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

Love the idea of being "more Aunt Larry"; she sounds wonderful and a huge loss to humanity.

The Booths shopping bags are wonderfully witty... If you're serious Methen, they'd be a cut above my selection of Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's bags for life!

And now I have travel envy: I want to go to Berlin, after reading Bani's post, I've never been to most of Germany, only Hamburg and somwhere on an army base, Bielefeld IIRC. And for the next few weeks of the school holidays I shan't travel unnecessarily as the roads will be crazy. Silverstone for the classic car rally next week, but that's likely to be an extravaganza of metal.

Fortnum and Mason very desirable here too, in particular folks like to use the large hamper baskets as side tables.

Bloomed photos of coats please! Bowing down in admiration at your ability to wear white, especially as a coat; when I was sorting clothes recently I noted that every single piece in the 'repair' pile was due to coffee stains on a pale top. You've made me think of my own long coats, I think 2 might need to go.

I hope you have a positive experience with your hair appointment. Depending on your hair colour (I'm brunette) this might help in the short term, it costs next to nothing so nothing lost if it doesn't make a positive difference:

www.mamalina.co/how-to-make-dry-hair-shampoo/

I find it makes my hair thicker and also gently colours the scalp so that could be helpful. I would do it in decent light though as I would chuck it on my hair in the winter at home and then realise I needed to blend it more/ wipe scalp when I got to work. For me, much more effective than any retailed dry shampoo I've tried. I sprinkle it onto my hands and then rub it gently into the roots.

For your ears Bloomed, I seem to remember someone once mentioned some sort of spray or coating you could get for earrings so that you could coat the studs of any pair if you were sensitive to the cheap ones? Will have a little nose around on Google for you.

Flo Could very well be, or there may just be loads of similar establishments across Berlin! Can't recall a piss stink but, as I said, I had consumed a fair whack of alcohol. Was just telling husband about it and realised it would have been more like 12 years ago- how did that happen?

Bloomed assume thing I read about was this, or something similar, though not looked at reviews etc so you might want to check those first:

www.amazon.co.uk/Allergy-Jewelry-Shield-Paint-Protective/dp/B0046WQSQI?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Xing (and others), thank you for kind words about my aunty; I'm not religious but in terms of living on through others, above anyone else I've known, she is still discussed with love and deep loss on a really regular basis. My husband never met her but just from all the stories about her says he can almost physically feel the space she left. That's not to be dismissive of other close family and friends who have died, but both in life and death there was just that something about her.

Also totally serious about getting Booths bags for those that want them. Will take photos when there so you can see current designs and happy to get as many as folks would like.

Thanks Methen the hair powder looks great. I am blonde ish but was thinking that creating more of a shadow with darker powder may help to give the illusion of thicker hair. I feel rather faded anyway. Very pale skin and light grey eyes, so a bit of contrast may work wonders
Coat photos may happen. The blue Chloe was all the rage ten years ago but can't find a photo online. At the moment mine looks in need of a clean. Very dusty and creased after storage. Oddly enough I don't often wear the white coats (I have to clean the car first!).
I was going through some other old clothes and found a nice oversize ecru silk shirt. Realised that it had a tea stain down the front from my days raising a very nervous puppy who would make me jump constantly. A lot of clothes were sacrificed in that era 🐕.
I've never heard of that ear post covering stuff!

I can’t wait for my trip to Paris in September. I’ve prepared by getting rid of anything too bright and replaced it with navy, black, white and grey. I actually look much better in simple clothes in these colours as well

Well ladies, I bought a hat today. My eyes were a little red and sore so I couldn’t wear contacts and thus couldn’t wear sunglasses. My sun screening option was a baseball hat with the print “ovako steel for life”, taken from someone we know ho who worked there once (at Ovako steel works). This was donned with navy Uniqlo dress and my black trainers (not stylish but have been great for walking in). My husband nearly died. You’re wearing what! So while he was looking at camera thingies at the Laica shop I popped into the Esprit near Kurfürstendamm and found a “straw” hat. The kind woven from paper. Wide brim that can be bent. Mr bani said that with kaftan dress, hat and dirty trainers plus my eczema legs I looked a bit like I was off to work on my allotment now, and I said that’s me fitting right into Berlin then!

Love the dress. So comfortable. Went into Uniqlo thinking I might actually buy another one, that’s how much. But came to my senses.

