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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Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

red I think i am or I will regret it- even if it doesn’t fit I can stare at the painted silk and dream of an imaginary future where I can sew (and my imaginary little girls frolic in my hand smocked citronille outfits)

Time

I did not mean to ignore your green shirt Bani I imagine that shade really suiting you --indeed my imagination as I never met you but in my head looks very good on you— and you seem to love it so that means a keeper, right?

Flo, if you weren't so far away, I'd offer you the run of my wardrobe to borrow... We are the same size-ish, and borrowing seems to me the way to go on this wedding. What about hiring something? Is there a good hire agency within sensible range?

Aw thank you Xing you are a true S&B friend. Good idea about hire agencies - I've not a clue if there are any round here but I will check.

Just had a robust afternoon trying on stuff for my husband who doesn't have a diplomatic bone in his body but whom I can trust to tell the truth. There are a few things that would be fine so there's no crisis, just nothing where I look in the mirror and think 'You've nailed it Flo.'

It's also reminded me how many lovely clothes I have that I can't ever see myself wearing again but which I don't want to sell just yet in case I find myself down on my uppers one day. Or I need my son to settle down with someone who likes 20s/30s frocks. My niece is no use as she won't wear second hand

Red no worries, wasn't fishing :) It does, as a matter of fact, look pretty good on me! Am wearing it today with my black Turnover trousers that I hemmed up almost 7 cm - how tall are the Dutch?! Present company excluded Shirt feels lovely. Am pretending it's not transparent (couldn't find my little camisole this morning to wear under it, visible bras are french I decided) (even at work).

Flo I feel your outfit pain. That is the story of my life. So hard with events where small nuances make the difference between "nailed it" and "eh". And when you've found the clothes you have the problem of shoes. A hire agency or a clothes-lending library would be perfect!

Have won the Stellas. Gave up on the linen Nygårdsanna trousers, they started going up in price more than I was willing to pay.

Am looking at Choke Andersson's clothes - they're very affordable. However the pure black and white of it all is not so much me. aspirebychoke.com/

I remember being unimpressed when grey first became a thing but it’s probably the colour I wear most at the moment.

Oh gosh I’ve been MIA for a while. I realised when this thread no longer showed up in my recent activity. I see I’m just in time for a new thread!

I can’t catch up with everything that has been posted, but I’ll try a few.

The Celine was baffling, felt very Chloe to me with a bit of vintage Gucci. I didn’t dislike the looks, bit it felt a bit stale. Still I’d happily take some of those boots (not the over the knees) and the pleated wool skirts.

I had a quick look at the Dries show, though sure about the attached bag which just brings sea urchins to mind for me. I liked Anna Wintour’s outfit for attending (shown here on a different outing to the tennis).

I have one identified wardrobe gap that I’d like to fill, a blazer for going over dresses in work that’s not black or navy. Something structured, but maybe a bit oversized. I might have a look in London.

I enjoyed Stockholm bani My perception was that people really dress down there, maybe it’s the weather? I was glad I was in jeans and clumpy boots. Whoever was dithering about clumpy boots, I highly recommend them. We had two great meals. Lovely pictures from the museum and the shirt is a great colour.

red those blue trousers are sensational

I did buy this dress in Stockholm. I love the style of it, but the fabric isn’t my favourite. I’m still enjoying swishing around in it though. www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/dresses/product.fluid-long-sleeve-dress-blue.0700307002.html

Anna Wintour's dress is very Asterix and Obelix isn't it? ;)

Yes, we do dress down in the winter but nonetheless Sthlm tends to be more dress-up and try-hard than anywhere else. It can really vary from street to street though! Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself :D

I like the Arket dress and it looks really well on you! There's something to be said for swishy fabrics, they do lift your mood ...

Bani I cannot see the asterix and obelix on that dress.., help me ...

That Anna Wintour dress has my name written all over it. Two years ago Hobbs did a similar one and they did not have my size, I searched for ages and was gutted! Love it.

Elle of that swishy dress of yours

Bani, if you're not a fashion journalist you should be, I love your descriptions! (red, I assume bani means the pattern is similar to something Asterix or Obelix would wear). That and nude Bene Gesserit .

Nice dress, Elle, swishy feels more spring/summer, I think.

I like that dress too Elle.

Oh and now you've got me onto the Arket website and look, see this dress, here here here This is it. This is what I want for that wedding. Only not black - partly vanity and partly cos even I know about not wearing black to weddings.

