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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Sept

Gossip , must read more diligently to see what I missed there... Looking forward to hearing what you got Catherine. I did a quick browse at Cos last night, found a pair of cropped wool herringbone paper bag trousers at 70% off but I'm not sure on the length will have to go back with other shoes. Will post pic later.

Red, I really like the Hobbs on you. If you're not done looking, I did pass by the Aquascutum (which are the trench coat aficionados' trench of choice) outlet when I accidentally ended up there in Hackney. I wanted to go to the Matches flagship and wasn't paying attention and ended up in their outlet in Hackney which was nice but not discounted all that heavily unless you're looking for a designer bag, they had a few Loewe puzzles in less popular colours and a few classic Mansur Gavriels. There's also a Joseph, Pringles of Scotland, and Burberry's outlet there.

I've attached the MH sample sale info. Please put the enabling badges away I'm already considering it far too seriously and convincing myself with arguments that the shipping costs on 3 orders from net a porter or matches just to try things on is pretty much the price of a plane ticket... Screw the environment and all that

Peregrane, sorry forgot to reply previously, WRT MH trousers, for reference I'm 163cm and in the picture upthread I'm wearing 8cm heels and then I folded the hem over twice, generously, so around 8-10cm, I suspect, so you could be okay at 180cm or just miss out. I do suspect they're designing with 178cm as their standard length as opposed to 175cm which is the case in a lot of other places.

I think you got the Uniqlo U wilde leg trousers, right? They were a touch longer than those.

Oh thanks Bo I did think about Aquascutum too , but I decided to stop my search as the Hobbs was a good fit and if I end up with my usual pondering for ages ... my present might be in time for Xmas

Oh and look forward to the list of the London places you gathered in your trip to the capital.

If you decide at some point to do more shopping on this side let me know!

Right now I am looking forward to my trip in a couple of weeks ... the Xmas drone disaster when trying to go to the South hemisphere has now been rebooked and I am off at the beginning of April (fingers and everything else crossed)

I saw those trousers too and thought they looked good - didn't buy them though as a bit too formal for anything I need right now. I bought a scarf (had my eye on it since last autumn and hoped it would appear in the sale), a polo neck and a cube pendant necklace. The Arket lot contained 2 jumpers and a skirt. I will try and get some pictures but difficult without a full-length mirror.

Glad the trip has been rebooked, Red!

Red, the Hobbs trench is such a good call. It fit you perfectly. Here's hoping your DH has got everything organised so you get a lovely package on your birthday. Your trip will go smoothly this time around, and you will have the holiday you wanted at Christmas. I can feel it....

Well I'd love to come again Red but price of tickets has gone up for Thursday so unless they go down again I'll probably stay put. Any future visits would really depend on the B-word.

Great to hear the trip is back on! Now that I know the actual destination I'm properly

The bucket bag is gorgeous, bo, it's the first thing I noticed in the photos. The cos trousers are a funny length, I agree. The conference was good, thank you for asking. A bit of information overload, but that's quite normal, I think.

Thank you everyone for all the lovely photos of the Dior exhibition, it looks gorgeous.

That bucket bag was a steal. In perfect condition too. Your trench is lovely, existing purchase.
Wore my bargain skirt today. It’s main line Michael Kora and in great nick for a tenner. Bought it in the Terence Higgins shop in Pimlico. Fabric is wool, cashmere and something abbreviated to “HO”. Any ideas?

Thank you for the MH sizing input, Flo and bo! Yes I am about 5’10 in imperial :)
Next time we are in London - provided the Eurostar doesn’t fold, and train travel remains an option - I am parking DH and the kids somewhere so I can check out the outlet! Perhaps this summer... depending, for us too, on the B-word.

I can't bear Brexit talk any longer. Apologies, but the subject has contaminated so many of my relationships that I am now very shy of discussing the whats, whys and wherefores of the subject with anyone.

In the purely abstract sense, it doesn't change much, and brings a dividend to our business as customers seek reliable UK suppliers rather than dodgy Italian-branded but made elsewhere components. Many local farms rely on low-skilled accession countries' labour to get their crops in, but the local schools focus on skilling their students for tourism and hospitality. Most jobs are paid at minimum wage levels with very limited prospects for promotion or progress, so anyone with ambition leaves the area; few return. Added to all this, property prices are buoyed by incomers buying holiday houses in areas of outstanding natural beauty. There are reasons that swathes of the country (outside the SE) voted leave.

