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

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

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Oh thanks Flo.
I cannot help it ... can I mention bad weather coat for you flo, I have the short version of this in a khaki green (also found on eBay) and is great, as the very thick lining comes out and I can wear it now.
Shame that this one is in black. Just to give you an idea for when the time comes and you are ready to acquire something.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parka-London-Fur-Lined-Coat-Sold-Out-Small-RRP-145/173694744872?hash=item2871037928:g:SqcAAOSwXUdbm6~M
Now I shut up.

I love the green dress too! Maybe it's the "easiest", most conventionally wearable though? Found a more precise quote from the designer specifying that it was esp inspired by La Duchesse Guermantes (in À la recherche I assume).

After the red one she wrote an essay/article about her "night in the silk cathedral". When she got home she discovered the drawback of a dress fastened with a hundred buttons on the back - she lived alone and had no-one to help her get it off, so she had to sleep in it until she could wake a neighbour for assistance .

The pink and orange one is not inspired by literature apparently - had to google a bit to get the info, but found a quote. They'd done that three years, so now it was a clean break. He doesn't specify inspiration, but says it started with the cape. The bow at the neck is a nod to her signature pussy bow blouse (when she was fired there was a social media thing with people wearing PB blouses to show support). They wanted volume, cheerfulness and happiness. She likes the colours, and they're also associated with other strong women like Schiaparelli and Göta Trädgårdh (Swedish textile artist) (no I hadn't heard of her but googling I recognise her work). I read some guesses online that associated the colours with those worn by bullfighters, the reference being that she was fighting her own bulls (sexism etc) in the Academy.

I love the green dress, too.

flo I find I wear less make up now. I think I take off as much as I put on, tbh, to try and make it look more natural. I used to wear black eyeliner and mascara too. My day to day makeup involves some BB cream and touché eclat, cream blush (I'm very pale), eyebrow pencil, a little grey eyeshadow, very thin eyeliner (tightliner?) on the outer edges and some mascara. I still wear black mascara, the roots of my eye lashes are dark, so it looks OK. If I remember, I'll add lipstick.

red I've just looked back to the last page and read you were asking about pale eyeshadow. I've got a pale grey and almost white which are slightly pearlescent from kiko. Kiko was recommended on an earlier thread.

I'm no good for makeup rec:s I'm afraid. I can unrecommend the msacara from MAC though? Smudgy shite.

For a bare eyes look I really like a smudge of Mac painterly. I also used to really love Benefit’s Lemon Aid, but it’s discontinued I think. It sounds odd, but the yellow colour just offset any blue/ greyness and made me look less tired, it’s for eyelids.

I genuinely lol’d at that oversized mint green coat. The green trench is to die for and I’m all about the forest green at the moment.

Bani I love the story about the “night in the silk cathedral”. What a fabulous inspiration. The green one is very similar to the aforementioned Erdem floral. I have a dress from Erdem with a similar digitised flower print, though the dress is just a simple t-shirt shift dress.

I just use my concealer over my eyelids. I have hooded eyelids and they've always been crepey so never really bother with the effort of eyeshadow and liner beyond tightlining. I always find focusing on lashes are a better pay off for me, it's only because they're such a faff that I only get them occasionally but I do like getting lash extensions done. I'm considering LVL but I'm unsure if I'm a good candidate for that.

I often do just sweep excess powder on my lids, blush or sculpting powder, that works for me as well.

I've succumbed to the sales and ordered some boots from Zara. They'll probably end up going back but since I came out unsuccessful in last year's attempt to source winter boots I best start early this year. Also ordered some Jacquemus pieces that I have to go pick up although only half the order was sent out and now I have to chase the rest of it as it does need to get here before leaving to Paris next week.

Kitchen pictures... none brilliant.

There's only a few details left to do, pending delivery, so a couple more...

First picture is early on, before the stickers were removed, so a few weeks ago. Middle pic of sink/tap/view is half way through the fit. Last of first three was taken yesterday, but the splash back is still to be fitted (next week). On post two, the knife racks went up yesterday as did the laundry rail/shelf, and we bought the new table and chairs a fortnight ago. We need to replace some worn floor tiles in the dining area, and in addition, we have changed the colours (from brown wood) and the glazing.

I think and hope the kitchen/utility room have been transformed from 1970s/early 80s to C21. Please don't tell me different. I shan't bore you with detail pictures but the kitchen fitter/joiner is obsessed with finish so he has fitted and refitted every square millimetre until everyone was satisfied.

In fashion terms, the Times linked Sunad.es for tops yesterday, and as it was new to me, but with some stuff I am taken with, I thought you might like to know. The colours and shapes are very wearable, but cannot say anything about size and fit obviously. For an alternative approach to everyday flattering but wearable not-quite-designer name and price.

Looks great Xing really like your sink and I love all the space in your utility room, the rail is a great idea.

Net a Porter have 20% off today, but I'm not buying anything. Did buy shoes in the sale so I'm sitting on my hands.

Love the table and chairs against the floor and the wood effects, Xing. That is a serious collection of knives too. :)

It really does look lovely Xing. I love the colour schemes and the shape of those chairs and the way the apron matches the floor tiles! Wishing you many many hour of pleasure in there.

Sunad looks very seductive doesn't it? Has anyone seen it in real life?

Is it me or did the sales start earlier than ever this year? It's only midsummer's day and already they're hitting the 50% mark-off. I am quietly concerned for some of them.

