Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: "You gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs." - Diana Vreeland

[botemp]

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between.

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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 ten thread anniversary:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

Oh excellent to hear my psychic abilities have expanded to manifestation. This will be very helpful in the whole cult business. Note to self: find some dragons already.

Cargo pants look good, have they moved the side pockets up to normal pocket height. I was just thinking today about maybe designing some tailored utility style cargo trousers for myself.

I'm also very that you get to go out to shops.

Yes IM boots can be really unpleasant on the feet, so I'm wary. I really like the Anny Nord and I see my size is back in stock but they do seem to be made for Scandi folk as the shaft height is probably an OTK on me, I could risk it and try as the shaft height is given for a larger size than my feet but they charge a €20 return fee

Ooof I have some catching up to do.

Bo, I love the Celine coat and really like that dress with boots look. This is what I want I think. There is something so 70s casually elegant about a dress/skirt that comes down a bit over tall boots. I'm forever finding myself not finding the right length of skirt or the right boots. In these midi days it's mostly the right boot (but again, I haven't really been looking, since I haven't been in shops).

I can't see mrs trunchbull forest ranger in the outfit because she didn't wear that did she ;) (literal mind ...) but I think the big blousy top and tight skirt is a little hard to wear. That particular jumper looks quite foresty, I agree. A little army surplus almost! I wore a lot - or rather wanted to wear, I couldn't find them for love nor money - jersey pencil skirts some years ago, and now I am just too lumpy, I can't get into it. My hip dips have become more pronounced and my belly looks pouchier so it's just like one of those fecking tactile maps with the mountain ranges raised etc, lol. Anyway, I find myself very drawn to that Cos skirt and have looked at it many times on the website, but I really dislike a front split so haven't gone for it.

Christmas might go completely tits up here, our son was complaining today of a headache and feeling achy, and has now topped off the evening by saying that's gone, but now he has a stomach ache. I was thinking of wearing tights and a :waves aimlessly: dress of some sort. I'll just take out the wrap dress or something. I'm not excited about this now. Our dinner plans are duck breast and turkey breast this year - not doing a whole turkey since we're not having guests.

Christmas tree is arriving tomorrow though, looking forward to that! Atmosphere here is a bit nervy and tense. Mr Bani is getting more and more like his father less tolerant of change and doesn't like the upheaval of Christmas decorations etc, plus he's been stressed with work. The adult daughter is frantically writing an essay due tomorrow. The son is 13 and an utter pain in the hole in general. I am lethargic and unable to start Doing Things, which leads to me having a low-level knot of anxiety that I know logically will lift if I Do The Things. So stupid!

Oh forgot to say welcome to Edel! :D

Ooh, Elle, I like the army ranger look, especially with those boots!

CatherineMaitland, I love the colour and shape of that skirt too. Even if the fabric isn't great, sometimes it can surprise.

I did smile at your glares story, flo. I have an old pair of gap, velvet trousers that are good for Christmas, but I also from the same era (90s) have a pair of purple, velvet flares - Miss Selfridge, I think. They have that quite extreme flare and are also ridiculously low rise, so not really wearable any more.

I don't know why turkey is so popular here, either. Goose was traditional, I think. We pretty much go for a large chicken from the local amazing organic/free range butcher, they also do an amazing Christmas stuffing, pigs in blankets etc. so I buy it all done. My brother, who is recently vegetarian, was supposed to be coming (in tier 2, but could only travel here through tier 4), so I now have lots of veggie sausages, stuffing etc. in the freezer. For dessert I do Annie Bell's chocolate chestnut log, which is pretty much cream, butter, chestnut puree, sugar, chocolate mixed up and shaped into a log.

The free range butcher stopped taking orders a week ago. But the fish monger can supply sea bass. Son always says I ruin fish so I've told him he'll have to cook. Win win. Now just need an outfit.

Ooh speaking of topography on your tummy, Bani, I came across this British designer that upcycles WW2 army maps that were printed on silk (for portability behind enemy lines, alas, not vanity) into clothing. I'm a bit torn of repurposing something historic like that at extortionate prices but I secretly want some too Linkydink here.

You could always wear the skirt wrong way round, Bani, and have the split at the back. I didn't pay that much attention to it but pretty sure it was the same back and front. Good luck with avoiding a full Christmas meltdown chez maison Bani 🤞If all efforts fail, blame the 13yo

I assume the market just got flooded with cheap turkeys at some point, quirky. It's also the meat of choice in France it seems. Less so where I am but trying to explain what we do here is too confusing, it's a sort of raclette but not really, pork is popular too. Very traditional people have goose and eat in terrifying Calvinist silence...

