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.

---

Favoured Parisian addresses:

Second Hand Shops

Outlets

Favoured London addresses:

Charity Shops, Dress Agencies, and Outlets

Favoured NYC addresses:

Consignment shops, Vintage, and Restaurants

---

Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

Sept

Huit

Neuf

Dix

Onze

Douze

Treize

Thanks so much all. Would you believe I never even thought of The Fold despite having bought a couple of things there. There are a couple of good options there, I like the spotty one and also these. I'm having a look at LK Bennet now.

The bombshell one is too MOB/MOG for her and I don't think would suit her figure. She doesn't have a larger bust. Do you know I never clicked on those Bombshell links before as I assumed it was one of those retro/repro shops with really tight wiggle dresses etc in cheap fabrics but the dresses look nice (not my style) but look well if it is your style. Judging a book by its domain name...

I love the Jil Sander one. That's a great find. I'll send it on. I sent on the Erdem and Prada too.

I thought that cherry one looked good too but was unsure whether red was allowed or not. FYI, if you sign up for the newsletter with Vite en Vogue (Jil Sander dress) you get €20 off your first order.

I really enjoyed the changing room photos Bo, I was a bit at how some of the items looked in you. I like the jumper too. Yes I agree H&M used to have good quality jumpers back in the day, I might still have one somewhere.

Oh, now I get the ‘average’ dilemma bani.

I also used to dismiss the bombshell dresses as some tacky cheap ... without looking at them purely based on the name ...

I am loving the dress hunt for Elle’s mum. If I see something I will pass on. So, Elle I assume you are also going to the same occasion? Are you sorted with your dress?

Yes, I'd be an excellent candidate for a fake makeover show as I can go from looking like a disaster to something else quite easily 🤣 ah well, at least it proves I don't just look good in everything I actually make an effort

I take the points on the jumper, I do like it, but Bani is correct that I have many like this, but I don't have one quite like this, and that little justification tells me a lot... I'll book in another appointment and see if I still like it with a different pair of trousers. Black dress was indees at Hennes, btw, forgot to answer that, and yes, not a practical dress, can't wear a bra with it.

Ok, back to being a pre makeover victim at Cos. I just grabbed the first two for colour as I desperately crave some but eh no. The third is a linen dress that looked great on the website and felt lovely on (but obviously looked crap again) but I am convinced on someone taller this would actually be a really nice breezy dress that also protects from direct sting of the sun.

I agree on the colour of the first two dresses, but I also agree not for you bo.

I am adding a couple more inspiration outfits for elle.
The green one is Victoria beckham .

And this is the sweatshirt I bought at Cos, I have a picture of it on but it doesn't really show the details at all, where the fabric is reversed in a sort of colour blocking way but with texture. It just looks like a random sweatshirt in my photo. They do fill a bit of a gap in my wardrobe as I don't have much 'cooler spring weather but still feels like spring and isn't navy' clothing, it's very thick and heavy material (I do hope it softens a bit with time).

I'm going to read your makeover pics in a minute over coffee and cake bo but you're right again - it was a Bombshell dress that I'd seen and liked but this version. I much prefer it in navy as I really like the contrast between the plain colour and the extravagant shape. I'm not so keen on the chintzier ones. But your mum doesn't want navy does she Elle so that's out.

I think the Fold dresses I'd seen were either this or this or something very similar. I like tweed used for 'occasion' dressing but it may have too many work connotations? Plus they're the wrong colours again, particularly the winter white. I'd also seen the cherry red one and think it's a great colour. No idea what the protocol is for mother-of-the-groom other than on no account wear white or black plus whatever you do, you're probably going to end up in AIBU.

Oh and I like this Fold one too and, if the top layer hits in the right spot, I think it would show off a waist really nicely. But again, wrong colour options dammit.

Ha ha sorry it's the same one just in the other colour. I think I need my coffee.

More great finds. I passed on the orange Max Mara and the Rodebejer ones as well as the non-cream tweed. She's goin to go through and order a few.

I still dream of a Dries opera coat with stained-glass effect sequins. Why did I let it get away!

The white Cos looks useful and nicely textured. I like the idea of the orange Cos dress but agree that it's doing nothing for you except drowning you.

Red I'm wearing this dress which I bought for a (cancelled) wedding last year. It's a bit snug so I need to lose a kilo or two to be able to enjoy the dinner. It's very traditional wedding guest but that's definitely the expectation in Ireland /Scotland. I'm glad you asked because it made me try it on and I realised that the shoes I planned to wear aren't quite right. I thought the bright gold would match the piping but I think that they look wrong and the dull gold are a better match- thoughts?

Apologies for the typos in the last post. There was war going on in the background. Useful black dress on too.

