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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Merch created in honour of our tenth thread anniversary:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

Angora feels lovely, but is unkind to the rabbits, and it sheds lint over everything for miles around!

at Mr Tumnus' legs! That's an erm... interesting website. I do feel validated that the photos of the (actual human) model in the fluffy fairisles looks as bulky as when I wore mine. Except mine was scratchy and went back to the charity shop. I have a mohair coatigan/cardigan, but find the shedding annoying, especially when fine threads (?) get in your eyelashes. I don't wear it much.

I once badgered my mum for weeks/months - possibly years - into knitting me a mohair jumper, then only wore it once or twice cos it was so itchy and all the loose fibres got in my eyes

Thanks, flo, fibres was the word I was looking for! My mohair coatigan, is just not something I wear much, it's a really nice shape, slate blue but it's often too cold, windy, wet to not wear a proper coat and then it sheds...

Flo you MONSTER. Your poor mother. Hopefully it was a quick knit because of the fluff. ;)

Yesterday one pair of trousers was supposed to arrive with UPS and the driver didn't even fecking try. I was home and nothing on the doorbell, nothing on my phone. Just a text saying it was being delivered to a service point because I wasn't home. Add this to the reasons why I don't like internet shopping! Home delivery is more stressful than the ordinary post office kind because it promises something it can't deliver.

Day for cosy fluffy jumpers I would say.

I have managed to return those +J disappointments, I have to remind myself I do not get on with online clothes shopping either.

It's suddenly very much colder here now and I must admit the hairy tights have some appeal now also back to eyeing up some Mackage coats.

I was actually very tempted to order this knitting set with materials and pattern (I know, I know, me in a cardigan I'd wear it around way round). It has a Sezane vibe (and costs pretty much the same except it's mostly mohair and silk instead of a threeway split of mohair/wool/polyamide) but I never did learn to knit properly, my mother was always around to fix my mistakes (and she was a very good knitter, but sort of gave up on it after baby clothes) and I never worked with a pattern and YouTube knitting seems very poorly developed in comparison to sewing. With all the mohair talk I've probably saved myself some major disappointment...

Bani, bastards you're destroying my Swedish idyll of nothing bad ever happens in Sweden (yes, I'm aware how naive that sounds, but in NL there's this weird held belief that Sweden is the better relaxed version of us ) on the positive side, Suit Supply is really quick with processing returns, within an hour of it arriving there the money was back in my bank account.

That lady in your picture is inside a plant nursery , and that green colour ! I want one now!
Years ago I had some training in a plant nursery as a ‘hobby’ while I had my other job as I wanted to learn properly about plants . I loved it. It was January and used to wear cashmere jumpers under my jackets and aprons , second hand of course as they used to get really mucky.

I think that green is a little too green but it’s very Arket green. ;) Red that sounds like a great job, at regular intervals I wish I was doing something like that.

Bo, don’t you know that Sweden has gone to the DOGS etc etc blah blah. I just gave suitsupply bad reviews for delivery in a petty fashion. If they just used regular postal services I wouldn’t have had to walk that far to pick it up. Which I’ve done. Pictures attached! These are the blue Frankies. Lovely fabric, weighty and with a nice drape, and well made. Not lined. But so high waisted! It’s like some sort of reversed corset! I don’t think I can keep them, because they are 1500 kr and I’m not so keen on paying more to alter the waist. I tried folding it down a bit and that’s more reasonable. Miles too long but that’s a small issue.

The second picture shows my attractive bra bulges on the back (have gained weight again because cake) and I think thus shows that they basically reach my bra.

Bani, no it's still supposed to be the land of milk and honey where our inflated house prices will buy us a ridiculous amount of land. Ok, maybe the rep has gone down a bit with the Covid19 approach but it kinda depends who you ask, the Swedophiles often tend to be mother of the earth types who talk about Covid19 and mother earth cleansing out the bad and questionable shit like that, and, no, they won't be getting their arms out for a vaccine 😬

Shame about the trousers the waist part where you close it pretty much came up 10cm above where it's on you, it was a bit bizarre so they're definitely better looking on you, but I agree this proper high waist is for a blessed genetic few. It's weird though as it wasn't anywhere near that high on the model, they must be wearing a few sizes up or something.

My boobs have filled out in lockdown so I have quadruple boobs in bras now I'm assuming it's hormonal, I've just embraced blaming everything on my hormones, the docs do it all the time so why can't I?

