Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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 de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres

996 replies

botemp · 18/07/2020 14:18

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

Onze

Merch created in honour of our tenth thread anniversary:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

OP posts:
Thread gallery
244
banivani · 04/10/2020 16:53

Just saw that Kenzo (Takada) has died from Covid-19. He wasn't a young man but still feels "too soon".

Re: The Vampires Wife - I don't get the clothes at the best of times but I think the H&M collection looks horrible and cheap. Polyester galore.

Flo - that looks like the perfect shirt. Too bad it's too late...

botemp · 04/10/2020 17:10

Oh no Sad he was my mother's favourite designer and they were always her favourite things to wear I always wanted one of the tea ceremony inspired bags but my mother never wanted to buy me one or let me use hers Envy

Quirky I'd missed your bag purchase previously, it looks lovely. How many masks does it fit 😷 I've discovered five are not going to be enough with our guidelines of not being to be able to rewear them after you take it off. I went through 3 in a day and really needed 4 and I really didn't do that much Hmm granted life in masks is really isn't all that fun so I'm mostly convinced masks work by people not bothering with going out for the pure joy sucking presence of the masks.

OP posts:
XingMing · 04/10/2020 17:43

Useful, versatile bag quirky. Was it you who wanted a nice drop in organiser? I liked the look of a leather one on Massomacessi or similar. I didn't bookmark it, but someone on the MNV thread has ordered a custom bag, and at the very bottom of the site, they offered what looked like a really neat and tidy drop in organiser. I bought a cotton one from Japan, which does the job well enough but it's a bit flimsy. I've bought a couple of 1990s Lambertson Truex bags via resale sites, and they are beautifully made (they should be, considering the original sale price) and very well compartmentalised for everyday use.

Redandblue11 · 04/10/2020 18:00

Also while I was in Coals Yard I saw a Ba&sh shop and went in and saw this (overpriced!?) mock jumper/tank top. Is wool but I cannot work out the other 30% fabric composition.

Thank you all dog owners for the wise words, Is good to hear real experiences. yes I am a realist so I know how hard work they can be and I tend to over research stuff, also lived with animals all my life as a child so I would love for my son to have the same experience. Anyhow, I will keep researching until we make the decision and the right one. I know they are much more expensive but I will only go for one with dna tests, health checks, registered pedigree dog.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Redandblue11 · 04/10/2020 18:03

I missed the last 4 posts! Just refreshed and there appeared!
Love the bag quirky

Oh I didn’t know Kenzo he passed away due to covid .

XingMing · 04/10/2020 18:24

That's a rank top red... you'd have to be a pipe cleaner to leave the house wearing that.

Redandblue11 · 05/10/2020 08:14

Grin I was bemused to say the least xing and when I saw the price I couldn’t believe.

Flo & other MH aficionados , what is the sizing like? I have noticed her stuff still holds good prices on eBay but I will keep an eye and at some point I might take the plunge.
I love her trousers, I am a 10 normally, but I don’t like really tight stuff on my waist. On tops I am also a 10 but more like a 8/10.

Floisme · 05/10/2020 09:24

Red I'm not 100% sure about MH sizing as I buy mostly second hand, any size I can get, and then gave it altered. But I would say it's on the generous side. I'm typically - depending where I shop - 8-10 (UK) and when I bought trousers and the Barbour coat last year I went for 10 and might well have got away with 8 but I prefer a looser fit.

botemp · 05/10/2020 09:44

I find MH sizing a little inconsistent, sometimes I'm a 6 sometimes I need to go up a size and sometimes it's far too big and I end up liking the men's jumpers better even those are too big too but they somehow fit better 🤷 I think it's down to the fact that she doesn't design with too much curve in mind, it's not completely straight up and down but not too far outside of that template. If you're a size 10 keep a look out for their sample sales in normal times (September and April I think) as that size had the most choice, below that they had little of anything.