Agree with Berlin being pockets and more pockets that are all different. It’s so odd, it’s the only city where you can feel that the graffiti is a good sign and a sign of a concerned and involved community, and not of antisocial behaviour and crime. I like just walking, there’s always something to look at. Has anyone read The City and the City? By China Miéville. It’s about two cities that are in the same spot. The people in each city knows the other one exists but they can’t see each other even though the buildings and traffic and everything are next to each other. Fascinating idea and Berlin can feel a little like that.

Love the idea of a pop up selling grocery bags haha.

Attaching photo of hat to encourage more photos.

I’ve never had an Aunt Larry in my life at all and am not blessed with an innate sense of style but instead with a definite sense of knowing that I’m not getting it right, yet not knowing how to fix it. It’s like cooking, doesn’t taste right but what’s missing?

Did I miss photos of Cos dress Bani? I have never been to (and don't live near) any of their stores but from what I can gather there are some real treasures to be found but sizing is a bit hit/miss and many of the items look awful online so a RL visit is essential. Hat looks great, I don't have a summer hat but bought a visor in a similar material last year but thus far have only worn it in the garden. I do love hats but for me they're a forgotten accessory.

I may have had an Aunty Larry but am defo not one myself! She had (like my father) a tough and incredibly impoverished up bringing (1950s- in and out of care, abusive alcoholic father who left when they were young, leaving his wife with 6 children to care for, and she wasn't exactly what you would call 'maternal'.) She left home for London at 16 and lead a wonderful, colourful life, London in the 60s with a hip, bohemian crowd. She ended up financially very comfortable, well travelled and in a loving happy marriage (as did all her siblings including my father) which I think is a rarity given their upbringing. In essence, I mean like Bo mentioned, I think all of this contributed to her style/ attitude.

I was contemplating that while my own parents had very little interest in clothes/design, I think they helped me have a pretty healthy relationship with food and my body. My mum never commented on it to me, never mentioned food in terms of diet/ restriction, never negatively commented on other's appearance etc. I don't know if it's the culture that has changed now or that this was unusual in the 80s/90s but most of my friends who have issues with body image feel it stems from comments made by their mother (in some cases directly to them about their appearance). So while my mother may not have instilled me with a sense of style, she encouraged me to have a healthy relationship with my body and appearance.

I have found myself being more critical as I get older, but am consciously trying to swim against that tide- hence getting the legs out in public despite seeing them as flawed.

Methen I don’t have any dresses from Cos so that must be someone else. mine is Uniqlo and has pockets for my phone and travel pass which is very handy. This one www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women/dresses-and-jumpsuits?quickView=418613 I’ve worn it without the belt and been all loose and floppy. Bet it’ll shrink ten cm in the wash and lose that perfect length.

If food doesn't taste right, the first step should usually be to add a little (little) more salt. If you've over-salted, then a spoonful of yoghurt often helps flatten it out.

My mum's family were interested in clothes, if not design; my father's rather less so, I thought. Until one day I popped in on my grandparents to say hello, and my grandma said hello Xing, lovely suit (the 1990s) you look very smart, where have you been? I said I was travelling home from a meeting at a merchant bank and she teared up at the thought of her little grandchild in a meeting at Rothschilds. Where her only grandson now works. He was a toddler then, but she would have been so proud, as she was a secretary with an aerospace company.

bani Uniqlo! Yes! That's what I meant, in my mind they are similar (no local stores but jems to be found), though I have purchased from Uniqlo online (with mixed results). Dress looks elegant, I look rotten in a grandad style collar but admire them on others.

Xing I had to Google Rothschilds, so excuse my ignorance. If memory serves (which clearly from my posts it doesn't always), is your son not very stylish with his own flair? I seem to recall a fabulous coat that he bought, in my memory it was red with gold brocade, but my memory is rubbish and mot to be trusted in such matters. I'd be curious, given our discussion, where you think this comes from in him? Obviously you yourself are stylish but do you think there were other influences or does he have a natural eye for coloyr/design etc in general?

I think the Rothschild name is more famous in America than elsewhere these days. Well they're well known in France and Germany. It always seems like you can't throw a stone in Monaco without accidentally hitting one but I suspect they're a bit like the Romanovs with many claiming the name without any heritage.

