Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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

997 replies

botemp · 19/02/2020 19:34

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


Favoured Parisian addresses:

Second Hand Shops

Outlets

Favoured London addresses:

Charity Shops, Dress Agencies, and Outlets

Favoured NYC addresses:

Consignment shops, Vintage, and Restaurants


Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

Sept

Huit

Neuf

Dix

Merch in celebration of our tenth (previous) thread:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Ce n'est pas bon de faire du lèche-vitrines avec de l'argent en poche
OP posts:
Thread gallery
257
viennesewhirls · 25/03/2020 15:59

Re Lucy and Yak as the new Hush/Boden, I wouldn’t know - this is the only mumsnet thread I come into! Months of working from home by myself seem like the perfect time to wear comfy corduroy dungarees....

Redandblue11 · 25/03/2020 17:57

That blouse is very pretty , thanks Bo
I haven’t tried dungarees myself past the age of 8, but some people carry them off very well Vienesse, I say go ahead!

We have done three consecutive days of some gardening with ds, just an hour per day but we planted strawberries, potatoes in bag, ornamental grasses and wild flowers. I am feeling more content but the house is starting to look very untidy but I have shifted mindset and I seem to tolerate untidiness more

botemp · 26/03/2020 07:58

Oof corduroy, that is really living on the edge. My single peruse of the Lucy and Yak site had me a bit baffled, its USP seems to be unflattering clothes. But we've had a whole conversation about flattering on here so perhaps it's effectively cornering an untapped market. If you love it go for it, it's not like anyone will see you.

I personally had expected the whole WFH movement would spawn endless threads looking for nice/interesting tops (because, video conferencing and the tops you already owned are unsuitable as the camera peers right down your top). Granted you lot are only in week one so that itch may not have started up yet.

OP posts:
XingMing · 26/03/2020 14:28

Apart from having DH and DS at home underfoot all the time, life hasn't changed a lot here. Except that it's sunny during the days and freezing at night. Pilates classes have shifted online via Zoom but everyone has seen all my workout stuff already.

quirkychick · 26/03/2020 17:33

Just checking in. I seem busier than ever with trying to forge a (very basic) routine for dd2. Our play areas are now closed, but a local (quiet) "garden" park is still open, so we went there this morning. The first time I have gone past all our closed local shops Sad. People have definitely got the distancing and are crossing the road etc. to avoid each other.

I usually do yoga from either YouTube or dvd, so I'm just doing a longer session in the mornings. Quite a bit of decluttering and I've been tidying up the pots and some shrubs in our tiny garden. Dp is painting our wardrobes, so I'll finish the clothes sorting etc. when that's done. Inside the house needs a clean, but it supposed to be colder at the weekend, so I might have a go then.

botemp · 26/03/2020 20:41

Ooh I've just spotted the first video conference- I need nice tops thread. My Nostradamus skills are still intact, it seems, wish it would give me some actual useful information like lottery numbers Grin

I've been tidying up the larger/balcony terrace we have. It's a lovely size but rather useless as it gets incredibly hot up there but it'll be nice for spring days. I'm thinking of getting one of those large sail shade thingies so that it can be used in summer too and potentially make the attached bedroom less of a sauna. They're supposed to let wind through but I'm still somewhat sceptical on the safety of it all.

I've decided I'm going to try to sew something. Starting simple with a kaftan. This is all Yoox' fault as they have the Roland Mouret (repeat offender of lusty unaffordable things) jumpsuit I liked so much last year but it's still stupid money for something that will hardly ever get worn. I'm not going to attempt a jumpsuit (no appeal right now) but I like the low cut look and the separation in the middle, it'll just be a split in mine. I've played around with some old curtains but that's looking decidedly bridal nightgown Confused Have seen some lovely heavyweight silk twill online but will probably try it out with a cheaper fabric first, I've seen some viscose twill that may do the job but cheap cotton to start with is probably best. Need to order a spare part for my sewing machine as well, hope those shops are still trading online.

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Ce n'est pas bon de faire du lèche-vitrines avec de l'argent en poche
Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Ce n'est pas bon de faire du lèche-vitrines avec de l'argent en poche
OP posts:
botemp · 26/03/2020 20:49

Nosing through the liberty sale, quick, @XingMing your jacket is on sale at 50% off

www.libertylondon.com/uk/stromboli-recycled-denim-jacket-R280541006.html?dwvar_000624112_color=32-DENIM&listsrc=Women#prefn1=brand&prefv1=Paloma%20Wool&start=1&sz=60

OP posts:
Redandblue11 · 27/03/2020 08:27

The white robey on the right is your doing Bo?
I am liking it ... has a japanesse vibe to it!
What a great idea to sew stuff like that, when my gardening and paining entertainment has worn out I might turn my hand to that.
Right now I am patting myself on the back for working from home and raise a child who is not glued 100 to a video game. Yeah at times it wasn’t pretty but is Friday and I cannot believe we are actually doing it and being ok at it.
Pat on the back to all you too, whatever your daily challenges are!

