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

The nuptials are set for June next year but thanks to a job offer and possible relocation, there may be a registry office wedding ahead of the wedding festivities proper. So when I saw this dress, the day after the news broke, it sang to me. It is tiny, the label suggests it's a 10, but the lady in the shop reckons it's closer to a 6. Made by a French label, which seems to be defunct. If nothing happens, I'll try to remember to post the pictures.

I like the blanket skirt too, Xing, I have a short grey blanket skirt by Laura Ashley (charity shop bargain, just needed new elastic) that I really like.

Ahem drip feed

Well that does change things slightly, Xing, but if she's worked in design for a few years at this point she will have perfected a perfectly polite and diplomatic response for, 'that's f-ing minging'. Is she in the area at least?

H&M do traditionally copy down, Bani, but they've always stuck with the most commercial current trends. In that sense a cut throat Céline could be very successful if it has a consistency to it like the Row, old Céline, Marni, Jil Sander, erc. Maybe I'm just looking at it with rosy glasses with a vested self interest but there are a lot of deliberate choices in both the PR blurb and the photography that makes me feel it's more than just another capsule collection of theirs.

The model is really well chosen and all shots chosen of her she either looks strong (or empowered, the fashion world really needs to be stripped access to that word), happy or content. She also has the type of beauty women appreciate in another woman and isn't going to make them feel bad about themselves, she's not this impossible thing nor a forced aspiration.

And the other quote from the head designer, "We were inspired by the notion of finding the magic in the everyday. Every piece in this collection is designed to empower the 24/7 modern woman seeking out clothes that are long-lasting and timeless but also have a soft, spiritual element, too. There are so many wardrobe classics in this collection that can be styled to suit an urban lifestyle and will last for years to come" really sounds more like they're talking about a brand than a collection.

I mean they're already successful with Cos as a brand for women who have lives and interests outside of the male gaze, they could use another one that's a bit more fashion forward but not trend chasing like &Other Stories with the quality and finishing of Cos.

Since I am a fickle hypocrite I’m changing my mind a little on the studio collection - I love that wine red cashmere blend jumper with a deep v-neck for example, and there’s several other things that look good (but aren’t for me).

I agree completely with your last paragraph there Bo. The H&M group are doing a lot of very mature looks, in the best sense of the word. Clothes for women, not just girls. I’m quite interested to see how this pans out and can’t help but see a connnection to my other favoured style and beauty thread, namely the royal fashion one. The Swedish crown princess, now in her 40s, is good friends with the owner of H&M and has worn the brand several times. I can’t help but wonder if there’s some sort of muse thing happening, a realisation that she represents the sort of woman that H&M could appeal to if they plug that market gap. A bit strenuous I’ll admit, but still...

Tried on a lovely dark blue pure wool coat in H&M actually today, will post a picture later.

Quirky I hope we do get to see a picture of the dress some time - ideally from the wedding of course

Errr, niece to be interned with Proenza Schuler (spelling?) in NY and Erdem in London, after college in London and stints in the middle east. As bo suggests, she will have the vocabulary to deal with unwanted suggestions, and is in NY this week for Fashion Week with her current label, looking for her June dress in any spare moments.

I did it again, Xing I mean. Struck me too late! Sorry! 😔😔😔

I struggle to follow who said what too!

Very much hoping that Bo's read on H&M strategy is correct; there is a huge untapped market of women looking for their Celine tribe. M&S have abdicated the turf. However, getting enough bricks and mortar space to win the mass market would be costly, and building that sort of brand without a strong high street presence would be tough. You only have to read threads on here when the mention of Uniqlo needs an explanation of what they are.

Had a look and yes, depending on the fabrics, that could be promising. I love the same jumper as you, bani, both the colour and shape. (What was I saying about not needing any more knitwear?) I still have a soft spot for H&M so will follow with interest - not that any of it will make it to these parts and I'm not sure I can be arsed with an online bunfight, not even even for Celine tributes.

Never mind the bride Xing - what are you going to wear?

And sorry Whoops I forgot to say hello before. Welcome back lightning too.

Oh yes I’m terribly rude and forgot to say hello and welcome to lightning and whoops!

Adding two pictures of the coat I tried on today. I’m not sure this is a shape for me at all, but the fabric and weight of it was very nice. I hate the shoes I’m wearing with the trousers but I needed comfort for walking so... Anyway I hope to see more of this type of fabric for coats! Ideally i fancy some sort of tweed coat, like I’ve said before. Lots of colours that blend. Or I’d like an more monochrome tweed but in a big herringbone weave. Or I’d like a coat with a big plaid pattern, like Tan French wears in the last season of Fab 5.

Flo, if it's the registry office part, I am not invited because that's parents and sibs only. We're invited to the official blessing ceremony, and the family dinner before and the party party next year, so I have no skin in the game. And I haven't even started to think about what I might want to wear in nine months, because I know that in nine months, I shan't want to wear it, so I'll begin to think about it in April. Then, you can all help me decide!

Bani, that's a difficult judgement with so much fabric below the coat's hem. Would you wear it with a shorter skirt or narrower trousers legs? It's a bit "bulky" in this picture, to my eye. But I like the coat, just not what you have on underneath (which I can't see fully). Try it again over a different outfit perhaps?

