefully. However, I gained an early Christmas present of a lovely papaya orange leather bag (another craftswoman) by DH. And DS got bought a couple of souvenir T-shirts, because that's most of what's for sale there. Retail heaven it most definitely is not... unless you are shopping for yachts or art.

Had a quick cruise through your previous posts and adding my admiration for Elle's Antwerp sample sales finds and Flo's Burberry (much nicer colour than the typical sand!)

Glad you've had a good time Xing albeit retail-light although an orange bag sound lovely as we head into wintry time.

I've managed to give the Burberry a couple of outings, courtesy of a quilted lining that I removed from an old and ineffectual bad weather coat. I can't attach it to the Burberry but I can wear it as a layer underneath and it's quite effective, although not so glamorous when I take the coat off!

And here I am wearing it

Flo.

Botemp do you live in Paris? I will be doing a short trip there in the next few days and wondered if there were decent second hand shops of French brands? I will be based very centrally and with not a lot of time to wonder very far, but will give it a try!
A couple of years ago I got an Ives Saint Lauren cream linen coat perfect for spring in a little shop in Antibes and would love to get some more finds this time round!
Thanks!

Red, sadly not who wants to go start me a GoFundMe but I do have two Google docs with a list of Vente Depots and Outlets within central-ish Paris I can share as this subject comes up a lot on here. Am on mobile ATM so will link them later today. Does depend on what price point you're looking at, IME they're not especially cheap, more akin to finding things 50-70% in the sales.

Flo, you look dashing without your mask!

Designer Vintage Kilo sale was a bit of a bust yesterday. I arrived 15 mins early in the freezing cold to a manageable line but the organisation wasn't running smoothly so it took them 45 minutes to open doors and I finally got in after an hour feeling like a popsicle. It was mostly 90s era and up, predominantly Italian brands who cut very narrow on the hips and boobs so there wasn't much, did find two silk shirts from Miu Miu and Trussardi after trying on a few bits but there were no mirrors at all, so having to rely on my phone on selfie mode really didn't inspire much confidence on fit and colour. Was ok with taking the gamble on the brown Trussardi silk shirt as I've yet to find a brown I don't like but the line to the cash register was ridiculously long and it was the only place to weigh your items. They also made you weigh along the textile shopping bags (not a huge issue if you buy loads but with one lightweight item it adds up) so I was rather clueless how much it was going to be and I was running late for lunch meetup so decided to just leave it.

Did have better success later in the afternoon, found some thermal alternatives at Arket and Cos in 100% wool that's a lot less than Hanro but I figured I'd hold off and see if there are any black Friday deals this week. I know Arket did them last year, can't remember Cos.

I also finally ended the white roll neck jumper search, never thought I'd see the day tbh. Lovely 100% wool one from Joseph in the right shade of white, not too icy, not too creamy or bloody pastel pink and lilac , lovely and thick with a good amount of structure. Just in time for the weather as it's really starting to freeze now. Attached pic of it on isn't the best (excuse the hat hair and my skirt isn't as odd looking as that IRL) so have added a modelling shot from online, which rather boringly is probably how I'll wear it

Gorgeous jumper, bo .

And why we're you hiding your lovely face, flo?

botemp oh well, no probs. I will keep an eye on the sales.
My price point really depends , if is a piece I know I will get a good wear and good quality material, £150 per piece , then again I love a cheap find so more than happy to rummage to find something £20 . But as I will not have a lot of time I will probably end up looking in Gallerie Lafayette .
A good pair of wool type trousers would be good, or a nice winter dress that I can wear for work or dress down a bit will be welcome...
I will see what I can find!