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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Outlets

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Charity Shops, Dress Agencies, and Outlets

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Consignment shops, Vintage, and Restaurants

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Merch in celebration of our tenth (previous) thread:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

I wore my new Equipment dress today (obviously no video calls on the agenda), ridiculously overdressed just go out to the supermarkets in but oh well 🤷 weird angle as usual but now also blinded by the sun while taking it = one of those bobble head figurines 🤣 at least the blinding sun is allowing me to show off the lovely sheen of the silk and the colour.

Also wore this H&M dress at the weekend, which is a conundrum of keep and alter or just let go/archive. It's from my old wardrobe so a few sizes up which isn't that noticeable but the giant gaping tunnel used to sit at stomach height now sits across the top of my hips and I'm now convinced it looks like I have a HUGE vagina 🙈 but I like the architecture vibe it's got going but maybe it is screaming open for business a little too loudly?

I've found a new up and coming designer from Spain, a bit Paloma Wool at the beach, Gimaguas, it's not crazy expensive I might be tempted to put in an order for the Rome dress when their lockdown ends seeing as I'm a massive sucker for anything backless. Although I like the idea of the Ma'am dress over trousers too. Apparently they're very sustainable too, but anyone waving about a scrap of organic cotton considers themselves sustainable these days...

Back and a closer up view and the Ma'am dress

Well that was a sombre turn of events last night. There had been a sense for a few days that Johnson's condition was more serious than they were making out, but I must admit I was still shocked and now I feel bad about my joshing. Also deep unease about the people left in charge. It is not an experienced or heavyweight cabinet - as I recollect, they were chosen for their support of Brexit as much as for any talent. Michael Gove is basically our elder statesman - this is not a sentence I expected to be writing any time soon.

Anyway I think that backless dress is stunning and its construction a thing of mystery and wonder.

Thanks Xing for the Low Classic Seoul tip. I had a look on Instagram but only lasted 30 seconds before it threw me off. (I don't have an account and the last thing I need in my life right is another social media platform). But I liked what I saw very much and will google some more.

Managed to find Unorthodox last night and enjoyed it very much so thanks for that too bani and bo. Wish it was longer though - 4 episodes won't even last us till the weekend.

Me too Flo, but it feels like forever ago now, I can't even remember how awful we were about him. I think I acknowledged some good, maybe? I think we decided he would come out victorious as Bruce Willis (minus the reunion with the ex wife) and it wasn't all that bad. And if we were awful, so was Hadley Freeman so at least we're in good company. Here's hoping for the best.

It's tough, probably because he's collectively known as Boris and the PM, he probably feels much more familiar to most than those preceding him. And yes, there are a lot of political ramifications of his absence that make it difficult to discuss as the situation shouldn't really be political.

How are the nature pics coming along, sunsets are obviously crass now, so I'm guessing sunrise and new dawn mumbo jumbo instead?

We carried on with Shtisel on Netflix and the main actress from Unorthodox has a meaty role in that too when she's probably still a child actress. Much slower paced and 2 seasons with 12 episodes each so should fill some time nicely.

Here's low classic's website I try not to look at it too often as only very little of it is sold in Europe. It's basically old Céline with more approachable (comparatively) price tags.

Ah poor Boris all the same, I wouldn't be wishing death on anyone so hope he doesn't get a bad case of it.

Low Classic looks amazing but so far out of my price range it's a different planet haha. I esp loved this skirt lowclassic.com/product/lists-collection.html?cate_no=149

Gimaguas is very booby isn't it? Why is everything so booby? I'm heading towards 50 and go to work, can't be doing with that flashing business!

Bo, love the equipment dress but don't love the one with the house, I remember it from the first time around and I wasn't keen then either. Just not to my taste - so if you're feeling like a walking vagina I say let it go.

Shtisel was the one I watched some years ago when it was on Swedish telly, I've checked. It's very bingeable, go for it all of you!

This week's free Pilatesology workout is with Sonjé Mayo who is amazing. Amazing. pilatesology.com/free-at-home-workout/

Yeah I'm not so bothered about party affiliations at times like this, I'd just like to feel we were in the hands of clever or at least competent people.

The nature pics seem to have morphed into poetry, some of it very, very bad. But it doesn't wind my up quite as much as I can understand the desire to make sense of what's going on, even if a lot of it isn't to my taste.

