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Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring.

995 replies

botemp · 13/07/2019 13:20

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


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Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring.
OP posts:
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361
Floisme · 16/08/2019 16:40

Funny you should say that quirky as I've also been sponging down my very threadbare waxed coat - an M&S-Barbour knock-off from their St Michael glory days - and the image in my head was Alexa Chung's cool auntie. But sadly I think it's too far gone - not so much shabby chic as Lady in the Van.

quirkychick · 16/08/2019 17:08

Reddit should have an Alexa Chung's cool auntie too Grin. I think she's just done a line for Barbour with waxed jackets and bucket hats too...

Floisme · 16/08/2019 17:35

Yes she has. I've been a bit sniffy about her other forays into designing but I quite like some of her Barbour stuff, although not enough to pay £49.95 for a hat - mine was £14.

And speaking of Barbour, there's also this Shock
There's a part of me hoping it'll sell out as it would totally ravage my autumn spending.

quirkychick · 16/08/2019 18:58

The millet hat is a good dupe, love the MH Barbour .

PersonaNonGarter · 16/08/2019 22:26

Thanks for the BA&SH advice, that’s useful.

I do agree with you all about the synthetics - never as nice - but Ba&sh won me over with this denim jacket a few weeks ago it the HN sale. I absolutely love it - it is the perfect cut. Now I am hooked on their website.

Very useful to know about the thin soles of the boots - I really do love those burgundy boots...

And I am so dreaming about the MH Barbour coats. They are all gorgeous.

timeisnotaline · 17/08/2019 11:16

Coat is lovely. I just had a look at that ba&sh dress, and while I think it’s gorgeous, most women will not have that lengthening leg flash between boot and dress. On me the dress would hit an inch or two above the ankle and at least an inch or two below the boot top.
I don’t like overly skinny tall models. Yes to showcase garments but they don’t tell me how they will fit on real people at all.

timeisnotaline · 17/08/2019 11:22

Actually, any suggestions for a travel scarf? I have options but ... nothing luxury, needs to be all purpose for 5 weeks of travel with children, big enough for airplane shawl, not too bulky for travel, not too winter as travel is October , but will end up chilly in Geneva. Block orange yellow etc will not serve, where I won’t wear winter / red / neutral white navy type colours I will wear muted khaki and pink like the attached which is me dressed to drive to Cornwall.

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring.
botemp · 17/08/2019 11:49

Curse you, Flo, I now want a Barbour (never thought I'd ever be saying that in my life) by Margaret Howell. Perhaps if your PM keeps up his antics and drives the GBP down further in value I'll put in an order. Although I fear it will be very oversized on me, if it had a padded winter lining I would have taken the plunge already.

I have to say AC's cool auntie sounds way cooler than AC herself. Then again I've never really understood the adulation of AC myself, I always thought she was a Vogue UK plant.

Time, it's probably worth looking at cheap wool/cashmere furniture throws, they tend to be a good size, usually a bit thinner so not a full on winter scarf but enough to keep you warm in a plane without a scary price tag and a more muted palate of colours on offer. My mother had a fab one from IKEA of all places, looked very lush and was all wool, lightweight and folded into nothing. I remember there were a lot of good links from Scotland on here when I was seeking out a tartan scarf, a lot sold a furniture throw as well in cashmere and wool mixes. Knitted silk can also be a good alternative but that will have a sticker shock price tag to match.

OP posts:
ToEllewithIt · 17/08/2019 19:53

The Margret Howell x Barbour is seriously nice. Would like to see it on too.

I love a big square shawl for travel. Can be worn cowboy style in the daytime or over a dress like a shrug with a couple of knots at night.

Arrived on holiday. Had the shirt linen reformation dress in black in hand luggage which was a blessing as room wasn’t ready. I know I said it wasn’t that short, but it looks obscenely short in this photo. Hmmm I swear I’m high waisted so it’s not as close to my crotch as it looks. I wouldn’t wear it beyond the pool but it was perfect for that. Something longer tomorrow I think.

