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

No bani sorry to hear you caught it!

We have been really struggling to bounce back. Thats why I've been reading and not commenting as I've not even really been dressed for weeks. Just cannot get over the fatigue and breathlessness. DH is tired but not breathless and DS is fine so I hope you get the DS variant!

We're rewatching the sopranos....I'm wanting big hair and very matchy silk suits with layered necklaces and ridiculously high indoor heels for magazine reading
And also to eat antipasti only washed down with small glasses of red wine but alas I still feel nauseated 🤢

Still no boots obv if I had them I would leap from the sofa and put on many outfit choices. The fact I can't be arsed to put on my tracksuit rather than my pj's has no part in this fantasy.

Anxiously waiting here to see if they will close schools. They are meant to go back in on Monday. It would be madness if they didn't close.
But poor ds has been off since March as he had a big operation in Sept. I dont know how I'm going to tell him he's not going to see his friends again after all. He's only 7 and an only child so its been a long lonely time.

Big hugs @70sduvet, so difficult for children and being an only child and your ds having had an operation.
Has he been able to see on a 1-1 basis some of his friends? My ds is an only child too, and was in disbelief that he couldn’t go to school ...
Ok I am going to try to find something cheery to watch now.
Hoping those joggers I ordered work out, I will live in them if they do... and if they don’t I might live in them anyway...

duvet, that sounds really tough. I hope you all start to get better soon. I have taken floradix when I've been recovering from flu/nasty virus before now.

I'm not looking forward to the prospect of having dd2 at home. As she has sen, she finds change in routine really hard. I'm hoping her class will do some zoom sessions, as when it was closed before Christmas, it did really help her connect with school and gave us a bit of routine.

I didn't realise you were still having issues duvet, poor you, I hope it'll pass soon. Also hoping Bani is doing ok.

Must be tough indeed for all the DC hope zoom sessions are sorted for your DD quirky.

The Bonfire of Destiny has gone a bit borderline soap opera, still entertaining but I'm not sure you can call it a feminist lens. Yes, it centres the female narratives but representing the abusive husband as a cartoon villain isn't really helpful when it comes to insight into those dynamics.

Very sorry to know how long recovery is taking duvet. for you and for bani.

Uniqlo U preview is up here I'm not overly excited about anything except maybe the trousers but I probably have more than enough trousers and I'm not wearing them much. Or maybe I'm not all that excited as it's all very spring and I don't think there will be much of a spring 🤐 accordingly I'm eyeing up more summer items in the net a porter sale but potentially I'm deluding myself there too...

Oh thanks bo I'll have a look.
I'm working from bed at the moment - not ill but deep into cannot-be-arsed mode.
to everyone who's struggling.
bani how are you feeling???

Thanks for that link, bo, I agree the trousers look the best bet.

Not struggling quite so much, as dd2 has had zoom sessions first thing. It at least feels a bit more structured and connected than last time. Not sure how much actual remote learning we'll get done.

I'm not loving much in the unliqo preview
It all looks very much like classic collection at m&s in blarghhh
It could be the colours which just don't appeal and maybe the shapes are great but just not coming across online. But it looks like a charity shop I would just walk out off. But maybe I'm grumpy and just want something to be appealing on the off right now.
I got dressed today!
Glad you are doing better quirky. School is a bit more on form here too instead of endless unmarked worksheets...hopefully it continues. Hope your dd continues to feel better
bani hope you and yours are coping ok?
flo bed days are good for the soul

The Uniqlo U colour palette feel a bit stock photography geriatric home/contents of your medicine cabinet to me. It's an odd choice considering the state of the world

Good to hear your DD had some schedule going quirky.

I can finally share my latest bargain score. It's another too good to be true Céline bargain. It was €8 and rather convinced the seller made a mistake and wouldn't send it (only way for them to cancel the transaction without penalty) but it's been sent so I can share now. Bretons have probably been decidedly uncool for a while now, but truth be told I just bought it to stick the label in my coat where it's missing. Since it's because it's all black I've had a few times where I've attempted to put it on inside out and had already been looking at other Céline items I owned to steal a label from. If the Breton is nice, it'll be a bonus (I do actually sort or like it but I'll reserve judgement until it's on) and I figure the Breton should be due for a comeback at some point again. It'll be here next week, hopefully.