That Low Classic website is very Celine before what's-his-name isn't it? But from what you've said about the fabrics, I'm guessing it doesn't look as good in real life?

Shtisel - thank you!

Get away all of you with your workout apps. I am however running up and downstairs. A lot.

I feel the same, regardless of political views I feel that is the biggest blow we could have had yesterday. Very difficult to explain how I feel but is not great feeling being in England right now. I wish him well.

I am all up for the walking vagina look. Totally the type of thing I would have worn a few years ago and now in this I properly don’t give a shit anymore is perfect and would wear again.
The website you linked Bo has great pieces , loads that I like.

I have set up in the garden a hot pink swing seat I got in Mexico years ago and a blue and green hammock and a rattan swing chair .... I am not sure why I didn’t do this before an area of pure colourful chill, I am also going to put a container with water plants there too.

Back on a fashion note, the Sunday Times Style magazine are lurking again.

Your garden sounds lovely, red.

doesn't Xing have a Times subscription? 🤔 It's getting meta in here...

See I like my walking vagina dress I'm just not sure whether I'm alone in thinking it's looks like a giant vagina dress. I mean, I had no issue with it when I looked to just have a humongous appetite when it sat over my stomach...

Unfortunately the low classic website has poor functionality so I get a blank page for Bani's preferred skirt.

I found them through this website, wconcept, but with all the import taxes I've never ordered (but you lucky lot in the UK get tax inclusive prices). It's sort of a Wolf & Badger of South Korean independent designer brands (although they have some international ones too but then the items are often manufactured in SK). It's good browsing.

On the materials WRT low classic they don't look that bad in real life but I'm just not one for paying over the odds for synthetic fabric even if they're not the cheapest of synthetic fabrics. The fit is also very much with Asian bodies in mind, you can't have too much curves, hence my preference for the bags... Though perhaps with their expansion into the Western market (that times piece is definitely a PR piece and they're being carried by an increasing number of shops now) this may have changed.

Oh yes, that's definitely a PR piece.

I do have a Times sub, and via my demented DMIL, I also have full access to the Torygraph because I hijacked use her electronic login, plus I pay a sub to the Guardian, and I used to pay for the FT. So I get feeds from all over. I love the Low Classic aesthetic, but I am not going to buy except IRL. Because I am 63, and my skin needs to be covered now. I hate (HATE) the modest frilly stuff, and it would not have suited me at 20. At 63, I need to work out a version of chic that is nothing to do with physical allure. Flo gets it.

I saw the pic in the Times, for full disclosure. That's where it came from!

Browns have the UK distribution for Low Classic, and NAP have some pieces too. My posh frock shop would stock it aesthetically but it's sizing wouldn't work for the wealthy farmer's wives or sedentary professional women who are her customers, so she will stick with European ranges. I am very taken with some of the small leather accessories though and will suggest she takes a look. I reckon they think it could be a winner for the 40+ thin customer buying casual workwear.... which isn't very large.

The green Arket wool trousers arrived and I really like them. I am a little little little bit too fat but obviously I'll be turning over a new leaf soon and start exercising a lot more so it'll be grand. A size up would be too big. They have the look of trousers made so you can take them out at the back seam without actually having the seam width to do so - cheap feckers.

They are olive green which means that MAYBE I can do a monochromatic outfit which pleases me very much. Forgot to check before it got dark but will do so in a panic in the morning.

I am looking forward to Bani’s monochromatic outfit. That sounds very promising.

My garden sounds a lot fancier than it is irl, trust me. If you can block the cheap plastic football goal, rusted trampoline in a corner , old shed ... if you block all that

My only attire temptation have been basics, comfy ones. I have not ordered anything but was looking at this sweatshirts and socks , made of bamboo I think . Not sure , I mean I could do with them, equally I could do with what I have , although they are looking tired ... any other ideas of half decent ones and lively colours gratefully received... smaller companies with green credentials...even better I know I know...

That's disappointing Xing, I had you down as the secret Times fashion correspondent. Yes I know exactly what you mean - how to look chic when face and body are packing up and moving out?

Red I've been sent a couple of pairs of complimentary socks from Bam. No idea why they picked me and now feel guilty for wearing and not ordering as I'm sure they'll be struggling at the moment. But anyway they're very comfortable, seem to be hard wearing and my feet don't sweat in them.

