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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Merch in celebration of our tenth (previous) thread:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

Hmm, Samcam has a lot of connections in the fashion press but I don't think the brand has ever really capitalised on that exposure. I'm not sure if it will survive, it's very niche in an already niche subsection. I'd never buy it new, not even heavily discounted. It's too dull to covet and the fabric choices make it poor competitors to other manufacturers of basic quality pieces arena.

I'll also be curious to see what will happen with work wear in general. People seem to be getting more casual by the week (OT how is it Friday already ), after seeing your colleagues at home and in more casual wear are we really going to get all dressed up again to go back and hold up something that will just feel like a form of pretence? Maybe people are really hankering for that in an effort to restore what it used to be but I suspect this crisis has dealt a death to traditional formal wear.

Dunno. I might be proved totally wrong but I've yet to be convinced that this will bring about any lasting change in how we dress. I think human memory is far too short. The recession that's coming though - well that's another matter entirely and I think anything could happen.

But even before Covid, I think fashion was getting it hopelessly wrong on workwear. Most of us aren't CEOs and we don't work in the city. Customers like me wanted to look professional and competent and a little bit interesting without being distracting. But not corporate. If I'd turned up in a dress and jacket from Hobbs, they'd have probably set the dogs on me.

Yes, after seeing a male colleague in his robe, another female openly admitting in a meeting with both sexes that she has no worn bra lately ... things are shifting , how long they will last ... and I am in an environment of a fairy formal nature, Infrastructure jobs of big nature , male dominated. So all this is quite interesting to see it happening so rapidly in this environment.

I know I am chipping in very rapidly, and the conversation here has moved in and out very interesting topics!

I like the Cefinn shirt the shoulders are great. I've never bought from the brand even though I am the target market. It always looks so dull. I much prefer The Fold's offering as the fabrics are mostly better. The wool dresses are really great from there and I've always gone for those when I'm presenting on on a panel, they're flattering, but you don't have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions etc.

I think that workwear was already getting less formal and this will only exacerbate it. Our main boss is doing presentations in a sweatshirt with a beard and his background is M&A which would usually see very slick dressing.

Xing I thoroughly enjoyed your rant it was very insightful. I'd also like to request more Haikus from Flo.
Trousers arrived extremely quickly and they're good. Linen is the lovely heavy kind. There are little slits at the back which I had thought there might be from the pictures (I wish to God that retailers would do a simple front and back lay in addition to whatever other wankery they're doing). Sizing is typically French, I went for medium and the fit is good.

Well an article about national characteristics has to be exaggerated obviously or it wouldn’t be fun to read. But I have to agree that the Dutch people I’ve met haven’t been more or less forthright than anyone else IMO. Maybe a bit like the Poles. “Oh look you’ve got acne, have you tried herbal teas/dabbing urine on your face/random kozmetyka”.

I am quite rude in English I think, I have the Swedish habit of not peppering my speech with pleases.

Got an email for a Humanoid flash sale - that was quick. Terrible website, I filtered by size and got all the sizes anyway . I am tempted by some things but for the prices I can’t risk it since returns would cost too much. Based on your description Bo I’d probably fit an L, but based on the size chart I wouldn’t. Can’t find any stockists in Sweden.

What a shame that Saint and Sofia were not a fantastic fit, Xing! I had hopes for them trousers. I’m going to look at the jumpers again though - the right red is a marvelous thing. There is a shade of red I love and never bloody find but I have it on my merino jumper from Uniqlo. I was wearing it at work and my boss stopped dead in her tracks and said what a great colour it was on me I felt very validated.

The Cefinn is very cool, verging on theatrical but hitting the right spot! Very statement without being in your face.

Elle, pic of the trousers at some point pretty please?

I think of national characteristics as I do family traits, e.g. if you grow up in a household of shouty, argumentative people then there's a good chance you'll be the same, because for you it'll be normal. Also I think notions about English characteristics are interwoven with social class, which I've never properly understood, but I've certainly lived it and it's usually the elephant in the room.

