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

[botemp]

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

---

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

What fabric have you chosen for your premiere grand oeuvre Flo?

The silk in bo's blouse is wonderful, but isn't silk difficult/slippery to sew, or is that velvet?

I'll probably stick to alterations and general messing about for the forseeable Xing although I did pick up some cotton canvassy fabric and some heavy 'rustic linen' (their description - basically not the high street saggy stuff) just before the lockin so may play around with that. There will be nothing remotely wearable coming out of the House of Flo for some time! But I reckon a lot of my favourite shops aren't going to survive this, and I also suspect my job - like many others - could end up a casualty too. So I may as well plan, although of course a lot of fabric suppliers may tank as well.

Well, you probably guessed that I also love that blouse and i also quite like it worn with those jeans/skirt and belt, very 80s.

Yes that bamboo clothing cannot be that small if they sent free samples. Anyhow I am not in the mood of buying anything so I will keep it this way for the moment.

I am watching in Netflix Lillyhammer (spelling) is is set in sweden or norway? Anyhow, a nurse there was wearing an almost exact replica of those white slippers ... I am on the fence with them

Looking forward to flo’s new creations, maybe you can join this group of couture fashion during lockdown vogue article

I am now imagining Flo's kitchen table resembling primordial soup my sewing project has stalled as I'm still trying to find the flat sheets that I had set aside for practice.

What have you been eating Bani, Easter has only ever meant a more elaborate breakfast breakfast/brunch to me, butter in a lamb mould (or bell if you're boring) obligatory. Must admit it wasn't a very impressive spread this year as I only really cottoned on it was Easter this weekend on Friday I've been fine with knowing what day of the week it is but not so much the holy days, it seems.

Ooh lillyhammer, I remember trying to get Bani to watch it a while back for the nursery scenes. I really enjoyed that show even if it was rather ridiculous. I can't recommend Netflix' Self-made starring Olivia Spencer, it seemed promising but they dramatised a really interesting RL legacy it to ridiculous proportions and utilised some damaging tropes.

And in other news, I spotted through all the Covid19 coverage, it seems Clare Wright Keller has left Givenchy, she was only there for three years. I really can't keep up anymore with these cycling in and out of designers. It seems that they just about settle in after an entire aesthetic overhaul and then leave

Lillyhammer is Norway. I can’t belieeeevvvvee you get that mixed up. We’re very different ACTUALLY. were the attached the nurse’s slippers? Classic ones. Swedish. Maybe that’s why you got confused? 😉 Docksta is the brand, they’ve had a coolness revival www.dockstasko.se/skor/slippers

We’ve really scaled down all our holidays here past few years so it’s not too elaborate. But we do a polish tradition of having a big Easter breakfast so we had scones and croissants with cream and jam for example. Dinner was steak with roast potatoes and Savoy cabbage. I made this cake for afters www.norrmejerier.se/goda-recept/falska-potatisbakelser which is basically just butter. And we had sweets.

Oi, it was Red, not me. I know the difference between Sweden and Norway. Norwegians are total cinnamon rolls (too good for this world, too pure, must be protected at all costs) and Swedes tend to know the way of the land mostly.

Oh we have something that's basically just butter too, boterkoek (literally butter biscuit) my grandmother is renowned for hers. It's like a really fudgy shortbread gone too far where there's more butter than anything else. It kind of looks similar and one should never look up the calorie count of a tiny piece of it... Maybe I should make her some, it stays good for a while and is easy to post.

I made yeasted waffles with full fat Greek yoghurt and fresh strawberries on top 😙👌

🤣🤣 I blame it on coronavirus, mixing up Norway and Sweden

Oh it was addressed at Red alright ;) Shame on her! Norway is where fewer people are dying of Covid-19 ;)

Love the look of boterkoek, have already looked up recipes. What could go wrong - butter and sugar, check.

We've had a brief cheesecake-in-a-glass phase, very detrimental to my waistline. Had a brief argument with mr Bani yesterday - after dinner I suggested he make it, he was like no no, I don't want any,. About an hour later our son asked for it so I made some for us both. Mr bani walks in on me, tucked up in my cozy bed eating my portion, ostentatiously licking the bowl to make a point about me not making him any.

• But you said you didn't want any?
• I meant not right then
• but then you could have made it and had it later?
• but I didn't want any
• yes you see what I mean?
• I mean I didn't want any then

at which point I just waved him off.

