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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Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

Hello!
So what have you decided quirky? I feel that your hair can be a real asset but with that coat turns a bit to the opposite.
I was just browsing that vampire dress thingy ... I feel is completely pointless and don’t get the fuss.

I am now struggling with weird rashes over my body, specially my back. I thought of Bani and wondered what happened at the end to those rashes you had last summer? For the moment I am having a mini detox of chocolate and wine and have washed all mattress protectors and pillows... I cannot stand a bra either, luckily going bra-less is not an issue for me.

Well, I think it will probably go back. I do like the fabric, but I think it's just too voluminous for me. Lol at the dressing gown, I did try it with a belt, that was not good. It looks better with a scarf, actually, but it's just not a wow, really.

red, that sounds nasty. My sympathies and would recommend seeing a doctor, my skin is usually well tempered (apart from an allergy to some Christmas trees ) but my scalp is super sensitive. I won't bore you with the ins and outs, I'll save that for the curly hair thread, but it's been flaring up recently.

The rashes! OMG the rashes. Well they went away with a strong cortisone cream regime, but I generally have more irritable, "rashier" skin ever since. My palms can be hot and itchy, and my wrists. I suspect it might be a perimenopausal issue because I read an article listing itchiness as a common complaint. A thin layer of the cream sorts it out almost directly. I should probably nag the doctor about it but bla bla pandemic can't be arsed. I hope yours is as easily cured anyway, Red! I saw absolutely no connection to diet or anything, and the biopsy came back with nothing.

Vampires wife will be in shops near me apparently, I suspect it will not be sold unless people are looking to cash in on Ebay - I saw the point of the long black Morticia dress but other than that I really don't get it. Perhaps I should do pity shops for deprived Mumsnetters who didn't even get a shot at them.

But glory be - am taking a little holiday trip next week and will be able to pop by a shop and try on the trousers I posted above. It is an exercise in futility since they are not in my price range, but it will feel good to do it nonetheless.

I have a distinct memory of Jil Sanders being promised as an October launch. But I do not have a photographic memory, rather the opposite, so it might have been november, just "autumn" or "stay tuned", who knows!

Bloody Uniqlo. Tried to replace some V-neck jumpers but all the colours and shapes have changed. Chocolate brown is now some kind of puke brown, as I found out when so-called replacement jumper arrived. And the V is completely different.

Grr. Jil Sander had better be good!

Hope everyone is doing well. I seem to have ended up in Sherborne, safe for the winter, anyway.

That's annoying Catherine. I can't remember if I've already linked this so ignore me if I'm repeating myself but I recently bought this men's cardigan

I spent all last winter looking for a second hand version with a bit of a 60s vibe (already got one with a long defunct label but I wanted a second cos I'm greedy) but I gave up the hunt when I saw this one. I had to upsize to get the right oversized fit - started on extra small but finished up with medium. But I'm happy with it now.

I'm also far more invested than is healthy in the Jil Sander. I'm going to end up buying something beige and then convincing myself it's just the right shade of beige.

Catherine, I don’t understand your last sentence. I blame it on being a foreigner. But I do agree on Uniqlo’s colours and am glad you’re on my team - variations of sludge!

Speaking of colour, I ran out yesterday and bought some clothes for my 13-yo since I noticed his jeans were all too short. Went up to pay and the SA said something jokingly about his colour preferences leaning towards only the black and grey so I was able to “light-heartedly” make a comment back on the fact that there isn’t much colour choice for boys, is there? Rich from a shop that genders clothing from the age of bloody one frankly.

I love how everyone is de-hyping Jil Sanders now. Lower your expectations seems to be the mantra du jour! :D

I found a jumper I thought I hated just now in my wardrobe and I don’t so I’m rather pleased. The sting of it not being as good a second hand buy as I thought has faded and I’m seeing its potential as a layering item. As in now, when I am going out for a walk in the cold and rain.

