Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: For the Love of Well Dressed Women in Repose

[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

Treize

I am looking forward to Bo’s photos.
In my town they have opened a vintage denim shop mostly American / Japanese levis. So I got these greys 501, from the 90s made in USA. Great condition.
I tried these Japanese blue denim too, a lot looser, because where they sit and my tight top I don’t see my waist but I still like them, specially the feel of the denim. I did not get them. There were loads more but I will go back another day to try more.
The grey ones I got as I don’t have a grey pair and I only have one black pair so I felt they where filling a gap in my wardrobe .

Btw Bani I am pretty sure the ‘average’ looks is pretty subjective and how you style yourself. I think you are being harsh. You must have very high standards.
When I see photos of you (I have not seen your face) I think of you as pretty clued on on what you wear and strong woman, who doesn’t waste time in frills or sparkles, which in my books is very attractive.

The jeans look great red. Lucky you to have such a useful shop.

Love the jeans red, great fit.

I have an irrational dislike of grey (and acid wash) jeans for some reason, I'm not sure why tbh, shape looks good though.

Mango was a bit of a wash, lots of polyester 😬 and lots of pastels not much of anything of what I saw on their website that had lured me in but in the interest of wasting time I tried on some questionable things that made me look like a prairie baby, please don't make me post those...

I'm dithering over a jumper from H&M, and I bought a sweater with little photogenic presence at Cos but it's good for this time of year with interesting details in RL. I need to do the whole blur out identity thing so here's a shirt that reminded me of Red in the meantime.

Also, doesn't everyone (bar a few conceited folk who usually are actually quite average) think they're average looking? It's not some negative word all of a sudden, is it?

Where is that shirt from Bo? H&M or mango? I like the shape of the sleeves and obviously the not-on-your-face floral pattern.

I always liked grey jeans and also acid washed too 😂 although I only had one pair of acid washed jeans. A long time ago, in my teens. I would wear them again , not those same ones , but the right acid wash pair, if I found them.

H&M, it was in the more expensive Trend section.

The jeans look great on you Red. I prefer the fit of the grey but that might be because you don't look as convinced about the blue - e.g. not bothering to put your shoes back on for the photo! I think they're worth another try-on.

Looking forward to the Prairie bo Show

Great jeans Red I love vintage denim shops. Glad you are feeling a bit better. The floral shirt looks great for you

I kind of know what you're saying Bani, but I take it a step further and maintain I just have an aversion to be seen in anything that could pass as "normal" or "average". It needs to be a little different, have an edge to pass or I feel like a frump from frumpsville or I've followed the crowd....and I could never follow the crowd. Who could I possibly scandilize if I did that

Elle we will see how desperate I get... 😅

I'm on the lookout for some silk shirts, what are the quality of Stories one like? It's not a shop I've ever been into as we've not got it here and recent trips to England haven't involved much shopping.

I might try and get some pics of my haul this weekend and post. Everything that's arrived so far has been a hit. Closely reading the descriptions and manically checking out the photos. Also not placing any bids until I've mulled it over and checked out sizes on the company websites have meant no mistakes YET

Sorry quirky we crossposted last night. Your adjustments look great. I love the colour of the purple cardigan.
I also like the wrapover style of the stripe one.
Good ideas...May have to investigate. Thanks for the inspiration

Thanks, 70sduvet. The stripey one was already that style but with sleeves. It was originally longer before it shrank. Yeah, the purple is kind of a heather colour (not sure that shows on camera) which is why I wanted to keep it. I still might remove the buttons.

I like the jeans, red. I do like grey jeans, though I only have taupe atm.

bo, I'm amused at the prairie baby image. Perhaps it could go with the milkmaid . I'm definitely not looking frilly today in coated, black jeans, printed t-shirt (with uniqlo long sleeved heattech underneath - it's still cold!) and long, black "mohair" cardigan.

The pattern matching on that blouse across the button placket is really excellent... bo?

I can't remember Xing but I'm assuming it's just folded over and under, not an actual button placket.

I briefly got excited at a new brand at NAP with a negative space aesthetic but the reality is not so nice. This dress is like a weird tumor version of Elle's (much nicer) Lou Lou studios dress

I feel I've built up prairie baby too much now anyhow, it's attached now. The less said about it the better, the top was super cropped and this was the only thing I could hoik up high enough underneath.

