Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Ce n'est pas bon de faire du lèche-vitrines avec de l'argent en poche

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Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between. Feel free to join in

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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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Merch in celebration of our tenth (previous) thread:

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Thank you for the kind words all. Yes agree Bani, I am not worried about the virus itself either.
For me it was an accumulation of feelings and existential dilemma type thing.
Flo, you are very right your words struck a chord. I think because until last week I was happily going out, making plans ... the next days I was told not to go to office, work from home and kids will be home too, not to socialise... and then we kinda know what happens next ... lock down (probably). Sorry, I don’t like to make it sound terrible I felt a bit like in a rollercoaster.
On a positive side, I really feel this is a great opportunity for a more balanced world in many aspects and to learn to live a slower life. After all, is not the first time the world has gone through plagues, Shakespeare himself wrote his works while in isolation during one of the big plagues (according to Radio 2).
Good thing is that I spoke to a very understanding gp and I am (hopefully) going to get some help to talk all this through.

Btw - if you all have some more ideas of lounge wear, that does not look like pyjamas as Bo said, very much appreciated.
Trouva had a very nice joggers and jumper type thing, but a bit more than I would like to spend, they also had a lovely exotic looking robe.

There's quite an interesting interview with Lidewij Edelkoort on Dezeen about what kind of reset of mentality this might lead to as we're being weaned off direct capitalism en masse. She's treated as a bit of a Nostradamus in design spheres but I'm always slightly critical (despite having studied under her) as she's in the forecasting industry so a lot of it is just self fulfilling prophecy as so many brands pay her to tell them what to do 🤷 the other aspect I'm always missing with her, is the eagerness to erase the democratic aspect of design, there's this continual push for local and craft, etc. that's all fine and dandy if you have the means but it's just not realistic across the board. I think this time can be helpful in breeding a sense of noblesse oblige again, which is already visible in actions during this crisis now (eg Zara who have just directed their supply chain into making 300000 masks and delivering them within record time and set to make protective gowns next). Whether that will survive after will have to be seen but it's encouraging at the very least.

From that article I am going to take away the idea of creating or recording something beautiful every day. Whether it be a beautiful meal, an arrangement, sketch or an outfit, it should be a good challenge.

Oh and sorry, meant to add, isn't me and em the universal answer for lounge war (I vaguely recall mention of Palazzo trousers that are not really like Palazzo trousers but brilliant anyhow). I'm not all that well versed in lounge wear though. ATM I'm wearing mostly oversized men's shirts tucked into soft well worn boyfriend fit jeans.

Haha lounge war! Well I expect there might be some of that to come over the next few weeks in close quarters with all the loo roll forts taking up space

Lounge war

Meant to say Bo I’m impressed that you spotted those shoes, I would not have seen the potential. However I skim past anything that looks like it clickety-clacks I’ve realised I don’t like it doesn’t fit my ninja identity

I highly doubt this will lead to lasting change. Industry will be rushing to get back to normal and people are sheep. Will read the interview though!

Realised that sounded a bit rude about the shoes - I didn't mean it like that, just that I would have gone "oh shoes. don't need pumps" and not looked closer. I'd love a photo!

I saw them in store first Bani, think I'd not paid them any attention if I'd seen them online only either. Crap photo from them, they've yet to be dispatched, I expect it'll be a while which is fine by me as it's completely non essential.

I'm sceptical on the long lasting change too, but I do think it's driving home quite strongly what is and what isn't important to us.

A lot of companies have been trying their hands at (social) activism in a PR effort to be relevant (or preferential) to younger generations with differring results (Nike and Colin Kappernick (sp?) vs Pepsi and one of the Karjenners -making black outrage marketing a thing, unfortunately). Now that we're seeing companies not signalling and manufacturing these PR campaigns for optics but instead actually acting, and crucially, at their own cost, the virtue signalling is going to feel hollow as we've now witnessed the real thing from them and know what they're potentially capable of and how deep their pockets are.

