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Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion

989 replies

botemp · 14/12/2018 19:06

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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Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
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417
quirkychick · 15/02/2019 07:16

Xing, I think I feel the same about pink. A bright pink does really suit me, but doesn't feel like me iyswim. I tend to end up with purple/violet shades instead.

Floisme · 15/02/2019 08:15

Giving up make up for a few weeks reminded me what a difference the right colour makes to my face. There's a certain shade of deep pink that really suits me but the problem is that the clothes I like at the moment don't tend to come in that colour, although it's easier in the summer. Maybe I need to track down a deep pink men's jumper.

quirkychick · 15/02/2019 09:37

I feel I can wear a deep berry pink, though mostly as lipstick Smile.

This week is proving tricky, we're all still a bit post-viral and my elderly mil went back into hospital yesterday. Basically, it's breathing problems from a combination of pneumonia before Christmas and heart issues. How's your mil, Xing?

XingMing · 15/02/2019 16:03

Sorry to hear that your MIL is back in hospital Quirky; mine was sent home yesterday, so that's good news. Just hope the caring package is going to work well for her as we are six hours away and therefore can't just pop in to check that all is well.

I am thrilled with Xing at the moment; staring at the kitchen counter admiring eight jars of gloriously orange marmelade. It's always been my mum's job to provide supplies, but she's resigned and handed over to BIL and me, so we have to establish the pecking order bragging rights!

banivani · 17/02/2019 14:28

Is there anything more beautiful than sunlight through marmalade ... love it! Lucky creatures yourselves.

Well mes amis if there was ever a time of year to be draping scarves dans une manière insouciante it is now. Spring is in the air! and I took a long walk with my winter coat open and flapping. Lines and drapes people! I was close! Don’t look at the ugly runners on my feet now, we can’t have it all.

Yesterday I popped into Zara who are desperately trying to get rid of the last of the sale so I spontaneously bought a pair of metallic jacquard patterned trousers for 79 kr. Stepping out of my comfort zone. And killing the planet. 😔

CatherineMaitland · 17/02/2019 15:00

"Don’t look at the ugly runners on my feet now"

I keep seeing that "ugly" trainers are the height of fashion right now!

I am tempted by some colourful chunky trainers in Zara actually. Spring is here too and it's making me want some more colour. But will I still want them in 6 weeks time? Sigh.

banivani · 17/02/2019 20:13

Pic of the chunky trainers? I’m

Quirky, I hope you MIL gets better. Pneumonia is worrying. :(

Am sitting here stitching up the front of a cardigan to try out wearing it back to front the way Bo does. Am thinking it will now be a jumper with a button back. The buttons come undone so I had to stictch. I don’t know though, it might end up being all “why is she wearing her cardie backwards”. I work in a place where someone will question me haha

CatherineMaitland · 17/02/2019 21:22

These are they:

www.zara.com/uk/en/contrast-sneakers-p17420301.html?v1=8267522&v2=1191662

I will probably have changed my mind by tomorrow, I usually do...

banivani · 17/02/2019 21:59

Yeah I’d say they’re def in the tired of in six weeks category 😉 so have a think for another few days and see if you still love them 🤛

CatherineMaitland · 18/02/2019 07:57

Yes, exactly. I think I'll wear a red jumper today and hopefully that will quiet my colour craving. :)

Redandblue11 · 18/02/2019 08:06

Weather here has been so mild and sunny but I am been doing lots of outdoor walks so practical footwear was de rigour.
And yes to floaty drapey scarfs.
I am packing now as we are off skiing for a few days. I always find than other than the ski clothes I do not need much more as we end up the whole day in the slopes and I never make it out at night or take a couple of hs for a wonder, other than a mountain full of snow wonder.

quirkychick · 18/02/2019 08:27

Have a lovely time, red.

Thank you for all the kind thoughts. Mil is still in hospital, but will need some kind of care package when she comes out, which dp's brother is organising. I don't think she will get "better" as such, in that she has a heart condition and she's too elderly for surgery (90s), so it's a case of managing it. Up to having pneumonia before Christmas, she was amazingly active, but that is no longer the case.

