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

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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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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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Definitely travel for me. Usually crossing the border at least once a month, I'm just sick of the same environment, same foods, same types of people, all the time. I miss just unashamedly gawking at beautiful ludicrously priced things since we're too protestant to have those. No lockdown necessary for that, it's a family trait and sitting put in one place for too long makes for very restless people (not all of us, but it's a theme).

I miss my Pilates reformer classes, contemplating just buying one but it's kind of an investment and means I wouldn't be going back when they're open normally which feels kind of shitty.

Not missing, social obligations

Oh and definitely wasn't missing the tourists, it was bliss until about end of May when the Germans started showing up and approaching all Dutch women and insuating we're all prostitutes again (this used to be just the Brits, well, English really) but the current crop of tourists are particularly annoying, drunk or otherwise out of their mind and not giving a crap about any guidelines

I'd have expected to miss travel but, in all honestly, I can't say I do (yet). I wasn't even that bothered when the Spring trip to London got cancelled. Maybe it's because there's so been so much else going on or maybe I have Howard Hughes tendencies, only without his millions.

Does that make Mr Flo Katherine Hepburn just know when you start to piss in bottles and leave them accumulating it's time for a change of scenery...

I was supposed to be working on a new top (in the electric blue fabric) but I seem to be poorly motivated today. It's going to rain tomorrow all day so that's probably a better day anyhow. I've attached a crappy linedrawing for Bani's pleasure (hope it's actually visible), there will be a twist at the back to get a knotty detail, slight high cowl neck at the front and drapey back section, toile is already made and seems to work well so far.

I've ordered some more fabric samples, this time focusing on colour and also saw some grey/dark green mohair wool mix that could potentially work for a coat, or at least a trial run as it's quite cheap.

My new samples arrived already . I picked out the wool orchid colour with memories of the Roland Mouret trousers and looks like it'll do the job for that. Organza next to it is for the internal structure (hems and the sort), didn't need to colour match but that's the only colour they had and it's very affordable (this is all deadstock fabrics). The pink silk I had hoped would work as lining but the colours don't work well together IMO.

Greyish green mohair, not sure about either, feels a bit drab? Also there's some stretch to it (characteristic to mohair, I think) so probably not the best to start with.

Silk on the far left is a really lovely quality and from an impressive fabric brand (which I've now forgotten). I thought it would be too thin for anything beyond lining (and I liked the idea of it as lining) but I'm now trying to figure out what else I could potentially do with it as it has a good weight to it.

The two chambrays, the one in the lineup is very very thin which would probably be nice for something but I can't think beyond a blouse and I'm not attempting anything with loads of buttons. The other chambray (horizontal across the top) is really classic chambray with a good weight to it. It's very cheap (around £5/m IIRC), but not sure what I'd do with that, going to have to do some inspiration exploring.

The shallower things I miss...
Red lipstick, no point with masks and no proper going out
Gigs/concerts and all the summer events (not the obligatory school fetes and sports days, though)
Browsing the shops, rather than following the strict one way system and not being able to go back to get something you've forgotten

The tourists sound not fun, bo. Not the same, but we are quite a touristy cathedral city, it's still quite quiet here. Not great for the economy, but nicer to be around.

Posted too soon, gorgeous orchid fabric!

My lovely leather flipflops have come in the right size, I promised a link. They're from this shop, but it appears to be on holiday at the moment and I can't access the page with the flipflops. These are a black version of the gladiators I bought 2 years ago.

Bonjour Mamans - I am such a lurker on these threads (loving your work) but I had to de-lurk to say how much I am missing people watching.

I have(had) a brilliant walk to the office that passes the University and Art College campuses. Loved seeing all the student style every morning. And in the summer there was the Edinburgh Festival. Best people watching on earth.

But, agreed, not missing the social obligations.

Just saw an aviator jacket in the new season stuff and I would love one but a jacket seems unjustifiable. Can’t even wear it on Zoom...

