Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Blue Stockings are Back in Fashion

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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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Previous threads:

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That is a nice bra, bani. Quite similar shape to a triumph one I have, actually. I will probably go to John Lewis and see what they have, as bras like jeans, I generally like to try on. Similarly tricky items of clothing.

Nice bag, red, I like the mock croc, not generally a pink person, but accessories are more wearable. That reminds me I have a red mock croc bag that I could get out for spring.

I've just ordered myself another tartan scarf. The green, blanket one I had this winter I've worn loads and a skinnier grey and red one that I had my eye on is on sale on BrandAlley. I'm thinking that it will go with jackets (and that red bag) on colder spring days. Did anyone get a Uniqlo U email, I've ordered a green, cotton jumper reduced to £14. I will try to link later.

Chantelle bras are excellent. I'm on the abundantly endowed end of a size 10, and the T shirt bra (underwired but not padded) has been my go to bra for about 10 years. I always have three on the go (two nude, one black since you asked) plus a couple that are prettier.

The shoes are lovely, and versatile colours (I like both red/blue and blue/green but not the contrast bit on the front, although if I hadn't been shown a single image I'd probably judge them separately) so leopard neutral would get my vote. Less tying and easier to work into a wardrobe in my book. But I'm on a low-key kick at the moment.

Loved the Times pic from the Prada show today; in fact I liked more from the Milan fashion week round up than NY or London.

The LK Bennett bag (in another colour) was also featured in the Times today. Are we all fashion journalists here? I'm not, but once wanted to be.

That is so funny Xing What I do for a living could not be more removed from fashion journalism, also never crossed my mind.
I also cannot get feedback at work as if any of my mostly male colleagues comment would be considered very inappropriate.
So I suppose this thread and gardening are my parallel lifes on this universe.

Note to self - must try Chantelle bras at some point when my current ones need updating...

This is the uniqlo jumper, there's another green jumper that's called relaxed, but the wide sleeves with a pleat in them look as if they will give me huge shoulders, so I thought I'd try this one. I fancy a green jumper for spring .

I like the jumper quirky , I would be tempted with the yellow one for myself. I have never had any tops from uniqlo, how is the sizing normally?

I like Chantelle bras too, that, Simone Perele, and La Perla are my go to brands these days.

I love a bit of green quirky, it's a bit scarce these days so it's very much grab it when you see it.

I'm behind but so far I'm enjoying the Italian and French catwalks a lot more. As promised thoughts on the highly anticipated Bottega Veneta show. I did bristle a bit as it also suffered from one decorative touch too many in places but it wasn't as distracting as elsewhere as it felt very Italian who are all about a bit of more is more. The Italians are due a bit of a comeback in a shape that isn't that almost trite la dolce vita thing so I'm all for it.

Loved the clunky boots, though the models looked like they were struggling a bit walking in them, although that may have been on purpose, they were wearing quite severe faces as well. Vaguely there was that warrior vibe from 10-15yrs ago, before it got sexualised and labelled 'empowering'.

I don't know, as said before it was very different. I think it'll be described as cool in a lot of places but it's more than that (and the terms seems to be eroding lately with overuse). I liked the focus on the expanse of skin above the shelf boobs and downplaying cleavage, etc. It felt quite vulnerable somehow to have that open expanse of skin, so close to the heart where the rest felt quite hard and defensive.

It does seem to speak of a certain type of Italian woman that is less the stereotype, not necessarily aiming for refined elegance or full on femininity, quite closely related to the effortless Parisians in a way, though they'll be on a Ducati rather than a scooter.

Whilst not one thing jumped out at me as must buy now (not that I have the BV budget) but it definitely makes me want to have a nose. Though I suspect I'd be more intrigued by the men's section. Okay, I lie, I really like the clunky boots but they'd probably look atrocious on me.

