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

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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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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

Do Zalando do free pickup from home for returns in Sweden too? You can also pay after receiving them (think it's two weeks or a month) so you can just order loads and have your own at home shoe shop. Think bigger Bani

Oh, bani, open the shoe shop .

Very hot here and work has started on our ensuite. Atm the front garden is full of rubble, so much from such a small space. I'm hiding out in the sitting room as we're also having the downstairs loo/utility room painted.

I think I'm in such old favourites that they must almost class as vintage . La Redoute brown, linen wrap around trousers that need a new zip (if I could sew as well as bo, I would make another pair) and a sleeveless, gathered brown top from the 90s, that was George at Asda. I must have lucked out with that as it's still as good as new. I'm not looking forward to school pick up, as it will be scorching hot at 3pm.

I despise Zalando, I despise sorting through their enormous online shop that can be filtered in aetarnam but it does you no good since you can't rely on them having sorted the stuff into the right boxes to begin with. Boooo. But I will concede I think I'd open a rather good shoe shop.

You need a good name for a shoe shop. One that doesn't have the foot fetishists rushing over.

I’m a fan of surname shops - O’Reilly’s etc. Funnily enough all shoe shops in my town were surname shops until the big chains came in (something I remember happening in my lifetime). However my own surname isn’t great for a shop so back to the drawing board it is. I’d say I’d give up already at this stage!

Attaching a poor photo of the dress from Uniqlo. This is not acceptable is it? Also the sleeve goes half way down my hand. (Realised I do have free returns)

It's a bit shapeless and I don't think it's doing much for you. I'd be utilising the free returns option. Does it spark joy

Vani's has a ring to it, older people might think it's that skater shoe brand Van's and stay away though. But I can capture it in a crisp sans-serif font that's very vertically emphasised and narrow. If the shoe shop is a bust you can always change it to a pub and call it O'Vani's.

How did you and sister get on with the balcony space btw?

Vani's isn't bad actually - works in Swedish too. I'll keep it as a back up career.

No, it's not doing great things. I'm wondering if I should give a smaller size or a different dress a go, but now I don't have free shipping and having been burnt once I am loathe to spend the money on something that my new-found experience tells me will be a bust.

We did our balcony shopping, sadly I had misread the Ikea times and it was closed but we have nearly everything. So now I have to help her set it up and cycle over for another Ikea trip. She's done only about 20% of the clearing up needed I'd say but I'll give her a hand. She seems pleased with the purchases though!

Colour and length are good bani, but I agree with bo, it's a bit shapeless. Would it work belted or is it still a bit wide. I'm in a similar navy linen sort of shirt dress (no collar) from Nicole Farhi via tkmaxx. I think it works because it is narrow enough and actually slightly fitted with a belt. (I did adjust it slightly by taking it up a bit and putting small vents/slits in the sleeves for ease of movement).

It goes a bit potato sack with a belt when I belt it. Much too "relaxed fit which is on trend". :(

Sorry, bani, but that looks like one for the returning pile.

I bought DMIL's sunhat, because it was the most similar to the pictures DSIL suggested, although rather less Liam Gallagher fishing hat than any she has had before. It's a fetching tan cloche with a floppy bow at the nape -- rather retro. DSIL said beige, but I couldn't bring myself to do it to an elderly vulnerable lady.

I did wonder if it was too wide, bani. I think you will have to return it.

The hat sounds very chic, Xing.

New purchase from John Lewis sale. The actual zebra print is olive (which I've started wearing again mixed with cooler colours) on white with black dots and it's a silky viscose, not my favourite fabric but the hang and fit is lovely. It's both heavy and voluminous, so not too shapeless.

Have you returned it yet Bani I saw some great dresses at Cos yesterday. They always pull out the better dresses halfway through the summer I liked this ramie shirt dress which was very light and airy for hot weather but covers all. It looked a lot longer in the shop, I suspect the model is extra tall. It's also not a weird lilac grey.

I saw this low back one in black and it also looked really promising but it was far too long for me otherwise I would have tried it on. Actually, that's a lie, it was sweltering, I wouldn't have dared try anything on.

