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

red, if you were seriously interested in a Moloh coat, there's one in grey silk herringbone/brass buttons on an Ebay auction for Cancer Research at the moment. It looks good, but there's no comment on the condition. As of yesterday the top bid was at £71, though it may have moved up.

duvet ... a bit ill? That sounds quite poorly to me; hope you're fully recovered now.

Haven't looked at the JW Anderson collab yet.

Thanks for the flowers Flo and we'll wishes Xing, I'm a lot improved but some niggles still, but it is what it is.

Flo this is my first foray into Internet second hand shopping, I'd always thought of it as "cheating" before as like you I think, I found charity shops to be a bit of a hobby. There's not quite the same thrill with ebay, but I'm enjoying it.
I'm making it more interesting by only allowing myself to spend what I earn so clothes have to be sold before I can buy. And I can only buy within these strange and weird rules I've completely made up.

Attached are pics of the prairie dress. I like these kind of long loose dresses, but I think you need to have some shape to your body to wear them and look good. It also has a size 6 label but measures as a 10 which is part of the problem.
In hindsight I think a shirt type long dress is something to look for going forward and I will just continue to admire these on other people.

Next is an MKT denim jumpsuit which I love. It came with part of the label still attached so I assume has never been worn. I paid £14.70 including delivery, its still on sale for £215.
So I am very pleased.
I think I will need to turn the legs up a little as they are quite long and the material is quite floppy, I think its cotton and tencel. But extremely comfortable. It also came with one of those pointless floppy tie belts which I don't like and I will prob either wear without or with a leather belt (as soon as I can buy one)
Also need to get more S/S shoes out of the attic but it works well enough with birkinstocks for a casual look, and I think cork wedges would dress it up when the pub opens

Gosh duvet! I love the jumpsuit!!!
I was actually looking at denim dungarees/ jumpsuits ... I have never tried one, but really fancy one.

I will look the moloh coat on eBay xing thank you for the info! I will probably not take the plunge at that price without proper condition description.

When Bani said about having prescription sunglasses not fully opaque, well I actually have one very opaque pair and another not very opaque, I prefer the not very opaque one. I can see better through lenses that are not fully opaque it seems... the opticians told me they can put the transition glasses on any frame I want ... if I chose some ‘cheap’ trendy looking frames that I like enough... I have not made my mind yet ...

Those types of dresses are very hard to pull off duvet, if I wear that sort I look like an orphan.

Red YES!!! Orphan is the mood. I feel like I could burst into the "Sun'll come out tomorrow" at any second.
It's joined the sale pile

There's lots of dungarees and jumpsuits on ebay atm. I love dungarees too. I think the slouchy looser fit type are nicer/more flattering on. I have a pair from Gap that have survived the cull and look better now they are bigger.
Just like jeans I prefer the ones with no stretch so would look for a denim brand rather than a clothing store eg Gap over topshop etc

I got this Zara pleated skirt from a cloth exchange I did with a friend. Just trying at the moment. I like the movement of pleated skirts and this one I like the length of it.

Sometimes the right clothes arrive at the wrong time. A few months ago I bought a cheap white sleeveless T shirt (from Tesco: £6) and popped it in the drawer for spring. I put it on yesterday, and for a throw away price, I want to buy five more. No more available, naturally. I hope it washes well because it is nearly close to perfect.

I might even bother to try for a selfie. It's that good.

Ooh - I'd be interested to see it, as I've decided that I really do need to replace my ancient cap sleeved t-shirts that have seen better days

Xing would love to see a pic. I love this thread when there are loads of photos for inspiration and critique.
On critique, I'm going to be posting my ebay finds PLEASE be ruthless in telling me if they are crap, I may be blinded by the price. And its no real loss I can resell.

Red I like the pleated skirt on you, it has the nice very defined pleats which are nicer. I also like it with the shape of top you have on, as you have a defined waist and can carry the two looser shapes. Maybe a darker colour though to match the waistband of the skirt? Or put a lighter belt over the dark waistband?

Here are todays ebay finds. The jacket is a COS 98% silk with 2% elastane. I really like it. I was unsure as I've only been in COS once for a quick look about and never tried anything on and it all looked a bit mad. But it gets good reviews on here. I had the jacket on my watch list. Then I watched Justines video and nearly didn't bid. But in the end I'm so glad I did.
It came new with labels for £17.20. It is crushed though and I am afraid to iron it as I've not ironed since 1st lockdown and my iron is full of calcified water
I am thinking about getting a steamer as I used to iron every item of clothing we wore and since I've stopped I've realised we can get away with most things not really needing it.
Do any of you have any steamer recommendations and is it easier/quicker than ironing?

The trousers are from Topshop and I didn't read the description properly. I thought they were going to be jogging bottoms and bought them as ridiculous lazy/school run trousers. But these are prob polyester "silk" in quite a flattering cut and feel quite "me". With postage these were £4.

The vest is mine and too big but I'm waiting for delivery of a silk Cami in a similar colour so can recreate the outfit.

Trying to catch up with the thread. I posted the other day, but it seems to have disappeared. I'm very impressed with 70sduvet's ebay finds.

I'm loving the wedding outfits, I've missed dressing for occasions! I have a similar colour tweed jacket I bought for a winter wedding in Chelsea 15yrs ago (no lurex or Chanel style) but some velvet piping. So, I would say tweed can be dressed up. I often wear it dressed down with jeans now.

xing I want to see the top too!