Well, I have binge watched Twice Upon a Time. I think french bonkers arthouse is about right. I do quite like a time travel, foreign language drama: Dd1 and I really enjoyed Dark (which I must watch again, as the last series was beyond complicated). I did get a bit lost in various timelines...

Great top, bo, what a bargain.

Oh imagine that Uniqlo have a collection the colour of sludge. What a surprise.

Well I really can't claim sickness any more, back in the saddle. Did my first sort of full day of work today - it was very slow going, did the bare minimum and from home. Thank you all for your concern , I've just not been arsed to type anything for ages but I'm finding my way back. Odd disease, first I felt sick but managable, then I really took a dive and felt awful, then I started getting better but felt so so tired, and suddenly one day felt pretty much fine. My taste buds are pretty much back (coffee doesn't taste good though).

My daughters claim the turning point in how they felt was that I made a pot of chicken rosół, ie stock/clear bouillon and noodle soup. Turned out pretty well and they said they woke up the next morning and felt great and a tremendous return of appetite. So I recommend that for sufferers of glandular fever too.

Gah sickness is the PITS.

I've been lazily scrolling facebook and Sézane were doing some sort of popup shop thing for Sweden with a code that was supposed to give free shipping? I don't love the Sézane style mind, it doesn't really go anywhere IMO, but I thought I might get the last pair of Martin trousers they had in half wool to try them out. But the code doesn't seem to be getting me anything so fuck it I think. I can't be arsed navigating that.

Can't believe you got a top for the tag Bo, I'd have put three stitches of red thread or a bit of ribbon at the back and been happy! You perfectionist!

It's gone cold here so I'm very annoyed all my Suitsupply trousers didn't work out (they have been returned). Could really do with wool trousers! I'll just have to get into historical reenactment or something and wear 18th century wool skirts and petticoats (have been watching a lot of youtube videos lately).

Hey bani glad to see you back, I was getting worried about you.

I much prefer the Uniqlo U men's range this time. Better colours too, e.g, a nice reddish chestnut brown, a teal and a kind of taupe. Whether I can be arsed trying to fathom out the right size will be another matter.

Glad to see you back Bani. I'm trying very desperately not to catch it as there's talk here of vaccinating those with antibodies last, I'd like my vaccine sooner rather than later.

But you don't understand Bani, the tag is essential to the coat design, it's like it's missing a limb 🙈 actually, it was more of a conversation with myself of

"Oh, but it's so cheap and it's Céline"

"You shouldn't just buy something because it's cheap and a certain brand, even if it's Céline."

"BLASPHÈMY!"

"It's probably not in as good a condition as it looks and you'll end up never wearing it. Doesn't matter the cost, it would still be a waste. You hate waste."

"Wait, what about the tag, I could get it for the tag!"

"Oh, yes lovely tag, get it for the tag. It's a bargain tag and will increase the value of your coat. Get the tag."

🤦

I've seen some flannel Céline trousers for a song now, but they're cigarette style so I'm on the fence on account of high arches not always being able to go through the ankle. No tag excuse for those...

I finished the Bonfire of Destiny, it was a bit soapy but was an odd mix. Bit game of thrones when it came to keeping characters alive. It was a bit all over the place and unrealistic in the end but still enjoyable. But suspect it's a bit like Bridgerton, don't expect a traditional BBC quality costume drama and you'll probably enjoy it.

I think I'll try Twice Upon a Time next (which I originally read as you binging it twice quirky 🧐). It's very cold here too, no snow though.

I have to say i am not convinced by that internal dialogue as way of justification but I am sure the tag in the coat is going to make you very happy 😂

In other news I bought the trousers from Sézane because I figured out the code. so we’ll see. But they don’t seem warm they’re about 45% wool, so I’ll continue to be a little bit too cold. 😒

I looked at the Uniqlo U men’s range but I am not that impressed by that either. 😒 sludge sludge sludge.

