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

[botemp]

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

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Favoured Parisian addresses:

Second Hand Shops

Outlets

Favoured London addresses:

Charity Shops, Dress Agencies, and Outlets

Favoured NYC addresses:

Consignment shops, Vintage, and Restaurants

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Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

Sept

Huit

You are all too kind. Also a little misguided by the bad lighting etc but still very kind. I know I shouldn’t go on about fatness but I always feel rather svelte looking down at myself and am always surprised at the width of me when I see myself in Surprise Mirrors (a special sub category you know what I mean) and photos.

Trousers are from Swedish chain Lindex. Their concept is to have a selection of trouser models/types that are uppdated in new materials/patterns each season, and then they also have the so called “fashion fit” trousers that are one off things. And that’s these ones. Got them in the sale in the winter, so didn’t pay much. But I am being honest that they’re not great in quality - the viscose is the type that wrinkles super easily and the stitching as I said isn’t top notch so the pleats pull a little in a way that’s not just my tummy. They’re ok and I like the colour (more rust irl) and the style - they’re a bit 80s does 40s but not heavy on the former. Maybe 90s does 40s?

Speaking of trousers and badly sewn flies - oh my god yes (the ones I posted have this too). How fucking hard can it be. Did not understand how you ruin yours though Bo you’ll have to explain again I’m afraid!

I didn’t love the wanky lights as much as the dead pan explanation of them - I want lights that make a wanky effect in the bath! (I want a bath...)

Love the broderie anglaise skirt Elle - reminded me that I have one that’s just sitting because the shape is a little dated/un-chic. Love BA. Not enough of it IMO. Lovely in blue!

Also love the beach cover up Red! looks as nice as I imagined! I agree that the IM dress looks a little sad and Bo’s explanation is very good - it does look a little matronly around the bosom. See I’m used to that, being more matronly in figure than you haha, but it’s v noticeable when you have the other photos next to it. Really nice print and colour though.

That green Cos coat is lovely but only advertised as shower proof and come on, a lot of jackets can be shower proof. The rubber one though looks like a proper Swedish “galonjacka”. That’s the business. Good for deep sea fishing too. That said I’ve never understood how Burberries can be rain coats so.

Thank you for trying on the curved seam trousers they look very nice! I saw them on the website there and am hoping to try them on sometime. Very attracted to idea of getting to try out chopstick legs.

Boot height is hard. I’m afraid I can’t make out the height difference in those two photos though but take your word for it! I’ve never managed to get a tall boot I love because I dislike it when they frame my kneecaps (why?!) as if they’re surrealist installations. The perfect height really is a holy grail thing but if the boot isn’t good in all other ways sure what can you do?

A knotted shirt is such a good way to vary one’s dressing. I’ve never gotten along with it sadly, I feel like some sort of Brigitte Bardot phoney wannabe and it shows. Am convinced people look at me funny and just cannot relax into it, it’s as strange to me as wearing hats! But I did buy a hat this summer so...

Flo those trousers are very nice indeed. They’re creasing expensively

I think they may even crease as much as linen bani

Perfect that Flo, all you’d ever want!

I forgot to write that yesterday I went to some charity shops and walked out of one with a strappy cotton cami top from Other Stories. It’s goes into a v on both sides and has side splits so the front and back are almost separated. Attaching pic of my lazy clothes for the day, that top and my silk twill trousers from Arket.

Saw a beautiful 60s or 70s coat yesterday, exactly the sort of fabric I’d love in a coat. All the colours at once, but discreet! Attaching a pic of that too. But it was too small. :(

"I always feel rather svelte looking down at myself and am always surprised at the width of me when I see myself in Surprise Mirrors (a special sub category you know what I mean) and photos."

I could also join this club.

Sorry to read about your MIL, quirky. Hope you are doing okay.

I haven't bought anything for ages but I have some autumn/winter stuff waiting in various baskets. Too hot to buy this weekend though - in fact it was so hot yesterday I went for a sea swim, and braved a swimsuit on a public beach for the first time in about 25 years.

elle I’m not sure about the shape of that dress either. You usually look very svelte and bloody amazing, in that dress you look more like normal people.
I like the trousers bani!
I also love the knotted shirt look, I wonder if it works as well if you don’t have a narrow waist beneath the knot . I’ll experiment and report back.

