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.

---

Recommended Second Hand Shops in Paris

Outlets in Central Paris

---

Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

On the subject of snow boots, the Kimberfeel snow boots I ordered from BrandAlley have been cancelled . I know that's always the risk with them and stuff comes on rotation, so they may well have them another time. However, as someone who walks around a lot, I need some boots I can wear in some sort of ice and snow to replace my old brown winter boots that have died. I did find similar by Kimberfeel on french website www.alpinstore.com, but the returns were 10 euros to the UK plus postage, and I didn't want to risk it (not sure if that's any use to you, bo). I've ended up ordering Sorels, but the Glacy shorties, which the reviews say are good for high instep as they are a more moonboot lace up style. I will have to look out for a higher snow boots another time.

Hi everyone.

Just popping in to say there was a segment on the Dior exhibition on one of the BBC radio arts program last night - Front Row I think it was. Should be available internationally if anyone wants to listen.

Probably discussed to death already but there are some interesting discussions going on currently about new rules for influencers with regard to disclosing ads, etc. I thought I was reasonably well clued up but seems my eyes still needed further opening.

We have a tiny bit of snow today - about 1mm worth. Haha.

Still loving the advent outfits.

quirky there's currently a Kimberfeel private sale on Vente Exclusive, now called VeePee they'd arrive too late for me but may be of use to you? Pretty sure shipping isn't that high with them to the UK.

Oh speaking of the Dior exhibit, just been announced it's coming to The Hague later this year 🤦 oh well, means I can see it thrice.

Yes, I've been following the thread on here in S&B as well. Bitching about influencers -well rather questioning the Ponzi scheme/trickle down economy that it is lacking any sort of accountability or transparency- is actually what originally brought me to MN.

Sorry, and thanks Catherine, have found the episode in my podcast app and have downloaded it.

Rockport is American, yes. I just got them in the sale, my standard MO. The drawback of this particular model is that the laces are very slippery, so when I use the side zip to open them they slip out of the grommets and I have to lace them up again. Annoying. But really a good pair of boots, have lasted SO well and the laces haven't frayed or anything. This must be my fourth winter? Maybe just my third.

I forgot to ask what you meant by snow boots actually?

Yeah if I were you I wouldn't get anything new for Stockholm. Either the streets are clear, in which case you can wear whatever, or they're slushy, in which case why ruin something new, or they're very snowy/icy (unlikely I think) in which case the Vagabonds aren't optimal so you can just slip around in something you own and/or spend 200 kr in the nearest chemist on a pair of slip on spiky things to go under your soles whatdoyoucallem all the grannies wear them.

I followed some of the previous threads but feel they degenerated a bit. Interesting comments on the current one though.

Thanks, bo, but it looks like they only deliver to Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. I have already ordered the Glacy Sorels, but will keep my eye out on BrandAlley, but I'm not in any hurry if the Sorels work out. I only want them for UK winters, the odd snow days etc. rather than full arctic snow.

I haven't looked at the influencer threads in ages, but it certainly made me stop "following" a few. It all got a bit showing off my freebies rather than this is what someone stylish wears in real life.

I have never owned Rockport shoes but DH has loved his... and has repeat bought. He wore them every day and would say that the soles don't wear well any more. They used to, but Rockport now manufacture in China, and the soles don't last more than 10 months of all day wear before the grip is gone. He still reckons they are comfortable to wear but are now only suited to people who walk mainly on carpets!

Uniqlo U is up if anyone's interested. The high waisted pleated trousers are in cotton canvas and I'm really having to sit on my hands. The rounded shape ones are in double faced cotton but it looks like a jersey fabric again and I can't see a zip, so less of a temptation although I love the shape.

I'm tempted by the high waist pleated trousers too. But I already have a similar pair, so, also sitting on my hands!

Someone needs to buy some so they can tell us what they're like. Where's bani?

Sorry quirky, it's vente-privee (soon to be VeePee) for the other countries, including the UK.

I'll pop into one of the many Uniqlos here, probably not today though. Should disclose the Uniqlo trousers never have been a good fit for me, so probably not the best model for it.

Bani, by snow boots I mean the Sorel types, rubber or similar round the soles that go up higher and for lack of a better description slanted profile soles so you're cutting in rather than packing it into your soles. Not moonboots anyhow.

Catherine, yeah it's interesting, I'm an altogether SM avoider but had no idea &other stories had so many people on the monthly pay roll (assumed it was the top tier influencers only) which seems to have happened in tandem with my increasing turn off with the brand as it all seemed to be designed for Instagram.

I'm not shopping, at all, this month -- having paid my tax. It's not a vast amount, but it's soaked up100% of this month's frivolity spends. Sense must rule.