Thank you duvet for feedback on the pleated skirt. I never thought about what you said of matching the waistband/putting a belt same colour as top to make it one defined top. I will try that. I like pleated skirts. I know in this thread , they are not the most favoured item, but I think the right one can suit me. But again, open to opinions!

The jacket from Cos is fav duvet a great shape on you. I know Justine wasn’t too complimentary with the brand, but in previous years they have been great, so probably past seasons are a great buy. I personally love the trousers too (I would wear them myself). I am not too convinced about the top, you said you are waiting for a cami, maybe that will be better when the fit is right. At the moment I feel the colour is a bit harsh with the trousers and the jacket. I would try a more subtle colour.
Then again, what do I know ... I don’t really get it right with colours all the time

I don’t have a steamer duvet, I am also ironing ... like ... never? Or almost never nowadays... once I tried a steamer at my inlaws and it did not give very good results... it was probably not a very good one though. I would love a really good steamer , if they were any good.

Well I feel like a right eejit missing that illness was the reason for your diminished size, Duvet. I do apologise. Very insensitive of me.

Pity you're smaller than me, Red, I'd have sent you the pleated skirt I bought off Tradera from Twist and Tango... Because it didn't suit me, so it didn't. Is it a red skirt you're wearing or more to the brown (my screen isn't picking it up).

JW on Uniqlo: zzzzzzzzzzz

My descent into youtube videos has led me to lace insertion. It seems really easy and doable (time-consuming, yes, but not inherently difficult). Is there anything I can insert lace into, I'm wondering. Can I make an Edwardian blouse, I'm wondering.

Catching up, sorry Red, the skirt seems to be in skirt purgatory, it's not oversized or fitted enough to really resonate and instead you look wider and shorter than you are. Hoping it's just the angle/top issue.

Duvet, I like the denim jumpsuit a lot, must dig mine out. The dress is indeed a terrible companion to my Mango prairie try on. Did it look good on the initial listing? I'm reserving judgement on the newest outfit, the top is throwing it off for me, I'll trust you on the trousers, and because of the backlighting I really can't see the blazer on, I thought you were just wearing a black cardigan at first it looks a bit 90s black with pops of basic colours now, which I think is just down to lighting and top.

Insert lace, argh no, Bani, unless you're a pale stick with the funny bouffant hair you're more likely to end up looking like a waitress in the 80s of a fancy steakhouse where wealthy men are free to grab at your bottom. Remember Diana's wedding dress, too much lace insertion fancies and that's where you'll end up, it's a gateway drug to ruffles and other unsavoury shit.

That was perhaps a bit much, oops, apologies to all

Have some soothing Dior couture video that had me thinking I needed to embroider and brocade everything before I saw sense. I am back to mulling about check dresses, I may have a plan but I need to get it on the mini mannequin first who still needs a name, maybe I should consult the baby names section...

FFS can't even link properly, proper Dior link:

How dare you insult the new lacy me, Bo. No in fairness I was inspired but I was thinking more it could be fun to insert a lace band above the hem of linen trousers or skirts, for example, or possibly at most along the sleeve of a blouse (but I don't have one). More broderie anglaise inspired really.

Well in my defence, everyone seems to forgot how bizarre that lacy insert blouse was supposed to be worn with the s shape silhouette (we call it a pigeon breast in Dutch).

I think I've just seen a lace insert one too many times, the idea of a broderie anglaise insert sounds more exciting, no idea if that would look good but it sounds fun. I'm totally up for lace insert nighties though.

Well I've been attempting my check dress ideas on my mini mannequin but I'm not entirely satisfied yet, but I'm probably best leaving it for later and some daylight.

I've just read Albar Elbaz has passed away from Covid, he was only 59. It wasn't that long ago I listened to a podcast where he was so excitedly and enthusiastically talking about his new venture AZ factory, after his many years in fashion limbo when he was so unceremoniously booted out at Lanvin. I loved him at Lanvin

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/apr/25/alber-elbaz-a-fashion-designer-who-made-women-feel-happy-and-confident

Really sad to read this, he seemed such an unaffected and humble man.

Yes, very much so, he knew himself and those he designed for. I had this video of him tucked away when I was still preparing an advent calendar. Bit long, but a lovely watch nonetheless, I'm going to have a rewatch later tonight.

Hadley Freeman retweeted this article she'd written about him way back when (maybe even before Twitter was a thing):
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2004/oct/02/shopping.fashion1
I hope he realised how much regard and affection people held for him.

I saw that article that bo linked too, very sad. 59 is really no age, I'm still shocked at Helen McCrory, too at 52.

Too many toos, it's been a long, busy day (dcs medical appointments).

I don't really have a "relationship" with him iyswim but it feels very sad based on what I'm reading about him now. I'm going to look at that interview later.

Pigeon breast is what it's called in English too. Definitely a weird silhouette, at least in its more exaggerated form.

I was at the library and borrowed the Merchant and Mills workbook on a whim (saw it on the shelf). It's very inspirational (mr Bani sort of admired the photography) but I quickly googled some reviews of the trouser pattern and a fair few people mentioned errors so I don't know if I can be arsed (pun intended).