It's been mild here, cloudy today, but beautiful and sunny yesterday. I've dug out some scarves that are not full on thick wool, but I'm not going to be fooled that it is spring quite yet!

banivani · 18/02/2019 08:36

Red, I agree re the skiiing - absolutely no need for packing excess. All you need is one set of looking civilised clothes in case you go out. ;)

Quirky, I hope all goes smoothly with the care package.

I'm wearing the cardigan backwards today. I'm not loving it. I tried it on yesterday night braless while wrangling off my pyjama top and it had a slightly better drape to it. Now I'm wearing a bra and a thin cotton top underneath because I couldn't face the v-neck in the back (it's a v-neck cardigan), it felt drafty haha. Anyway, with all this I end up getting a bit of shelf boob so feel frumpy. Not helped by the colour which is an oatmealy sort of mole shade (so specific). Might have been better with an oversize/boxier cardigan.

XingMing · 18/02/2019 09:35

Quirky, fingers crossed for your MIL's care package being sorted out rapidly. Pneumonia is not good news. Your situation sounds almost identical to MIL, same age, similar range of conditions. Too old for a pacemaker, so it's a matter of ongoing management through a slow deterioration.

Today's look is exercise kit, with boots for walking the dog and a tube skirt for decency. It's practical, comfortable and relatively presentable, but routine. I'll stick a red jacket with pockets (lots of pockets) over the top, so I can carry the necessities. It's one DH bought me in France several years ago which is rather more chic than its Barbour equivalent. And red lipstick, because I am making an effort!

Have a great ski holiday Red, and happy half term to all with DC.

botemp · 18/02/2019 09:52

Sorry, is care package the term used for at home care management? I think I have US associations with the term where it's nice bits you send to a family member. Glad to hear the MILs are settling back home, if they're anything like my GM was, they'll be thrilled to be back in their own familiar environment and write the whole hospital episode off as unnecessary.

Weather has been very spring like here, I, perhaps overly optimistic, have pulled out the transition pieces from storage. Tempted to pack the detested parka away but I suspect that would be tempting fate. Have really enjoyed wearing my trench coats out again, wearing a bit of bright colour and playing with bronzer. Could probably do with a bit more colour in the spring wardrobe by the looks of it but not essential.

LFW has started, spotted a lovely bit of pink in Margaret Howell's show, paired with greenish-browns that I've also been hankering for. Will try to collage later today.

There were a lot of ugly dad sneakers in Paris but I can't warm to them and they do feel quite temporary in a sense, but in those scenarios Zara makes sense. I'd definitely sit on them (or order and wait out the return period), Catherine.

Have fun skiing, red, and, yes, you don't need much. Skiing is always a bit more energy consuming than you remember and everyone is equally dressed down. Even Zermatt isn't that dressy.

Bani, yes a looser cardi works better as you kind of want a boat neck at the top, so something tight sits more like a high crew neck that's strangely wide. Bras that make boobs less front and centre do tend to work better for me as well, which is usually the case with higher necks.

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banivani · 18/02/2019 10:06

I spent some time yesterday steaming the neckline to try to shape it a little. It becomes a sort of high boatneck that I don't hate, but it's clearly shaped to lie across the back of the neck, not the front, so gets a sort of wrinkle that I was trying to coax out. I have a little bit more trouble with the shoulder seams tbh because they fall slightly forward of the shoulders which adds to the back-to-front look.

banivani · 18/02/2019 10:39

Snapped a quick double chin pic when I went to the toilet :) but i don’t think it shows the shoulder seam and obv not the back. Am wearing the Casimose trousers that have somehow popped a seam at the fly so it’s twisted :( annoying me tremendously.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
CatherineMaitland · 18/02/2019 11:03

Glad that the mothers-in-law - mother-in-laws? - MILs? - are doing better.