Hmm, yes Arket green indeed. I was going to get it in red and get nice little mother of pearl white buttons. They have some lovely knitted hat packages now, maybe I should try that first.

Although I should probably finish up my orchid trousers first, it's not that much work, I finished lining them with some deadstock Paul Smith silk, never had silk lined trousers before and usually I hate the feel of lined trousers but this feels lovely. I'm trying to decide what to do next, I want something that is a bit more straight forward and less time consuming. I've found some lovely red wool and silk (50/50) and I'd like to make it into a dress but red dresses tend to have an impact so shape needs to be right. I'm also still toying with making the Simone Rocha skirt from Showstudio but it doesn't even mention the size it is 🤷 and it would totally be dress up but meh, every day feels like dress up atm.

Oh that is a shame bani. I've got a couple of very high waisted trousers that I really like but I couldn't tell you why they work and others don't. I think it might be because they skim right past my arse as if it wasn't there, so they make my legs look extra long. Or maybe they look like shit really and I refuse to notice. My own waist is pretty high so that could be another reason. Sorry not helpful. Hope the others come soon.

I'm sewing today as well. I was going to walk down to the shops, just because they're open again, but the snow started bang on the hour, exactly as forecast. So sewing it is. I might manage to get the shirt altered to fit better if I don't lose my temper with it first.

I never managed to get to sewing today but hopefully I'll finish them up this weekend. I've gone out and bought some cheesecloth fabric to drape my next project with so I'm all set to stay indoors as it's dreadfully cold this weekend. How's your shirt coming along Flo, or are we best not asking 😬

I also bought a coat this morning. It's a secondhand Céline doubleface cashmere coat that I've been eyeing for some time but I've never come across one in my size. I'm not allowing myself to get too excited about it as it was surprisingly cheap and underpriced. It did say it had marks of use but it wasn't so apparent in the pictures. I can still return it so it was an easy risk to take, happy Sinterklaas to me and all that. Though I doubt it will get here by Sinterklaas (tomorrow) as the post service is overwhelmed by all the packages but it is scheduled for delivery tomorrow 🤞

Such a shame those trousers Bani.
That coat looks potentially great Bo, hopefully it works out!
Today I managed to pop into a local second hand shop and got a citrus lemon balloon 3/4 sleeves Cashmere cardigan and a jacket sheep 🐑 like not too heavy so good for indoors.
I feel like I have been unleashed, literally.
But is so bitter cold here as well, it is hindering my plans to meet for first time a couple of friends tomorrow for an outdoor drink , brrrr

I will post photos later of my purchases.
A tan jumper would be good, this sort of colour. But then I would look like some person trying to match her dog ...

Here are my two purchases. The jacket is from sessun, which I didn’t know and after looking at their stuff I am pretty chuffed to have paid £20.
I intend to wear them both at home while working/pottering around.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished sewing results. Re: silk lined trousers - I'm a fan of Miss Smilla's Sense of Snow (the book) and she has very expensive and specific clothes, including fine leather (chamois leather I believe) trousers lined with silk. I've wanted silk lined trousers ever since!

Flo, I think my ideal high waist is really not all the way up at my waist (because I think I am actually a bit short waisted but I have to look up the formula some time and measure myself properly) but rather sort of a little bit up off my navel? So they rest comfortably just over my hips and don't try to fall down them all the time, but still look good proportion-wise. Hen's teeth, obviously. Also,flat fronts are best. Hen's teeth.

Red, congratulations on successful second hand shopping! I immediately popped in to look at Sessún and loved these trousers sessun.co.uk/catalogue/trousers/rafaello-sisal.html right off the bat. This dress was lovely too (although not for me) sessun.co.uk/catalogue/robes/getty-tobablue-getty.html but I liked the idea of it.

Bo, surely Sinterklaas is today? Dec 6th. We had sweets in our boots this morning anyway. I like the Celine coat, I hope it worked out!

I just looked up Miss Smilla and I am very taken with her description:

Miss Smilla is a stylish, engaging heroine with terrific dress sense, dark wit, courage under fire and fluency in Greenlandic.

Probably helped by the fact I've recently discovered Netflix has all three seasons of Borgen 🤩 and I'm back to thinking I understand Danish and am yelling, "Hold kæft!", at any vaguely appropriate opportunity I found it's available on Scribd so I've earmarked it.

