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:

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Merch created in honour of our ten thread anniversary:

Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet shop

My favourite, longest wearing clothes are a mix of second hand finds, expensive things that I've had to save up for or stalk into the sales, and random buys from H&M in its heyday. The problem is, I could say exactly the same about my worst buys.
So much as I try and practise thoughtful shopping, I know I'll never iron out the mistakes.

Yes, I think there is truth in all of the above. My most loved pieces can be €€€ or €. My misses tend to be of the cheaper sort. I think a chance bargain you thought nothing of can be exceptionally rewarding, a bit like a loyal dog.

However, my happiest buys tend to be things I really wanted but not for the stupid asking price (as it just wasn't realistically worth that and they were banking on emotional purchases) and then getting them for the discounted price I'm happy with, when the strategy all comes together as you've had to work for it a bit and all that restraint is rewarded.

In terms of stinkers, I've only had one so far (buying online non return secondhand), it's a leather Acne skirt. I was a bit iffy about it as it was just too cheap. The colour was a light beige and that turned out be horrible with my skin tone (even with dark opaques) and it didn't fit all that well. I got lucky though as it arrived with a broken zip (I couldn't even open it) and was sold without mentioning this and as in excellent condition (otherwise was) so I got my money back but I'm still stuck with it, I don't really know what to do with it. I could get the zipper replaced and then try to sell it but the size tag is missing and I'm not sure what size it is exactly as Acne sizing is odd so it will probably be slow to sell. I can try to sell it without the repair for whatever price as it didn't cost me anything but I've just put it off and now it's been sitting there for a year

Something like that I'd probably put up on a give-away-for-free FB group or similar and say that it's got a broken zip but here, have at it. Very annoying. One doesn't really want to give it to charity since it is broken, but at the same time it's a fixable thing.

Super annoying. I'm itching to just clear out my wardrobes of EVERYTHING I never wear - I'm sure it's about 80 % - and feel FREE. Almost naked, but free.

bani.

This is my scarf from plumo, it's nylon, which isn't usually my favourite, but it is soft and warm. It's like a cross between faux fur and velvet and brightens up a park trip with dd2.

My lockdown uniform is pretty much long sleeved top + jumper + jeans or short denim/cord/other skirt with heattech leggings + warm boots outside or sheepskin slippers inside. Warm and practical for homeschooling, chores, walks. Last year's Sorel boots really came into there own with patchy ice the other day, good grips on the soles.

Get naked already, Bani! Wasn't that some terrible late 90s/early 00s hit with Pamela Anderson's ex? It was definitely a thing when videoclips were big. Anyhow, yes, definitely clear out the closet of things that annoy you.

I don't have a FB account (I've always resisted, it always felt akin to moving to a tiny village full of curtain twitchers) so have no access to groups. I'm sure I could put it on our equivalent of gumtree to pick up for free but something about people who jump on those ads within seconds of being posted and just responding because it's free creep me out and I rather not have them at my door.

Lovely scarf, quirky. I'm still on the lookout for patchy ice shoes, but I need some developed specifically for urban areas as we get the weird patches that slowly defrost from salt, then that slush compacts from walking/cars and freezes into something terrifying that all those country outdoor types don't stand up to IME.

Our lockdown is being extended so I've been looking at more linen pyjamas on the back of the H&M success. I really like this linen kimono robe, I was thinking of making something similar myself but I have to price it out, it may be cheaper just to buy this I also like the pj version which gives judo vibes but that's pricier, I wouldn't wear it to sleep though, doesn't seem that practical. In a darker colour I think I could probably get away with wearing it out as separate pieces.

It's some Australian brand, Deija Studios, I never heard of, but French linen so that's nice. Bit cheaper there than here though

bani you're worrying me with this throwing everything out talk. You're not going to go all Marie Kondo on us are you?

I love those karate pjs. I've still got jujitsu trousers from many, many years ago. They're in a thick cotton canvas and if they only had pockets they'd be the best summer trousers ever. Don't know what happened to the jacket.

Nice scarf quirky love the colours. It looks great with your hair.

Quirky, that looks delightfully fluffy! :) Lovely colours.

