Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Do not ask the kock about les préservatifs in the food.

[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

Quatorze

Oops provided the wrong link previously, proper teaser with actual useful pictures of new +J collection here. I'm liking the bag and some of the coats.

You’re welcome Flo, glad you enjoyed the article, apparently it’s one of a series but not all are available, I failed to download Edith Sitwell’s my clothes and me. Just a last comment. Bo what you say about nostalgia for a time when fashion reflected your travels, but now everything is available all the time and everywhere. Maybe that’s what style is, something that reflects your life- albeit a curated and enhanced version. I remember my father looking stylish on my wedding day in his Libyan tailor made suit from hisBenghazi period plus one of my late mothers best jumble sale- found shirts. I had to work on sprucing him for the day though as mostly he wore curry stained suits ( he loved cooking). But in that moment he looked perfect ( even though I say so myself) .

Definitely, Bob. Slightly less cheery situation, but when clearing out my mother and grandmother's wardrobes after their deaths it really was like walking through time. It wasn't just them sitting in that wardrobe but also their experiences and life. It was more emotionally draining than the services ever were.

It's why I'll never understand the appeal of a capsule wardrobe, it just feels so cold and functional in comparison but I totally understand that for some clothes are just functional or they can't simply advertise their whole self for whatever reason or life is just chaotic enough already and this feels like the one thing they can control but it feels like such a missed opportunity to me.

Similarly, I don't like the sneeriness often directed at fashion where style is seen as superior. To me, style is what you know and what is yours and fashion is where you get to explore other sides of you, some of which you weren't even aware you had inside yourself until you tried something on. Holiday purchases definitely fell in the latter category to me and were nice memories (aptly named souvenirs in French) of living your life differently, if, for just a moment in time.

@botemp those Dries van Noten trousers are amazing. Sadly I am too short for that style.

I di think I have a sort of capsule wardrobe, in that I don't have loads of clothes, but they are not all "minimal" basics at all. Some things I've had for ages (currently wearing a black, zip cardigan that is 20+yrs old and an original Debenhams collab) or most definitely not basics (a very old black, silk, chiffon skirt with bright pink underskirt that I have worn to various weddings, funerals, parties... ) . I think the one size fits all, this is a must-have, does make us all boringly the same. I also completely agree that fashion is treated as somehow superficial, compared to other art forms. I have to agree with Vivien E Westwood, fashion is important because it is life-enhancing .

Ah, sorry for typos, my phone keyboard is playing up.

Was someone looking for a decent vintage blazer ? Possibly @floisme but on my phone and it's too annoying to check the whole thread! This gorgeous one just appeared on my favourite vintage seller in Ireland and I figured someone on this thread would appreciate it

www.bythemoonvintage.com/product-page/rare-vintage-100-wool-harris-tweed-check-blazer-handwoven-in-scotland

Ooh, Molly, gorgeous blazer!

I know! Would have bought it in a heartbeat but it's too big so hoping to live vicariously by someone getting it

molleyvolley it was me who asked about a blazer … then Flo joined … well she always joins in when good tailored jackets are concerned… I think Bani also considered them for a bit …
Sadly too big for me, or Flo but looks great!
I am not sure if it is the type of thing Bani was after … probably not , but I might be wrong.

I love the idea of fashion as a vehicle to explore other sides of you. And holiday purchases, definitely resonates with me.

I came here for another reason … got distracted… my initial reason was what is the sizing like for Dries Bo?
On some preloved sites there is a couple of tops/dresses/skirt of this type and I like the idea of something like this with thick black tights and boots for some end of year get togethers.

Also thinking if I take the punt on this alpaca and wool coat , also on a second hand site … problem is that is terribly photographed and is deep green as per description. Is by Gerry Weber which is more ‘put together, aunts’ than stylish and interesting which I aim for … but that might mean I can make it work?
The shape might swamp me though
It is super cheap … so maybe worth the punt?

That does look lovely Molly thanks - I'm a huge fan of Harris Tweed - but yeah too big for me. Cinching in with a belt is clever but the shoulder seams would still be down to my elbows. If anyone's thinking of buying my only caution would be that the price seems on the high side to me. You can buy second hand men's Harris Tweed jackets for £30-£40 round here and I've seen them previously on Brick Lane at a similar price, although admittedly you have to factor in dry cleaning and sometimes a bit of repair work. I think if were looking to barter, I'd ask the seller what exactly is so 'rare' about it because they're all handwoven and come with an individual serial number. On the other hand, if it's new or barely worn then it might be a good price.

Thanks for the Jil Sander heads up bo. The preview's out now too. I see they're doing that sticky-out hoodie again and the colours look better for me this time. I think you bought it didn't you Xing - how are you getting on with it? And did you send yours back bani? They also have a lambswool cardigan in the men's section that I'll be tracking - I was holding out for Community Clothing but so far they're only doing them in grey. Quite a few other things in the Lookbook too - love the red skirt and jacket together but it's split to the thigh so that's me out.