I hope shopping for your Christmas dinner hasn't suddenly turned into a terrifying and exhausting expedition all of a sudden with yesterday's change of events, Flo.

X-post, Flo, good to hear you've got a bit of protein sorted 👍

Just make sure you have enough sea salt (and a hammer and chisel might also be handy)

Yes funny you should say that - my son has just handed me a shopping list with 'fuckton of salt' at the top. I don't know where he learned such foul language. Thing is, will there be any salt in the shops now we're the pariahs of Europe?

Bani please expand your shoe collection 🥿 👞 👠
Maybe not with the ones in the last emoticon ...

We are having roasted duck and pork. We love duck. Enough to to have leftovers for a couple of days, which is always my favourite part

catherine I like the skirt, very festive and options to dress it down too. In Argentina our big day is xmas eve. So I was thinking I could wear my dress I bought in paris last January (Maison Pere), and for xmas day my Rixo Silk skirt with a jumper ... or the other way round. Something that I can basically wear sturdy boots as can get muddy and for sure we will go for a walk.

Just make sure to get coarse salt, couple of kilos at least, fiveish, I'd say depend on size of fish and roasting tray, really. You're probably good for salt, and when the Romans come to invade again you'll have currency at the ready so I suggest a 'megafuckton of salt'

Also, it helps to leave the scales on the fish, as it's easier to remove the skin in one piece.

I have missed the last page of posts! so if I am out of sync ...
I am thinking of expanding my boot collection now ... needs to look good and be able to walk on them on uneven paths and that I would be happy to get a bit muddy (not walking boot muddy) but that I can happily clean without fuss.

This seems a bit off topic (no boot or protein content!) but I thought this crowd might be able to help. I'm looking to make quality additions and replacements to my wardrobe and have identified a quality gold chain as one of the items for the list. If I'm trying to "buy once" does this need to be solid gold? Gold plated? If gold plated, 18k? Less? How does quality jewellery work?

The goose has been collected and is resting quietly in the fridge. The fish is ordered for collection on Christmas Eve. Missed the local food hub cut off by 20 minutes, so now faced with a supermarket run for veg and dairy. And wine.... I must not forget . No Christmas clothes choice made yet... maybe a dress and boots.

Apologies, I didn't say Hi to Edel! Welcome.

The crystal sea salt from Cornwall in a kg tub is good Flo.

Oh, those silk maps are gorgeous, bo. I know what you mean about repurposing something historical.

Your dress is equally lovely, red.

Our free range chicken came this morning, but yes, it needs ordering well in advance (I have learnt this the hard way). I would happily go for duck or pheasant, but not everyone eats it. Yes, bo, the market did become flooded with cheap turkey (especially locally, in East Anglia: nightmare stories of poor farming and staff treatment too). Love the "fuckton" of salt, I have done that before, it is delicious.

I have one of the WW2 silk maps, and have been trying to work out how it would be best displayed: between two sheets of glass is the only real solution because they were of course double-face printed. The one I have is Army issue.

We may have a goose bo, but shan't be eating it in Calvinist silence. The fat makes great roasties for the rest of the year!

Ha! No, Xing, I wouldn't be expecting a stoic Calvinist to hang around these parts. Unless it's to work themselves into a froth. I'm very jealous you have an actual WW2 silk map (and very impressed you don't just wear it). Can you just find these in army surplus stores or antique markets?

And yes, despite being a non meat eater, I am aware that animal fat is weirdly wonderful when combined with potatoes. The best French fries in Belgium are fried in beef fat and I just pretend it's something else because it's far too addictively nice 🙈 was not aware a single goose gives you enough fat for a year's worth of roast potatoes, it sounds like the mythical MN chicken as I've only ever seen Nigella use it and she used a whole tub she also coated the potatoes in polenta for extra crispiness, I was very intrigued.

Today I also learned that it's actually us that are flooding the market with cheap turkeys, soz I hope they actually get to you in the end.

Welcome Lattice, sorry I'm not the best with jewellery. The good stuff is inherited and I like switching it up too much to put a lot of money into it myself, but the inherited stuff is solid as opposed to plated so I suppose that has the most longevity. My only general advice would be to be guided by your budget rather than what's necessarily the 'best' out there (unless you've got loads to spare) because financially stretching yourself for something you think you will like forever doesn't necessarily always work out that way. Jewellery can be sentimental and subsequently get attached to good and bad memories and you also run the risk of carbon dating yourself with one good piece (like one specific type of haircut or shade of eyeshadow).

Completely forgot why I came to post, Arket order arrived and the boots are no good, also weirdly uncomfortable and the leather and finish isn't that great, feels very overpriced at the original asking price. However, interestingly it's the exact shaft height of the Anny Nords, not as high as I thought so I'm contemplating those again, but it's not great either as it sits higher on me than it should.