I also always forget how many posters on here don't speak English as their first language, which is very humbling.

I agree workwear has changed lately - I just have my doubts about the change lasting. I think of World War 2, where in Britain we had about 8 years of clothes rationing and make-do-and-mend and Utility Clothing (the label). But as soon as the rationing ended we went mad for the New Look. The Utility label produced some really good stuff (I used to buy it second hand) but no-one wanted it because it reminded them of a time they wanted to forget.

Of course that's assuming we do get back to 'normal' at some point. If we don't - well yeah, all bets off.

Saint and Sofia has had a panning in other threads too so I'm not that surprised about those trousers xing, but it's disappointing. I think I remember that red jumper though bani and it was a great colour. The right red is a wonderful thing.

I was initially sceptical about long lasting changes (though I wouldn't object to never having to shake a hand ever again). But I do think the reality is slowly settling in that we're not reverting anytime soon, if at all. Belgium next door is relaxing a lot all of a sudden even though they're currently in a very strict lockdown and have been fingerwagging our way for not being stricter, but they seem to go from one extreme to another and just hearing about it gave me heart palpitations and I'm not that anxious. I think the reality is we'll be something akin to Sweden's current setup, perhaps slightly stricter- will depend on country, until we've all had it or are vaccinated. Unlike with a war there just won't be this sudden moment of liberation.

I think a lot of national characteristics stem from business relations. In that regard we are quite blunt and need special training programs if dealing with certain Asian countries, especially Japan, we're like bulls in a china shop in their perception.

I'm with Bani in forgetting my pleases and thank yous. We're also a lot more economical with language, which I think also translates into curtness/rudeness where we view it as being more clear in meaning as it's not dressed up for multiple interpretations, which I've always experienced as intrinsic to the English class system. Depending on background/upbringing there's different meaning and a subset of language that isn't accessible to others. It's so tiring for outsiders, I can just about manage UK/US spelling and tailor that to an audience but beyond that it's almost impossible to address everyone on equal footing.

I think it's interesting though with the you are the product of your environment line of thought, Flo, as it's often commented on about me by anyone that speaks the same languages as I do (but not fluent in both), that I'm not the same person in different languages. No one has been able to explain what's so different but apparently I'm not the same...

Workwear was indeed already in a weird place, I think 'Braless and Bathrobes' will make for an excellent title for a lockdown memoir.

I really wanted to like the S&S trousers, for replacing some very faded track pants. While they would have done, the way the pockets were slanted across the hip wasn't pleasing would have been better in the side seams the finish was generally good, comparable to Me&Em and superior to the High St. I had thought they were cotton, but the fabric turned out to be a poly-viscose jersey albeit of a nice weight and good drape. The drubbing they got was a bit harsh Flo.

And you are spot on about all our lovely regulars with such mastery of languages. But this thread is so different to AIBU and the shouty areas of MN.

Interesting about being a different person when speaking different languages. I think I was a lot more assertive when I spoke French (once reasonably fluent but long forgotten) which I always put down to my French teacher being one of the scariest people in the world.

Before I forget, a couple of things I've enjoyed lately: The V&A have put some stuff online (or was it there all along?). I enjoyed this on Elsa Shiaparelli, including a short video. I'm not sure about the flayed flesh dress but I want a Shoe Hat.
www.vam.ac.uk/articles/introducing-elsa-schiaparelli

And not for the first time, Hadley Freeman articulates everything I think about the life enhancing qualities of stupid stuff, especially at a time like this. Should be pinned over a few boards on here I reckon:
www.theguardian.com/global/2020/apr/25/everyone-needs-a-distraction-right-now-and-for-me-its-a-jane-fonda-tracksuit?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Shame about the trousers, xing. That's annoying when something is almost right. Similarly, my jumpsuit arrived today, it's lovely fabric, quite a loose style but just makes me look too straight up and down. It's now been passed onto dd1 (14) who is a tall, hourglass and looks very cool in it.