I'm well aware this is absolutely not the purpose of them but the BLM protests coverage made for quite interesting people watching. People were very obviously dressing for the occasion (as it was the first occasion in quite some time and also because of social media) and it's not exactly your usual occasion. Then all the different locations influenced it too, and where they social distanced it made for quite good viewing.

I've been working on my electric blue top but I'm annoyed with it as it's behaving differently than the toile. This is a crepe so actually somewhat easier to work with but it's not folding over neatly like I want it to in the back and I don't have much fabric to spare so I'm stuck trying to figure out how to change it. I'm also questioning the shine again, I don't mind it at the front but at the back I'm feeling it's a bit much. Sigh.

Oh I have coat feelings too, nothing wrong with those, Persona. Completely unjustifiable and it's something I normally am not a fan of but I was watching this brilliant recently released by Loïc Prigent (go watch it, thoroughly enjoyable) and the in house fit model Amanda at some point walks up to the house with a classic Chanel jacket in a bit of a non traditional colour (a strong raspberry pink but the hue is somewhere between pastel and neon without being overly vibrant) slightly too long to still read as the classic Chanel jacket and with more pockets and details than I'd usually tolerate but I'm all 😍 and now I'm drooling all over again at how effortless it looks just tossed on... Attempted a screenshot but not the easiest thing to do or best angle, it's at 20:12 in. (I am, however, slightly disturbed at how much Virginie Viard and Amanda look alike, especially knowing VV is the one that hired her).

Bonsoir parisiennes. I miss people watching too and just leisurely walking and sitting in a coffee shop on my own without having to think I better leave the table as there is people queuing for one. I also miss going into antique shops and touching everything. Oh and miss my trips, I would have been right now on my way from Tokyo to Hokkaido .
Oh well, we had a small break here in the uk , which I also love so I am trying to make the most and visit stuff I have not done for ages, since I arrived here and I was still behaving like a tourist. So Stonehenge, Roman baths, rolling hills, English seaside, etc etc.
I am wearing my shirt dress I bought in February second hand and couldn’t resist, tanned sandals and crossover bag , a partial photo of the fabric here.

I will catch up properly when I get the chance .

I found queue watching quite interesting to begin with. Everyone was making the most of being let out so there was eye contact, smiling and even a bit of most un-British chat. I had more compliments on my outfits in queues than I'd had for the last 5 years - and I wasn't dressed up, just not wearing gym stuff. But by the third week we were all on our phones. Then around week 10 there was fun to be had in spotting who'd had a sneaky lockdown haircut. I thought about starting a thread about it in AIBU and running away, but I'd have probably had to name change afterwards.
Anyway welcome Persona.

Bo that orchid looks fab - are you going to make trousers with it? I can't decide about the mohair. I do quite like sludgy colours and seeing it next to that pink makes me think it might look great with a startling lining. But it's a lot of work if you're not sure.

Yes, trousers, I'd already traced and made a toile of these linen trousers I found in a client sale in Antwerp (I remember Bani googled the brand and their waffle was hilarious something about it being for women for whom style is a Lingua Franca or some such nonsense but he had a saville row training and it really shows in the construction). I had it in my mind to make it in wool or wool/cashmere mix camel (how dull). I'm thinking of directing the folds outwards like on the RM trousers, potentially, just so it's not exactly the same. Also might crop them to make them more winter weather suitable.

The only thing is, that it's not a very efficient pattern in terms of cutting out of fabric, I need a lot of length (due to the width of the front panels I can't fit the pieces side by side) and then I'm left with a long strip on the side, I'm now contemplating ordering more and utilising that side strip (I have to check but it's at least 40cm iirc) and an extra meter to create something alongside it.

I don't think I want a jacket as I'm not a full suit person although that Chanel jacket has got me thinking and I don't need to wear it together. A top could work, probably, but I'm not usually one for tailored tops as I find them horribly uncomfortable but if it's made to measure that should be less of an issue, not feeling very inspired so far or they're just not very practical (ie a sleeveless top with some sculptural element, sleeveless is not my best look and I find them confusing in winter and anything sculptural tends to struggle being contained under a coat).