Our family business is metal-bashing engineering, and fundamental to any process that requires heat transfer (hot to cold or cold to hot). The science hardly changes as it's difficult to argue with physics, but the politics............. don't let me start.

Xing, my parents are over here from France (intending to move back in the near future). The B word has been constant for nearly 2 weeks. I've completely had enough of it.

There are reasons that swathes of the country (outside the SE) voted leave.
Yup. A number of my friends (and possibly some family - I daren’t ask, that’s how bad it is) voted leave. I still think they’re sorely mistaken but they’re not racist and they’re not stupid. Stupidity is when a man with the finest education you can buy tries to use a referendum to get himself out of a spot of bother with a party he’s supposed to be leading. Cameron will of course be fine whatever happens, as will Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Farage etc.

Anyway, clothes. Thank you to all you lovely jumpsuit enablers. I’m intrigued by the higher priced one in the Cos sale but not succombed yet. I may come to regret that. But I’ve decided I don’t have much spare cash right now and I do have in my wardrobe (and assuming the skirt is fixable) a 1960’s suit in heavy, candy floss pink linen that Jackie K herself would be proud of and which I don’t have much occasion to wear. And if I end up looking like an elderly Sugar Plum Fairy, well such is life. I reserve the right to have changed my mind again by Monday.

Thanks for all the pics - exhibition looks great and I’m still hoping to get there. The trench looks like a great choice Red - I think the coats are always what Hobbs do best.

I have a very lovely red coat by Hobbs, and a quick look at their trenches the other day would make me agree with flo. They are very good at coats.

"Cameron will of course be fine whatever happens, as will Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Farage etc."

This is what pisses me off most - some truly establishment figures pretending that Brexit was anti-establishment and gambling with the lives of real people. What an utter con.

And that's quite enough Brexit talk from me. :)

Keeping dark burgundy wool Cos scarf, sending back a green Arket jumper - looked like a soft green on the website, ectoplasm in real life, plus being hairy and scratchy - a red jumper - neckline too high - and a skirt that just didn't work.

The 60s suit sounds great Flo. And if it's any consolation I also have a bright pink suit that I bought in 2007 for a wedding and plan to wear again this year for another one! (since I can now get back into it AND do the jacket up, which I couldn't do even then)

One final Brexit post - cos I know this isn't the place but I'm on a roll. The campaign was abysmal on both sides with no information. I believe people - whether I agree with them or not - made the best decision they could. But one thing I cannot abide (and thankfully I haven't yet heard this in real life) is people invoking the 'Blitz spirit'. My parents lived through the Blitz for real. They made immense sacrifices and they did so willingly because they thought they were helping to make the world a safer place. To hear these charlatans appropriating their losses sends me into the mother of all rages. Over and out.

I am all up for that pink suit Flo , I vote for pink.

I am happy as the trench coat 🧥 is with me now.

(Btw - I am also raging, disappointed, in disbelief about B. Even my son who is not on double digits keeps asking me if it is true They want us to split from Europe.. why they want to do that mummy? We live in such a small island ... And me grown up, educated woman cannot answer ...)

Paltry, but for you all.

I've managed to get all the London addresses in one doc, was a bit more work than anticipated so haven't put in my thoughts on each place yet, so have coded them for now. I did attempt adding a comment to William Vintage as that keeps the doc a bit neater, can you let me know if that is visible to all, or just me?

London Addresses

It’s visible Bo I still need to catch up on reading that article and exhibit thoughts! But I’m in Paris for a childfree weekend break so finally have some time :)

From a while back - Bo you captured it perfectly re my white jacket saying how they are so dense compared to other things. That should help me pull it into outfits thanks! Not sure who asked but I have a 9mo and also a nearly 4yo so yes white is a risk at least in things like blazers that don’t wash easily. But oh well, I have it so may as well let it get out.

Oops re picture. I thought I’d removed it, I was trying to describe my skirt but it’s only half in the budget hotel mirror photo so I gave up. I love it . eBay, far from current, wool silk herringbone, and straight cut to mid calf but split (with buttons) from just below picture cut off. Would make more sense with a proper picture!

Actually you can see the split. I really wish there was an edit.

Hello all, previous poster but NC'd, been following these fab threads for ages, I love reading your inspirations, ideas and tips.

I am getting married in September, my first marriage, his second. I'm in my late 30's, he's early 40's and I'm really struggling to figure out what to wear and I'd love to ask for your thoughts please!