Bloomed, had meant to reply previously, the cans you already have are probably the same thing I use. 5% foam from Regaine, it's prescription only here and the highest strength available but you lot can freely buy it in Boots and similar. I actually order mine from the UK or Germany as the pharmacies here charge a ridiculous amount for it and it's one of the few things my insurance won't cover. I can spend thousands on wigs though I've heard good things about the Nanogen hair fibres as well, will even survive a rain shower. Their thickening spray is also meant to be good but it's difficult to get hold of here so I haven't tried any of it myself. In my case a side part with side swept fringe worked best as you can mask the loss of hair in the middle, the closer the parting to the middle the more obvious it is.

When my hair did grow back, it was weirdly the hairline that made the most difference. I hadn't really realised it had receded, mostly around the temples, but it has made my face a lot softer again and probably a bit more youthful as a result.

I know we've only just started a new thread but with your permission Methen, I'd quite like to title our next tenth celebration thread 'Be More Aunt Larry'. At the very least it should inspire us to travel, even if it is just with the eye, courtesy of Diana Vreeland.

So yesterday was a code orange don't leave the house unless necessary day with lots and lots of rain and thunderstorms. Next week and a half looks to be another heat wave though anyhow, spent yesterday exploring the Vinted app, they've been pushing it hard in ads lately but I know it's popular in France and the app I used previously (United Wardrobe was only limited available in Europe, Vinted does work in the UK) has slowed down significantly. Found lots of promising things, ended up haggling on a pair of Chloe sarouel trousers in navy. Not as a replacement for the other Chloe tulip trousers as I'm still price watching those like a hawk but I've been on the lookout for a silk pair of trousers in a darker colour for a while and finding none. These are actually viscose but can easily pass as silk and it should make washing and looking after them a bit easier. Negotiated them down to €70 and they're new with tags so quite pleased with my bargain and shipping is very reasonable from France at €5 something. Have attached pics, could only find a model pic in white. Hopefully I'll still like them when they get here 😬

See all these stories of people desperately wanting to buy bags of you tells me there truly is a market for niche shopping bags. I think all we need is an Instagram account that looks very Hypebae, toss in a few colabs with emerging designers, some limited edition drops, and we're sorted. My grandmother is obsessed with her Harrods one, that was definitely the 'in the know' bag of her generation here but it would probably be too obvious a choice these days. We must curate critically after all if we're catering to hipster Hypies.

Bani I would love to be able to pull off a hat like that! I love hats but is very difficult to find some that truly fit me and look good.

I am liking the photos in general. I am a visual person , although I am also a good reader and there is almost no night that a book or a bit of text is my insomnia cure by my side.

Aunty Larry. What a wonderful woman she must have been. I love traveling and pushing myself to places and talking (or gesturing when we do not have language in common) to people I seemingly have very little that join us.
But I am under no illusion, I have to think what goes with what , it doesn’t come so natural for me. But then again as Bani insinuated is also the spice of life not to get it so righ (I feel a master at that sometimes ).

I am right now finishing my packing as we are off on holidays, so might be quiet for some time.

Well Swedish hipsters would be into obscure local library totes I think. Or ones from music festivals. Shopping ones might be too commercial unless very specific. ;)

I would never have looked at this Chloe trousers Bo - this is what I love about this thread! I hope you love them when they arrive. On me they would look like Goa leftovers. 🙄 I have seen them (similar ones) looking fab on others.

Love the thread title idea ❤️

An Aunt Larry thread is an exceptionally good idea! Seconded. Thirded.

Methen, DS has stylista aspirations and innate taste, plus we talk about clothes frequently. DH, who's not very bothered as long as he's vaguely appropriate and comfortable, was asked by DS this morning if I'd picked his shirt, trousers, shoes and socks out for him. (I hadn't, but I think the ideas are filtering through regardless.)

If we're talking family influences, I come from a line of seamstresses and my mum and aunties talked about clothes a lot but, thanks to my own pig headedness, I learnt nothing from them whatsoever.
I had a great aunt who used to make my clothes but all I wanted was a dress from a shop.
I refused to learn to sew because it was a girls' thing.

Regrets, I have a few.

My mother sewed and knitted, just for us kids as far as I remember (could be dodgy finish didn’t matter as much then). Wish I’d learnt more but a) she was a bit impatient, like myself, and did all that when we were in bed and b) she died when I was in my teens. But I too am sorry I didn’t apply myself to learning this in my youth before social media and full time work ruined all my chances at focussing.

I’m on a FlixBus now heading to Gdańsk. It’s worth what we paid for it, let me put it that way.

