Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion

[botemp]

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset to our wardrobes. Occasionally we pretend this is a proper Salon of the non-beauty kind.

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Recommended Second Hand Shops in Paris

Outlets in Central Paris

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Flo aw at least you can look and admire nothing wrong.
You mentioned the other day about those wide cords you have and that you got them taken in. I imagine they look great on you.
You left me thinking about wide leg trousers, but for the moment I will just dream and ponder for a couple of months.

Yesterday the Blackhorse Ateliers went back, also the Sprit coat. It turns out that the model of jeans they sent me was a unisex one, and for my shape that does not work. They have another model but I could not be bothered to try that. Maybe sometime when in that part of London I will see if I can go there and see them all.
But a couple of Levis from the sale are arriving today so will report later.

I cannot help but to daydream about warmer weather. I would love to think that during Chelsea Flower Show will be nice and sunny.
As we know that is not guaranteed, and Flo has pondered about what to wear for the wedding here already.
But I will ponder about May too
Last year during Chelsea was baking hot. Lovely.
I would adore to wear something like this:
www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/plants-print-jumpsuit/

But I do not want to spend that amount. So I will keep dreaming and keeping an eye on eBay/second hand shops. If anyone comes across anything remotely of a botanical style, please send it my way.
Not even for Chelsea, I just want to have something with a strong botanical theme.
does this fit in Parisian style, I wonder?

Great trousers Flo!

Peregrane what was in your Everlane order? I am considering a few things too, but can't dare to take the plunge. I'm thinking about their everyday shoes (or whatever they are called) in particular. I'm going to be in the US in March and considering to make an order for my accommodation address.

Anyone else feeling that when truly cold weather hits style takes a hit too? I'm warm and comfortable today in an oversized jumper and Blundstone boots (nearly slipped on ice yesterday in my more elegant ankle boots). My wide leg trousers are too cold because they let in too much cold air so they are in the back of the wardrobe. Knee high merino socks help a bit here but slim trousers are much warmer even if I am bored of them... Arty draping of scarf has given way to just wrapping it around tightly to keep the cold out and it bunches and makes me feel lumpy and unwieldy. Argh! And I hate my hat.

I know we've done this before but how does one do winter style in real cold and damp weather? Catwalk winter style (coat with bare legs) need not apply.

Ah I see a few new posts dreaming about spring popped up while I was typing. Not just me then ... :)

January is such a long month and, coming hard on the heels of the excitement and jollity we're expected to experience over Christmas and NY, it feels like a dull grey penance are we sure that Lent is six weeks? But, here at least, the snowdrops are out, the daffs are pushing up and the days are getting longer.

On the strength of my morning in the local market town, the people who looked most chic were a woman in head to toe navy with mustard/navy big scarf and a rather covetable mustard tote; then leaving the supermarket, I spotted a woman wearing a knee-length black down puffa coat, accessorized with loaded carrier bags. I glimpsed her so briefly the chance to analyse why it worked was fleeting, but her posture was excellent and I suspect she was just short of extreme beauty (completely devoid of make-up).

They both looked warm and comfortable in (inadequate) reply to JonSnow and were wearing stuff that fitted perfectly.

I can do cold dry weather, in fact I like it: wide-leg wool trousers that taper towards the ankle (cuts out the drafts), cashmere or merino over thermals, tweed overcoat and flat boots with a good grip (Solovair) and I’m ready to go.

But cold and wet means the Seasalt coat. I really wish I liked it more; it’s so snug and dry and dependable but whenever I have to wear it, I feel grumpy.

Floisme I think the tapering is the bit where my wide trousers fail :) They are wide-wide.

Are you hot in all the layers when you go indoors? My office is very warm and I end up sweltering, because I don't like to spend the day in my underlayers if I shed the top jumper. And all my shirts are oversized so won't fit under jumpers without being bulky. Or am I making this overly complicated? I swear I feel like I'm wearing the same five things over and over again....

But I agree comfortable is always the best look.