I'd prefer slightly longer sleeves too as I'm not enamoured of my elbows.

Google cacofonix ;) very Wintour pattern!

I'm afraid those are my inspired fashion writer contributions for the year, I'm very pleased with them but the river hath run dry I think. I'm more of a "uuuhhhh that's nice" sort of writer normally.

Yay Flo, you found it!!! Surely the perfect one must be easy to find now that you know the shape?

Pure Collection has a purple one (shorter) that looks a bit like that - ish - maybe -

www.purecollection.com/clothing/womens-dresses/silk_relaxed_ruffle_neck_dress.htm?showDefault=1

I'm sure they'll be more, bani .

Nice dress, flo. I won't start on the black at weddings thing, a regular mn thread subject, I think.

It's one of those things where even if the bride doesn't mind, other guests who aren't aware that the bride won't care will notice.

Nice dress Flo I think black is fine at a wedding these days. A mantilla might be considered a bit much if you're the mother of the groom, but otherwise I say go for it. Particularly with some well chosen accessories - I'm thinking chunky jewellery or an interesting bag / shoes rather than a pastel pashmina and fascinator ;)

Thanks Catherine I've had a few things from Pure Collection that I've been happy with and I like that dress but it doesn't make me punch the air and go 'Yeees!'. But please keep them coming if you see anything else.

I'm not sure now why I had such a lightbulb moment with the Arket dress. But I think it's an interesting shape without being too voluminous and I also like the length (it would mean I could get away with no tights) and the neckline. And look, it's even got pockets!

But no, I'm not wearing black to a wedding, no sirree. I've seen all the threads. And anyway, a small matter but black doesn't even suit me . The trouble I've a horrible feeling it might not look as interesting in a more wedding appropriate colour - and that's assuming I could find one like it. So the hunt might not be over just yet.

So many people wear black at weddings. Anyway, it takes so little to unblack it - a belt, a scarf or shawl, shoes of different colour ... 23 years ago I was an au pair in Paris and my employer told me a story of how she’d gone to a wedding in England with a black dress packed and once arrived heard that black was unacceptable. She’d panicked and bought a new dress in a colour (and it wasn’t very nice or at least wasn’t as nice), then gone to the wedding and seen several guests in black. She was still annoyed. Also, you’re an evening guest, so.

I think a kaftan dress would still be interesting in a cool silk print or deep green?

Thought: what do you think of dresses from Rodebjer, Flo? www.rodebjer.com/se/shop/dresses-and-skirts/

I may have worn black to a wedding... usually paired with something neutral or white. Once, as an evening guest, once to a Jewish wedding (evening/cocktail dress code, such a good idea) and once, heavily pg. I was not the only one . I have got a mantilla at home, but I didn't wear it. .

Oh I like some of those too bani. I'm not so much into the florals (they're very pretty just not particularly me). But the shapes, yes I do like them . Thanks - I have no idea what those prices mean and I'm not sure I dare ask

We're day guests (Sorry when I said 'B lister' I meant not the bride's entourage but extended family). So I'll be on some of the photos and, cos I'm short, likely to be on the front row and, for reasons which I won't go into, there is no way I'm going to risk rocking the boat!

Oh arse that’s right. Why did I think evening guest? Well you don’t want Rodebjer if you’re short I think, quite tall clothes iyswim. So you don’t need to know that you can divide Swedish money by ten to get euro prices (approx) ;) It’s quite a popular brand here. Overpriced imo. But they do sweeping caftans well/a lot.

I should probably step away then Nice though, (especially the black ones - why have I got a fixation with black all of a sudden?). They've got a bit of a Cos vibe without being quite as scary.

No they’re a bit bohemian rich bitch I think ;)

Sorry falling behind, I'm having a health flare up and been suitably distracted. Will try to get new thread up as soon as I'm back from current appointment.

Useless rec as it's more expensive than the Rodebejer ones but I did try on attached from Kenzo this weekend in silk. It is two sizes up, but the pattern was really reminiscent of things my grandmother had a lot of and I was in the mood for colourful things, hence the Barbie sequin skirt and multicolour jumper. Don't know why I then ended up buying the Isabel Marant skirt in the third picture. I have a few of those already as it's a classic silhouette of hers but I'm probably returning it as the colour is quite difficult, sort of that unbleached cotton base with faded black. It's not very versatile. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Kenzo as I'd anticipated drowning in it but it was remarkably flattering.