Btw I’d like to point out that I’m not pulling off the hat, really. Like my husband said, I look like I’m on my way to either a Van Gogh painting class or my allotment. It came with a scarf around the crown - I don’t know it that is better or not? But it does the job. More importantly - it fits my massive head! That never happens so it was worth the 15 euro just for that.

Bo I think she'd have been honoured by that, thank you. I was moved by the idea too.

Bani I was in Gdansk last year (in Feb though so much cooloer) but implore you to add the Museum of Solidarity to your schedule if it's not already on there. Give yourself a good 3/4 hours for it so you can do the auditour (free with ticket); alongwith Auschwitz, it is one of the most profoundly moving places of historical significance I've ever visited, deeply moving. I think because I knew less about it, I was just really taken back by it all and the way everything is presented is utterly absorbing- I would have no worries that my teenage son would be bored if I took him, it is an amazing place. After listening to/ seeing everything in the exhibition, the tour ends on the rooftop which has stunning views over the city and you can see all the places that you've heard about. I found myself alone up there in the twilight (my friends and I were all walking round at our own pace as you can skip/pause parts of tour) and the memory is so evocative and I was so moved it still sends a shiver up my spine.

There is also a much discussed indoor market (can't remember name) which was absolute rubbish but if you go to the lowest level, that's where all the locals purchase their food and that was interesting to wander around).

There was one clothes shop that really stood out to me but I can't remember the name, if you're there a little while I will ask my Polish friend who I was with and let you know.

My mum is a really good seamstress and I wish I’d paid more attention. Just last night she had a dress that she made for me as a child that she was altering for my niece. There were two small stains on the bottom of it, but she had made it with a very generous hem so she was adding a vertical pleated band round the bottom that would take in the stains. I wish I was able to do things like that.

I like the tote idea. Maybe we should turn it into a business selling some with obscure slogans based on our thread titles “Le ridicule ne tue pas”, “As French as a Sainsbury’s Baguette” “My other gondolier is an Orangutan” and then of course “Be More Aunt Larry”. The design would be like my favourite cotton tote, the one I got from Envoy Belfast. It has strong seams, black colour which doesn’t show muck and crucially is flat bottomed so easy to fill with groceries and when full can be placed on the floor and it stays upright.

The closest thing I had to an Aunt Larry was my paternal grandmother who was always very glamourous despite her circumstances. She was widowed at 40 already mother to 6 sons and the youngest was only 2. Despite what must have been an absolutely exhausting life bringing up 6 boys and working in a “boutique” and as a part-time catalogue model she always had time to make the most of her appearance and had a wonderful selection of costume jewellery some of which I still wear. I think what helped create an air of “style” was actually her relaxed attitude. She literally never got flustered. Six extra people could show up for dinner and she’d somehow make a roast chicken feed all of them (the original “mumsnet chicken”?) and was such great company that you’d leave certain you had a feast.

Thanks for the linen cover-up recommendations. I can’t see a 120 lino stockist near, but will have a look online

botemp Chloe trousers look very cool. I’ll have a look at the Zara cover-up, might be too short for me, but I like the idea of an oversized shirt. Moda Operandi ship from Europe to me. I don’t pay taxes and I agree that the prices are better in the sales. They don’t seem to mess around and they discount steeply at the start of the sales rather than doing the death by a thousand cute of other etailers. Love the B&sh dress.

That Zara dress is doing nothing for me. It just screams “I follow every mummy blogger on Instagram”.

Redandblue like the cami and shirt echoing your name and the trousers are lovely too.

methen yes it’s heavy enough linen to be worn as an evening dress, not to a ball or anything, but would certainly pass muster for a dinner with a good iron and the right jewellery. I think you’re right to return the suede bag. I like the idea of it, but it will get ruined quickly. Both green jackets are great and I think you’d get plenty of wear out of both. Did you keep the parka? I’m less keen on the top, it’s a bit fussy and I don’t like the way that you can see the inside of the unlined bell sleeve.

Not much to report here in style terms, ordered cashmere jumper from.ebay for about £19 delivered so will report back on that.