That’s where you’re going wrong then Jon - you need to go back to the 80s

I very rarely have the too warm problem as I sit by a large and not too well insulated window, so I can’t help there I’m afraid.

Daydreaming with sunny snowy day now ❄️
I can do cold dry and sunny and preferably snowy

Red Arket have some nice florals in their new arrivals but it’s not eBay sort of price.

Red I always think of large botanical prints, outside the context of a tropical vacation (on which I’ve never been) as very British. But I may be off base!

JonSnow, I wouldn’t risk shoes from the US on my finicky feet, but I ordered Pima cotton t-shirts as underlayers (two thumbs up), a cotton mock neck top (thinner than expected), a cashmere jumper (an indulgence I now feel guilty about as my wardrobe gaps are more in the direction of thick cotton jumpers, but I won’t send it back) and a leather bag to match my burgundy loafers. Also polo shirts from the pay what you want sale for DF and DB. I haven’t done the laundry due to the aforementioned lurgy, but I’ll post again once I have gotten the factory stink out of the tops.

Pere I agree, I also associate the botanical theme as very British. Very reminiscent of a Victorian Plant Hunter.

Jon thank you, some eye catching prints on Arket. The eBay was more my effort to try to minimise waste / try to find a higher end one. So not necessarily low price. There is time for warmer weather, if I do not find anything by April I might go for a buying new option.

I really like certain florals, paisley for example (does that count as a floral?) which you often get on those old-school men's scarves. And I also liked some of the William Morris - H&M collection (although god only knows what Morris himself would have made of being co-opted by a fast fashion chain).

And Arket I was pretty underwhelmed when they first opened, and wrote them off as yet another lazy flagship store that expects the rest of the country to order three sizes of everything. But I've just been for a browse and, although I'm not buying (yet), I might have to order myself a big slice of humble pie. Has anyone tried their long sleeved pima cotton Ts? I'll probably have to replace my Gap ones this summer (coming up to 10 years old) and I'm not looking forward to it at all.

Also checking in with the lurgy . Dd2 has had it nearly a week and shared it. Trying to cheer myself up by wearing old, gap velvet trousers (soft and warm) with comfy jumper.

I'm going to make a mental note for Arket pima long sleeves tees and tapered trousers, flo.

If the lurgy is THE ONE it's been over a month now and I'm still not over it.

glooms

Will be interested to know if the Everlane stuff works. I'm dubious about an order purely because I am worried about returns hassle.

Oh no, CatherineMaitland! I couldn't even get dd2 to see a doctor, they're all ill too.

and [tissues] for all the lurgies.

It dragged up my chronic fatigue as well. Stupid thing. Oh well. Hope none of you are too bad.

Love some William Morris but seems to be on everything sometimes. Including my favourite tea mug.

CatherineMaitland how miserable. We're asthmatics, so my main concern is chest infections. Mainlining tea, soup and Netflix.

Sincere sympathy on all the lurgy doing the rounds. I’ve been staggering from one cold to the next this winter. Small children are such germ bags. quirky hope it doesn’t go into your chest – that’s the worst and catherine hope you get some rest.

Peregrane Sounds like you got some nice Everlane goodies. The burgundy bag sounds fab.
Arket definitely is a store that’s on my regular rotation list. I’m very happy with my navy jacket from there and safari skirt. They’re both holding up well.
Is anyone else watching the Couture shows? I’ve only looked at 2 so far, but hopefully I’ll have time for a gander at the weekend. My tuppence worth is that I really enjoyed looking at Maison Margiela and the way that the clothes almost looked photo-shopped onto the models. This added another layer to the idea of the difficultly in determining what’s real and what’s not. www.vogue.co.uk/shows/spring-summer-2019-couture/maison-margiela-pre/collection In terms of translating the looks into real life, I like this leather trouser and cape combo; it has reignited my hankering for a Toteme cape!