I’m struggling to think about a travel wardrobe. It’s so limiting! I got an app called Stylebook to try and help.

Incidentally, does anyone wear Bardot tops? I find they creep back up to on top of my shoulders. Attached pic is supposed to be an off the shoulder j crew dress but it always creeps up so I just wear it up with n my shoulders mostly...can’t work out if there is a trick to it or something wrong with my shoulders!

Sigh. Attached pic. Anyone would think I was 90 years old and barely knew what a smartphone is.

Bani, if that's heavy, I am a whale... but cameras lie, and most of us (well, anyone over 50) think we look dreadful in pictures until we see them again five years later.

I shrieked, and made DH stop for the Dents (gloves) factory shop we passed a few days ago. And bought two lovely pairs: one in olive suede with appliqued horizontal snakeskin stripes (gauntlet length) for £25, and an elbow length silk lined black kid to wear with my late GA's black and tan blanket check vicuna coat, which is warm but has 3/4 sleeves. If you are ever in Warminster, go...

Omitted to say that of the posts and pictures above, I am envying Flo's chinos, Bo's Dries dress with the knotted shirt, the too-small tweed coat posted by Bani, as well as the colour of Time's dress (and the bag too BTW).

And, in sympathy with Elle I tried to wear an old sundress today (14 years since I bought it) and while the print and shape are still good, it no longer flatters the body in it. It may have to go to the charity shop, unless I starve back into it. Sadly, post-meno and at 63, the weight will only go from my face and bum, which is not the desired effect.

Since you mention it Xing, another mention for modern Australian design: my bag (not my print, I don’t think that one is available anymore) utopiagoods.com/collections/bags/products/imperial-waratah-indigo-heavyweight-linen-tote-bag

Are we insulting people for looking normal now I think we've surpassed our Sainsbury's imitation status and are now properly French. Who wants to be told to stop being so bourgeois already?

Time, are you still on the lookout for travel scarves? More £££ options (you did mention luxe but not sure if you meant the price tag too) that popped up in my inbox. First is from Gudrun & Gudrun where I'm currently contemplating finally getting that Sarah Lund jumper from ca. ten years ago, but I'm no Sarah Lund... Anyhow, scarf is a lovely large mohair one (at least it said as much in the newsletter not on the description strangely enough) which would make it warm and lightweight.

The other is from Toteme which is a cashmere wool blend which looks an ideal in flight scarf.

On the cheap end I did see Muji do an organic cotton one in various colours but not sure if that would be warm enough.

Flo that other Cos rain coat looks very much like the Stutterheim ones (at pretty much the same price ). They tend to be a bit fashion forward Scandi toddler (needs a Reddit thread, obvs) because they sit quite stiff and very strong geometrically iyswim.

I'm the opposite of the surprise mirror club, all my widest bits (rib cage and hips) are very dominant looking down and seem to merge as one so I'm always quite amazed I'm not this solid block of mass. I think I look unhealthily underweight whenever someone (taller) takes a picture of me from above, brings out the shudders, which confuses me even more. Angles are weird.

I have a Bardot top, it's actually really nice and flattering but I just find it annoying to wear. Always a battle keeping it down by not raising arms to do anything, can't move a shoulder about too much, etc. I had sort of vowed to stick it in the charity/sell pile if it failed to get worn again this year. Despite the nice weather currently,I doubt it's going to happen.

Oh and I saw the new IdlF collection for Uniqlo was released this weekend it all feels a bit Heidi. Not usually my thing but did see some shirt dresses that may take your fancy Bani. I was quite taken with the shoes worn in the campaign but they're not selling those

I did a google search for "galonjacka" for your Scandi inspiration.

Then I did another one for "galonisar" which brings up ickle babbies in the mud - galonisar is a diminuitive form of referring to waterproof clothing which is completely ubiquitous nowadays when talking to and about children.

In Sweden most people in towns embrace the Scandi toddler look nowadays. The serious hikers still go for "tech" materials. Not sure what fishermen wear.