I'm a real sucker for floaty linen but I've never bought anything like that precisely because I imagine that if you're going to sew anything then this is it - there is no fabric easier to sew in than linen. Speaking of linen I've gone down a youtube rabbit hole of people handsewing historical clothing lately. Watching handstitching is lovely (I love work, I can watch it for hours etc).

Flo, I really admire the Konmari method as you should know. Not because I want to throw everything out, but because I think the attitude that you should think about what you want to keep in your life is pure genius. Don't wander around thinking what can I throw out, just think about whether your life is better with this stuff in it. It's amazing.

Do I need these six pairs of rather ill-fitting trousers? Three pairs I bought online after messaging sellers for measurements of waist and they still don't fit? I have a Boden wrap dress fgs I am no longer a Boden wrap dress sort of person (but it's handy for beach wear so might still keep it). Maybe it should just all go. Possibly into a big plastic tub to be used as fabric scraps but go.

I'm not sure if it's the easiest to sew with but linen is pretty simple to handle, I agree. The only issue I have with it is sourcing good quality stuff that actually feels nice on the skin. There's cheaper stuff from China which all those (American) YouTube historical sewers use and it's awful, especially up close. I've been down that rabbit hole but the more I learn about sewing the more obvious it becomes they just know how to make it look good on camera but don't really have an idea and then I'm there yelling at them how the needles they're using are way too massive or they don't know shit about tailoring, and that's not how you use horsehair canvas and how can you pretend that's a success when you clearly can't move your arms. I'll only watch the ones that don't pose like they're experts now. There's a Swedish girl/woman, sewingthroughthepast, who makes enchanting videos whilst still fully acknowledging she's faffing about with limited experience and embracing experiment as part of the process and I also like that she focuses on things common people wore. Much more refreshing than the constant historical accuracy tirades.

Sorry off tangent, but where I was going, there's a lot of linen out there and most of it is crap and scratchy and there's a world of difference between natural and synthetic dyes. I can get hold of some really high quality Belgian linen which is weirdly not bankrupting but the colour choice is really limited and they don't sell white for some reason I've priced it out, the robe is 2x the price if I buy it instead of make it myself but it would be in a colour I probably wouldn't choose and I'd be taking a gamble on the fabric weight, my linen dress is very heavy but swinging the other direction it might be too light. Sigh. I really need to find some more fabric suppliers, Brexit has pretty much killed my sewing supply habit (although I have a pile of things to alter to fit that I should get done anyhow).

Ha, I love sewingthroughthepast! It's perfectly clear she's learning and the videos are just charming. I'm also fond of crowseyeproductions and priorattire for rantless dressing, but I watch Karolina Zebrowska too and now again some of the Americans but they're not that fun.

But I agree, it's very hard to find good quality linen and if a company has a good source than buying ready made is going to be cost effective. For a robe though I'd not be too discerning, I'd be more fussy about the pyjamas against my skin iyswim. Random thought - linen sheets from say H&M or Ikea might be okay-ish quality for the price?

Ah but KZ is the exception to the rule, her rants at least have merit, and even if not, are highly entertaining and not meant that seriously. I feel the American contingent are all very finger wagging and shaming. I get that around the whole community, everything is cultural appropriation (unless you're going back in time), corsets are supremely comfortable, period, do not question this, yay feminism , you can't say anything about fit or it's body shaming, just don't say anything that could potentially upset someone really, they completely tiptoe around class even though that's what shapes most of western history, etc. It's just very tiring and I can't be bothered with it, not that I'd last a second anyhow, way too critical and finger wagging myself, just in the opposite direction.

In my brown dress fabric hunt I did order a H&M table cloth but unfortunately the weave on that was very loose and it was very wrinkly as a result. I think I need stonewashed for PJs, that'll be soft. I might just go with a more fuck it attitude for the robe, as a trial run, maybe find an off cut in an odd colour or something, call it a toile and potentially wear it if it works out. But that's another complication with linen, there's the weave to consider and if it's for clothes or home use. It's annoying we're in a pandemic as the quality linen manufacturer in Belgium have very good sample sales in their factory, apparently. I could happily buy my weight in quality linen.