I'm keeping one of the hats and I still need to try on something else, but boring stuff that's of no interest here.

It was my step-father's escape map, and I'm not sure when he was issued with it, as he was Gen Roberts ADC in the desert campaign against Rommel up to el Alamein, then went up through Italy including Monte Cassino, and was badly injured when his tank was blown up in the 1944 Normandy landing invasion. He made it to, and through, several of the big battles.

Regarding the website, I wonder where the designer is sourcing them. They are quite sought after by militaria enthusiasts, so I imagine the company has found unissued surplus from a warehouse. They would have been printed by the hundred thousand, but I think were mostly issued to officers and special forces.

Can you manifest a nice navy coat for me too please botemp, hugely reduced too please. You did manifest a Celine coat already right? It’s beautiful BTW, I forgot to say that. I saw cargo pants online that had lower more protruding pockets, but these ones are easier for me to wear I think.

How’s your son Bani?

Flo – an excellent tactic with the fish.

We’re able to go to my parents here, so it’ll be traditional fare. I’ll do a beef wellington on the 27th. I’m a bit lukewarm about both, but they’re crowd-pleasers.

Lovely dress red I’m going to wear one that’s a similar shape.

Latrice I’d love to know the answer too. I have a gold pendant that is gold-plated and it’s starting to show wear and look a bit faded. I generally find with gold plate that with daily wear it’ll only last a couple of years and then it’ll look a bit shabby. My idea was to replace it with something in solid gold, but it’s surprisingly hard to find. I just want a delicate chain and disc. There are absolutely loads of gold-plated ones. There are some solid gold, but they seem to then put a teeny delicate shape in the middle presumably to keep the price down instead of something more substantial. I’ve bought a ring from this jeweller before and her stuff is lovely, but this is too delicate for what I’m after. www.adrianachede.com/collections/necklace/products/single-letter-gold-necklace The big name jewellers seem to do them, but as usual are very overpriced. Ideally I’d like something like this at a third of the price www.cartier.com/en-gb/amulette-de-cartier-necklace-xs-model_cod25458910981317610.html#dept=EU_Jewellery Vintage might be a good option I just need to find time to look.

xing double sided glass seems like the right call, what a lovely heirloom.

I'd be worried I'd be speeding up discoloration behind glass, I'm sure there's special finishes for it. I'd probably stick it in tyvek in a dark cupboard out of fear of doing something to it.

Does it have to be navy, Elle? I've come across the most amazing discount on Bottega Veneta coats but I lack the height for them. They also have a gorgeous green Jil Sander belted cotton coat, there's a minimal navy coat from a brand I don't know, quite cheap too with the discount actually but I have no idea what you're looking for.

I may be weird, but that Cartier necklace is much cheaper than I expected. I think that just confirms I know little about it all. But yes, in my experience, plated always wears at some point. Fwiw my mother and grandmother just went to a local jeweller and they'd make them anything they wanted so I think you could easily do that with a picture reference.

I have gone the custom route before and it's a lovely experience, but not always the saving you might hope for as you're paying for the design process and one-off making. That said, I do treasure the thigs that I got that that way. I have a significant birthday this year and I know my family will want to get me something so maybe I'll suggest a contribution to a necklace.

I was thinking more slouchy on the coat. I still regret not buying the Acne Carice in navy as I get on so well with the camel version. That said I wouldn't mind taking a look at the BV if you don't mind sharing as I can handle a big coat!

Ah sorry, I thought I had included a link.

It's Baseblu everything's 60% off. It's an Italian boutique, they all seem to be doing terribly so bargains are to be had and they all seem to be popping up online. I suspect they're missing a lot of questionable Russian money coming in and most couriers refuse to deliver there. Or maybe the Farfetch platform is no longer working for them as they all seem to be setting up their own websites with competitive prices. The website isn't working optimally, I can't get it to work on mobile so suggest looking on desktop mode, it's also not the easiest to navigate... There's an amazing Tom Ford all cashmere coat on there too, it's like the ultimate upgrade to your Carice camel coat but it may go a bit Melania Trump. Still cost a bomb even at 60% off.

I shall try to manifest a navy slouchy wrap coat in the mean time...

Love the dress Red.

Lattice, I generally wear silver, but I would imagine the same principles apply. Solid will be more durable than plated. I have had some good success replacing plated jewellery with solid via Etsy, I would also say vintage, because it won't date so much. I do wear a lot of similar style jewellery over the years, with some changes to current trends.

Elle, as someone who recently had a significant birthday, meaningful jewellery is a great idea. One of the things I got was a Georg Jensen bracelet, which I'm pretty sure I'll wear loads, both stacked up with others and on its own.