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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Outlets

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Charity Shops, Dress Agencies, and Outlets

Favoured NYC addresses:

Consignment shops, Vintage, and Restaurants

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Colin Burke’s coat 😍 wow. I want it in my life.

Colin Burke's stuff is gorgeous, but I bet there is some weight in it.

Those sleeves will definitely hold there shape, crochet has so much more structure compared to knitting.

Time you are so right! Tweed would have been such a step up compared to the royal blue acrylic I was inflicted with. On the plus side there will be more lurex for us, but I probably have been watching one too many Russian sewing instagrammers.

Quirky, Wool and the Gang have some knitting kits which were designed by Mr Mittens. They are simple cables so I'm sure you'll be grand. The kits are bloody expensive though.

Just now found a blog from Galway and have a look at this lovely tank top/vest top/sleeveless jumper she's after making for herself upsew.ie/2021/03/12/yea-for-crochet-2-new-tanks/ I really fancy that but it would not look the same on me at all.

I'm rather liking the idea of a short neat cardigan... and these are rather nice. There's another similar, without pockets, but when did buying such a basic staple, that ought to be piled high in every store, get so costly?

TheName, thanks for that. I think I might need to practise knitting first, it's been a while. The tutorials look good, too.

The cardigan is lovely @XingMing - I know Toast had some in last season I really liked also (but also quite pricey).

My current thing is I'd like to get a plain white shirt (I'm feeling minimalist, what can I say) and there's such a huge difference in prices I don't even know where to start.

bani thanks for showing that blog. I had imagined I would have a wonderful vest to show off by now, but I've torn my rotator cuff (doing nothing!!!, bloody bony spur appearing on my shoulder).
But maybe I can now ammend my design to have a on and off collar so this could be for the best.

Obviously I will then move on to amazing things and have a Colin Burke style coat ready for next Winter.

I have a very old cardigan that looks very like that one Xing that's from M&S mens dept. It was my grandfathers, I love wearing it but don't ever want it to wear out as it reminds me of him so much, shirt, tie and cardigan 365 days a year until he died.

Id there an M&S Classics range in the men's department? Or are men deemed sensible enough to choose their own age range in clothing 🤔

We have woolovers xing which now i look market themselves as classic British design, not as authentically rustic with slight chunk and deep colours as the one you linked but if they ship it’s a mere fraction of the price

www.woolovers.com.au/womens/cardigan/womens-lambswool-v-neck-cardigan-green-13443

Joking on the shipping, I’m sure you can get wool cardigans in the uk! But does seem very good pricing.

That is a lovely cardigan xing , the colour combo of the stitching is great.

Forgot to mention bani, I looked at the photo of that contestant and yes is great to see people with that joyful play of the things they wear. I always admired African type prints, and I wonder why I never had anything with those prints and striking colours... searching away I came across this example, high end fabrics (I think) they are produced in the Netherlands. Really like them, even for inspiration.

Crosspost with times

We have woolovers here too Time and my DSis sent me a 20% code a couple of days ago... but the yarns are not such delicious colours and the ones I have bought for DH and DS have been a bit mixed. I must look, but having bought DH some posh socks, I am now on the mailing lists for everything.

I love complex colourful prints, love those red. Mary Katrantzou springs to mind as something more local (no idea what year these are)

Is Desigual still a thing? It's not my cup of tea but it's very colourful/pattern.

Don't get seduced by those rank tops Bani, they really only look good on very few people and are instant frumprifiers on everyone else. I think the looser ones with a low V (like the attached that just showed up in my inbox) are more wearable, weren't you looking for one like that Flo?

Oh exciting news on eBay wins, time, please post pics when you get it.

Name is the Mr Mittens from that wool package the same as the brand ILMM? Knitting still feels too daunting to me but I could potentially get into crocheting again.

I really like that website Xing, lovely cardigans but quite pricey. You wouldn't want to feed a moth with them, like. I feel like I've seen that shape more and more recently in different places. Personally I'm not a fan of pockets on knits because I immediately stretch them out of shape , so I'd go pocketless!