Oh on 'expensive' skin (I really hate that label, haven't seen the thread though), as a skincare nerd that's been into it longer than it's been fashionable, it's a bit of nonsense. Instagram especially has really warped our ideas of healthy looking skin, it'll be different for everyone and it's now subject to fashion unfortunately. The typical glow associated with a glycolic face or the overly taut skin and enlarged pores on a rather shiny forehead that's prevalent with heavy botox use are obvious wealth signifiers as obvious as a Birkin or LV logo bag these days but say little about the health of the skin. And like the LV and Birkin bags the ubiquity and imitations mean the original value is lost as well.

Reality is, well looked after skin (that's diet, health, exercise and skin care over a very long period of time) will look different every day. I have a natural glow but in order to preserve that I need to use SPF daily and that's either shiny or matte so as soon as that's on there's not much left of it. All this glow talk at the end of the day is just down to cosmetics (and a lot of well placed light and filters). Luminosity is much more down to smooth and even skin tone and how it looks when light bounces of it, it's achievable for some, but rare, yet easily mimicked with makeup and a bit of skill so long as you aim for healthy. Granted products that work well for this do tend to come from expensive brands like Armani, Sisley, Tom Ford, etc.

Just did a raid of my local dress agency.
I tried a lovely Margaret Howell skirt but sadly was too small.
I tried two trench coats a Max Mara and a Burberry. The max mara one was a bit too big and the colour a tone of beige that was not optimum against my skin.
The Burberry trench was perfect on me, the fabric was more on the slightly glossy side , good weight and great quality, good colour on me ... only issue is that it has a mark on the lapel, is a type of glue or as if something sticky was put there. £35 pounds. I will need to either send to dry cleaner and pray it comes out ok or shop keeper said you can send to Burberry for repairs, cleaning... anyone has any experience on this with Burberry or any other brand?
I am thinking I should have taken a picture...

What I got is a pair of very light pink YSL trousers for £18, slightly wide and get to the floor I think with loafers / trainers will look good. I will post pictures later .
Chuffed with them

I am enjoying the yellow trench/dress on the BV .

Nice jumper quirky, though the handwash only label would put me off.

Love the first BV warrior look in you collage bo 😁 as well as the cream outfit with half a black belt :)

Has hair been discussed before and I missed it? Other than the no comb method, which would not work for my fairly straight and heavy hair. I need to do something about it though to get some lift and movement into it without anything high maintenance like frequent cuts or more than a few minutes of styling. I’ve kep it in a blunt waist length cut for nearly two decades but now I’m starting to feel as if the Morticia look is not doing me favours 😕 Would dry shampoo save it? Any other magic tricks?

"Instagram especially has really warped our ideas of healthy looking skin, it'll be different for everyone and it's now subject to fashion unfortunately."

That's exactly it; it completely messes up our idea of what healthy skin is supposed to look like, and seems like we're being sold a completely unattainable idea with ever more products expected to achieve it. Also hard to know what one should be aiming at. Plus ca change I suppose.

Looking forward to pictures Red. As for Uniqlo, I'm mainly a size 12 and medium in jumpers usually works for me. Tempted to try a small in some but might be a stretch over the boobs. They are really good at returns though especially if you have a myHermes point nearby, so I don't mind ordering a few things.

The uniqlo jumpers I've already bought are medium and a large, for sizing up, so usually true to size. Hand-wash = delicates wash on my washing machine.

I am really looking forward to the Dior meet up. I think we shall have so much to talk about after 18 months of these threads. You all feel a bit like old chums (well, not old, but you know what I mean -- familiar and congenial).

I'm a standard M in Uniqlo tops. but occasionally buy L if I don't mind slouchier. And my washing machine thinks likewise.

Skincare: well, I lurk on the skincare thread and sometimes post but don't vary my routine much, or introduce legions of new stuff. I did acquire a Korean Collagen hydrating lotion recently, which I really like. It has a slightly jellied consistency. You can all tell me exactly how old I am! Not that it's a secret.

Bo, if you love the BV stomping boots, take a look at Andia Fora. Nice Tuscan artisan factory and often some cracking bargains on Yoox.com, from previous seasons, but they have been attuned to that look for a while. I might have bought three pairs obviously past seasons . And on my foot, very comfortable too.