Also liked the look of this as an easy dress, silk at the front, cotton at the back.

Spotted this one online just now. Really like the look of that one too.

I'm being plagued by indecisiveness. My toile is nearly done, well half of it is done and I'm not sure if I actually need to finish the other half as it's just the other side 🤷 it's just basted together for now and I will tinker with it but in the main, it's there.

Now I don't know what to do about fabric. The new deadstock source mentioned previously turns out to be as great as I had hoped. Have found some gorgeous high quality silk for a great price for the trousers. But I also ordered some chevron tweed because it looked so gorgeous and it absolutely is but I'm not convinced this is the coat for it

The merchant and mills sample (the somewhat green brown) would work but I still feel it's a safe choice.

I've also spotted some beautiful vintage Dormeuil fabric but I'd have to buy that as a lot unseen, which makes me nervous as it's beige and that's not one to accurately capture on screen, and it looks more greenish/kinky greyish than beige to me. I don't mind the colour on screen at all but if it's that dirty beige I'd be disappointed. I suppose I could dye it but not sure if I dare take that on.

I think I will end up going to the Antwerp sample sales so could always hold out until then but I expect it'll be spring/summer fabrics.

Forgot to attach pic of Dormeuil fabric

We don't have a cos near us, sadly. One of our shopping centres has just gone into administration, sadly .

I’ve returned the dress today so that’s done. I like all the dresses you posted Bo but they also all have something a little wrong with them ;) The shirt dress is a pale colour that I don’t think looks good on me. That said - I don’t know anymore what colours look good. Have a feeling I could do with an impartial set of eyes to challenge me, suspect I am set in my ways. Am avoiding all pale colours because I myself am so pale I feel like a giant blob. Am feeling a little burned by Cos too. In retrospect I have never bought anything there I’ve been 100% happy with. They all get pushed to the back. Maybe it’s just not my shop.

Am considering the attached dress from a high street shop - by which I mean I’m probably going to order it to try on since I just got a discount offer. I don’t have high hopes though.

Quirky that looks good! Imo the only acceptable animal print is one that doesn’t look too animal ;) I am not a lover of it.

Bo, I think that beige looks decent but I wouldn’t risk it without a sample. Dyeing it might change the feel of it. I forget now what sort of coat you had in mind - I think the chevron sounds lovely but that’s what I’ve been longing for myself this past year or so. I do believe your original plan was plain colour though wasn’t it? Don’t forget that the first make might not turn out as perfect as you’d hoped so maybe worth using slightly cheaper or less perfect fabric.

Hmm, that dress looks a little flimsy material wise, one of those that highlights the worst and ignores the best 😒 I like the colour though.

Arket has some lovely dresses too but arket is my kryptonite where I look crap in everything or can't even get myself into it. Probably a good thing as I get sucked in by their home department far too often.

Oh I missed quirky's new purchase. I like the abstract aspect of it. Another fan of animal I can't identify print but not of actual animals

I discovered the beige can be returned so I'd be out shipping costs if I really don't like it, which are hefty but not as expensive a mistake as a complete blind buy. It's also the cheapest of the three I'm looking at and a cheapie not 100% wool new from a fabric shop would probably come in around the same price. I'm going to think on it.

I do really like the Chevron but I think with all the angles in my coat it's just a bit too much. My toile in the first pic (well the right hand side of it) is what I had originally conceived, a frankenbaby of two of my favourite Céline coats (one which I could conceivably afford but the proportions are off and the other looks amazing but I draw the line at coats in exces of 3k) with no buttons or vents to keep the difficulty level down, it's just a throw it on over a jumper coat for when it's not super cold yet. I'm undecided on welt pockets like in the original, may just stick them in the side seam instead.

I like the idea of the chevron in something more voluminous/generous as it's oversized. Attached is sort of what I'm thinking but apparently dropped shoulders are a more advanced technique and I should probably see how I fare with my current coat project first.

Or since I'm shamelessly copying, I also like the idea of the chevron in this Céline coat, I'm no good with double breasted anyhow and only one button to deal with...

