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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Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

Sept

Huit Neuf Dix

Onze

Douze

Merch created in honour of our ten thread anniversary:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

The only issue I've had on Pinterest was looking at chain necklaces and some weird bondage gear came up!

Well, I must say, very much unimpressed by Simone Rocha and H&M. It was covered with loose threads and other workshop remnants. The zipper in the dress hasn't been put in properly so it's already gaping where there's a lot of material at the waist so will probably be useless after a few goes up and down. Overall it has some designer finishes on the interior but it's really been done on the cheap, previously collabs were of a higher quality IMO. The pattern matching is good though (but I think that came out at the expense of the zipper I suspect).

Both pieces are also very unflattering and make me look twice the size. With the dress it's down to how the pattern has been laid out, it just makes everything look bulbous, maybe that's flattering if you're more straight up and down 🤷 and it's squishing my boobs out through the sides. Granted a sleeveless top like this is never the most flattering cut for me but it's usually just blah not this off putting. The jumper reminds me of a Ralph Lauren made for the American outlet shite quality that I once got on holiday when caught out in a freak storm, it looks really cheap and just shapeless.

I do like the shape of the skirt, so I may copy the pattern and leave out some of the ruffles (the long side one) and pearls.

I'm glad I wasn't in an endless waiting line as this would be pretty anticlimactic after any real effort. Uniqlo popped in my inbox at the right time though, advertising the +J line, I hadn't realised the dolman sleeve shirt looked like this from the side, I'm suddenly excited about it all now 🤦

bo, you are so tireless in the pursuit of great clothing, and so ruthless with the criticism, I feel I owe you a debt for doing all the marching duties. Your enthusiasm keeps me finding fault with the just enough stuff that I might otherwise settle for, were it not for the posh frock shop.

And after the last year of COVID restrictions, I fancy a spree, but heading into the next stage of life (same age as Flo) what do I want? I have practical stuff, funeral outfits, waterproofs up the kazoo, dresses for dinners, jeans and jumpers... all very nice, but the spice.. that I will wear?

Seriously, I am resorting to buying DH nice socks.

It's funny too how my idea of what constitutes the spice has changed. I used to be mad for fancy occasion dresses, despite having no more call to wear one than the average woman. For a while it was work clothes. That didn't last long. Now it's probably coats and jackets - these I do at least get to wear, so progress of a kind. I've been watching some late 90s/ early noughties films again and they've re-ignited my desire for a leather blazer. It'll have to be second hand as I don't think any of the shops are doing them.

Sorry the Simone Rocha stuff is such a let down bo. I've seen that view of the +j shirt, probably in the Lookbook, and the shape looks great. Unfortunately, like a lot of the shirts this time, it's got one of those stand up collars that never work for me.

And I can't believe I've missed some tweed chat! Off to catch up.

Bo, how disappointing about SR. I was down town yesterday and went into Hennes quickly and saw the almost identical jumper sans pearls in there (can’t see it on website). They both look too droopy to give a proper Aran feel. Dress looks more fun but I can see why you’re not enthused!

Yy to the side view of the dolman sleeved shirt, I saw that too and though the thread would approve . I have a colleague who’d look good in that, very much her style. Also she drives everywhere so doesn’t have to worry about getting a coat over it.

Xing, if there’s one thing I’m tired of it’s reading how clothes’ shops are struggling - there is nothing in them to want to how is this my problem.

Btw the Pinterest board is open for everyone to see, and has veered off the “repose” in the title already

You mean the chairman Mao collar, they're not my favourite either but it looks inoffensive, it's completely collarless that makes me feel weird.

My current 'spice' seems to be resort wear, it's the stuff I'm attracted to for the nostalgia of travel I'm missing out on and it's pretty wearable indoors with the heating on. Works well in repose too

By the way I looked in on Suitsupply and was greeted by the attached photo which does not seem on brand. Have they lost the plot? (Filling up thread, looking forward to new one haha)

Our flat is freezing. It’s jumpers galore here. 😒

H&M always has copycat pieces in their collection of their designer collection, it's so naff, and yes yes to the dreaded droop Bani. Thing is the jumper looked to have body in the stylised images, I know I'm no model but I'm sure that wasn't the secret to how they got that droopy thing looking nice in the picture 🧐

I call spray starch.

Also they have an Aran jumper with beads all over in the regular collection. It’s so confusing.

X-post I saw that ad on the street and thought, never buying there again, who do they think they are, noughties Tom Ford?

I don’t know if I should find it retro, a reasonable celebration of human interaction or what?

It's just being 'edgy' but in the current climate it just feels really gross and unhygienic. I'm not bothered by the overt sexuality of it at all, it's the extreme closeness and spittle that makes me feel claustrophobic and frantically seeking out my hand sanitiser.