Red, that would be wax prints, a very popular fabric in the blogging sewing community too! There are a few small UK companies making clothes with these patterns -- I used to hanker for a pencil skirt in wax print but a) hard to find the one that is colourful but not too colourful for me and b) my belly got a bit big and I'm not loving the pencil on me rn. [eyeroll]

Bo, well I'd look terrible in a top like that, but I thought the blogger looked great!

I was indeed looking bo. I'd narrowed it down to one in Olive Clothing or Cos. But the Olive is in the dreaded 'wool mix' which put me off a bit and now I can't find the Cos one I liked - well they're still doing them but I don't like the colours and again it's a mix, although only 9% polyester.

I was about to suggest Community Clothing for a V neck lambswool cardigan Xing but that was before I saw the colours in close up. I can only think of Brora and John Smedley who might be able to compete but they won't be any cheaper.

Sorry that Olive Clothing link doesn't seem to lead anywhere. I'm supposed to be working now but I'll try again later.

I might research eBay to see if I can find any interesting colourful prints, thanks bani and times.
Yes I think desigual is still around, I never liked them tbh. They were always a very distinct brand if that makes sense and typically had their brand name very visible... which I typically dislike. With those type things of things I prefer a subtle approach to branding.

The local posh frock shop often carries a range called God Save the Queen in summer, and they do those big bold patterns. I sometimes like them, but everything looked shit failed to flatter my bumps and lumps. The idea appeals even so, and I was once (25 years ago admittedly) fond of a Desuigal T-shirt. Stella Jean is gorgeous in a similar vein, but a bit spendy even when I feel extravagant.

I agree with you bani on pockets in cardigans; I use them and they sag instantly, but there's the same shape without pockets which would be better -- just not sure whether that colour is available, and it would be a very useful colour for my wardrobe.

For Pigeon, I came across a good shirt site (the Foldery?) which had some usefully plain shirts but silk rather than cotton.

Sadly, Flo, you are completely right: Smedley and Brora would be similar in price. Arket had some, and a green alpaca spent time in my basket for a while, but it was a bit too pastel. M&S men's cardies are pretty good, but the sleeves are always way way too long. Why can't womenswear deliver? They had an acid yellow that I nearly bought 18 months ago, but I decided to wait for the sale, thinking it wouldn't suit anyone else and I'd get it cheap.... wrong, again.

Desigual is a funny brand. Some very loyal customers, it's def a look some people adore! Like Gudrun Sjödén but not, obv.

Yeah Desigual is a bit too 'fun Flo' for me, plus everything I've seen has either black or a garish red as the base colour - I just haven't got the colouring to carry it off.

Here's the OliveClothing tank top again. It's actually a higher wool content then I remembered.

Was there another Olive Clothing discussion on S&B today, in which I think it was decided that the sizing was very very scanty for western European bodies? I haven't tried anything, but some folk said that a size 14 didn't fit a Euro size 10 comfortably. Vanity sizing in Europe is a huge issue, in health terms as well as clothes buying.

Bani if you don't mind a wrap skirt then there's a lady here in the West of Ireland who makes lovely wax print skirts. She'll have more in stock come warmer weather:

emeraldandwaxdesigns.com/

Love the tank in the link, the detachable collar is a great idea.

Bo I'm not sure if it's the actual wool the brand uses, but they are both sourced in South America so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a shared supplier.

Desigual is one of those brands that always left me especially the coats. I guess handy for spotting your friend in a crowd, although limited call for that these days.

What is it with Galway? Everything is there! Thank you for the tip, I'm definitely saving her site but atm there is nothing in there I fancy. I see she does mad trousers now and then, I'll keep an eye out! There is a British designer/shop that is often recommended here but I forget the name, she has a wider variety of items and is a good place to look if you're in the UK and fancy wax prints.

Now the Arket and Cos sales have started, and all season I've been drawn to the mustard long puffer coat in Cos. Am I mad? It's now half price.

Mustard is a brilliant colour if you suits you bani. It goes with everything... black, grey, navy, olive, white, cream, orange... less keen on anything red, pink or purple with it. I'd give it a go.