Floisme · 27/03/2020 09:09

Well last night I felt like crap: achey, shivery, sore throat though no temperature. But this morning I'm still here and so far feeling nothing more than a bit washed out. So was that it? Is this it? It's ok, I know I have to act like it is but I'm just curious. It means my son can't come home now for 2 weeks. It's not that he had any plans to, and he's fine where he is but knowing he can't is a bit upsetting.

Was someone asking about dungarees? My view is that every adult should wear them at least once, not for how they look but because they feel so bloody great. Lucy and Yak seem to have good ethical credentials - I know anyone can waffle on about their values but they seem to actually know who their suppliers are.

I got an email from Uniqlo about Ann Sui. Some nice colours though too floaty and boho for me personally. In fact it encapsulates why I'm struggling to wear colour - there's an assumption that, if you like mannish clothing and a bit of structure, then you want to wear grey all the time. I actually quite like grey but I'm bored now.

botemp · 27/03/2020 09:44

Whatever was plaguing me seems to finally have lifted its hold today but I still wouldn't be able to tell you what it was. I had a whole list of weird symptoms that made little sense together could individually be attributed to other things but none really explained why I felt, like you, washed out but generally fine but could barely keep it together by around eight thirty-ish at night and would absolutely collapse and sleep through the night soon after, waking up several hours later than I usually do, so was getting about thirteen hours of sleep at night to my usual six or seven.

I have had issues with extreme fatigue, even been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (although acknowledged by all as a bullshit diagnosis but nothing else fit and some of the coping methods helped improve the situation) and that was very different. It was so mild otherwise and I had no fever (one day of elevated temps but not a true fever) and no cough but I did have a heavy feeling on my chest (that was great for posture as any attempt at slumping forward was far too painful) and was breathless from taking the stairs when that's never been an issue. Still not sure what it was, so confused.

I don't really want to take an antibody test to see if you had it when it becomes available because I don't want to find out it wasn't it because the idea that maybe it was it has minimised the fear of it for a bit Confused

I agree on the issues with colour and sharply cut clothing. It seems to be grey or really bright feminine colours. The hard pastel blues, liac or hot pink suits, they're fun and make a statement but they're not that versatile in a wardrobe.

OP posts:
botemp · 27/03/2020 09:46

I have had issues with extreme fatigue *in the past- that should say.

OP posts:
Floisme · 27/03/2020 09:59

I may try and track down some paisley silk(ish) shirts at some distant point. The Guardian featured one I was quite drawn to but it turned out they wanted £200+ for viscose.

botemp · 27/03/2020 10:08

The Liberty's (I promise I don't work for them) sale has some beautiful paisley silk by the meter if you're ever thinking of taking up sewing as well. Still pricey but it's lovely to see, think there's some in cotton as well which is around £20 a meter at the moment.

www.libertylondon.com/uk/great-missenden-silk-satin-R194418006.html?dwvar_000579096_color=70-RED#prefn1=Filter%20by%20Product%20Type&prefv1=Silk%20Satin&start=61&sz=60

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Ce n'est pas bon de faire du lèche-vitrines avec de l'argent en poche
OP posts:
Floisme · 27/03/2020 10:15

I am indeed thinking of taking up sewing. I've been whittling about it for long enough and, if not now, when? Thank you for that link!

viennesewhirls · 27/03/2020 14:35

@botemp
“I personally had expected the whole WFH movement would spawn endless threads looking for nice/interesting tops (because, video conferencing and the tops you already owned are unsuitable as the camera peers right down your top)”
Aah, I have a habit of leaning forwards over my desk so I tend only to wear things that are high-necked anyway. This week has been various combinations of sweaters, hidden political tees, and jeans or jean skirts, or jersey dresses.

quirkychick · 27/03/2020 14:45

I learnt not to wear lowish tops as a teacher! Cowl neck tops can be particularly bad culprits, as they appear quite high-necked, but actually are very revealing when you bend over.

I have actually spent the last couple of years taking up the piano again, so I've had the chance to do more atm. I'm impressed with the sewing projects.

botemp · 27/03/2020 16:07

I'm rather wide set, so it takes a while to see anything 😂 but it doesn't take away the suggestion there's something to see. I've long learnt (seasoned WFH pro) to just button up before logging on and I usually have a scarf or two around to cover up if necessary.

Piano playing sounds lovely, quirky, when I was growing up we had two teachers who taught at the conservatorium (is that the same in English? Specialist music school for professionals to be, and ballerinas) and they often took in lodgers who they selected on their musical skills as they have to practice an insane amount of hours so we always had beautiful music to hear every day from across the street.

OP posts:
banivani · 27/03/2020 19:46

Silk satin ... 😍 god I love that!