Thing is, it's only edgy if it's original, and it's not, it just looks like a crap perfume ad from yesteryear and I mean they sell boring classic suits to real estate agents and entry corporate types, this ad campaign isn't going to expand that market so to me it just reads as desperate when they know corporate wear is slowly on the way out.

I suspect that photo might be striking a chord with young single people who've been cooped up with their parents for the last year.

@Floisme

I suspect that photo might be striking a chord with young single people who've been cooped up with their parents for the last year.

If I were young single and cooped up with parents for over a year I'm not sure if it would be striking a chord, more like pissing me off at this moment in time (we're still in full lockdown). I think this only resonates with those that buy into it because they don't have much experience of it, and that audience is a bit too young for that shop, they'll want them in a couple of years but memories aren't that long.

I do think pretty editorial titillating sexyness is coming back in reaction to the self objectifying overt social media pornified aesthetic but this is peaking too soon (pun not intended).

All I know is my son - who's been very stoical about being back with Mum and Dad and working from his bedroom instead of the metropolitan life he'd planned - is getting very excited about June 21st. He and friends are trying to buy tickets for summer events but they're selling out as soon as they're launched. I am trying to initiate conversations about safe behaviour

Yeah, I guess things are different here, there's no magical date in the future promised, we don't even have an end date to any sort of relaxation of the lockdown beyond the ones we have currently, it's wearing and everyone is very much over it.

We currently have elections on (voting in the coming week) which probably plays into it, government is in a lame duck period and it's pretty much been agreed on that (most) parties don't make covid related promises they can't deliver because we have a coalition based model. But our rules have never prevented randoms from having sex with each other if they wanted to (just dissuaded and urged to keep contacts down), so no one's really been deprived against their will.

Sorry - my world is so small at the moment, I sometimes forget it's not the same everywhere.

I don't know enough science to judge whether the England opening up date is medically wise, but I certainly think it's helping to lift the public mood - as is the vaccination rollout - particularly (from my limited observations) among young people. But good point that they're not exactly the typical Suitsupply demographic!

They’re slobbering in each other’s mouths like aliens who don’t know how to kiss yet.

Disappointing about SR. I ordered two things which haven't arrived yet. I'll report back.

For a gorgeous twist on the Arran sweater I love Colin Burke. I adore this coat hybrid and I bet the sleeves on this jumper don't need starch for structure.

Move over SR, I love the Colin Burke pieces, especially the white coat/coatigan. He doesn't seem to be sold in many places from my quick Google, bit expensive for a jumper but if it's a proper coat I'd consider it.

It reminds me a bit of a Belgian brand called I Love Mr Mittens which is all hand knit chunky stuff. I nearly bought something of theirs once until I realised it didn't even fit under my most oversized coat which I happened to be wearing, which limits its wear somewhat at the £££ price tag.

Ah no worries Flo, I have no idea on the science to judge either and the world feels equally small here. I think I normally prefer to assume the worst and be pleasantly surprised but some optimism would be much welcomed after so long.

Yes, yes, it's slobbering, Bani, hence my comment that this would only appeal to the inexperienced who really are too young to wear suits or those of a canine variety.

I got a reminder time's trousers were ending (stupid eBay reminding me of lots I merely glanced at ) did you bid for it in the end?

Oh, Elle, I love that knitted coat/cardigan, it's gorgeous. I was just remembering a very lovely Arran sweater my grandmother knitted me (she was very talented and her handknitting looked like machine, the stitches were so even) that I stupidly got rid of. I also used to work with someone who was a very talented knitter with impeccable taste, who designed her own knitwear for herself. She had some amazing pieces. I'm getting bored with some of my jumpers and may need to think of replacing them with more interesting/better shapes this year. Maybe I should retake up knitting, I can't do cable, though, kind of necessary for Arran jumpers.

That cream cardigan is amazing! Agree sleeves wouldnt fit under much, but would be a fantastic jacket cardigan. Looking up Colin Burke.
I did buy those trousers 🙈. I shouldn’t have as I had just bought a scanlan and Theodore top- plain wool knit with leather wrist bands. It had better fit!! That’s me ready for winter.

Oooo Colin Burke's stuff was gorgeous! Hard to wear under a coat, mind, but gorgeous.

I watched the final in the Swedish Eurovision tryouts yesterday and thus have a style note in the shape of the winner, a young lad who fled to Sweden from Kongo-Kinshasa as a small child and has a very no-fucks-to-give androgynous style that is something to admire. He was on a radio programme the other day and they put up a photo on Instagram www.instagram.com/p/CMRY-z9LCYN/ (blue suit). In the competition he wore a red satin and velvet suit with a wrap jacket (pic). Fun to see somebody who genuinely enjoys playing with clothes and looks.