Wearing the dyed Whistles barrel leg jeans today. They're a lighter shade than in the photo which is good as the sun is out and they have a bit of a summery vibe. Glad you're pleased with your trousers bani

Today's first world woe-is-me tale: Just before the lock-in I bought a large bottle of avocado oil from the health food shop, not for fancy cooking but to put on my face (long story but short version: sensitive skin). Only realised when I got home it wasn't the usual brand and this stuff a) stinks and b) leaves a most becoming pale green cast. Little choice but to put up with it as the only alternative at the moment is olive oil which is even stinkier.

Aaah there's puckering on the shoulder of that Bam shirt. What is it with these sustainable brands and not being able to make basic things? I was looking at this t-shirt on Staiy (a German multibrand sustainable eshop that is super German about everything ie. goes into insane detail about how well each individual brand is doing in each sustainable aspect, in other words, saves you the trouble of verifying green credentials) and again the seam is just absolutely wonky, and then they take a detail shot of it the pricier Tencel t-shirt (€50) from the same brand looks a lot better made, I think it really is a cost issue.

I'm not sure if Bam is a small independent, in the way we think of small independents as lovely altruistic folk doing the best they can for the world, they do a lot of advertising on TV here so their marketing budget must be huge as I know they're all over the internet and especially if they're sending Flo socks for free. Which has me believe they're probably a slick established business who have ventured out and jumped on sustainability as a marketing opportunity to build their business around, nothing wrong with that of course but I do prefer the optics to be true to what they are.

Flo, avocado oil goes rancid really quickly (within a year of bottling) and should be stored in the fridge. If it is rancid it can potentially flare up irritation. You could maybe get some rice bran oil from the supermarket? It's good with sensitive skin and smell wise it is pretty neutral.

I see MN is having financial difficulties, where will we go if they disappear 😱 Les Parisiennes de netmamans doesn't have an especially good ring to it but it probably means we can have an Eiffel tower, croissants and baguettes in our shiny tickers...

Why don’t they have the sense to put the best items up on the website like.

Attaching monochrome outfit! I look awkward because son snapped me before I was ready. -You can see the trousers straining over my round belly there - I’ll have to work on that. Maybe. I’d just gotten in from work so was grabbing him before he went out himself #nolockdown

You're so optimistic Bani, my mind immediately goes, if this is the best item they have to show off what absolute shite must the rest look like

LOVE the monochrome outfit 🤩 rounding is not that obvious at all, or awkward pose, I'm only aware because you told me about it

I am possibly a bit naive 😂

I was super pleased being monochrome! Socks are yellow and gloves were yellow, boots dark green and eyeliner green. Committed!

Great outfit Bani.

Not posting a picture of today's "outfit" but if I said faded navy cargo shorts, brown wellies and a black singlet with a green bucket hat saying Canada, you'd understand why! Pressure washing the terrace. It is a filthy job that DH insists on doing at the first sign of fine weather in April. And I am a better height for this chore than he is.

Ha ha I've never noticed that about avocado oil bo although it's obvious when you say it. I've been using it for a while no problem (the oil not this particular bottle). It doesn't smell off, just kind of strong, although I suppose that could be the first sign. Oddly enough my face seems to like it, smell and green tinge aside. Last time I was in a supermarket (which feels a lifetime ago) they only had olive oil and 'blended oil' as alternatives but I'll keep an eye out.

Yes no surprise if MN is struggling - I imagine advertising is the first thing you cut at a time like this. From what I've heard I think I'm too sweary to last long on Netmums.

Like your outfit bani - good colours.

I have some free Bam socks too. They seem good.

flo, have you tried almond oil? I like it on my face as it's pretty neutral. I think I got some on amazon a while back.

I saw that mn now have premium. I think I'm too sweaty for net mums too.

On a more serious not a friend of a friend died of COVID-19 symptoms last weekend. Late 60s and a smoker, but very energetic and full of life. Such a shock when it's someone you know.

Too sweaty

Do you think they'd catch on if we swear in French? French is brilliant for swearing after all, a particular favourite is "Enculer les mouches" which is a very rude way to call someone a nitpicker, we have something similar in Dutch but it's ant fucker (the regular kind).