Look forward to pics of the YSL trousers later. For all my talking about how I am tired of blush pink (since it’s so ubiquitous here and doesn’t really suit me) I was fondling a pair of that colour trousers in a shop the other week. Realised I tempted mostly because they’re wide legs which I always like but what on earth could I wear with blush pink. Bloody black is all I think.

I loved the BV pics but a lot of it seemed very futuristic. Not that I dislike sci-fi but it’s hard to translate to real world without becoming costumey. Am
thinking in particular of the coat that looks like dragon scales and the dominatrix bounty hunter, but other things too. It’s a shame because interesting cuts are interesting but perhaps these are a touch dramatic, emphasis on theatre? I really appreciate that open chest cut, feels theatrical in a good way. I can see it being worn on red carpets for instance. It’s kind of a nude Bene Gesserit look.

at nude Ben Gesserit look, bani. I like the dramatic look, but it does need watering down in rl, I agree.

Those andia fora trainers, in particular, look good, Xing. I ventured into tkmaxx yesterday, to look at replacing some hi-tops/trainers but ended up buying boots . All the trainers I tried on pinched, sadly. I think I've inadvertently ended up with a pair of men's Chelsea boots (by roamer who I've not come across before) what strikes me is 1) how well-made for the price they are and 2) how much more comfortable than women's style, still almond toe but not tight.

Pere i do not have any big wise words in hair but I have noticed the following myself -
My hair is slightly wavy, a good amount, heavy and combination (oilier at roots but not too much)
I noticed the last year my hair was getting “heavier” and flat at the top. Changed a few shampoos and tried dry shampoo and made it worse I think.
But the shampoo that “helped” to make it lighter and give it a bit of boost were the Khiel’s amino acid one and a L’Oréal green bottle clay one (cannot recall name) exchanging these two hair improved a bit.
Then a couple of months ago I decided to try shampoos in bar , more to use less plastic. Initially I did not get on with them I persevered for many weeks and did a gradual introduction, first wash with the L’Oreal and second with the bar, then after a few weeks also introduced the conditioner in bar.
The main difference is that now I can get away with washing after 3 days and not 2 like before as hair lasts cleaner for longer, I think is less build up of product.

I dry and brush my hair as otherwise left it to its own devices it will take a whole day to dry (literally). But the second and third day I only brush the top layers of my hair, just to “neat” it a bit as I have a lot, so that also helps not to flatten it.
I do not style it at all other than a few minutes in the morning.
Still experimenting with the shampoo bars and some days I also use Faith in nature a shampoo liquid that I found is refillable in a local shop.
Not sure if it helps and I do not consider myself great with my hair style , but always has been quite healthy.

I quickly stepped into the shop to take a photo of the Burberry coat ... here it is.
The mark on the third photo, it actually has two other marks on the front two , quite visible similar to that one ... I would prefer a more cotton gabardine type material, this one has a slight shine to it.
Not sure what to do ... £35 ... I asked a dry cleaner and they cannot guarantee.

You don’t love it, pass. I’m also unsure of those stains (as a former quasi dry cleaner)

Decision made for me as the coat has gone anyway. I dragged a friend to show it and it had gone. Probably for best .

Bani yes you are right if I do not love it pass!

I’m still teaching myself that lesson. I’m currently bidding on a pair of black wool trousers from Stella McCartney for H&M because about eight years ago I tried them on in a second hand shop in the wrong size and and have been looking for them ever since. But bani you say, have you not recently bought two pair shoes of black wool trousers? Yes, yes I have. But not the Stella ones. Are we placing bets on how dated they’ll look? Couldn’t find any good pictures online to reassure me but placed a bid anyway.

*pairs

I’m cheekily popping in instead of my usual reading to ask if there is anything I should consider at H&M as I have to buy a top for my 3yos wheres wally costume there tonight! I’m still post baby on the tummy so nothing expensive. this had better not be my shape the rest of my life
I love the look of those blue Joseph trousers!