Oh I remember that site - they talked absolute shite but lovely clothes.

I think a single, deep pleat can be a good way of getting volume in the leg without adding too much to your stomach. My new Toast trousers do that (she says hopefully). Full length looks fabulous but cropped is more practical - if you keep them that long you're going to need a chauffeur once winter comes.

Anyway looking forward to seeing them!

I don't need a chauffeur if I can't go anywhere 😂

Agree on single vs lots of folds, it's the only way I can wear pleated trousers and not look like I'm smuggling water melons.

Be careful at home too - I think it was you who warned me about long, ultra wide legs on stairs!

Yeah a single fold is far less challenging - you'd think they'd have worked that out by now.

I miss being able to go to places without worrying about crowds. I mean it sucks not being able to travel, but I normally don't travel that much and have to plan all travels well in advance, but now my movement is curtailed even at home since I can't crowd myself in at the local swimming pool or anything.

I absolutely love your fabric samples Bo and appreciate the line drawing. Good luck with it. I agree that the mohair is a little drab but I am not a huge mohair fan anyway, I think it skews easily into nicotine-stained aged wannabe glamorista iyswim, at least on me (I skew that way myself despite never smoking or being glamorous).

I love the way she wears that pink Chanel jacket and I love love love those deep yellow trousers. I love that sort of pleat (I may, or may not, have a pinterest board that is 90% linen trousers with drapes and/or pleats). It looks a bit shit on me though because of my tummy haha. You'd want a bit of flatness there for a good drape. ;)

Welcome to Persona! Another great username!

I want to namechange to "nicotine-stained aged wannabe glamorista" now

My yellow trousers are magic of the best kind, the pockets are placed in such a way (they're not just flappy side pieces, they're a full on construction) that they flatten and hold in the tummy but not in an uncomfortable way. How anyone got rid of these trousers are beyond me.

Ah, yes, I do miss not having to give a shite and worrying about everyone else's behaviour.

I'm not going to buy the mohair because it's probably going to be too cold anyhow. I can't be an ashtray and cold at the same time, one would be acceptable but both is asking too much.

Yes, impractical ugly is not acceptable! ;) I love the yellow trousers. What was the name of the brand now again?

I think we should start a magazine called Impractical Ugly. Our first editorial can be nicotine-stained aged wannabe glamorista. I'm imagining my grandmother's vintage mohair dusters (she called it that but it was an indoor bathrobe in mohair) and obese lap dogs shitting in a Chanel handbag...

I'll have to look up the brand, he was Brazilian and I think it was a super long name.

Was this our yellow trousers, talks-shit-but-knows-his-stuff-guy?

I could have sworn the name was Brazilian but otherwise he seems to fit.
www.vogue.co.uk/article/alexander-lewis-designer-profile-interview

Yes, sorry for keeping everyone in suspense I had a triple barrel name with at least one ç in mind too but that's the one. I see on his site that he used to work under André Leon Talley which I suppose explains the rococo language used. It seems positively tame to some others we've come across since.

I'm finishing up my blue silk top, was struggling with the machine before lunch and have decided to just do it by hand as it's doing my head. Will have to hang it for hemming again but otherwise pretty much. It looks good but I think I over designed the back during the process, probably due to my fear of too much shine but it really was a bit much.

Apart from some shorts, which were essential, I have returned everything this summer. My eye is all out of practice, but I did find a lovely facemask in the tiny independent shop (not the fancy one) made in aid of a local Syrian Refugee charity. Glorious colours/fabrics and reversible, and immaculate sewing! And I may have bought a black gingham sundress with a tie belt which I didn't expect to fit because it was a size 8. In no previously explored universe does my chest go near an 8. It will be useful if the sun continues to shine as it's lined and has pockets.

With you all in missing the people watching. The local Tesco is clearly not a fashionista destination.