Loulou dress looks good, I prefer the silver (?) pair of shoes, the second picture anyhow.

I found another dress thanks to a pushy inbox notice, extra 20% off until 19th of April, shipping is free with them (at that price anyhow) but no free returns (they're in Italy). And I hope your DM is not heavily invested in the Royal Family dramaz otherwise it may be a controversial choice 😬

clicky link

I love the dress for the wedding elle, yes the second pair of shoes looks good, dull gold I think.
Do you have any other coloured shoes Elle? I am thinking if a punchy colour would look good? In the right tone of yellow for instance? or the more traditional look also needs to be observed for the feet?

I love the useful black dress too. The one shoulder done in that way gives it a really cool edge.

I've just thought of another possibility except the shipping situation is crap (€20 and pay for your own returns ), and I don't know who else stocks them that ships internationally (Yoox has a couple of dresses but mostly the largest sizes).

Anyhow Natan regularly supplies to Queen Maxima and Queen whatshername of Belgium. They get the couture stuff but often wear the regular collection too, it has a bit of Grace Kelly vibes imho although it's decidedly less formal than it usually is. There's a few options on there but not everything is in stock.

I think I pointed out the shop to you when we last met in Antwerp which feels like a lifetime ago now

Shibumi might be worth a look. It's dressy but classic, and lovely fabrics. Or Moloh, which I love for being a bit eccentric but perfect for weddings and racing.

elle wow such a beautiful dress but I think it needs a heavier/bolder shoe. The gold is a bit wishy-washy and just loses your feet. Maybe navy is that the colour of the trim? Or the yellow though they could be an arse to find. Maybe textured too, like suede.
The second gold pair are better than the first though if you are wanting to keep to what you have. Did you have ages ago (I've been lurking forever) a pair of heavy gold mules with a cross strap? They were like a yellow gold.

I didn't get any photos taken this weekend as I've been having shoulder trouble again so couldn't face getting dressed more than once.

Are Equipment shirts oversized does anyone know? I can see lots of S on ebay but don't know if I should hold out for XS.

It's so nice to be discussing occasion wear again!!! Feels like we are going in a very positive direction

Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg! (thank you, Stuff Dutch People Like)

I'm a huge fan of tops made from scarves, please can you all wear them, I live vicariously through you!

Really like that sweatshirt Bo got, fun idea to turn the fabrics around, even if it's not super new or anything. But so fresh in white.

Re Cos dresses I think Justine got it right in her roast review video of Cos recently. The cuts aren't great, too one-size-fits-most and it's starting to show. It's the downside of "simple" cuts, because they're not that simple at all, are they...

You look great in all the dresses Elle. The black dress is great! Personally I don't know about tweed as occasionwear, it clashes for me culturally (swede). Is it really ok for an Irish wedding? I'm immediately backtracking because "folk costume" is always acceptable as occasion wear and that's wool, albeit not tweed, but tweed is Irish folk in a way...

Frigging love the Natan dresses. Some of them are not dissimilar in style to the Bombshell flares and what I like about both is that they seem made with an understanding that being dressed in clothes should be a bit effortless, you should know you're being covered where you want to be and that there is a certain structure to not put your actual flesh ruffles on display, only the flesh you want to show. I can see why they queens would go for them (Natans) and why the Bombshells are so popular among esp women my age going to weddings you don't have to worry, you're dressed, respectable, stylish albeit not current maybe? the fabrics are nice... Sadly I think the Bombshell's have become a bit of a too obvious "look" and they don't vary the designs enough. Perfect if you love them of course and want them as a uniform, but too samey.

While I agree the Bombshell dresses are very samey, I do appreciate the photos underneath as they look very different (but all really good) on different people. That classic green MOB dress really screams very matronly to me but the user pics really give it a different dimension. Victoria Coren Mitchell also wears their dresses a lot on all the panel shows, etc and they just look like great fitting dresses rather than the look at me vavava voom the brand name or their own photos seem to suggest. It's rather impressive to strike that balance and I do get it's not easily repeated.

Yeah, the Natan dresses are really nice, in that fanciful dreamy way. I also appreciate he's one of the few brands that is high end and also has a plus size range (which I think is cheaper than his normal range) and his normal range goes to quite a large size either a fr 48 or larger. Granted, his main base is Belgium and wealthy Belgian women tend to be on the larger side with a stockier frame but I do think in the long term that's probably been a good strategy (knowing and primarily catering to the local market) after reading that lengthy NYT piece duvet (I think?) posted a while back.

You might enjoy the Bart de Pau YouTube channel, Bani, he teaches Dutch to foreigners here and it used to be of his students reacting to Dutch things but recently he has (notable cultural experts) Dutch people react to those reactions. One was just released about Dutch directness (I haven't seen it yet but looks good).