Thank you for tip on IdlF coming out - in all honesty I'm a little sceptical of the shirt dresses, they have a slight Little House on the Prarie factor I'm suspicious of. But feel free to ignore me because I'm a bit taken with the maxi length wool blend skirt . And soft tweed trousers!

Bardot tops are the biggest cod ever. I don't wear them for a myriad of reasons (don't fancy particularly that's all/annoyed by stuff that shifts/like to wear a bra) but they're not made for women who, you know, move. Unless you've mastered the French art of draping a scarf across a shoulder and have it stay there all day I fail to see the point. Better to get a loose-necked chemise thing and let if fall off one shoulder, renaissance style.

I want to apologise for bringing body critique into everything - it really wasn't my intention, nor was I fishing for compliments (although I do like them, don't be shy should you be so inclined ). I mostly think it's funny how I can have this image in my head of how I look and then be surprised by a more realistically middle aged 3-kids-later image in a camera haha. But I'm alright and so are you! And I do genuinely want to make the most of things I like about myself and bring them forward so honest critique on fit etc is welcome and helpful!

Btw, weren't we supposed to get pictures of totes, did we get them? Am I misremembering?

See I'm so clairvoyant I even know what Google pics search results will show up in another language who needs Reddit? or, you know, I may have been to Sweden in the rain more than once

Going by the IdlF lookbook I'm pretty sure she set her Reditteers to make a mood board under the description 1940s Heidi in the French Resistance off to infiltrate the hinterlands. Those are the vibes I'm getting anyhow.

BTW, my mistake, the collection is out the 29th, but in the process I did see she has some nice neutral looking cashmere stoles in various colours, time. Could be a good travel stole too.

I'm thinking English spy masquerading as Heidi in the French resistance even. There is something a bit English country house wannabe over it aswell. ;)

I was trying to remember about totes, but I think Methen was offering pics of totes of the supermarket in Cumbria (?) a while back and to buy any for those interested. Not sure what happened after that. Maybe all the lurking hipsters scooped them up before her

Half English minor Aristo (her mother) but the influence is more one of affection in memory than an ingrained one. Daddy's a Swiss banker whose questionable morals will see them go NC post war.

Uniqlo cashmere stoles? I will have a look when they arrive! I’m afraid I said NOT luxe because travel with 2 small boys for a month is fairly hard wearing . Not to mention we are self funding the move which is a full packing service and an entire container to ship...
They are lovely scarves! I don’t get mohair except for totally child free wear though, the fluff means it collects snot and the child collects mohair in an exchange which is not flattering to either.
If I were splashing out on a scarf I think it might be this one: www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/koi-fine-wool-scarf/
I have started thinking that my liberty wool scarf has a couple of (devastating) moth holes so perhaps I should stop thinking of it as precious and just take it.

Hmm galonjacka looks a bit too jaunty for me and I'm not even going near galonisar but thank you

Speaking of Uniqlo, the U preview is up too, launching on 26th September. I know we've expressed disappointment in it recently but I'm going to track the parka as it seems to have that cocoon thing going on. I'm less keen on the shiny collar but that needn't be a deal breaker if the shape is good. No illusions that it'll be weather proof but even if I only wore it on drizzly winter days it might work.

I'm a sucker for that tied up shirt look because I love all those trends that don't involve buying anything new, like the half tuck, collar up, jacket sleeves rolled up or that thing for fastening your cardigan with an old brooch in the early noughties. Following fashion while still sticking it to the man.

Speaking of minor aristos, I think Dents Gloves is / was owned by the Constantine family as in Susannah of Trinny and Susannah and erstwhile fiance of Viscount Linley. How I know that and why I've remembered it I cannot explain. I think the inside of my head must be worse than the inside of my wardrobe.

I thought my wardrobe and memory for accreted trivia was bad Flo, but that is a whole other level!

Well, Sussanah Constantine, I never knew. Granted it took me a while to catch on that most of the UK media is made up of minor Aristos and UMC associates who all seem to end up fluffing up each other's mattresses and that everyone in Westminster of importance all went to Uni together to study the same degree regardless of party

I like that wolf and badger scarf, time. Hopefully I'll have time to pop into their shop when in London. It's right by the station to the airport but I'll probably be too ambitious with my alloted time.

