Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Be More Aunt Larry

[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 Neuf

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We’re ten threads old! To celebrate we’ve got thread merch.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

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Come on Xing if we followed that rule we'd have been housebound since 1995. Speak for yourself there Flo I’m only a 1975 whippersnapper me 😉

The AC has reignited my desire to waft in kaftans I discovered. It’s a bit too cold though still!

Ah good point, I should have said, 'Come on Xing if we followed that rule you and I would have been housebound since 1995.' Sorry-not-sorry to all whippersnappers.

I'm posting again as I have a bit of time to spare today and I'm looking for recommendations. Following my most uncharacteristic pre-Christmas Marie Kondo moment, my first purchase of 2020 will probably be some replacement jeans. I'm not looking for anything interesting - just some everyday straight, narrow (but not skinny) leg. Dark wash and a heavy denim with no more than a smidge of lyrca.

I'd also like to buy from a decent, responsible company. I know that sounds vague and worthy but I know they exist and I'd rather give them my business than the high street.

So far I'm looking at Community Cothing although I suspect these might not be as kind to my thighs as they are to the model's.

Another is Hiut which are a lot spendier and I'd have to save up but I think I've read good things about them - was it you Xing?

Can anyone think of any more?

Hi all, I hope you had a lovely Christmas and happy new year for this evening

I am on the hunt for new commuting trainers - currently wearing Adidas superstars with leopard print stripes (which I love) but I have to admit they are now too worn. I don’t like superga as they don’t fit me properly. Options...vans, Vega...something else? If they involve leopard print, so much the better.

Also starting to think about a weekend wardrobe for my trip to Paris in a few weeks - exciting times!!!

Why do you think you need heels? I do love pair of heels, but even in my workplace which in the past would have tended to be very corporate-y for meeting etc I feel like more and more women, myself included, are opting for flats. For comfort you can’t beat a block heel. I’ve heard good things about the Everlane Dayglove alright. I own the editor slingback and they’re nicely made.

Floisme – I have Hiut (which I always think of and pronounce in my head as Huit) and found them very hard to break in, so while I know that no elastane may be the holy grail for denim aficionados, it’s a bit of a slog to get to the point where they’re comfortable. I have The Girlfriend style, definitely take your measurements as advised; I had to go up at least a size from my “normal” size. Similar to Hiut is Native denim based in Dublin, but you’ve to go in person (so probably not an option

Thanks Elle, I hadn't noticed Hiut was completely lycra free. I have no nostalgia for those days at all - my main memories are of jeans setting like concrete after every wash (although that could have been largely down to living in badly heated houses at the time). I just want to avoid that thin, stretchy denim, so no more than say 1% elastaline.

I also think the slim fit Hiut look so narrow, they might not be very different from all the skinnies I've just despatched to the charity shop. Is that the style you've got?

The Community Clothing ones look more relaxed although I posted the wrong link - I fear the raw, unwashed denim could shrink like buggery so I was thinking more the pre-washed ones
[[https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womenswear/products/womensstraightlegjeansrinse?variant=31308572688438 here]]

Thanks for the Native denim idea but yeah Dublin not really an option if you have to be there in person!

What about Blackhorse Ateliers Flo?
Last year I tried them and although they didn’t fit me well they were very nicely made, I didn’t bother trying another style from them but that is my plan when I need another pair of jeans as they are now near St Pancras in London.

Hello all. Can I join please?
Name changed but I started the wanting to know lesser known brands thread. I hadn't realised how much French style would appeal. I am excited about enhancing my style.

Having read a couple of pages back I also picked up the Shoe Embassy recommendation and have three pairs winging their way to me. I quite like the winter colour palette so the shoes all suit that. Two pairs I was less sure about but nothing ventured nothing gained and I can always send them back hahaha

Anyhow this is a long enough intro. I look forward to admiring your styles

Ah thank you Red - I knew there was a company called Atelier-something-or-other, I just couldn't remember the full name!

Sorry Take - cross post, I didn't mean to ignore you! There are lots of other brands recommended on previous threads too - all listed in bo's op.

Thank you @floisme! I was still admiring my new shoes so hadn't notice the xpost.

Hi Take2020 and welcome. The more the merrier....

Flo, I do have Hiut Girlfriends, and yes they are a fairly narrow fit, but not skinny-skinny. There was a newsletter a few weeks back when they explained the style/fits' roots were based on styles that suited the original pattern cutter's body and a promise that they would offer more diverse cuts in time.

The sizing takes a try on; the first pair I got were a guess and I matched the same waist/length as some ancient 501s. These were huge, so I returned for 27/30 which are fine, and feel reasonably roomy an hour after putting them on when they've been washed. They have not shrunk even slightly and I have had them almost two years now. Unlike Elle I didn't mind the unwashed denim but I wore them for a long time before first wash so they got a bit beaten up.

Hiut also make a fairly regular 1950s style called Coda and are trying out several new designs. I have liked two of the new styles so far, but haven't ordered (only 100 pairs of each, so you had to be quick). I am hoping they will eventually follow what they have done with their men's styles and do some nice short runs/selvedge styles, plus the option to choose black or denim in all styles. It's worth signing up for the newsletter, I think as it's usually quite varied/not all about jeans, and then you see all the new styles. Presume that whatever sells well will be added to the core range.

Sorry for the essay... hope it helps.

Hiut's 27/30 waist/length is equivalent to a UK 10, French/Italian 38, or German 34 and I am about 5'5". But sizing is so hit and miss... a 25" waist in COS is bigger.