Oh Bani - waving off is the only response.

I think that silk is very difficult to sew as it’s slippery and also completely unforgiving should you make a mistake – those little holes!

I really like the slippers and a good soles is important IMO. They have some lovely navy ones too. Can you wear them with the backs up?

We cooked a butterflied leg of lamb on our kamado grill for Easter and had a kind of Persian feast (recipe books is called Feasts actually). It was delicious. I have such a weakness for butter; those biscuits are calling my name, as is the cake.

It’s noticeable how lockdown has revealed to me how little value influencers / instagrammers bring to the table, most of their content is now fully revealed as boring and vapid. I’m sure you wise women already recognises that.

That Vogue article is great, how creative. The colours of the blouse are gorgeous botemp.

I liked this top on the giagamus site, but the instructions for wearing are reminiscent of the instructions of the comme des garcons dress that Bani posted a few pages back gimaguas.com/product/mar-top/ I struggle with gym tops with built in sports bras so maybe not the one for me?

I did buy a sezane x YSE swimsuit that same back in stock and had my name written all over it.

I’m also contemplating dying some bedlinen with avocado stones. I think this lockdown may have changed my personality completely…

Happy Easter, everyone.

I'm enjoying the food talk. We had pancakes with (frozen) berries, maple syrup and greek yoghurt yesterday. Dd2 is known as the pancake queen in our house. Then mostly light snack, buffet foods. Sunday evening we did have roast chicken (I can't do a big lunch, I struggle all afternoon). I also made Annie Bell's flourless chocolate cake recipe (subbed organic dried apricots with dates this year) and ganache with mini eggs for dcs.

That blouse is gorgeous, I agree with red, the belt it's styled with looks great too. I'm not a always a fan of pattern, either but that's lovely. Lots of movement in it, if that makes sense.

Norway is the one I haven't been to. Sweden (well, Stockholm) I have. I really liked Stockholm. I'm not just saying that for Bani's sake, either.

Ahem, since Bani is not from Stockholm she is automatically supposed to hate Stockholm Never been to Norway either, the only one of all the Scandi countries I haven't visited. Have always been put off that it's a bit boring in comparison to the others and very expensive but some of the landscape looks absolutely stunning so I really must make it over there at some point.

You lot are not helping with holding out for a discount on the pattern shirt. They're donating 10% to a Paris hospital charity, does that count...

Thanks for the Sezane reminder, I saw a backless jumper and dress that was part of the Sunday launch but already sold out in my size. Just set the reminder on my phone to check tomorrow morning as that's when they always restock.

I was drawn to that Gimaguas top as well, but utterly confused how to manoeuvre oneself into it I'm also still unsure what Spain's lockdown entails and when I should be able to put in an order. Some industries went back to normal yesterday but they're not specifying them all so I'm still clueless. I signed up to the newsletter so I assume they'll inform me.

Yes instagrammers/influencers are rather disposable, aren't they? I believe I predicted as much at the start of this a few pages back. I must admit I'm beginning to believe my own clairvoyant hype because I accidentally opened the advent calendar document the other day and the amount of words I wasted on insinuating big changes ahead and new values was a lot

I keep hearing about dyeing with avocado pits but I have no idea what colour you actually get. I'm looking for silk twill for my kaftan project but can only get white locally, for any colour I need to order from China. But apparently it's very easy to dye but I'm not well versed in dyeing tbh.

You need a special tin with a thing that spins round for boterkoek, but I think it should be doable with a springform pan too. The recipe is really basic but does require special sugar, I'm not sure what the English equivalent is tbh. Brown sugar according to Google but IME brown sugar is dry but this sugar is light blonde or white and 'wet'. It's hydrated with glucose or molasses IIRC. My GM loves adding stem ginger in hers but I hate the stuff 🤢

I know bani is not from Stockholm, really .

Would the sugar be that sticky sugar, a bit like muscovado but light brown instead of dark? You don't really see it now, but we did when I was younger. My late mil had tins like that in her kitchen (not as clean or new looking).

Elle's Persian feast sounds delicious. We just had veg including asparagus and white wine.

I'm starting to notice which things of mine are needing replacing. Not just clothes, but also around the house. Some household items as well as clothes. My faux leather biker jacket (which is about 8yrs old) has started to peel on the inside collar. When I get around to replacing it, I will go for leather, which just looks bashed up when old, rather than peeling.