OP posts:
quirkychick · 05/10/2020 12:18

Do you have a link to the site on mnv, Xing? I am looking for an organiser.

XingMing · 05/10/2020 14:40

www.marcomassaccesi.it/ This is it, quirky.... the organisers are way down at the bottom, but any bag in any colour in any leather can be made... it's all custom made for you. There's a long entry from 23 September on MN Vogue vol 88 describing someone's bag journey, but she hasn't received it yet.

quirkychick · 05/10/2020 16:36

Thanks, Xing. That looks like it might cost nearly as much as the bag Grin. But I might look and see if I can find a good dupe on Etsy or similar.

XingMing · 05/10/2020 19:59

Sorry about that quirky. I bought a "cheapo" one from Japan in cotton, and I think it was nearly 35 euros with delivery. It's okay (not quite rigid enough) but it makes changing bags very simple and quick.

quirkychick · 05/10/2020 20:28

That's fine, it's good for ideas. I quite often look for something and then see if there's a similar, cheaper Etsy version.

ToEllewithIt · 06/10/2020 12:49

Don't mind me - I'm just skulking back in here after deserting you for so long...

I kept trying to find time for an epic catch up post and I'm now admitting defeat.

I hope you're all well or as well as can be in the circumstances.

Sad news about Kenzo.

I'm finding it hard to be too enthused about buying clothes. I have so much nice stuff that I haven't really worn that it seems pointless to buy anything else. Anything I've bought has been practical - underwear and a nice swimsuit in the Cos sale for bringing the kids swimming. I'm now turning into a mumsnet cliche as my next purchase will be a long bum-covering waterproof and warm parka for watching the kids' sports endeavors in the winter. My current one has served me well, but it's about 12 years old and is looking pretty tatty at the seams on close inspection.

Redandblue11 · 06/10/2020 15:49

Hello Elle I know exactly how you feel ... hence my return to the thread was to ask about dog advice Blush
And I am now considering buying a hush jogger/or alike of some sort as a ‘comfy’ pair to wear at home and the occasional walk ...

botemp · 06/10/2020 16:19

Hello again Elle Smile was hoping all was well (but busy) with you.

The dreaded practical buys, I can relate. Funnily enough I came across a Margaret Howell (bum covering) fishtail parka on Vinted yesterday. They're eager to sell it and it would be a good deal, I'd hesitate less if I hadn't just bought my raincoat (horribly utilitarian but it's kept me really dry and it's safe on a bike, I really need to be nicer about it) as it's coated cotton type thing with an inner winter lining type deal. It's this one, I think, in navy but almost black but I think that's the same colour as the one linked.

My metamorphosis into a Mumsnet cliche seems to be centred on loungewear and cashmere (thus Johnston's of Elgin- anyone know if they ever offer a discount 😬). If I were shorter I'd seriously be contemplating what is just a really nice bathrobe Blush

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
OP posts:
botemp · 06/10/2020 16:24

My wallet is much happier with the knowledge that these (not loungewear) trousers are out of stock, coincidentally I was reworking my trousers toile (the Lingua Franca yellow pair being turned into cerise wool) this weekend to sit a bit lower and more relaxed and they're actually quite similar looking. Still want these too though Blush and the cashmere stole BlushBlush

I also like this cable knit to wear over it to give that dropped waist but make that work with wide leg trousers, it's more the possibility of the silhouette that's caught me than the jumper itself.

Both Johnston's of Elgin again, I can't be bothered to link and be reminded of the scary prices.

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
OP posts:
quirkychick · 06/10/2020 16:43

red, I succumbed to Bam "yoga pants" in dark green, a while back. They look much more like harem pants really, nice and soft but not that thick. They do come up a bit big, which is fine for slouchy loungewear but would drive me mad doing yoga. I've got them on today with a blue/green knot twist top and seagreen short cardigan (to pretend to be a least a bit pulled together). They were really to replace my dying Celtic & Co harems.

elle, I think most of the stuff I've bought has been to replace items, like the harems. The same with my brown bag and birkenstocks. I've not even got out some of my autumn stuff that's more dressy, as they're doesn't seem much point.