I love how French women have a fairly casual approach to being a bride but always look pulled together and chic without seeming to pursue the notion of fairytale bride syndrome that seems so endemic in the UK. We are planning on having a Friday wedding lunch party in a members club after a ceremony at Kings Road Registry office, emphasis on great food, excellent wine, gorgeous flowers and a simple but elegant celebration.

I'm conscious that A) he's been married before, full bells and whistles and isn't interested in doing that again - neither am I, I have never aspired to the full blown wedding extravaganza treatment, we are a low key couple, I have an aversion to being the centre of attention, we aren't very traditional and have no desire for a first dance, cake cutting, horse and carriage stuff - no judgements if that is/was your bag, it just isn't ours. So I'm thinking low key but don't want it to feel lacklustre as while it is his second wedding, it is also my first (and hopefully only ) wedding and I'd like it to still feel very special and not as though we are embarrassed or deliberately being under the radar as I know many people do a bit of an eye roll with second weddings..

and B) I'm nearly 38, and finding wedding dress shopping for the kind of wedding I have in mind really difficult, the wedding industry feels set up for young glowy brides who want to look like princesses, lots of girlish, romantic detailing, and while that is so lovely for girly, romantic 28 year olds, what do those of us with a grown up aesthetic, approaching 40 wear?!

I am a designer with an architectural background, I'm fairly minimalist in my approach, I describe my style as Parisian-Japanese-Scandi influenced and I like simple shapes. I'm a size 8 (UK) and 5'4" so fairly easy to dress. I have tried on some lovely wedding dresses at Emma Victoria Payne where many of my friends have found their dresses for formal weddings, they felt incredible, so luxurious, and 'weddingy' but they also didn't feel like me. I've also tried The Mews for their more contemporary bridal approach, Rime Arodaky felt too young (exposed midriffs etc) and I liked Laura de Sagazan but slightly too detailed and romantic for me, Jenny Packham feels a little too vintage... I could have something made but not sure where to start with finding a good dressmaker and if I could find someone I could default to my classic shape which would be a fitted white pencil shaped dress, hitting just below the knee, sleeveless with a high slashed neck, super simple BUT will that feel special enough? Will I regret not wearing full length?

What is inspiring you for wedding looks lately? What is the secret to the French bride aesthetic that makes them look effortlessly womanly, sexy and individual regardless of age and not girly/homogenised and strapless ballgown wearing..?!

time I can see the split. You're looking very French on there, enjoy your weekend! If you need somewhere to eat tonight (as a lot is closed) where you don't feel the odd one out on your own, I can really recommend Sanukiya near the Louvre. It's Japanese, mostly ramen but a few other dishes too. There may be a line but on your own you get in pretty quick.

Congratulations denimes I think I remember you, you were getting back into work teaching, right? I rustled up some collages IIRC? Think we even talked wedding gowns then, though mostly about my own lack of imagination if ever confronted with the need for one.

It's so funny, Maxima pointed out the King's road registry as a popular place to get married and we all oohed approvingly at the pretty steps. I can see your conundrum as it's very pretty and traditional (in a good way).

As mentioned previously I'm useless with wedding related things, but Elle did pull an amazing two piece Céline knit two piece in off white (long sleeve or 3/4 boat neck and skirt iirc) that weighed an absolute tonne at Pandora's Agency. I'm not sure what the size was (maybe a 10) but it was very finely knit so potentially has range in sizes.

There was another agency a few shops down that sold a lot of upscale occasion wear and had a whole rack of wedding gowns, perhaps too traditional but if you're there already anyhow.

I still haven't made up my mind whether to fly out to London on Thursday again, otherwise, if you were free too, I would have offered up my company. Or you could always take a trip to Paris for wedding dresses think there's one street full of bridal shops.

I still haven't gotten round to collaging the A/W shows, might not ever at this pace, but CWK at Givenchy always has loads of white dresses that can work as a non traditional wedding dress and Nina Ricci debuted a new set of designers that also had a very wedding feel to me. A bit more out there but Loewe also worth looking at for inspiration.

Hello Bo yes, it's me, well remembered! Thanks for your ideas and suggestions...wedding wear is a minefield, I think I'm finally understanding why so. many. women wear the blimmin' strapless wedding gown - easy option (DEFINITELY not for me though).

I'll keep searching for the elusive, effortless French woman look in bridal wear, and start looking seriously for a good dress maker in case I do have to just go with default dress idea..

Off topic slightly, I'm thinking about hiring a stylist for personal shopping (I'm still really struggling with finding clothes), does anyone know/recommend The Style Coach ( @the_stylecoach on instagram)? Or know of anyone else with a simple style who does an online shop edit for clients?