Equipment shirts are very roomy yes, duvet the ones with the small narrow brand labels anyhow, the bigger labels are vintage and very different (thicker Japanese woven silk, different cut, most notably the collar, they're better for tying up than effortless loose silk shirt type thing). But their signature shirt comes in two versions, normal and slim, but it's not really easy to see if it's one or the other. I fit both in the same size but if you're used to sizing down the normal but would need your regular size for the slim it's more of a gamble. Are you dead set on buying secondhand, Yoox usually has some at a decent discount (under a €100) it just needs to be the right size and colour when you find it.

Weddings, racing - the lives we used to lead! Some of those military Moloh coats are amazing and I love the blurb that says they're just the thing for shopping and weekends away! Have you got one or seen one in real life Xing?

It was a work colleague who first showed me Bombshell dresses. She was very apprehensive about a family wedding (ex would be there with a new, younger woman kind of thing) and after much dithering she bought one, looked great and had an absolute blast. I've had a soft spot for them ever since.

Elle I don't have a lot of flair for shoes and the only thing I really thought was that the shinier ones stand out while the duller gold blend in with the dress, so it depends on what you want them to do? I love the colours of the dress in the close up pic so, if it was me, I'd go for whichever shoes brought out those colours the best. You look great in the black too.

Very sadly Flo, while I have been past the shop in Tetbury a great many years ago, it was closed at the time. I admire the Commodore jacket each summer but I'd need to try it on. I have a denim jumpsuit bought in the sale which has been a standby for years or it was until I ripped it, and it had to be downgraded to painting and gardening chores. Very nicely made in the UK but never wedding garb! I asked if she had any plans to repeat them, but she said not.

I am also admiring the military Moloh coats. I would be all up for owning one to go shopping or just having a Coffe in town in one of them.

Can I ask about frames, I think we discussed about them a while ago. I have just been to the opticians and I kinda need another pair of glasses. I wear long distance/contacts normally and I tend to need them more often now it seems. The contacts, which I prefer, are just not suitable for me on a daily basis or when I need a whole day in them. It really bothers me that I have my prescription sunglasses and then I needs to carry another pair , so if I go into a shop I can see inside. Anyhow, I thought about transition glasses, in the past I remember them being really slow to change and they used to look naff ... the opticians said they are much quicker nowadays. Anyone with experience with them? I seem to only see people of a certain type/age wearing them , but I don’t know if that is a misconception?
I will try to post the frames I am considering. I tried loads, I always like the idea of something really interesting etc but when it comes to stuff on my face I prefer something subtle.

I think transition glasses look naff as hell. Sorry. But they are so practical and I do think that's important for us speccies. They'd probably look less naff on someone stylish, but (and this says something about the inherent naffness) I've only seen them on unstylish people. No judgment, but basically they're hard work. It would be a charity to make them the ultimate in style, they'r probably in one sweep do wonders for driving safety for one thing.

I'm in a meeting and surfing sleeve fitting (because no-one answered my question above :( ) and bla bla ended up at this t-shirt pattern that looks really good and seems to have that elusive Good Neckline. readytosew.fr/en/shop/42-le-t-shirt-primo.html Had anyone tried these patterns? Worth bookmarking? 10 euro is a bit steep maybe for a pdf but I liked the non-dropped shoulders and neckline, as I said.

Oh and I watched the Dutch are direct video on my lunch break - very informative and quite funny too! "our opinions just leak out of us" haha. I love Dutch btw. Great language.

My dad had some of those transition glasses, he's the definition of naff. I think they're just a bit crap really, no good in either function so overall a disappointment. Maybe they've improved, but I'd assume we'd have heard about it by now? Is lasic not an option (in normal times) this is what everyone I know has had done by now and they are kind of hard to shut up about how great they think it is.

Sorry, I missed your sleeve fitting woes, Bani, what was it again, phantom shoulders in the air after raising you arms? I'm guessing it's a combination of slightly too short shoulders and too deep an arm scye? Possibly it's a sloped vs straight shoulders issue. I've noticed issues with that, my mannequin has sloped shoulders -I guess that was fashionable in the late 19th century- and I'm therefore missing a bit of depth in the arm scye if I work from that reference (it's easily fixed by sticking on some shoulder pads).

I think you'd need to study the angle of the sleeve seam, men's seem to be straighter or angle out and women's tend to angle/curve in a bit which I think has to do with the bust. Those baseball type shirts that are a different construction do not work for me at all and I find men with very pronounced trapezium muscles seem to like them a lot and those without tend to avoid them because it makes it looks like they have man boobs.

Haha, yes, we are very visually assualting with our language, it's not always pleasant. I'm guilty of it too with talk of foreskin boots and all that but it is very effective way to get your point across (useful to us opinionated folk and all that).