Lots of French people here. Sone of them just ordered chips for the kids’ dinners ... never meet your heros and all that Hmm one women in a fab long green cover up and swimsuit though.

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring.
Floisme · 18/08/2019 09:02

First we’re talking Barbour on a Parisienne thread and now the French are eating chips Grin. I agree about lack of a detachable lining for that coat. Aside from the small matter of not having £400 to spare, the main thing putting me off is that it probably wouldn’t be as warm or as waterproof as the Seasalt I’ve got already, (although waxed cotton is normally pretty effective).

I don’t mind Alexa Chung and I think she’s done quite a decent job for Barbour in the sense that the collection is very her yet still true to the brand. But I’m a bit Confused at her prices being higher than Margaret Howell’s.

Elle if I had legs like yours I would show them off at every opportunity.

viennesewhirls · 18/08/2019 09:38

It was the Liberty / Barbour collaboration that was dangerous for me. I’m a total sucker for Liberty prints. On which note I think I shall give my Liberty linen shirt (£10 in the Uniqlo sale a couple of summers ago) an airing today with some skinny jeans before it becomes far too autumnal to even think of linen.

quirkychick · 18/08/2019 11:20

Thank you for everyone's kind thoughts, mil died early yesterday. I think it was a release for her, as her health was so bad at the end. She lived to 94, and was still travelling round up until November last year.

ToEllewithIt · 18/08/2019 11:26

Sympathies to you and the family quirky I’m glad that it wasn’t a long illness, that’s a relief. Thinking of you.

botemp · 18/08/2019 11:40

Flowers Quirky, my thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

OP posts:
Redandblue11 · 18/08/2019 11:40

Flowers quirky thinking of you
I am also glad she lived doing things like travel until very recently.
But losses can be hard for the ones behind. Big hug.

viennesewhirls · 18/08/2019 11:40

What sad news, quirky. Love and sympathies to all.

quirkychick · 18/08/2019 11:45

Thank you, everyone. There's now lots of stuff to sort, eg dp is going round to empty all the food out her fridge etc.

banivani · 18/08/2019 12:39

I’m so sorry Quirky, that feels so sudden despite her recent illnesses. Thinking of you.

Floisme · 18/08/2019 15:57

I'm very sorry to hear that quirky Flowers

XingMing · 18/08/2019 16:50

Sympathies are with you Quirky, and cheer yourself knowing the end was swift without protracted suffering. Flowers

quirkychick · 18/08/2019 19:17

Thank you again. Xing I agree it was a release for her at the end. She was suffering quite a bit with her legs (I won't give tmi, but diabetes complications are not pleasant).

timeisnotaline · 18/08/2019 22:26

I’m very sorry quirky. That is a life well lived from the travelling in her 90s part!

I’m another liberty fan. I love the French liberty children’s wear - Cyrillus and Jacadi always have some.

quirkychick · 19/08/2019 08:24

Thank you, time. Not exactly Scottish, but Bronte & Moon (Yorkshire based) do very lovely blanket scarves, I lived in my tartan one last autumn and winter. They also do throws too, mine is a cashmere and merino mix, I think. BrandAlley often have them on sale but you would need to watch the delivery date as sometimes it's a wait, if you want it sooner.

Redandblue11 · 19/08/2019 09:12

I am after shoes/sandals recommendations, an area that I feel I could do better.
I am going to a wedding in a few weeks, is a non religious affair, think trendy bar in London.
I am thinking in wearing this Ted Baker dress that I have.
I want to buy some sandals/shoes, but I want something versatile that I will wear again and again. I do not do towering stiletto heels , I can do mid heels, block heels, I would love something that feels ‘current’. Tbh not sure what I am looking for Hmm

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Too much good taste can be very boring. Independent style, on the other hand, can be very inspiring.
Floisme · 19/08/2019 09:32

I really like that dress Red. I'm not a heel person at all but I've worn some flat, pointy slingbacks from Sainsburys to some 'occasion' dos this year. I didn't see the point of spending a lot on them as they're not the kind of thing I normally wear and I expected them to fall apart by the end of the summer but they're holding up surprisingly well.