Babes, I’m not spending money on shipping and returns when I’m absolutely unsure of the sizes 😂 in your DREAMS youse may find another guinea pig 😉 surely you know this is not my MO? I tried ordering the dark green wool jersey coat from Arket yesterday when I got an email about an extra 20 % off but the pressure was hard and I lost out.

Spoilsport

Ok anyone else? It's in a very worthy cause.

I knew I should not have opened this today ... now I am having to sit on my hands too. I am tempted by the uniqlo U flared jeans. I might orderer them at some point.

I see what you say about the double cotton rounded ones Flo, I got similar from uniqlo 2 years ago (although the fabric mix was a bit different) and they wore very badly, bobbled up everywhere. I am very careful washing at 30, inside out, low spin and still. So that was disappointing. However this fabric has more cotton so I am not sure if that will make it better or worse .
The high waisted pleated also look great.

Crosspost with Bani

Yes, I've never seen anyone wearing the odd patterned ruffle midi dresses & Other Stories goes in for in real life. But maybe that's what everyone wears in London. :)

I didn't realise the extent of the monthly gift vouchers either for so many brands/bloggers. It's opened my eyes to just how much of what we see on social media is actually paid-for content, it's not even just about individual accounts, but the totality of what your eyeballs see, if that makes sense.

Sympathies on the tax bill, Xing!

I looked at the green coat too bani. But in the interests of discipline, again, I don't really need one.

I do need a pair of blue (preferably light blue) jeans that aren't skinny as my only other pair are now too big, but nothing I've tried so far has been any use.

Pfft read already people, I'll go in and be the Uniqlo U Guinea pig in store, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow. Any specific items you want my eyes to rake over, let me know today.

Red I just ordered the high waisted pleat trousers, the dusky pink ones. They look really promising. I got them in two sizes, and thought I'd try the ponte ones too but keeping an open mind. I may have ordered another thing or two as well .

I'm so ready for spring.

Although the morning here is beautiful crisp and frosty today.

Bo yes please, there were a few things I was tempted to try on, but my shopping bag was £280 already and even though a lot of it would be going back it just felt like too much of an outlay.

I considered this dress www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-uniqlo-u-long-sleeved-shirt-dress-416430.html?dwvar_416430_color=COL12&dwvar_416430_size=SMA004&cgid=IDdresses16193
but was worried about proportions of sleeves vs body.

Also this dress, it looks so different on the model compared to just the garment image, I have no idea how it hangs www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-uniqlo-u-3d-balloon-half-sleeved-dress-416640.html?dwvar_416640_color=COL09&dwvar_416640_size=SMA002&cgid=IDdresses16193

Thank you bo and jon. You are doing a noble and selfless thing.

And sorry for not saying this before but U trousers are normally oversized - or at least they have been in the past. I'm a 27" waist if I breathe in but I can wear their 25" pretty comfortably. But of course they might be different this time.

Yes but Bo from my perspective you're not a great tester because our bodies are too different, but I'll appreciate your comments on quality of course .

Also I hate the uniqlo website because now I can't work out which items are the uniqlo u items. What does the U even mean anyway.

The green coat MIGHT have filled a void I have, but I wasn't sure enough to pay full price. Was actually going to get it in the sale earlier but the size was gone - then it looked like it was there yesterday for half an hour before it disappeared. Typical. Even if I didn't like it much I know it could have wandered on to my daughter so I figured it would come to some sort of use... bit annoyed at losing out.

U means unreasonable, obviously

We may not have the same bodies Bani but I do have a good template body so will know what won't suit me will suit another specific type.

Will attempt to look up what's linked so far, but for anyone posting subsequently, probably best to add a screenshot in case it sells out by the time I'm checking in again.

Unreasonable 😂

I have no faith in uniqlo sizes at all. 29 inch trousers as max when a large cardigan fits me? It’s bizarre. What is their max size??? I do like the shape of those rounded trousers but suspect they’re more rounded on someone who is not, and that the rounded nature of them is somewhat lost on the rotundly shaped. 😉

Ok here’s my body type: I’m 169 cm tall. If I stand up straight and use my Pilates my measurements are 106-86-111. The 86 depends on amount of sandwiches recently eaten and amount of Pilates recently done. When I let my gut out underneath that waist measurement there’s a fitting problem. 😬 I have an image of myself as tall and quite shaped (esp when I stand up straight and hold said guy in) and am constantly surprised at the middle aged dumpy woman I see reflected wandering towards me in the glass door beside my office. Have at it 😁

Style report (“style”...): I just bought a green Laura Ashley blouse second hand (see pic). Was hoping to get a monochrome look going with my mad green trousers but am chickening out because the shades don’t feel right together. Fabric is silk and viscose with a flower pattern I didn’t notice in the online photos ... not sure if it’s me but will give it a test run.