Thread tax - New Year’s Eve party outfit - un petit peau retro as there’s an ABBA disco at the event I’m off to

Welcome Take and enjoy the event viennese!
I have a couple of options to wear tonight and have not settled in yet for what to wear. If I remember to snap a photo I will post it later .

Happy new year everyone! May it be sartorially fruitful for us all. I vow to be even pickier in 2020, that should be a good start. yesterday I took a long walk to our biggest shopping centre and mosied around a bit. Popped into Masai, where the helpful woman showed me different items and I said no to all of them because of pattern (too graphic, animal print and wrong floral), cut (too short, ruffles). Tried in the Nimes shirt dress which has wafty promise but they only had it in L and the shoulder seams where way off my shoulders then and my NY resolution is to pay attention to shoulder seams. That said, I bought a slouchy jumper in the sales 🙄 that contradicts all resolutions. Not pure natural fabrics, not perfect fit bla bla. However it’s tweed wool-ish so I was swayed.

Am considering another pair of Kavat Chelsea boots like the ones I have but in a different colour. www.kavat.se/bodas-ep-dark-brown Tried on a few pairs yesterday that where more à la mode but they were very uncomfortable! As if the makers didn’t know what feet were!

I have no good input on jeans but there’s a shop in Stockholm called Second Sunrise that’s all about longevity and repairing and they have jeans that I am sure are more ethical. secondsunrise.se/collections/jeans I borrowed the owner’s book on repairing clothes from the library and it’s so good I’m considering buying it.

Welcome Take! Saw your thread on lesser known brands and enjoyed it, have added it to my watch list so I can revisit!

My fingers and phone seem so have trouble with were and where. I apologize.

Happy New Year!!!
Nice to read the first post of the year already as needed something to distract me from my overindulgence of last night.
I like the being picky resolution, I am happy that I was the pickier I have ever been in 2019 and I am sure I can raise my own bar in 2020 too.
Picky for me means buying stuff I know I will wear a fair amount, ensuring I don’t have something similar etc already and that I like how it fits me , I say “I like” because it is a subjective thing.
Also continue to purchase a large proportion of second hand , maybe larger than last year.

Oh I also read the lesser known brands thread Take and I enjoyed it.
On that note online I have only tried eBay for second hand, has any else tried other sites? I have seen around others with more stuff curated etc but never taken the plunge, obvs reflected in the price but I don’t mind a bit of higher price if I know I am getting what is described.

Blackhorse ateliers are also hosting Jean repair workshops this year / how to use old denim to do other stuff (I think I saw a tote in one) and they might also have a book, I cannot remember.

That is disappointing Bani about the boots.
I am trying to imagine a tweed oversized jumper and failing , so I need an image Bani.
Btw - did you wear your black wrap dress last night?
I wore a navy jumpsuit with golden jewellery a couple of fine gold chains with charms, it was just the easiest to feel put together without making a fuss.
No photos that can be uploaded here I am afraid.

Happy new year! Thank you Xing for all the Hiut info, that's really helpful. And thanks everyone for all the other advice. I'll probably start with Community Clothing as I like the look of the company and I've been meaning to try them for ages, plus the price is a bit less scary (especially when I hadn't planned to buy anything new until March at least). I think if I'm going to spend a serious amount of money on jeans I want to see them for real first and have a try-on session. But I won't be buying before pay day which is still a couple of weeks off (Yikes!) so plenty of time for more suggestions if anyone has any.

My main new year resolution is to think harder about where I spend my money. One of my favourite independent shops, run by the same family since I discovered them in the 80s, has recently closed down and it's left me feeling quite bereft. So I think it's time to put my money where my mouth is. I'm not going to promise anything rash like never buying on the high street again. (Apart from anything else I got some vouchers for Christmas!) But when I do buy new, I'm going to check out the independent sector first. Feel free to pull me up when I forget.

i like those boots bani and I'd get them again if they work for you.

Take I hadn't realised you were the less known brands op (even though you said so ) It's a great thread!

Such great resolutions! With mr bani studying our income is down and I find myself mostly browsing high street again. Also in my town there are no independent shops really, it’s a shame. But I’d like to boost quality and slow fashion too!

Pic of jumper attached. See it has flecky bits. Tweedy! Donegal ❤️ style.

I wore pyjamas yesterday it was just mr bani, Minimus and myself. We played monopoly and the youngest won, which was fortunate as it prevented a meltdown.

V smug now that I had first post of the new year, hadn’t thought of that!

Happy new year! I was going to say here's to les années folles but as there's quite enough craziness in the world I'll stick to a toast to the roaring twenties

Thank you all for the warm welcomes. I feel like I've found my people. Good that the lesser known brands thread has been helpful for some other than me too 😁

I was wondering if anyone has any phrases or groups of adjectives to describe your style. Perhaps words you then reflect on when deciding whether to buy something? I have some standard adjectives for the colours of my wardrobe but not the style.

@Take2020 mine varies between ”Indiana Jones’ granddaughter” and “corporate ballerina” depending on how smart and corporate I need to be. (Back to the Reddit mood boards again)

I don’t really think about adjectives/phrases to identify my style, I actually don’t like the idea of trying to find a way to describe it. There is nothing wrong with it tbh just personal preference, hard to explain but in a way I feel it constrains me? Again, not that it should or also I am not saying I dress in a way difficult to describe ... maybe if someone knows me could describe me
Honestly i am not blowing my own trumpet but in general my friends/ colleagues tend to say I dress well, have nice clothes or ask me where i get things as in general is not the standard high street stuff. (maybe they are being polite)
Again that does not say much about my style, or does it?