That’s a good point Xing, since I often wear wide trousers - I wouldn’t wear the ones I’m wearing in the picture in winter of course since they’re just silk. But there is no point in me owning a coat I can only wear with one type of clothes.

Thinking of you today quirky

I think it's the shoulders again Bani, it's making it all drag down, I'd be ignoring all dolman sleeves. The extra width at the bottom makes it go a bit matryoshka in shape but that is probably amplified by wide leg trousers, would you really wear those (the shape) come winter or is this is a pre winter, cold but no slush yet coat?

Hope all went well today Quirky. 💐

I wear wide trousers as much as I can get away with Bo. Yes, sometimes there is a slush problem but I persevere. Boots help ... Last two winters I have worn a wool coat a lot, I don’t much like my parka one so just used it for outdoorsy things.

Thank you, it went well it was a lovely service in the cathedral.

Glad it went well, quirky.

I dislike my practical parka too, Bani, I've been considering just looking for one I actually like with a generous budget rather than a practical mean one but I think I'm set on disliking super practical warm and dry coats regardless of price tag. I have always wanted an Acne studios velocite jacket which would tick a lot of boxes but I'm still not prepared to shell out that asking price for it and it got a bit diluted when the entire high street had crappy copies of them for several years.

With wide legs I always find a long straight coat to work best. I can only ever seem to find these in camel or black though.

It's awfully quiet on the S&B boards, is everyone on 24hr b-word watch or is it the back to school thing? Or both?

That sounds lovely, Quirky.

It is a bit quiet, isn't it? I've been active on Royal style because I'm procrastinating like mad...

My current (black) coat is quite straight, however the style is relaxed. It's the long black wool coat from Cos, they do the same style every year almost, just a wrap front. Was afraid you were going to recommend moto jackets with wide trousers... never got on with them!

Maybe I should look for my previous go to style (quite classically tailored) more actively if I want one in a different colour ...

I'm sure you can pull off that Acne jacket Bo, but to me it says rural geezer with decrepit cars.

I always hide the royal style threads, they creep me out.

I kind of think the acne jacket has really tarnished its once cool status and become too blah. It's become the thing of a look that feels hopelessly outdated now which comprised of that moment's insta must have pieces like in pic 1. I'm therefore glad I never bought it then, though I always preferred the different colours and finished. I'd never have gone for the black on black that was endlessly imitated.

It's been pissing down all day so have decided to put away all summer items this weekend and pull out the transition pieces. I've been thinking about a change of lines as well. I'm getting bored with the high waist and tucked in look. I've been experimenting with it but can't put my finger on whether the pieces I have don't work that way as they're not necessarily designed to the opposite silhouette of long mid thigh shirt over trousers or that I'm just shit at pulling it off. Will attach pics after this post.

Sorry creep me out is probably poor choice of words, to clarify I've crossed paths with Maxima several times so it's a bit odd to be reading such adulation from non Dutch folk about someone you vaguely know as a very ordinary person.

Anyhow, attached pics of me from last week when it was still somewhat nice weather. Still convinced that mirror is magic btw. Also hat dilemma resolved, without the alarm attached it's far too big.

For inspiration for the dropped silhouette I had been looking at Jackie O, I'm not sure if I could get away with accentuating my hips like that with a belt but iirc we're not too dissimilar in shape and height so I'll have to give it a try and a bunch of distracting but lengthening necklaces as well. I've yet to stumble across anything that long and fitted in the shops so far though. Just a very pricey Bottega Veneta on matches so far (thought I had a pic of that but apparently not).

I've been AWOL today because DS and I are reconfiguring our shared office space; we've decluttered a vast pile of junk/books/art supplies and redundant furniture, so that he can move downstairs to the guest room. This was my office when I worked from home, but in a few days it will be his bedroom, sittingroom/drawing space, and his bedroom will again be the spare room. DH and I will share the office, meaning it will be mainly mine with his desk and computer.

I am covered in dust and a style-free zone!

Well, I've tried to post twice! Nothing is happening. I give up for now.

It's the pics I guess. I have new INES trousers. They are soft and fully lined, but stupidly long. I will have to have them taken up. Ridiculous, I'm 5'9"!

Is the dust a nice dusty pink, Xing? I hadn't realised XingSon was back already, in my mind US school holidays last for forever

Lightning some of those editing programs to hide identity can bloat the size of the pictures beyond MN allowance. Quickest solution is to take a screenshot of the pictures, crop if you can be bothered, and post those.

Nope, just tried that, thanks Bo. It says success, but then no post!

I have been checking in trying to find distraction here and found only silence ...
Yes, back to school, work (affected potentially by B in that polititans and press are using it to try to distract the nation) are consuming my days.
Not all bad, the odd social activity here and there too

Glad that the service was nice quirky.

So today I bought a couple of underwear sets from ck, wire free and seamless type.

My other purchase has been that elusive pair of shoes, I haven’t tried them yet with the dress I am planning to wear for that wedding but regardless I can see myself wearing them loads.

I used to do that dropped silhouette a lot Bo years and years ago! I am not sure that my body shape after children is conducive to that in that I seem to have lost some waist but still be quite slim.