I love the trousers, stole and cable knit, bo. I think I have a thing for stoles, wraps and long cardigans. I find them not so practical now I live somewhere more windy, as even on dry autumn days, you need a coat against the wind.

XingMing · 06/10/2020 20:44

If you ever get to Elgin, and it's a lovely small city, in beautiful country, Johnstons do have sales in the factory shop... but not online.

ThisNameIsDifferentFromTheLast · 06/10/2020 21:32

Plopping in to save Bo a few euro or two to say that gorgeous cardigan is a dead ringer for a burda pattern.

www.burdastyle.uk/long-knit-jacket-01-2011-126b

I've made the pattern as a coat and it's ridiculously easy, although unfortunately my fabric choice made the finished product lean a little too much towards looking like a star wars cos player wannabe, which was not the look I was going for.

Cest le vie!

I don't post much but have enjoyed reading about Flo and Bo's sewing.

My clothes buying has been in a rut due to covid like everyone else, but I am on a look out for a nice woollen scarf and have been eyeing up some heeled boots from Massimo Dutti, although I doubt if I'd suit the boot cut jeans that I'd like to style them with.

timeisnotaline · 06/10/2020 22:40

I just came on with a jacket/shirt variation for flo, would be extremely easy to alter a pattern to it! I quite like it 😬
That knit jacket has appeal thisname, what a complete lack of pattern description, fabric, yardage though. Pic of your Star Wars version is a must!

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres
banivani · 07/10/2020 08:00

Hrnghgh Bo those pictures are style goals for me. It is painful that I a) badly suit the colours and b) look more well wrapped up than elegant and wafty if trying to emulate it.

In my youth there used to be a lot of knitted fabrics you could buy by the metre, but I'm not seeing that much of that anymore.

botemp · 07/10/2020 08:52

I'd love to visit Elgin Xing but I don't think that'll happen anytime soon. Pretty sure we're now the county with the worst numbers per capita and will be barred everywhere if we aren't already Sad this would explain my current cocooning tendencies with all the loungewear.

The Burda pattern is pretty similar, Name, thanks. I suppose it's pretty basic but the material is probably difficult to find elsewhere. I'm not even sure how you sew it, I always assume you need a serger. I'm far too frightened of anything with stretch but I'll happily tackle silk on the bias 🤦 I'd consider star wars cosplayer an accomplishment, pretty sure if I try anything with stretch I'll just end up looking like a sharpei.

I haven't seen any nice knits either, Bani and I think the quality of those fabrics really make the difference to how things fit and waft. I've ordered some H&M cashmere joggers and a pair of Arket silk leggings from Afound hoping it'll soothe my loungewear yearning for now 🤞also got a pair of burgundy high heeled open toe mules from &Other Stories to feel less of a slob 🤣 actually ordered more last night but I can't remember it all, I doubt I'll keep much of it.

#NotSponsoredByTheHMGroup

OP posts:
ThisNameIsDifferentFromTheLast · 07/10/2020 10:01

The Burda website is a car crash unfortunately Time but handy to buy the PDF version of something you like from the magazine as tracing the patterns is worse than those 90s magic eye things!

Getting good knit fabric is hard, I did have a quick Google and apart from a couple of Etsy sites (Chinese and Romanian based) and an Italian site, I didn't come up with much for Cashmere knit.

I don't think I'm quite ready to invest in a knitting machine to make my own!

For a soft knit I'd definitely say an overlocker / Serger is a must. Although you could make the coat version on a sewing machine.

I'm tempted to tweak the pattern to make a Petar inspired dress:
www.harveynichols.com/int/brand/petar-petrov/410669-arvis-brown-belted-twill-dress/p3906266/

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: L'enfer c'est les Autres