I also want to understand Catherine’s sentence...
I am not even going to bother with uniqlo or jil sander. I feel a bit bored about same old , not very interesting etc etc
The rashes are calming down, as I said I cut down on chocolate and wine, got myself cethaphil (spell?) body and face cream, washed all bedding pillows , protectors etc and took an anti allergy tablet for the last couple of days. Not sure what made the difference but I will reintroduce with caution stuff.
I agree that a perimenopause and maybe subconscious pandemic stress can be culprits. I am going to pretend never happened and ignore it till next rash

I think Catherine was just updating on her home status. Last I remember the house purchase fell through and she was staying in a holiday let or was looking to stay in one. I remember something about the west country but no idea if that's where she's ended up because my UK geography knowledge is rather dismal.

Anyhow, time to send in help because I've taken a liking to a sort of rank top (here's hoping Jil Sander has done me something similar)

And for loungewear extravaganza, I'm now contemplating a Poiret cocoon coat. I just don't know what material, velvet is a pain to work with so that's out.

And in other news, the postal system is conspiring against me again, I was supposed to have everything for my trousers in yesterday and I would finally be able to finish my trousers this weekend but one essential part got delayed and won't be here until Monday evening, bloody cycling couriers who don't work weekends 😑

I hope you're a bit more settled, Catherine. That's so annoying about the uniqlo jumpers. I'm still annoyed at their heattech leggings, I have some old ones that have a high waist with a kind of band, so they keep you extra warm on your torso and you don't have to contend with an elasticated waist under the waistband of whatever you're wearing them with. Now, they just seem to do an ordinary elastic waist. Such a shame as its such a good feature.

Lovely coat, bo, it will be interesting to see what fabric you choose.

I don't know Sherborne but it's in Dorset of which I have fond family holiday memories and yeah it' still in Tier 1for Covid I believe, which is good. Hope it works out for you Catherine.

That coat is gorgeous bo. If velvet's, out a brocade - provided it had plenty of movement - could look stunning, if possibly a bit court-of-Henry-VIII.

It's obviously a Henry VIII sort of day - www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/25/chilling-find-shows-how-henry-viii-planned-every-detail-of-boleyn-beheading

Thanks all. Sorry, I didn't put the housing situation very well - we were camping, property purchase fell through, cue mad scramble to find something to rent before winter. I knew there was a housing crisis in this country and that renting was horrible but it does bring it home to you. Still, two of the resident mice are now goners, only one to go! (the house is fine really, it had just been empty for a couple of months)

I did find a Uniqlo U ribbed jumper with a scoop-ish neckline in a sort of slate blue while we were unpacking some basics. I bought it last year but never got around to wearing it. Husband likes it so on it went today. But yes Quirkychick - why DO companies change out good things?! It makes no sense.

Ooh Dorset, isn't that where they have all the pretty lime washed thatch cottages?

Well Henry VIII would be no good as I'd like to keep my head I saw something similar made of antique Victorian shawls/stoles. Not sure whether that's a bit sacrilege or not, considering the Victorians weren't all that conserving of what came before them either. I'm still unsure what to make it of, quite a bit of fabric needed so I don't want to go mad with it either. Ideally a beautiful off white double faced knit cashmere would be the dream but utterly unrealistic.

Cross post and scary beheading talk coincidence

Yes, I do wish high street would adapt the 'carry over' model that some high end brands/shops have going, a core collection of items that never go on sale and get repeated (sometimes in different colours). Cos used to sort of do that (though things did go on sale) by repeating styles but they don't do it as much anymore, in the women's anyhow, men's seem to repeat more often.

Ah Catherine of course, I'd forgotten about your moving woes but am glad you're settled. It just didn't register as a place name #foreign ;)

Don't get me started on companies change out stuff that is obviously popular and works. I just don't understand it. A few years ago I got a pair of workout trousers that are really comfortable and slouchy. Work for everything, not too thick, not tights, pockets. They sold out almost immediately. Somebody ought to have recognised that they were popular and repeated them in more colours etc. Did they? Did they fuckity. They think we all want leggings.

Bo, I really like that red silhouette above and I know I've seen similar "tank tops" in shops. Long and loose like. Not in that lovely colour mind.

Many years ago I was bidding on an antique paisley shawl on Ebay and forgot the auction time so I missed out. Kicking myself to this day, modern paisleys are seldom if never as gorgeous as Victorian ones.

If I was just trying out a cocoon coat idea I think I'd just pick a thick jersey, like a sweatshirt. It would make a modern version that I could try the construction on, and if I didn't like it I could happily give it to charity and somebody would end up loving it I think. On my pinterest I have about 15 "easy pattern" versions of those I love stuff like that.