Now, Elle dying bedlinen with avocado pits is one of those things I never thought I would read in the same sentence!!

I been to Norway, so double shame on me. I love it, well tbh I seem to love everywhere I visit ... but yes I remember my son wanting a wool hat which costed a fortune , and N’s thinking you are 7, that will last you 6 months ... but he put a tantrum and I just wanted to enjoy and have an easy life ... I got it for him ... he still has it and wears it every winter and is amazingly warm and nice , so I am glad I have in, or I am glad he knew what quality was. Like mother like son

Quirky, you have made me feel old! I have cake tins like that, for Victoria sponge cakes. Your late MIL knew what she was doing. You can still get them, I think, and they are cheap as chips.

Because it's dry and mud-free, I wore the silver pony-skin hi tops to walk XingDog this morning, and some (lovely) lady yelled approval from the other side of the road. I skipped in delight.

Don't all cake tins have that spinning around thing? How do you get the cake out otherwise? Admittedly the last time I did any baking was with my son when he was about 3. Giving it up was my gift to the world, you're welcome.

Don't want to see anyone lose their living and especially not now, but if this sees off the influencing profession I will find it hard to grieve. Who knows we may even see a re-emergence of old school blogging from people who actually had something interesting to say.

Enjoyed the DIY Vogue couture tips!

I think I've worn my dyed Whistles barrel legs every day for a week even the faux frayed hems, which I thought pointless and pretentious in bad weather, have a pleasing kind of desert island vibe when the sun is shining.

No, it's a pretty unique cake tin, Flo. I think on other bakes it would leave an imprint.

I can't believe you've just confessed on MN that you've worn the same pair of jeans for a week. The ultra orthodox hygiene nuts will be here wielding their pitchforks any moment now. Or are they also the ESSSENTIAL police and too busy elsewhere? Are you testing them

Yes, lighter version of muscavado sugar sounds about right quirky, but a white version. The light brown version would probably be ok to use. In French they call it cassonade sugar, usually the blonde version.

Isn't not washing your jeans the new ethical? Or maybe I'm just in the mood for a row but not reckless enough for AIBU.

Maybe you're safe on S&B but you'd be declared absolute filth elsewhere on the site and get accused of probably not spraying down your children groceries with anti bac either 🔱🔥🔱🔥🔱

Best get out your Boris birch out for self flagellation, just in case.

Bo your bank account may not thank me, however this place is excellent for silk:

www.pongees.co.uk/

Based in the heart of hipster heaven, Hoxton Square.

For the sewists looking for something a little glam for wafting around the house, you can't beat Sandra Rhodes:

mccall.com/vogue-patterns/designer-patterns/zandra-rhodes/

Ooh that's some brilliant link action Name, thank you. I really like the Zandra Rhodes patterns, especially the kaftan inspired ones. And someone sells those locally, if I get nowhere with my own pattern making I'll order one of those, although delivery time is a month for those 😳

My bank account already hates me but it can't hate me more as I can't see any prices. Do I need to sign up to see them on pongees?

Ah, I forgot about the logging in to see the price!

The medium twill is £42 a meter, which although it seems a lot, when you compare to the prices of twill from Metermeter.dk for example it isn't too bad.

www.metermeter.dk/catalogsearch/result/?q=Twill

Thank you, that is pretty expensive. The ones I'm looking at consider their medium weight to be a lot heavier, and the one from pongees would be considered a light weight. The one locally is €26/€29 for the light/medium weight so that's really not too bad in comparison aside from the lack of colour choices. The one from China is only €15 incl of free shipping but I've ordered some sunscreen from Japan pre lockdown and it's taking forever to get here so I worry the summer may be over by the time it gets here

Home dyeing may just be the way to go, although not with avocado pits because I had a look and you need 10 for 4 pillowcases and I always buy the baby size so I probably need like 30 to dye the amount of fabric I need. Also, pink fancy isn't the look I'm going for.

flo, I've been living in either faded denim flares or straight medium blue jeans. I wear each pair for as many days as I can until they need washing (mud from the garden etc.).

My cake tins have a collar that you unclip to get them out. The spinney ones were around when I was younger.

The Zandra Rhodes kimonos look lovely. Not sure they would fit with park exercise with dc's and odd bits of gardening.