Anyhow, it's one of the cons of shopping appointments, you either waste your time trying on weird shit or loiter outside doing nothing while waiting for your next appointment. I also tried on a cotton jumper that looks very Isabel Marant, in the sale- bit of a bargain, I was surprised as I thought the proportions would be off putting but it sort of worked but it is one of those Mango things that looks better on camera, it's weirdly distressed so just looked a bit sad and worn out instead of cool vintage which I think they were going for. Has anyone ever tried dyeing over a purposefully distressed item, does it even out? Also tried on a hideous looking dress (on me, it looked fine on the hanger), which was a misguided action of once trying on an Acne studios striped shirt dress and dismissing it as these are a dime a dozen and then discovering, no that one was actually really special and you should have bought it, you flake.

&Other stories silk shirts used to be good but in recent years the quality has gone down the pan. If you're looking on eBay or Vinted I'd look for Equipment silk shirts, they're quite cheaply available.

I'll post pics of cos and h&m later as I've run out of time and MN is being weird again with posting images.

Lord above bo I think that stripy dress is the worst look I've ever seen on you I am strangely drawn to the the prairie outfit as it reminds me of my student days of yore when I was rather fond of a long tiered skirt and shirred top. But I'm not suggesting you should copy it.

Interested to see your photos too 70s. I don't know their silk shirts specifically but, whenever I've been in & Other Stories I've thought the quality was poor for the price. Mind you, the branch I go to most often is a few doors up from Cos and the proximity does them no favours whatsoever. If you don't mind charity shops and can put the time in, then I find they can be very good for silk shirts - they've often been 'kept for best' so in good condition and I've rarely had to pay more than a tenner.

The collar of the prairie baby top makes you look like a daisy bo. I really like the IM alike jumper though. Worth chancing a dye job?

The stories shirts were okay but I agree not so much lately. I bought a vintage Anne Taylor silk shirt and the quality is fab. Not a brand I’d look to now but this older piece was a fraction of the price of stories and just lovely.

I've never tried dyeing anything distressed by the way. My gut feeling is that it wouldn't even out very well but I might be wrong.

Not a fan of the prairie baby look, really . I think the top might have been OK without the huge collar. Not sure why these are suddenly popular...

I would also agree that silk shirts are often good secondhand purchases, too.

I didn't notice the collar

Haha, I'm a not just any prairie baby, I'm an Anne Geddes pretending to be a daisy prairie baby 🤣 no one turn me into one of those Anne Geddes' dolls though, they're truly disturbing.

Yes, the stripey dress is epically bad on me. I had some real stinkers at Cos too, I think I've lost my good sense with shopping and was far too eager to grab anything shiny or otherwise appealing and racing into the changing room with it.

At H&M, the jumper which I really liked the fit of and especially the colour and it's 90/10 wool cashmere but it left me dithering because there was a small weave mistake in it, and I had vowed to pack up all the heavy knits like this one this weekend, and from memory the last time I owned an H&M knit it got ugly really quickly. But I do sort of like it 🤦 so I'm contemplating going back to buy it, maybe... (Secretly really pleased to be able to dither endlessly again )

Also tried on this linen knit dress with a low knot detail at the back (sorry I could not be arsed to take off jeans, because, laziness). Eh, not gonna lie, it's the opposite of the horrific blue stripe dress on my body, but little black dresses like this are actually a dime a dozen on me and this wasn't an exceptional one that I need to own, fabric was a bit on the loose weave side so you get that weird see through thing going between legs and I'm not a fan of the length (not that you'd know with my refusal to take off jeans). Maybe I'll regret not getting this one too some day, who knows, but I doubt it.

I did end up getting some athletic gear but did not picture it because who cares about that anyhow.

Yes, Flo, my gut feeling is that it wouldn't even out with dye too. I'll have a look and see what Isabel Marant and her ilk are charging for a non distressed one, I surprised myself by liking the switch up in silhouette and I'm all for newness and change right now.

Ok that took far too many attempts to post, I'll post Cos pics when I have the mental strength again.

In my personal experience, when you can't be bothered to take off your jeans to try on a frock, then that frock is probably not the one for you.

I like the jumper. I used to rate H&M knitwear - I've got some that I've had at least ten years - but that was then.

I know what you mean about the black dresses.

Flo that's an excellent rule to live your life by!

Anyone want to help me hunt down a Mother of the Groom dress for my Mum. Criteria:
Colour: not navy (MOB), not peach, not red and not white/cream she's an autumn in terms of coloring if that helps. She like patterns too.
Length: ideally slightly above the knee as she wants to wear flats and thinks longer looks frumpy
Style: shift, fitted, a-line all good on her. She's a slight pear with good arms/legs and a good waist. Simple rather than flouncy/ embellished. Smart wedding style, rather than casual / boho
Budget: ideally £500 max but I'd say she'd spend up to £1k if it came to it.

Everything I've sent has been turned down!

Ooh I hope to have that dilemma one day Elle. Where does she normally shop and what kind of things have you sent her?