I like the Cefinn too, very dramatic, but in a good way. Talking about wearing a high neck for online meetings, I once mistakenly wore a cowl neck top for one of the dc's birthdays. There's a too revealing photo of me leaning over with the birthday cake for the candle blow out . Lesson learned.

Yes, not enough pleases and thank yous plus succinct speech can appear rude in English, depending on context. However, my father is exactly like this and he is English.

I I have just watched the Elsa Schiaparelli video, thank you Flo now looking what else I can find there.

Lol, yes Bo that would be an excellent title for memoirs.

You’re definitely a different Persson depending in the language. I’m a different parent in English and Swedish, but with time the two styles have become more the same. I modelled the English speaking me on my role models which wasn’t always great - I had a larger selection to choose from in Swedish. My favourite example is Russian, so theatrical. You have to go for it which influences your whole personality.

I got lost in Cefinn and The Fold there for a bit, I like loads of things. Lovely wide legged trousers with flat fronts, that’s my favourite type but they’re hard to come by at my price point these days.

I need shopping input. Should I get a pair of Kavat sandals and if so, which ones? They have 20 % off atm. kavat.com/women-shoes/sandals I do need sandals. Or should I get something else... I’m seriously considering crocs, I never got the ones I looked at last year in the end but they are so light and supportive and don’t pretend to be anything but plastic.

Persson. I ask you. Fecking IPads.

Your iPad just wants to show off it knows Swedish smug American fucker that it is

You say theatrical, I say emotionally unstable I get overly familiar in Italian, everyone is suddenly my friend. I'm terribly bossy and impatient in Spanish. I'm very girly in French apparently, I feel overly polite and deferring in it. Never really learned enough Swedish to develop a personality in it beyond being a bit reserved (from not speaking enough of it but understanding it for the most part, it's so lovely and lyrical though). In Flemish, which is Dutch but with slightly different vocabulary, I'm probably a bit different too, softer. With Brits you have to rely more on wit for humour where Americans (at least the ones that travel or you come in contact with there) respond better to sarcasm and deadpan. In German I'm overly formal, technical and precise, but that's just out of fear of getting it wrong and the consequences of that 😱

I enjoyed the Elsa video too, I also finally caught up with the Dior exhibition documentary that I linked last week. It was brilliant, I had no idea all the mannequins were altered and specially designed to fit the garments. It was a lovely thing to have seen.

Shame about the jumpsuit Quirky, lucky DD though.

Also enjoyed Hadley's column, not that that's a big surprise. I agree that mixing performance pressure into the current situation is a bit ridiculous. I kind of see it as a free pass not to do anything without there being repercussions for that. The to do list is drastically reduced and that's kind of nice, I may as well enjoy it while it lasts.

I like the Axamo best from the Kavat selection, light brown maybe, would depend how it goes with skin tone, I'd want it slightly richer. But what the hell is eco performance leather? Is it just fake leather that likes to hit the gym five times a week?

I need to catch up on the Dior video. Thanks for reminding Bo, maybe will do later .

I also like the axamo , I am very tempted myself now... this is the first serious purchase temptation I had since lockdown.

The sun is out here and I am wearing some old silk pyjama type pants with narrow cuffs. Cannot remember the brand but they were fairly expensive 6/7 years ago but I got them at at big reduction sale. I used to wear them for ‘best’ now I have just worn them to go off road cycling with my family, they are so nice and comfy that I thought sod it, if not now, when !

Bani - have you heard of Scandinavian dandelion syrup? Just came across it ... and picked loads of dandelions and I will try to make it, tbh is mostly sugar ... but they say is nice to glacé carrots etc . It was a good excuse to get ds picking flowers for a bit .

I have not heard of dandelion syrup per se although am of course aware of using dandelions in food. Did see a recipe for dandelion marmalade not long ago but pretty sure that was on a UK site? Let me know how it turns out, I was rather interested by the marmalade (and the dandelions are just starting here so I should get started if I want to make it).