I don't claim to be a grand master of justification 🤣

I'm just annoying, but I really do hate waste so things that can't be returned are tortured to death as I know I can't be bothered to resell it again and charity shops are refusing any donations atm, they've got far too much.

Don't know why I torture myself so much, though, as my online secondhand shopping where you can't return success rate is really good. But maybe that's down to the high scrutiny 🤷 anyhow, I imagine it must be nice to just go, "I like that," and then just buy it and shrug when it doesn't work out.

Which colour trousers did you get? Céline flannel trousers sold, I dithered too long but I'm taking it as a sign they weren't meant for me. Or so I tell myself...

I am amazed at your success rate. Looking at my wardrobe I think, if I’m honest, only about 3/10 of my second hand shops are a success. Not surprisingly the best ones are the ones I buy in a shop and can try on. Online people can’t a) describe clothes b) photograph them c) measure them and accurately give information on size. I’ve been browsing VC and I don’t find them better btw, it’d still be a chance. So a lot of online buys are chancy and returns are not possible.

I got the only colour left in a size 16 so the dark pink. Of course that’s the only colour NOT on sale. It’s a lovely colour but out of palette for me so we’ll see if I can match it with anything. If they fit and match it’ll be great.

That's why I only buy second hand from real shops and, even now I'm trying to stick to that. I still make plenty of mistakes but I write it off as the cost of supporting a charity or a local business.
I do think some of the 'look at my charity shop bargain' threads are a bit disingenuous about this - we rarely mention the stinkers!

bani, yes chicken bouillon/stock/broth is great for viruses, anti-inflammatory I believe. I have to hide it in other things (sauces, curries etc.) as dd2 doesn't really like soup. This time I put Chinese meatballs in it and hoped she ate enough.

Most of my charity shop bargains are from real shops. I think I've got much better at it, as when I was younger there were a few stinkers. I could probably say the same about sale bargains, too.

Same with TK Maxx. If I added up the cost of all the sucker buys, it would arguably have been cheaper to pay full price for the bargains.

flo, I think I have got more discerning - thanks in part to this thread, which has certainly helped. When I was in my 20s in London I had a weekend wardrobe, a work wardrobe, a gym wardrobe, a going out wardrobe, an occasion wardrobe . I now have much less, hopefully better clothes - though I do still have a few of the better pieces from that time.

When I am truly discerning I don't buy anything. Nothing is ever perfect. And also, which I've talked about before, the more expensive something is the more perfect I want it to be. With the recent Suitsupply trousers I really wanted them to work so for the first time I was actually prepared to think of tailoring, but the fact that they weren't lined made them too imperfect for me to get over.

Almost all of the best and most used items in my wardrobe have been half sale price random finds. I own a black viscose jersey top that just won't die, and I paid maybe 45 kr for it. It's a good shape (perhaps a bit "polite" but it's ok) and I just wear it so much. I've spent more money on tops that have just fallen apart in bobbles and twist on the body etc. I once owned a pair of wool blend tweedy trousers from H&M (in a more low-waisted era) that I got for 100 kr and wore to death. They fit me so well, and were so comfortable. They were also lined. Everything I've spent masses of money on ever has never pleased me as much as my random sale finds or second hand finds.

It is good to hear Bani is back on form and that chicken bouillon still helps most things.
I would love to have seen your wardrobes quirky, surely there is a series plot there somewhere .
I have received my monki order. So yesterday the only thing that I opened where the black joggers which I immediately wore all day without taking the tag off. They are thick cotton, I am keeping them, they are just a pair of black joggers but so comfy and super easy to throw on.
I will try the other stuff later and send some photos.
The sizing in monki is massive though, I ordered them in s and I probably could have gone with an Xs, the shirt I ordered in Xs I have not tried it yet but hopefully it fits.

Cross post with Bani

I am with Bani also on that my most treasured possessions are random finds or second hand ones.