I am absolutely bone tired from work. No introspective quarantine here. Sick colleagues means all the stupid questions get dumped on me (feels like). So tired.

quirkychick · 27/03/2020 20:57

I hope you get some rest, bani Flowers.

bo, I'm definitely not that good (I had to Google to check, but I think it's conservatory or conservatoire in English). I play better than when I was younger, though, as I'm more motivated.

ToEllewithIt · 27/03/2020 22:08

Oh bani hate that feeling.

I felt absolutely drained in the evenings two weeks ago and put it down to all the stress at work and home,but DH has had the full run of symptoms over the last week so now I’m in limbo knowing I either got lucky and had a mild version that I passed onto him or I’m incubating it now!

Love that H&M studio dress botemp.

I’m mostly wearing leggings gasp for WFH and that long Acne cardigan has paid for itself already. It’s not glam, but perfect for alternating between working upstairs and doing playdoh.

botemp · 28/03/2020 09:15

Bani look after yourself and call in sick yourself if you need to Flowers

Yeah, it's difficult because 'mild' Covid19 in the medical sense is technically people like your DH, Elle, at home sick as a dog, I hope he's well recovered or on the way Flowers

It's difficult when you try to Google (because definitely not worth bothering anyone medical about now) when you have mild versions of the mild symptoms which basically means asymptomatic (and I definitely would not have considered it anything under normal circumstances, just blaming it on burning the candle at both ends) but there's hardly any data on asymptomatic patients for obvious reasons.

For example my taste and smell really dulled, but I didn't really notice until I oversalted something that was absolutely inedible to OH but I could discern it was a little too much salt but I could eat it without issue Blush when usually we're the other way round WRT salt tolerance. I just thought I was sick of my own cooking up until that point.

Although I didn't have many cold symptoms that loss of taste and smell seems more in line with that than a complete loss of it like in Covid19. Apparently fatigue is a major symptom after coughing and fever though so 🤷 OH has had a cough and a few errant sneezes but nothing persistent, some fatigue as well. It's weird but equally all the online social diagnosing of anecdotal data is probably leading a lot of people to believe nothing is something.

OP posts:
Floisme · 28/03/2020 10:02

That's the thing - how many times do I normally cough in the course of a day? I've no idea because I never notice. Anyway I seem to be falling into a pattern of feeling ok-ish during the day then going downhill at night. The upside is, I'm sleeping well! So I'm trying to be more productive during the daylight hours, although I did enjoy Suzanne Moore explaining why she has no intention of spending Lockdown reading Proust: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/26/they-can-lock-me-down-but-they-cant-make-me-read-proust

Conservatoire I think.

Take care bani and Elle and MrElle

banivani · 28/03/2020 10:23

Oh you’re all too kind, I wasn’t fishing more explaining why I’m not engaging at all. ❤️ I’ve just genuinely been doing more at work since CV means we have to do new things (like video meetings) that we weren’t equipped for, most of my team are sick or wfh and there’s a culture in my workplace of wandering the corridors looking for a person to ask instead of looking things up for themselves. Right now I’m the one in the corridor so. Also we have management who don’t know the basics of their job as it pertains to my field of it 😡 and answering the most basic fucking questions (yes, you need to write a memo on it before the matter is brought before the board yes always) takes energy. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 is my favourite emoji.

Sorry to hear you’re unwell Bo and Elle (am I missing someone)? If it’s CV all my prayers that it’s mild.

Fashion wise (lol) I bought a silk top off Swedish eBay that I’ve looked at in the shop but never pulled the trigger on because it’s ok but I don’t love it www.sidenselma.se/dam/sidentoppar/blusliv-plommon but I decided to go for it when only 1/4 of price. I love wearing it but still don’t love-love the style and fit. Promptly spilled butter on it so it’s currently drying after me trying to get the stain out 🙄🙄🙄

Did not like the Anna whatsit range, I see so much of that here it doesn’t interest me. 😬

I’m never wearing dungarees ever. Giant baby is what I’d look like. Genuinely. Like a fetish thing.

I love the red robe more than your attempt Bo 😉 but your attempt certainly is very good! Can appreciate that maybe feels more like nightwear on though. 😂

botemp · 29/03/2020 18:14

How is everyone doing today? I thought I was done with the non descript nonsense that may or not be something but I ended up sleeping the entire afternoon away Confused

I enjoyed that column, Flo. I'm very averse to all this productivity pressure, Shakespeare wrote his best works in quarantine, slap on your war paint bollocks. Make it whatever works for you and gets you through, dress like a slob or a diva, with or without makeup, it really doesn't matter. I do need to wash my hair tonight though, if I fall into the trap of thinking I'll do it tomorrow it won't happen then either...

OP posts:
Redandblue11 · 29/03/2020 19:24

Big hugs to you all, today feeling a bit meh ... then I spoke with my mum and told her I just needed distraction so we talked nonsense, then I watched this
twitter.com/henryfraser0/status/1243853328825618433?s=21twitter
And now I feel a tiny bit better