The 1920s in response to the first world war were an interesting time in industry underpinned by a lot of ideology for a better society that had a tremendous amount of influence into urban planning that's still relevant today, social housing being one of them. That was largely fuelled by a handful of wealthy industrials but I can see some parallels of history repeating itself (in an optimistic sense for a change). Collectively feeling responsible for the welfare of others is a valuable lesson for society, it won't reach all but it's a difficult lesson to ignore right now.

It'll be interesting to see how influencers (who were already knocking on death's door for a while) will survive this, they can't cash in on the situation and they can't continue as normal. Without the free travel and restaurants they're just sitting at home unboxing a hoard of PR, which is a really bad look right now. Ditto the celebrities, just contrast the reaction to a woefully awful John Lennon 'Imagine' rendition vs what is evoked by the grainy digital videos from the communities in Italy and Spain singing with their neighbours together (but apart).

Forgot to attach photo.

Dd2 has gone in for her last day of school, it's been a trade off between keeping her safe and trying not to stress her out by changing her routine too much. Her special school only has 10 in a class, a lot stayed off this week and half the school was closed mid week, so she's not mixing with large numbers of children, anyway. Dd1 has gone in to collect her books, as her school are posting work online in two week blocks, she's been keeping up with her friends on WhatsApp.

I ordered some blue addidas trainers from Zalando a while back, but I've no idea uf they're coming or not, we'll see. I will need to replace my red ones, that are ancient at some point. I've been living in jeans tbh, the charity shop straight legs from m&s (unusual for me as I don't usually like the fit of their jeans) and an old pair of pale blue flares, the advantage of both are that they're comfortable without a belt as I haven't located my jeans belt yet. I've found all the fancy belts but not the practical one I normally use.

This is not my actual bedroom, but our new wardrobes are this style in both the main bedroom and dd2's. They need decorating, so yesterday I sanded down the plaster and filler in the ones in the main bedroom and in a bit I will sand down dd2's. Once dd2 is home it will be pretty hard to do much, but dp might have a chance to paint them then we can be a bit more organised, especially as we're going to be at home!

Do you or your children enjoy gardening quirky? I am a bit of a gardener myself even if there is not a lot of space or for people in flats, small plant containers are great , something beautiful and you can focus on small changes. I will do a salad planter with my son as is something you can see results relatively quickly and eat too.
Here are some of my small containers and chuffed about the one in flower as is first time ever! How ironic.
A photo of my japanesse acer, the colours reminded me of what we were discussing weeks ago.

Forgot to say, wardrobes look good, I am sure they will look amazing after being spruced up!

Lovely colours Red. I think hardship can change attitudes - I doubt Attlee would have won an election without World War 2 - but it's going to take a bit more than a few months. Edelkoort has great hair though.

Wild shoes although I wouldn't make it down the stairs in them. I've been slobbing around all week in jeans and increasingly meh jumpers but today I raised my game: Navy Uniqlo U high waisted wide legs, burgundy John Smedley V neck jumper tucked in and Solovair lace ups from the factory store. I then sallied forth to the local shops, had a couple of lovely chats and walked back in the sunshine with food and chocolate to see us through the next few days.

The week's other highlights have been our son texting daily(ish) to ask if we're ok, that Trouva independent shops website (thank you) and drinking my own coffee every day, which is much nicer than Costa's.

Placemarking

Well my highlight of the day has come in these French tulips that I was surprised with this morning. I adore the French variety as they're so elongated and then burst out into the wild florals you usually only see in Golden Age paintings. They don't come up for sale often so really happy to have some in.

Wardrobes look good, quirky. I'm contemplating tackling the guest room, also has a chimney breast (but fireplace has disappeared) but I'm not sure if a guest room really requires double cupboards either side I'd probably just fill it up claiming it archives but it would feel a little off balance just on one side.

Our garden is shit at the moment, I'd love to work on it but the neighbours at the back whose house sits perpendicular to ours wanted to change the fence which we were fine with and had removed a shoddy shed in preparation and all of the planting. They eagerly removed half of the fence without informing us the next door neighbours (landlord with the house split in three) hadn't replied at all (and still hasn't many weeks later) so we're left with a barren garden in limbo I'll get some seeds in to grow pea shoots, radishes, spring onions and courgettes (I never get any fruits, I just grow them to eat the flowers) in pots though.