I'm quite a fan of animal print that's not natural colours too. It doesn't look so animal I think that's why I didn't wear it for years!

Nice looking dress, bani. I think being picky is good, it's those little details that make something work.

Lots of coats, bo. The chevron is a lovely print but I agree it depends on the cut. It sounds quite tricky to me.

Yes the dress does look flimsy - otoh possibly worth the price. Ah I’ll think a little. Today I wore a black broderie anglaise midi skirt that’s been in my wardrobe waiting to be tweaked into a slightly different shape but today I thought fuck it, shape isn’t á la mode but fabric is. I do feel my summer wardrobe has a good few holes that could be plugged, or/and it’s lacking cohesion (surprise surprise said absolutely no one). I have no shoes.

Bo all those coats are lovely, and there is nothing sinister about copying designs for oneself. I think the angularity if a chevron could be used to great effect in an angular coat myself, but it depends on what you’re after. Love the Celine one. I like the idea of the chevron pattern being unbroken ie the coat made of large pieces. Are we back to opera coats ;) to be just thrown on? Well pockets in wool is a skill to practice, while you’re deciding you can find some scraps of fabric and do that

I have in my life been twice drawn to leopard prints that haven’t been too easily defined as leopard but both times I’ve felt shaken to my very core. Who am I even without my dislikes? Last time was the attached dress from Åhléns. It’s on sale now and I’ve had to remind myself several times how cheap the polyester fabric is so I don’t get it.

Here’s a lovely dress. Why can’t I find a dress like this?
www.vonlino.com/product/kaftan-erika-2

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Ehm haven't you found it though, Bani?

Tired of slavishly copying someone else's designs I've decided to flex my own skills for a bit in search of an 'easy' hot weather dress in the form of this handkerchief hem camisole dress that I draped on my dress form (I really need a different one that's my size or smaller).

This recent heat wave taught me that, yes, I have some great horribly hot weather dresses but too many days after each other means I can probably use more as I can't be arsed to wash things when it's hot

This is the second toile, first was in a starched cotton so it was looking odd (but kind of cool in an origami way but it was throwing me off as I'll need to make it in a lightweight floaty fabric) so I grabbed this old table cloth that has plenty of fluidity from being well used. It's a shame that it has candle wax stains and discoloration on it as I quite like the colour.

I've just noticed I'm wearing the dress back to front 🤦 I was wondering why it was sitting so low at the front. This is what I get for early morning selfies with bedhead and I've now altered the front and don't like the change so need to un-alter it again but I'm leaving for another day. But you get the idea anyhow, it's not much different from the front, just slightly less pope scandalising.

(Oh, yes, new mirror, don't know if I mentioned that previously. Very pleased with it although the colour is a bit warmer.)

Also ended up ordering the Joseph silk trousers from the net a porter sale. Don't think I've ever held out for a discount this long. I've just seen there's a thread about NAP not dispatching anything in ages, so maybe not my best move... Ah well they don't charge until the ship so I'm not too concerned.

Ah but I’m sized out. So I haven’t found it. But it’s a lovely colour. I bought a black linen shirt dress from part two (free returns) but don’t have high hopes their stuff usually doesn’t fit me well (experience).

I really like that dress Bo! Well done, a lovely casual easy to wear dress! But is the fabric too ruined for you to wear it?

The Toast sales trousers have arrived. I tried on and then wore them all day, which tells you whether I like them but was probably unwise cos I'm not clear sighted about them any more, plus I'm bound to have spilt my dinner down them so now probably can't return even if I decide to.

They have this single deep, inverted pleat on each leg that goes right down to the knee and then tapers in so you get that inverted tulip effect I really like.

They bypass the arse completely and they're baggy over the hips and thighs (which I like although I know not everyone does) but - and this is the deal sealer for me - they don't pouffe up around the stomach.

Good colour too - not your standard chino beige, more like damp sand.
I think the pics should show the pleating. They probably need a slightly deeper turnup although I'm probly looking down in the pics so maybe not. Excuse the extreme cropping but I'm trying to cut out the squalor that is the spare room. They need ironing too but I couldn't wait