Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: See life in pink, but do not wear it!

[botemp]

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between.

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Favoured Parisian addresses for reference:

Second Hand Shops

Outlets

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Yes Bo, same word, suspect similar usage. Used as a term of respect up to say the 70s for older women "go and help Tant Fredriksson with the shopping bag" or whatever.

I was going to take a pic of my failed outfit for you to critique but the full body mirror here at work is gone. :/ I feel off anyway. Am wearing silk twill trousers from Arket in black/beige, bought in the supersale, black v-neck t-shirt, my black brogue-y shoes (Clarks, don't @ me). No coat or jacket to match, panicked this morning and pulled on the wool jersey dark green Arket coat I got in said super sale.

The trousers felt ok at home but now I just feel fat and like I'm wearing pyjamas.

Tante is French for aunt too .

Tante culturelle.

When I was a child all the grown ups were aunties or uncles. I thought everyone was related to us and it was a bit of a let down when I found out my actual family was quite small.

Your outfit sounds good bani. Any idea what isn't working?

Possibly I’m just fat and ugly. 🤔

We've seen at least one photo so we know that's not true. You're just very self critical I think.

Mind you I'm the opposite - I think I look great in the mirror then I take a photo and get a bit of a shock!

Ah photos are the pits I agree, mirrors are miles better 😉

Except for magnifying mirrors. They're banned in this house.

Oh I discovered that the mirrors in uniqlo were dreadful. Full length magnifiers, I never felt bigger!

Photographs do distort, depending on your phone make that can be favourable or the complete opposite. I'd have a major nose complex if I spent my time making selfies.

Agree with Flo, that I very much doubt you're ugly, Bani, but it can feel like that sometimes. I think we've discussed it before that you're an annoying height for standardised clothing, just a smidge too tall for the patterns and since you're broader in the ribs you're often missing just that bit of length in tops and the waist isn't coming in where it should which can feel scruffy without actually being scruffy. It's a bit like getting jigsaw pieces that optically should fit together refusing to fit and you just end up bashing the ends in with force out of frustration.

In Asian families everyone you're not related to is an aunt or uncle too. It's a bit odd at times though as I remember meeting my (actual married in) aunt's family at their wedding for the first time who are fully Asian and then it's a bit odd to call strangers by such familiar terms when you're an adult yourself but it'd be considered very rude not to. Also comes with a stifling hierarchy...

I don't understand why a company like Uniqlo - who clearly have pretty good business sense - won't invest in decent mirrors and lighting.

They refuse to mollycoddle us. But i need coddling!

I had a dream last night and it involved most of us in a city break looking at some shops and some very impressive plazas and fountains. I was a bit of a cross between Paris and Italy.
And Bani and Flo were there too, Bani with the most amazing pair of trousers and Flo with this kimono type of garment.

Why the , exactly what kind of dream was this

A combination of Paris and Italy and lots of fountains... Vegas then?

Oh and the funny thing is that I did not see your faces in the dream it was all from neck down

Don’t get me started in body image, as much as I ike to think I am over it, I know I am deeply critical about several bits of my body ... lack of waist ... lack of boobs ... I am much better than when I was younger but still a bit there ... and is true that mirrors and photos give different perspectives.

Oops got distracted by dreams, actually came to report on my Cos order that arrived and has already been sent back. Flo jumpsuit is indeed small fitting but it sat at the wrong places on me, waist was on my bottom ribs, the boobs were squashed and the shoulders sat slightly too high which meant the straps were levitating.

The white jumpsuit I had to try on way too many times to actually get it on (through the neckline) it made me wide and round at the lower stomach so that wasn't helpful.

Sigh, hopefully I'll actually come across things I like and fit me well. Have managed a shortlist of things I think I want, more playsuits of better quality materials, thick silk high waisted Palazzo trousers, some oversized silk shirts, possibly linen and cotton too, some maxi dresses and maybe some white jeans or a white denim mini so basically a whole new summer wardrobe

bo my old phone used to do the nose thing too, a bit too fish eye lens to be flattering!

Going back to the aunties, when I was young (70s) all our neighbours were auntie or uncle such and such too, flo.

I want to know more about red's dream in Vegas .

Love the sound of this dream red. Was I wearing the kimono-dress that bani linked a few pages back cos I've still got it on my phone? Although I was slightly put off when Olivia Coleman's ghastly Fleabag character got married in something similar.

And sorry to hear about the jumpsuit bo. They've now only got it in a 34 on the UK site, which I very much doubt would get past my hips. So I guess that's it for me but it will still always be my jumpsuit!

I was planning to write a big update, but I’m pecking away on my phone so it may be a few piecemeal posts.

Lovely trousers red really like the gaucho look.

Shame about the jumpsuit botemp

NYC was a real flying visit. First stop was the Real Real which is a great store. In a way I wished that there was more stock, but what was there was really nicely curated and in excellent condition. Lots of brands that are in demand so Céline, Chanel, the row. Prices were very fair.
I tried on three things. The first two I didn’t buy, but showing them for fun.
Avert your eyes botemp it’s a super shiny Burberry. Way too tight on the bust and the waistline in the wrong place / I feel your pain bani $350 before discount

Next up an Alexander wang waistcoat dress that made me feel very Katniss Everdeen, but I couldn’t imagine where I’d wear it in real life.

Lastly the one thing I did not photograph was a top that’s nearly the same as this but the back panel is blush as opposed to red so it’s more versatile. Celine and I got 25% off.

Oh red that was the BEST dream! 😂 love it!!! Also “Vegas” haha bo As far away from parisienne style as you can come 😉 I’d love more details too!

Flo I’ll have a drink tonight in memory of your jumpsuit.

Elle have to say the Katniss Everdeen look works for you!

Bo I love the sound of your dream wardrobe. How can you even put thick silk palazzo trousers on a list? They do not exist to buy.

I really like the waistcoat dress.

Well I've been to the ISle of Wight to catch up with chums. Visited Osborne, but drew the dog straw so walked the estate which was beautiful and dodged the house which DH said was full of tatty Indian souvenirs, then went to the big garlic farm shop and bought delicious condiments. DH bought a hat today for Lords (he's going to the world cricket 50/50m final with his cousin in July, in the MCC Long Room, so proper pukka rig required) and I bought three shackles/karabiners from the chandler to make my bag strap the correct length. It was awesome and a very good time has been had by all.

The electrician is here at 8.30 tomorrow to give us back lights in the kitchen. Yay!

Hope you have light by now Xing. I was on the Isle of Wight a couple of years ago and it was like going back in a time machine to a 1960s seaside holiday. I'm not sure how long I would last living there but for a few days it was an absolute delight.

I have a question: Has anyone had a coat re-lined - specifically a leather coat? If so would you mind saying roughly how much it cost and also whether you thought it was worth it?
I have a vintage leather coat that I bought a couple of years ago and the lining (which seemed fine when I bought it) is disintegrating before my eyes. I only paid £40 for it so I'm guessing it's probably a lot cheaper to just look for another vintage one but it feels a bit wasteful plus I really like this one and it could take ages to find one like it.

Just popping in to answer Flo, I have not relined a coat but one of my closest friends has done it , she lives in my town (Hertfordshire area) so used my usual tailor. This was not leather though, but it was a Japanese brand knee length that she got years ago for circa £300 so she felt that spending £60 was worth it as the outside of the coat was worth it.
This was just over a year ago .