Lidewij Edelkoort does have impressive hair, she's rather impressive, period, (and somewhat menacing) in real life. I am still greatly intrigued how she carved herself out as such an authority, it's always just been accepted fact and her CV really doesn't give much insight 🤷

We have a small garden, red, and quite a few pots to fill, so I was thinking dd2 and I could do some planting. She loves digging in the dirt.

bo, we use the second wardrobe in dd2's room as storage, tbh, as we have an attic and basement conversion. Old dc's pictures, toys, clothes dd1 has grown out of but don't yet fit dd2 etc.

Interesting article, I can see it as a reset too. I'm making a list of stuff to do with dcs and for me too.

Another highlight: last night's documentary about Ready, Steady Go (BBC 4). Cathy McGowan was one of my first style crushes.

One more highlight - after watching the doc I googled McGowan, cos she hadn't been interviewed and I feared the worst, and learnt that the Queen of the Mods is now with Michael Ball. Marvellous.

I meant to say your pots look lovely, red. Some of my herbs from last year have grown again, plus a few other plants, but they need some tlc as the carpenter was using the garden for woodwork, so they have been very neglected.

Day 1 for us with no school/outside activities and dcs have already managed a physical fight . I took dd2 to a small, local park, which is always very quiet and we've made some lunch together (focusing on some independence skills is an easy activity to do together). I have gardening earmarked for another day's activities. Dd1 has decided to rearrange her room and wants to know how to use the hoover . So some plusses so far.

Happy mothers day to the mums on this thread and happy day to all!!

Oh! Love that look Flo.

Today I am wearing jeans and a grey cotton jumper and to make it more interesting I have a vintage silk scarf tied around my neck. I got it last year on one of my antique market expeditions. I will take a photo of it later on.

Love the shape of those tulips too Bo.

At least my mindfulness and cbt have started to work and I feel a tiny bit more like myself and no panic attacks, which is great cos if I get one the following day I feel aching all over. So need to keep practicing that.

Yes, happy mother's day to you in the UK (Ireland too? I can't keep track it's different everywhere, ours is in May).

Quirky, for things to do with your dd2, I was thinking she may enjoy the giant bubbles if she's not too old for them now. There's plenty of recipes on the internet, although glycerine may be difficult to get now as it's used in those DIY recipes for hand sanitiser. I always keep some in the house to stretch out shrunken wool jumpers with. The stick thingies are easy to make yourself as a crafting project that eats up half an hour or so, should be fun to do by the beach/little park or just cheer up the street with on a sunny day. Don't use lemon dishwashing liquid though, not sure why but apparently that's a bad idea.

I'll have to see if I can find that documentary online somewhere, Flo. Is Ready Steady Go the title of the documentary as well?

Shoes came in yesterday, I'm a bit meh about them but I'm very meh altogether (mind & body) so don't think it's the shoes at fault here. Not sure if I'm experiencing really faint c-word symptoms or they're just random PCOS ones, or both

It's called 'The Story of Ready Steady Go' bo. I'm sure a big part of the appeal is that I can remember watching it as a child but I think it's an interesting piece of social history too - the way the bands (and we're talking about the likes of the Stones and the Beatles) and audience were packed so close together and could be seen dancing to each other's acts. Life before Health and Safety!

Yeah it's so hard to tell whether you're going down with Coronavirus or just got something stuck in your throat. Speaking of which, Bani was reporting a sore throat a couple of days ago - has anyone seen her?

Thanks, bo, she loves bubbles. We did take a big bubble stick to the park, but I'll look into other options.

quirky, here's a tutorial for the stick thingies (with twigs, so easily sourced), it's in Dutch but pretty self explanatory. Apparently an old t-shirt can work too, I'm a bit sceptical on that one but I've never tried it.

Recipe is:

1 cup dishwashing liquid (the green Fairy works well)
8 cups warm water
4 teaspoons glycerine

I saw Bani on a thread yesterday I think about the retail victims of Corona, someone was unnecessarily mean and patronising to her on that though (as most of MN seems to be atm not even S&B seems safe) so maybe she's just taking a break.

Also, thanks Flo, I'll have a search.

I think I will just stick to this thread as I know you lot are nice