Givenchy - Ooh what I wouldn’t give for that opening blazer. That scythe-like slash of white is perfection IMO. I was less keen on the giant bow; they felt bit too “Victoria’s Secret” angels to me. Lo and behold there were capes here too. twitches I’ll have one of each of these bad boys please. www.vogue.co.uk/shows/spring-summer-2019-couture/givenchy/collection

After a long delay I’m back to the calender. Today we tackle

DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12 - DAY 12

Botemep says
La Combinasion

Forget la petite robe noire, the Parisians seem to have settled on a new classic in la combinasion. What was probably expected by most to be a brief revival of the past, the jumpsuit has grown roots and stuck around for far longer than anyone expected and has firmly become a Parisian (and elsewhere) staple.

Speaking of tone on tone dressing, the look of a jumpsuit doesn’t necessarily require an actual jumpsuit, dressing in the same tone can fool the eye into the look of one and allow for a more precise fit in the different garments.

It doesn’t really matter if it leaves others questioning whether it’s a jumpsuit or not, plenty of actual jumpsuits leave others wondering just the same. It’s an easy way to explore whether to invest in a jumpsuit or if you struggle with one as well as creating some go to outfits within your wardrobe. Equally, it can also create some unique silhouettes which you’d be pushed to find in the shops or an affordable one at least.

My Attempt

Well this is disappointing. I bought the attached jumpsuit which I am thrilled with and wore it out for dinner last weekend. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures and I’ve been too lazy this week to recreate that look..maybe at the weekend. I did feel really great in it. We were at a fancy restaurant and then out for drinks and I felt dressed up without feeling overdone. It was a welcome change from a dress.
Since I lack photographic evidence of the above, I’m posting a fairly lame attempt at a quasi jumpsuit. Again, the colour of my photo is letting me down, so you’ll have to take my word for it that it’s navy. It’s an old and boring J crew trousers and top in the same shade of navy and an equally ancient IM Etoile jacket.

I am definitely a fan of your work bathroom selfies Elle. It works well as an outfit, even if not the one you hoped to capture.

I haven't worn anything this week that would merit picturing; just endless versions of everyday, which (consoling herself) is most of life, just in this season, mud-spattered. Not chic, and definitely pas Parisienne. Back to scent!

....placemarking here....

I too enjoy your calendar selfies Elle. 😊 I was a bit obsessed with jumpsuits for a while. My first one was just a cheap yoke off Bonprix, but it was surprisingly good and I got a lot of compliments. It had wide legs which I feel helped balance me out. So then the hunt started for other jumpsuits with wide legs - nothing of course. I ended up getting one from phase eight with super wide legs, a real evening one, but I’ve only worn it the once or twice because it’s def occasion wear and also the legs are too long and the divvill to hem up. And frankly I recognise that it’s a bit “mummy dressing up”. Mostly because it’s sleeveless, I think it would be more classical, a bit 70s, with sleeves. And then I got one with sleeves from H&M that has legs a bit cropped and tapered that I end up not wearing because there’s a wearability window of two weeks a year what with sleeves AND cropped legs.

I’d quite fancy some more jumpsuits but it is hard to find a good fit! I love that botanical print one but with my bust/back I don’t even look at woven fabrics.

Arket do have some good clothes but it is hard to shop online. The sizing is hard to be sure of. 😐 also I think some fabrics look and feel better than they are practical, like the heavy viscose knit. I bought trousers in them and the heat from my body actively expands them and makes them longer over a day of wearing haha. Floppy and comfortable though! I hope they make more silk twill stuff.

End essay.

I’m a fan of your selfies too Elle and (warning: this may not sound how I want it to sound) the ones where an outfit doesn’t quite work as you intended are just as interesting as the ones where it does.

Speaking of which I had a major outfit fail yesterday: wonky Vivienne Westwood pinstripe trousers, vintage 60s coat with extra wide 3/4 sleeves, VW scarf. I looked like I was wearing three years’ worth of Christmas presents - as indeed I was Way, way too much going on. No I’m not posting a pic.