See I like the axamos too but I think the pinkie toe might stick out through the little gap and that would annoy me immensely. I agree the brown isn’t right ... but I’m warming to it -maybe just by default since they never make the perfect brown? I quite liked the amber yellow ones. Is pop of colour too pas comme il faut? eco performance means eco totes obv bla bla chrome free etc but quite hard wearing something something but I’ll be thinking of it as gym obsessed from now on!

Haha Russian emotionally unstable well of course! I think one reason for me not learning other languages is because I have a hard time with the whole behaving differently lark.

Missed your jumpsuit there Quirky, stroke of luck that you had someone too give it to!

Tomorrow I will let you know about the syrup... spent two hours taking petals to get 25 grs ...

I like the yellow sandals myself always up for a bit of colour.

I too like the look of the Axamos best but can you walk in sandals with no support or fastening at the back? I find them almost as uncomfortable as heels. But then all the ones with backs I have discounted one by one, till I'm left with just the Edas, which I don't mind but they don't have have me reaching for the credit card.

And this is why I haven't bought sandals in years, despite needing some desperately.

But if you can walk in them, yeah the Axamos. I do quite like the amber yellow, and I think it might go with a surprising number of other colours.

I've never really understood the croc hatred on here. They mostly remind of of clogs in the 70s, which I loved, although I had to give up on them too cos again, no support at the back.

The Axamos look great... I'd be pushed to decide between the amber, coral or navy, because I adore coloured shoes and they lift the navy, grey and black of my wardrobe! That amber is versatile with all neutrals -- I have a sling hobo bag that I wore to the exclusion of almost everything else for a year.

Thank you for your opinions! Flo, you're right that slippers like that can be hard to walk in. If they're too wide I couldn't, but I'm alright otherwise #stillyoung I agree that the Edas are not quite it. And their shoes are quite wide. :/ I'll do another think!

Dandelion petal gathering sounds worse than picking blueberries - an activity prompted by wanting a pie, and the forest "being full of free berries". After four hours of picking the tiny tiny berries you have 100 ml if you're lucky.

Croc-crocs are not pretty. But I think some of the sandals are ok. I am tempted because they are lovely and light and cradle the heel quite well.

Recent facebook ad recap: Son de Flor - Baltic linen clothes. Peter Pan collars and embroidery, very nostalgic.

The results of my foraging are shocking , my son today went: so all of it was a big waste of time?
I said no, we learn from our mistakes ... nothing is wasted.
Basically I burnt the syrup and now is a hard dark thing in the bottom of my pan..,

Welp, I missed the 20 % off so I won't be getting them anyway.

I have spent the last few weeks digging up dandelions in the garden! I didn't know I could make syrup with them!

Today's lockdown outfit: uniqlo top, M&S charity shop jeans bought just before lockdown and secondhand paisley silk scarf with a hippy feel.

Axamos look great, bani, I have some criss cross slides, but find my high instep makes them uncomfortable (they might go to dd1 as well).

Huh I was under the impression that flower marmalades were Chinese as I remember having it there in tea (sounds bonkers but it's really nice, especially rose in a strong black tea).

Shame you burned the sugar, Red, was it because the amounts were so little? I'm currently waiting for my jar to finish sterilising in the oven to make preserved lemons.

I don't like too contrasting summer shoes as they cut my legs off, so I end up stumpy garden gnome again when bare legged. I do like a bit of colour though (for under trousers and long dresses), an ochre or mustard can be surprisingly good.

Pretty scarf, quirky.

I'm wearing an orange JW Anderson for Uniqlo t-shirt today because it's Kingsday. Was in a bit of a mood yesterday because of it, not that I like Kingsday, at all really, but it's always the perfect excuse to leave the country and I bloody can't. Figured I may as well just join in the orange nonsense, even slapped on some makeup, forgot what that felt like.

Yes I think is due to having small amount. A real shame as the actual syrup that came out after simmering and steeping it just purely from the petals had a lovey pollen smell . Here is a photo of part of the syrup and the petals.
In the Middle East I also used to have a lot of flower petals in teas, sweats and other cuisine.