The clearing out talk reminded me of Hadley Freeman's family memoir, 'House of Glass' - she literally came across the story when clearing out her grandmother's wardrobe. Recommended if you haven't read it.

'Red' I think that dress would look great. Like you I'm a bit about the coat - if it was in decent condition then they'd take a better photo, surely?

Oh and I almost forgot, those trousers look fab bo

Dries van Noten sizing depends on how old it is, Red, he's been around for a long time so a label would tell me more. In general, it's French sizing with a bit more ease but not a full size up. Tailored items are true to French sizing though.

I'd leave the Gerry Weber coat to people that actually like Gerry Weber. For one it's probably cheap for a reason, and two GW is really suited to a specific body type, stocky/wide, specifically in the chest/shoulder area which you really aren't so I suspect it would drown you.

Lovely blazer, Molly, but I agree it's pricey for what it is, but a lot of these well presented vintage places tend to be, sometimes it's worth paying someone else to rummage through it all and source the rare gems but I do find myself resenting it more and more now that I have a better understanding of secondhand prices.

Thanks for the Uniqlo link, Flo. I think I might put in an order for the red knit dress. Some of the cashmere pieces look good and they're quite up there in price for Uniqlo so I'm wondering if she's really pushed them on upping the quality as was visible in previous collections. Good to know the date as well, the US article said 11th of November there, I'll keep an eye out for the Asian vlogs again as they were a good insight last time and I'm assuming they'll get it before us again. I'm very much underwhelmed by the men's offering though, bit lacklustre in comparison.

quirky, yes by capsule I really mean the exact replication of the typical image you find on Pinterest, trench coat, dark rinse jeans, Breton, etc. I would also vaguely park people who replicate entire outfits as seen on other people in this category. No judgement if that works for you, not everyone has to care the same way about things, my taste in music is appalling.

That's a fair point about second handprices. I enjoy all the rummaging but not everyone has either the inclination or the time and, if someone else has done the trawling and the dry cleaning and made sure the buttons are secure and that the hem hasn't slipped, then it's only right that they should take a cut.

Likewise with capsule wardrobes. I can't imagine ever willingly choosing one for myself, or any of those apps that are suppose to take all the hard work and the mistakes out of getting dressed, but then for me, the hard work and the mistakes are part of the fun. If you don't want to spend time thinking about any of it but still want to look half decent then they have a place, although I always suspect that, if you only have one coat / 2 pairs of jeans etc and that if everything has to go with everything else, then it must take just as much work and thinking time anyway.

I really like the red in the +J preview - trouble is, I can't see anything I want in that colour.

bo, I don't ever think I would like to be an exact replica of anything , more my own version of something, which is much more fun. I think flo is right that it can make it easy for people. Me, I enjoy the changing things up etc. and trying new ideas out. I find lots of those "classic", "must have" items don't work for me at all eg. camel coat, beige trench etc.

Sorry for falling off the internet, I've just briefly skimmed the posts since I was in last. Actually excited to see the J+ update because the more I wear the shirt I bought the more I like it - I do however prefer linen as a material rather than "shirt" cotton, I realise. I might get another shirt though, is my point. Who asked if I returned the a-line hoodie from last time? Because yes I did. It looked fucking awful on me. Quite like the cashmere blend coat, but that phrase covers many non-cashmere sins.

I don't have a Uniqlo over here so would have to order from J+ without trying it on & was admiring the coat! Is it likely to be ginormous?

I am still pleased with the A line hoodie from J+, but I bought the white in large, and should have returned it; the navy one in medium gets worn regularly. So if anyone fancies an almost unworn large white hoodie, feel free to message me.... it has very long sleeves!

It was me asking about the hoodie bani. Thank you for that succinct reply but I might give it a go anyway I'll pass on the white one Xing as it tends to be even harsher on my face than black, but thanks! You say you got it in large though and I think we're normally the same size? Is that because it was on the small side or did you want it oversized?

And you've now got me looking at the cotton shirts again bani. I got the stripy one last year, liked it but returned it because it felt too officey but I think I've got over that hangup now.... I've also got a pic of that red jacket on my phone and I'm trying to persuade myself it'll go with loads of things, but it probably won't plus if I buy it, I won't be able to afford anything else. I see one of the scarves has got some of the same red but I need another scarf even less than I need a jacket.

Molly I've found +J is normally larger than standard Uniqlo - or at least it has been so far.

I wanted it oversized, but we were all uncertain over the sizing compared to the Asian link that bo found, so I bought one in each size and the M turned out spot-on oversize; then I was busy/idle and didn't return the L. However I think it might be useful over winter knits, and because it is so large, it should look considered... I hope!

I could be tempted by a A line hoodie , but a Large will probably be too big for me… what do you think Xing?

And good to hear Bani you are pleased with the shirt , sounds like a good purchase. I don’t have much linen in my wadrobe… although I like seeing it on others … maybe I need to try it more …
Possibly the wrong question: ‘can you wear linen outside S/S?’

Red, my white L J+ hoodie would swamp you. Happy to send it for you to try though.... it might fit Mr Red if he fancied it.

It's not even slightly girly styled.