I have not even managed to get dressed at all so far today so am very impressed by everyone else's efforts.

quirkychick · 18/02/2019 14:44

Going for the menswear theme (a bit) with my maxmara wide-legged trousers in a herringbone tweed. The forecast is drizzly, so I thought I'd wear a fedora. Interestingly, my h&m grey one was quite stiff and formal looking with the trousers, so just looked like I was playing dress up in the men's department from the 1940s. However, my tkmaxx one from Benetton is black felt and softer, so somehow looked OK, a bit more feminine and slightly boho-ish with my leather jacket. Funny how subtle things make all the difference.

bani, the grey cardi looks great in the photo, kind of drapey.

banivani · 19/02/2019 09:46

It's a brown cardigan quirky despairs Wink

Hats are so hard to pull off. I completely see what you mean about stiff v slouchy and how it matters. I'd love a pair of tweed herringbone trousers, but haven't been able to find any this winter Angry

Am wearing the cardigan backwards again today. This time with jeans and no top underneath (and a bralette). This time my colleagues noticed because my back is exposed (they asked if I was cold haha). They then assured me that it looked quite nice, the jumper is a nice colour, they wouldn't have guessed it wasn't meant to be like that unless I'd told them and the back doesn't look weird at all. So result! Although the draft is nagging me a little ...

botemp · 19/02/2019 09:48

Promised collages from LFW, haven't got round to seeing what went on yesterday yet.

Margaret Howell with the lovely pink blues and greens. when is her sample sale again?

I wasn't as keen on Victoria Beckham's show this time, it felt a touch too styled and that came at the cost of that edited minimalism that I've always considered her strength and the styling with the neon touches felt more jarring than enhancing of he clothes. In all, it felt slightly tepid to me.

In contrast Eudon Choice did something strikingly similar in terms of silhouettes and design (please note the integral scarves that now seem to be popping up everywhere) but made a more firm stand rather than trying trying to staddle two opposites as one. Felt sharper and stronger, embraced the styling from the onset rather than it feeling like an afterthought.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
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botemp · 19/02/2019 09:58

Had a look at Ports 1961 as well, think they were mention in an article quirky linked a while back at the new 'old Céline' contenders. Not sure they've always showed at LFW as I think they're North American/Japanese. Hmm, yes, I can definitely see the resemblance to PP's work, it feels a little too inspired to me though and lacks the Céline polish in the depth of colours and the way the materials read. Also some of the fit felt off, but Céline was always ridiculously narrow on the shoulders and with the very tall in mind so this may actually translate better for ordinary bodies. Will have to seek them out in a shop somewhere and assess the reality. Not sure if I've actually ever come across them but I'm guessing one of the London department stores will carry them, which is already happening in less than a month to my shock.

Also quite enjoyed this sort of transparent double coat ensemble from Simone Rocha, rest of the collection, whilst stunning as ever, is lots of frilly dresses. I love the softness she evokes but I really struggle to see these pieces outside of some country manor editorial shoot.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
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XingMing · 19/02/2019 10:02

Margaret Howell nails it every time. Pic 1 (top left) is very me or would be if I were six inches taller, 10kg thinner and 30 years younger. The Eudon Choi pic 5 has me wishing for a legacy, or a lottery windfall, for several pieces.

Flo, as you're such an MH fan, have you insights on where's best for homage?

banivani · 19/02/2019 10:04

I liked all of these! I'm not sure I understand/can tell what you mean about the Victoria Beckham show, but I do think the white ensemble with the red sash is obviously derivative so maybe I'll understand if I think a little more. Love all the drapes.

botemp · 19/02/2019 10:27

Argh, lost my post but the short version, it's not that it was terrible and the collage pics from VB were definitely the better looks but it was just odd touches here and there that would make you go from 'oh that's nice' to a more disappointing 'oh'. Attached was a really nice look, really like the integration of the bag to the body, but the pumps that feel very early 00s threw it in a completely different direction once I scrolled down. Perhaps that's part of the issue, impact of an entire image vs. consuming it digitally on a mobile device.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion
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