The denim skirt is one I had on pintrest and liked, saw an ad for this Boden one which I quite liked but think it's perhaps just a bit 'meh' compared to one I liked. www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/cara-denim-paperbag-skirt-mid-vintage/sty-t0380-mdn?code=M4G8&cm_mmc=PSA--CarouselFB--Skirts-_-Existing&fbclid=IwAR3wcTIO01EULCQtlDwUdTks7nOTx86KubPgoPz4lRNUIwageYl_twDztEk

While on the Boden site I did fall in love with this swimming costume but don't think i can justify cost on a costume? I can't decide if that's somewhere to invest or actually cheap and cheerful is better as body shape can change? www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/crete-swimsuit-island-bloom/sty-s0047-ivo

Also - wearing the same navy and black old Céline dress as I posted a couple of weeks ago so no new photos.

I read this article at the weekend and enjoyed: www.vogue.com/article/2010s-fashion-10-most-important-collections

Just quickly, @ToEllewithIt, I'm currently browsing the Outnet sale as they have a further 25% off with the code EXTRAEXTRA and there are a few good coverup options. This one from Majestic Filiatures ticks a lot of boxes as it's linen and an oversized shirt dress.

Oh thanks for that - looks promising.

Proper catch up now.

It's funny, I think it was on the first thread that I said in response 'to how to', Parisians are more likely to find their style inspiration closer to home, a zany grandmother, a wacky aunt, a mother whom the entire family orbits around like the sun, etc. with envy inducing closets to match, rather than a traditional celebrity/fashion mag.

Bani, my grandmother used to call trousers like the Chloe ones -literal translation- 'turd catchers' (which autocorrect just corrected to tits catcher ) and my mother used to delight in wearing them to taunt her. It's a silhouette that does suit me well though so I'm not too concerned.

Hmm I'd always wondered how uncomfortable a ride with Flixbus would be considering the low prices. Now I have an answer.

My grandmother on my mother's side was all round useless with anything you'd expect of a housewife, never cooked an actual meal or cleaned in her life so I have no clue how my mother was able to knit, sew, etc. I assume it was taught in school, she was more of a knitter than anything else and went a bit mad knitting everything for the PFB, by the time I came around I think she only made me some sock booties that I have stored away somewhere, think there was a hat that perished as well. And she did this crafty thing with something that looked like a wooden mushroom that you had to feed yarn into I never did enjoy knitting (which she did teach me alongside sewing) but we did a lot of crocheting when she was going through chemo, it's a good keep the mind and body busy thing without too much strain as we were learning this Japanese technique, amigurumi (sp?) which was new to her as well and is usually to make very cute little stuffed toys. We made less cute monsters which is a bit odd but was quite fitting at the same time.

Elle, the thing that confused me with Moda Operandi is that they do final sale with no returns, which isn't legal in the EU, so I assume they're working with some sort of loophole. But no import fees and taxes is good to know.

I love the ideas of a thread tote, or several even. They're good conversation starters, the chimp gondolier will definitely be I've mocked one up quick just for the occasion. Though the lawyers on here will have to chime in so we don't get sued by MNHQ and Sainsbury's 😬

There seem to be plenty of sites that offer these kind of things but I've kind of taken a fancy to these premium ones (from France, naturellement) which are a lot pricier and would need a creative solution to get the typography working alongside the design. I'm thinking an enlarged label with typography sewn in with the mid seam where the J is. They're rather spendy but they do fit in with the buy once buy right ethos, otherwise known as no one will buy them at that price so just find a cheaper option already...

I actually think you have to go a long way and kiss a lot of frogs before you beat the LLBean boat totes. When I worked in NYC, all the Park Avenue princesses used them, for everything. They do wear out... eventually... and the colours are not modish, not even slightly, but they're an essential element in preppy American style.

My influences were complicated, my mum eventually when we settled down after a lot of travel got a job in a gallery and eventually she was selling art for some artists that she valued and liked. She had (has) a very good eye.
My grandmother and god mother knew a lot of knitting, sewing, but as a child we were far away (geographically) due to travels so I was never close to them until later in life when my family was able to settle down near them and then I moved to the Uk which is the other side.
My appreciation for art in general I take is from my mother.
For a few years now, when I am on holidays in warm climates I bring a tote, not a particular fancy one , but again one that “fits” I find that grabs less attention than a fancy handbag specially when I travel in places were you do not want to attract attention.
Right now I am in Europe so that is less of a problem, but still I kinda like it , the informality. I am carrying the Chelsea flower show tote bag (o e given to all attendees), and dressed with dark fucsia cami and white with green polka dot skirt from sezane , big shades I was called Bella in an Italian street .
It hasn’t happen for many many years.