Googling "wool trousers" I came across Suit Supply. Does anyone have any experience? They are very corporate in style but the prices for wool trousers are reasonable. I think I see some so-so stitching on the hems but nothing I couldn't live with. These trousers were very pretty suitsupply.com/en-se/women/l_trousers/frankie-light-brown-herringbone-trousers/LB0136.html

Can't tell from the models if they fit well or not. They do have free returns so could be worth a punt.

I was thinking French Terry originally but it's a pattern and a lot of reviews had bad experiences with jersey and similar. Medium weight with good drape seems to be the thing but I think that might price it out as a frivolous thing to wear around the house.

Suit Supply, I don't know if they're the same but it's a Dutch brand, they were big in the 00s as sort of the first who pioneered semi-custom suits for very democratic prices. It was mostly men's though, it was never bad but it wasn't amazing either but a substantial improvement from an off the rack suit. Those just starting out on a decent salary tended to buy from them, and the occasional wedding suit. There used to be shops everywhere but not as many as in their heyday. I've never seen any of their women's wear, unfortunately, so can't tell you much about that.

Ah thanks anyway Bo. I should say that I meant that the prices on sale were reasonable ;) providing the quality is decent. They seem to get good reviews as to fabric but can't find much else, nothing about women's wear.

Yeah the quality is good, I checked and it is the same Dutch company. Fabrics were always Italian of good quality (so not the top of the line English stuff, but way better than say Chinese wool) but the cuts were more geared to northern European figures rather than the murderously tight and sock flashing Italian look.

I like the trousers, it's new to me they cater to women. I can swing by the shop and see if they have women's wear there, but it might be a while. Price in sale is pretty decent I agree.

Well if you do let me know! They have a shop in stockholm apparently so I could try to get a visit in myself but I try to limit all out of town travel and def the frivolous sort ;)

Never heard of Suit Supply but they have a couple of branches in London by the looks of it. They've got some nice looking things - I clocked the same trousers as you bani - although I just don't have any call for that kind of look at the moment, and possibly never will again.

I mean I've no call for that smart workwear look. I'd wear those wide, floppy trousers anywhere.

I know have an absolute ITCH to try them on. I think the company launched women’s wear under a separate name a few years* ago, Suisuit or something.

*i am old. This can be anything from 2 to 20 years. Time is a meaningless social construct.

I had a hospital appointment this afternoon, didn't know how long it would last due to battery of tests but wasn't so bad timewise so I did a quick stop in town as I figured this is probably the last time in a while I'll pass through there for some time.

Suit Supply didn't have the trousers in but they were very service minded-although very manly, the patronising I can tell you right now, you'll have to get your trousers shortened (no shit Sherlock, I didn't suddenly wake up a short arse this morning) didn't land well, anyhow, it was meant with good intentions as they're pretty full service with getting the trousers to fit perfectly (not just length, they'll tailor the whole thing to your figure, no charge).

You can just have them delivered to your home and then take them there to alter (so I'd order two sizes as IME very wide legs always look better a size up and then tailored down at the waist), also can just have them delivered to the shop and they'll do the alterations then and there (as they're not very busy ATM).

In other unsettling news (although I feel somewhat vindicated at my intense dislike of the man), tkmaxx was full of Celine bags, they looked so crap and cheap in that environment and they were actually cheap by Celine standards, just under a grand, and they're about double that RRP. They also had some bucket bags at the same price but those were much more RRP. All the hideous new designs onky. I only spotted them thinking, whoa, Chloe quality (as they have a similar gold C design) has gone down. I thought spotting the naff t-shirt was bad but this is just embarrassing.

#BringBackPhoebeAlready (rumour has it she's launching her own label though, keeping fingers crossed it'll be a lower price point than Celine was).

Forgot to attach pics

Bo that was quick work! Sorry about the Condescending Man™️ I find they tend to turn up where suits are sold 🙄. I’m going to look into visiting the stockholm shop but it’s a little disheartening if the don’t have the women’s wear in or have less of it. I can’t comment on the bags (not my area).

Pressed too soon. I hope your appointments went well!