Yesterday's outfit attached as I remembered to take a picture whilst trying on some red flats (at Zara, this is not a Zara as, I promise). Creasing very expensively they're the Alexander Lewis (I think, must remember the Lingua Franca samba man's name) trousers with a dregs of the sales Zara camisole I got the other week. All my best Zara buys seem to be in the dregs of the sale when no one bothers to look anymore and they seem to add new stuff.

I have just lost an hour browsing through this thread and you all look so wonderful and stylish! I feel put to shame and really need to make more consistent effort

botemp you are wearing a beautiful gold bangle and I have been on the hunt for one for a very long time, would you mind saying where yours is from?

I am feeling inspired by this thread to up my style game!

Hi caper, many an hour has been whiled away here... and on the earlier threads.

Zara has been the source of some useful items until recently, when our local store closed (bought by Apple) and the nearest is now an hour away.

Welcome caper, tbh I'm not sure which one I'm wearing there. Not that it would be useful anyhow as all that I own either belonged to my grandmother, are vintage finds or from random places, and not recent buys. I think I was wearing one from H&M actually but it's from last year or the year before that. I usually don't find anything nice at H&M jewellery wise, tend to luck out more at Weekday, Cos, and &Other Stories.

Bangle Up is a Paris based brand which has some really nice bangles. Just be mindful of you've got very slim wrists as it's just the one size.

I've also been eyeing up some at Wouters & Hendrix which are a bit pricier in an attempt to actually come through on my own promise to self to buy some more quality pieces.

Above mentioned Wolf & Badger has some great jewellery by independent designers at various price points too.

quirky always has some good Etsy suggestions, although she tends to buy silver .

Really a Zara got swapped out for an Apple shop, Xing? Zara is always ridiculously busy here, there was a long line that would have gone out the door if possible for the cash register when I was there a few weeks ago. Instead it just doubled up and took up about half the store. Meanwhile, it's always crickets in the Apple store, bar the hopeless dad who's too embarrassed to be seen in some women's clothing store with his wife with a wayward child bashing all the laptop keyboards to their limit...

I'm trying to catch up with you all, it's been a bit busy here, but we managed a few much needed days at the beach over the Bank Holiday. Thanks for the jewellery shout out, bo. I do tend to buy silver, caper, I have been replacing some cheaper pieces. Etsy has loads of jewellery, but you need to know exactly what you're looking for as there is just so much and then I check the reviews.

bani, you look absolutely fine, love the trousers, too.

Very hot today, so I went for denim cut offs, mine are quite long, teva voyas and silk spotty shirt with the fake know aka invisible hair band. It was supposed to be a charcoal grey slubby tee, but it had grease stains on it .

My next style challenge, is the funeral outfit, with bright colours (I find this hard, most of my more formal clothes are dark neutrals), it's also quite a walk, so it needs flat footwear. So far, I have midi black silk skirt, with bright pink under skirt, navy suede Chelsea boots with dark red insert, a la Penelope Chilvers, with maybe a navy, drapey top and coloured cardi/scarf.

Not sure that Apple or the landlord made the right choice; I suspect that Apple bid higher for the additional space and Zara were just hard nosed as they couldn't have traded off a much smaller space. Apple don't appear to be busy, and Zara have gone... sobs.

Funeral challenges... I have a silk Chanel-alike Zara jacket that I wear over a sober outfit for colourful funerals and formal, or over a loud stripey dress in the same colour spectrum for weddings and parties. It's about ten years old now, and isn't used hard so it keeps giving.

Quirky “Bright” is hard for a funeral but I’m sure whatever you choose will be perfect. ❤️ Nice to hear from you, your time off sounds lovely.

Oh Bo those trousers are mwah 💋 (chef’s kiss)! Puuuuurfect. Look so good with a cami! I often am lucky with the dregs of a sale as well. In fact I am rarely lucky with anything I buy at full price, and often insanely lucky with half sale price sale things that others have scorned. But not in Zara. I think we got a dud Zara though. All the polyester ruffles.

Posting a picture of my yesterdays outfit to contrast with Bo. Note how the top is caught on my boob. So classy. (Taking photos in a panic at work so nobody sees me!)