& that's on top of constant 20% off emails for what feels like every company out there. I often wonder how well say Baukjen or Pure Collection can be doing.

Xing I am also admiring your kitchen. I like the contrast in lines between the very sharp vs the curves of table and chairs. The colour of the tops is great too.

I will have to look carefully at my other dresses / ask a friend as I tried the black dress I have but I fear might be too much for summer.

Thanks for the kind words, Parisiennes! I have stolen ideas shamelessly, from high and low, like a magpie.

We do have rather a lot of knives Catherine , and that's not including the contents of DS's chef's roll!

DH is now telling the world that I spent triple the allocated budget, and saying nothing at all about his (mahoosive) contribution to the overspend. We are all very pleased with the result though.

Oooo Xing, looking good! Since I'm late to the party can I ask if you're pleased now that you've worked in it for a bit? Anything you'd have tweaked just a little? Or is it too soon to ask such intrusive questions

I think the sales are on quite early, I agree. I'm kicking myself for missing out on a dress (wrap style, not very Parisienne) in Mango that i've been dithering over previously. Me and my daughters have booked a little shopping trip to Sthlm in July anyway so we'll see what's left then in the shops.

I'm feeling a hankering for cami tops. It's very unlike me, being a little fat and all and wearing bras all the time. I can't explain it. Is it worth pursuing?

I'm also more and more annoyed at the colour scheme of my wardrobe. It doesn't gel. Too many pieces that can only be matched with one thing. Too much black.

Bo what winter boots could one possibly get in Zara that are worth the name of winter?

Hi Bani... I am really pleased with it, and the way it is working, but there are finishing touches to come. I'm hoping the splashback will go up this week (waiting for glass to arrive; who knew that acrylic couldn't be placed less than 130mm from the gas range without?) Plus, two more larder doors, and an extra wall-hung cupboard for the utility. The configuration of task zones hasn't changed radically, except to add power where it was needed.

I decided that I need to replace some black jeans last week. I might have seen some I like in the posh frock shop, but am waiting for the sale preview on Thursday to pounce. If someone beats me (only one pair in my size), does anyone have alternative suggestions?

Stockholm with your DDs sounds like fun. Camis are a no-go area here, but great on the young, firm and slender.

What colours do you mainly have bani? Black aside. :)

Lovely kitchen, Xing.

bani, I find camis tricky as I have wide shoulders and they seem to emphasise this. Also, any weight I do put on tends to be on my upper body so the spaghetti straps are not flattering! I do, however, have slightly fitted vest tops with wide straps and that come quite high on the back, which are much easier to wear for me.

Hello lovely dressy Mumsnet ladies I periodically come and read your threads (from Melbourne) How, oh how do I bookmark the thread from the app on my iPhone? Have been wondering this for years 😳 Apologies for such a dullsville first ever post 😳 but would love to frequent you more often, especially as I might get to have a days shopping in London later in the year. Thank-you for any IT tips - I am an IT ignoramus and have always been particularly baffled by how on earth I'm actually supposed to get the the Mumsnet app working for me!

Hi all! That is one fabulous kitchen Xing !
Bad news on the mustard Bobbies: the fold in the suede over the toes was strangely uncomfortable. They’ve gone back, as have a pair of wide fit tan leather sandals from Dune (not the slides) which were quite the widest shoes I’ve ever tried. Have given up on sandal quest for another summer 😏
Bo I have LVL lashes. It works best if you have long straight lashes - if like me, you’re currently wedded to your eyelash curlers, you should see good results.
No shopping here. Going to save up my mat leave pennies and have a binge shop in September when hopefully I won’t be breastfeeding so much in the day, opening up lots more options. Also the A/W colour palette usually suits me much better than SS colours.

Ah Xing that's good news! Sadly I can't help you with tips on black jeans. Being not firm nor slender (and young is up for debate) I don't look great in camis, no. But I think I'm drawn to the neckline atm? Maybe if I work out a lot (A LOT) and get Michelle Obama arms I can wear them. Maybe then they won't over-emphasise my wide shoulders (same problem as you, quirky, I end up just one massive expanse of skin there).

I'm still in long trousers because rash isn't gone (but better! got a v good steroid cream). And I own several, all wide legs natch:

• Black lyocell trousers from Cos (a little tight, am not wearing atm)
• White linen trousers from Zara (def too tight, not currently wearing)
• V dark (slate) grey linen trousers from Mango (a little too fucking big but can be worn)
• Navy "fluid viscose" trousers from Arket (love them but actually a little heavy and elastic waist so a little casual)
• 2 pairs of floral wide leg trousers from H&M, one in tones of off-white, green, a little purple... and the other blue-ish with green and some red, from the William Morris collection last year. Very hard to find exact matches for the colours in both.
• Terracotta-ish viscose trousers from Lindex.
• Black and beige silk twill trousers from Arket (feel a little clownish sadly)
• Mad floral trousers from Zara that give a red impression overall, cannot find a green to match the green in the trousers.

I can't pair navy and red because I feel like a failed sailor, nor red with green because elf. Black/beige trousers feel weird with anything but black - my beige top is the wrong beige. Yellow/ochre top with terracotta trousers feel like a Kettlewell Colours ad. I am a little precious and too anal about getting the colour right if I'm picking out one colour to match with in my mad trousers. So I'm wearing blue with blue, or a lot of black tops :/ Maybe I should just say ah feck it it's ok haha.

areal - wish I could help but I don't use the app, sorry! But welcome to the thread, now that you've posted on it you'll find it again surely :)