What's the name of the manufacturer in Belgium?

I've seen stonewashed linen on websites selling fabrics for re-enactors but I'm not part of that world so don't know how good it is/the shop is?

Libeco.

I've seen stonewashed sold too, but I think it was for the home and I don't remember where I saw it... I need to do a deep dive again.

That's fair bani - I admit I'm jaundiced about the Kondo industry but that's after seeing so many influencers interpret it as 'get rid of all your clothes and then go and buy this.

Back in the mists of time, i.e pre 2020, I used to go to occasional re-enactment fairs, not because it's my thing but purely for the clothes: lots of trash but also some really lovely things, handmade using traditional techniques. The last time I went there was a woman selling made to measure pouffy shirts in (I think) both cotton and linen. Pricey but not extortionate. I took her card and lost it - no matter, I thought, I'll see her next time ....

Well I've read the book and just absorbed that message.

Do you really want a pouffy renaissance style shirt?

Is this a Kondo question?

Haha no an actual would you really wear a genuine pirate shirt question it strikes me as the complete opposite of the boxy shirts you've been gravitating towards recently!

Pouffy renaissance shirts make for nice pyjamas surely, although if they will help getting you to spark joy in bed is another matter

History bounding is an interesting emerging trend though, alongside the re-emergence of haute couture (which has changed little in its methods since the 19th century). It's been a while I think Galliano at Dior and McQueen were the last to really explore it.

There's a South African designer, Thebe Magugu, who won the LVMH Price in 2019, who uses historical details in modern clothing. It's a really interesting clash, his own website is a bit of a junk room so I'm having difficulty finding something to link to. So this will have to do for now, but it's not what I was looking for. I've been eyeing some things in the sale but not sure I'd actually wear them...

Ooo love Thebe Magugu already. This dress was a really good (a bit obvious maybe but that's why I saw it) update of old style to modernity!

Yes, I quite like the obviousness of it too, none of this 'inspiration', it's a talent to transform something so familiar without stripping it of its original identity.

I love the high collar in attached, almost pie crusty but very not Thatcher, and it left me wondering is this the thing pie crust collars started as before ending as a sad derivative. The Victoriana shirts are much closer to the original without the fear of volume other reinterpretations often have, especially in the sleeves.

Ha ha you've got me there but yes I would A pouffy shirt with baggy pinstripe trousers would be quite a nice contrast I think.
But pouffy not frilly. I'm not Errol Flynn.

I don't know the history of pie crust collars although they're not for me. They make me look jowly plus I can't get past the Lady Diana flashbacks.

I think the pie crust is supposed to be inspired by the ruff but it seems such a large gap in time. I'm not sure, never liked the idea of wearing a ruff or a pie crust collar but I like whatever that is ^ which feels somewhat menswear Regency.

That collar is def more menswear and regency, whereas the piecrust is some sort of miniaturised elizabethan/baroque ruff I think.

I have this theory that a lot of old-fashioned styles/dress details get scaled down and simplified and allowed to survive in children's clothes, which means that they become harder to adapt again for adults because they look juvenile.

You may be on to something with that theory Bani, I always think I'm looking at miniature adults from the past when looking at Bonpoint. I've also noticed there's a current trend of these sort of tie on doilies as a collar for adults. I always think it makes the wearer look like an overgrown baby they may be useful with burping babies...

Only today i was surfing around and ended up on a vintage webshop (Swedish) that sells left over stock from a closed boutique and they had collars like that in it from a long long time ago

Got the Sézane trousers. Almost fit, if you like your little “have been pregnant thrice” to show really well. Fake pockets . They’re going back.

Ooh, I like that regency (ish) collar. I'm with flo on a pirate shirt, but that might just date me as having been a teenager in the 80s with all the New Romantics. Pouffy shirt and striped trousers sound like perfect pyjamas.

I don't like those tie on collars either, bo, but it might just be that Peter pan collars really don't suit me. Lol at looking like a baby's bib - you need an old fashioned frilly bonnet to go with it.

Dd2 is wearing her uniqlo marimekko dress today (birthday present). It has chucked it down all day, so no need to wear park or muddy walk practical clothes.