I also want some silk lined leather trousers now too, it sounds like cold weather heaven and it's going to be very cold here for a fortnight 🥶 which will probably mean shit warm-ish drizzly weather come Christmas. Thankfully, but regretfully, I've long given up the idea of a white Christmas.

No, Sinterklaas is the 5th, it's only the 6th if you're Belgian, and possibly some areas of Germany. Anyhow, coat, as predicted didn't arrive yesterday, it's scheduled for tomorrow but I'm remaining sceptical.

Sessun is nice but it's one of those WTF brands, like that dress looks lovely but £235 for polyester is just taking the piss.

I hadn’t seen the price of the things brand new . I am more than happy having bought it second hand though, looks cool and I wore it yesterday under a white coat and off white woolly hat .

Re mohair - the way it’s being used in the kitting world is a strand of silk/mohair blend along with a strand of sock yarn. It gives a gorgeous halo to the fabric.

Did anyone else go mad in the Toast sale this week...? I wasn’t going to turn down their dresses for £60-£65!

Are you a knitter Vienesse? In the cardigan knit kit I posted previously you get a few balls of silk yarn and a few of mohair and then combine them yourself, it did look very ethereal. I'm still very intimidated by the whole knitting pattern thing although I could just unravel it and start again. Although I think I sucked at setting up the first line/row (?) on my needles and always got my mother to do it. If you have any helpful resources it'd be much appreciated.

What's the dress made of velvet or corduroy, the colour is very striking and the shape looks very appropriate for pandemic cocooning.

Well my Céline coat just arrived and I'm a bit baffled I'll have a thorough look in daylight tomorrow but the condition seems to be far exceeding anything I expected, so either they stuffed up the price (it's not the cheapest second hand shop, usually everything is overpriced but the curation makes it worth it but the price on Vestiaire for this coat is much much higher) or I'll see what exactly is wrong with it tomorrow as it seems in perfect knick aside from missing the brand label 🤷 (it has the care label and it's clearly authentic, I've tried the coat on enough but could never justify the 3k price tag).

The only thing I can think of is that the cashmere looks a bit flat so it may have been tossed in a washing machine once but a good brush would probably sort that out. I only have a brush for wool coats though so that may be a touch too aggressive. I know Kent do a good cashmere brush so I'll order that tomorrow if no horrors reveal themselves.

TL;DR I'm still too cautious to be thrilled with my new Céline coat, it all seems too good to be true. Also, the colour is surprising, it reads as a really deep navy but it's clearly black but it's insanely flattering where often black wool coats can do you dirty. Still not allowing myself to get too excited though but it's really hard.

. Just popping in to read the thread, but have been sorting out and packing up DMIL's goods and chattels for five days ahead of selling her house, so we're a bit sad and nothing interesting to say from here, and not quite enough energy to comment.

I think it seems like a bargain, Red!

[ quote]Re mohair - the way it’s being used in the knitting world is a strand of silk/mohair blend along with a strand of sock yarn. It gives a gorgeous halo to the fabric.[/ quote]

Viennese, that's the only way I've ever seen mohair used myself, ie in blends. All mohair def makes you look a bit like someone with a furry fetisch!

I don't buy from Toast, I'd have to pay 10 pounds for returns and I've never tried anything on so am not sure enough of sizing to chance it.

Bo, it just sounds like a lucky buy to me!

Botemp - yes! I made my mum a very luxurious pair of bed socks holding silk mohair together with a merino/nylon/stellina (sparkle) base. Currently working on a sweater with a colourwork yoke modelled after RBG’s dissent collar!

Re Toast - that dress is a really fine cotton needlecord. I also bought a similar one in a floral viscose which sounds grim but feels more like silk (and it’s Toast floral, not ditsy floral). My best charity shop find ever was a silk Toast dress for £12.50. I’m not sure I’d have chanced anything other than these floaty dresses but as they only have to fit around shoulders and bust I knew they’d fit pretty well.

I forgot to add helpful resources for knitting! For videos, I like Very Pink Knits on YouTube. For pictures and words, both Ysolda and Purl Soho websites have great explanatory blog and technique posts.

Happy belated Sinterklaas, bo. I have been busy with birthday celebrations (albeit low key) of my own: lots of Asian food, champagne and some chocolates .

Fingers crossed for the Celine coat, too, bo. It looks like a good find.

red, I have a cashmere cardigan that same colour of pale, bright green. It was a ridiculous sale bargain, I suspect because of the colour and it was labelled the wrong size. I find the colour it a strangely versatile.