Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Maids Cosplaying as Schoolboys are Going to Get Themselves Cancelled by North Korea

[botemp]

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between. Feel free to join in.

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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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Very sorry to hear that Duvet . I agree a quick solution would be to take out the buttons of the blazer and will be appropriate.
If you have a plain black belt (no metal wear) it will also probably help, but in all honesty just taking the buttons out, as Bo mentioned, would work.

I did think of switching out the belt or wearing the buckle at the back but I think the belt is a good anchor in the pattern.

I've attached a crappy Photoshoped mockup with the buttons removed.

Parisiennes meet up , let’s pencil 31 March or 1st April: @microbius, @mm47, @botemp
And possible @XingMing.
Anyone else just let me know.
Nearer the time we will fix the place where to meet.
Bo - if your travels work out one day better than the other etc let us know, I am sure we can move things our end (only no for me is the 30 March).

Thinking sample sale, then visit one or two local Dress agencies/charity shops? With a cuppa/snack/drink of your choice in between. I will probably be just browsing and enjoying the meet up as not in the mood of shopping lately unless is a nice MH shirt…(famous last words )

28/29/30 would be my preference, but I don't think I get to express a preference as I'm the most likely to bail out. I'd have to check the other dates for flights/train/hotel.

Actually, I take it back, I've still got it in my head the first sample sale day is a Thursday so assumed 31/1 would be the weekend, 31/1 works well for me but if anyone desperately wants first dibs on things then the 29th is probably better. I'm another that's not that into buying things atm and it's just a flimsy excuse to get some travel in.

Duvet 💐 I’m sorry for your loss.

I second Flo’s suggestion of not wearing the blazer, but a polo neck underneath the dress for warmth, I think it would look really nice, (although I have no idea about what is considered formal enough in your family).

If you did prefer to wear the blazer, looking at •Bo*’’s photoshop I think taking off the buttons would work really well. Perhaps you could try belting the blazer shut? I think that’s what is bugging me about the picture of the dress with the blazer, you lose your shape a bit unless somehow you find a way to cinch it in at the waist.

Thank you all.
It was the only blazer in my size that wasn't cropped. I do have a light silk blazer that is plain so looks like bos mockup, which probably could look better. I had discounted it as more as a summer item. But with my handy thermals underneath I think it might work better.

I was literally a whirlwind just trying to find anything that would fit and be suitable. I also have lost a bit more weight due to stress so although I did see a fabulous silk All Saints dress I wasn't prepared to spend the money on it as I really don't want to stay at this unhealthy weight if at all possible.

I do have a plain black leather obi type belt that can be worn thickly or folded in half and worn at a similar thickness to the one I have on here but is plain. I did think this one drew together the squares in the dress though.

I like the fit of the blazer but the buttons are rank, I think I will either cut off for tomorrow or wear the silk if it doesn't all look too slippery as the dress has a bit of a sheen. And then replace the buttons of the new blazer at a later date.

Lots of funerals here would be more "fun" but my family are quite traditional and holding onto them are what is getting them through. Even though the deceased and I joked about making the funeral fancy dress, as in costumes just to see the reaction

Any excuse to travel and shop/window shop very gratefully received (and —shopaholics— keen ones like me could always go on the first day and then come and “just look” 😉 on the MN meet up day!)

Sorry about the events, duvet! Nothing to add on the outfit, you had excellent advice

Pencilled in possible meeting dates! Very excited to meet actual new humans past the pandemic which left me with such a socialisation deprivation

For short notice outfit shopping Duvet, I rather like the dress but agree with the collectif that you should lose the buttons. Very sorry for your bereavement .

Can we talk t-shirts? I’m in the market for a few - I like 3/4 sleeve boat neck, and v-neck short sleeved. Must be black, must be heavy ish fabric. Preferably double fronted. I’d usually go for Jaeger like the attached but maybe you have some ideas about other brands?

I normally get that sort from jigsaw if we are talking similar price point. I like that the jigsaw has a double panel at the front and is nice quality. Not v neck, although I have not checked their website recently so they might do …
I like that they come in ballerina back too.
I have them in navy and maroon in 3/4 and red long sleeve.

Don't get me started on T shirts, I'm desperate for some but I'm so fussy I can never find what I want:
Decent fabric.
Round neckline - neither crew nor scoop.
Long or 3 quarter sleeves.
No Lycra - I hate them when they cling.
Not black or white - sorry Volte

The last ones I found that were anything like what I wanted were from Toast. The price made me weep but dammit they were good. But now they cost even more and, from what I've read on the Toast thread, they're not what they used to be.

Uniqlo aren't too bad but I never get on with the colours, even though they always have a big selection. Cos can be ok but again, colours. I had a really nice linen one from Esprit once but never seen anything like it since.

In the UK Sunspel do nice quality basics, no lycra in sight, I think they're cheaper in GBP but still not cheap, I know they're mostly known as a men's brand but they do women's too. I tend to go for Majestic Filatures which is even more money but I really don't own much in this category. I agree with Cos being good on occasion and Agnes B does a good basic cut too.

Arket was the nominee of several fashion writers last summer (or maybe the one before). Mine tend to be Uniqlo, but they've discontinued the Henley shape I like best.

Sunspel have moved their manufacturing to Turkey and the seams twisted on the last one I bought as a present.

The nice local boutique (not the posh frock shop) had one in orange linen with a buttoned back this morning, made by Great Plains. I shall probably go back to try it.

I always got my T-shirts from American Vintage, they were very good. They have a shop in Soho and I recently went in trying to buy a cami. I have a few from them made from supima cotton; very thin and very durable. I wore lots of their Sonoma long sleeves T-shirts as well. Anyways, the cami buying didn't work out as the thread used under the armpits didn't match the stretchiness of the fabric and dug into my armpits. So they might still be good - in some styles, but you have to exercise caution.

I also bought t-shirt from the whiteTshirt company, DTC. I found them through Buy me once. Excellent quality very thick durable cotton. Unfortunately, they are closing down and things are mostly sold out.

Huh, Sunspel still advertises as made in England, have they moved back already or is that outdated information?

I googled my own question seems to be in a few places but none in Turkey, the cotton stuff seems to be made in Portugal these days.

Speaking of orange, I think Celtic and Co have got a cotton n' linen one in their catalogue that I liked the look of - on paper. I really want some decent colours this time, that's what Toast used to be good for.

Gap used to do them really well too. I've had some of theirs in Pima cotton for 10 years - dyed them to pep up the colour but otherwise still going strong. Tried them again a few years ago and they were shite.

H&M also used to be ok but last time I looked they were either packed out with Lycra or in linen that was so flimsy I nearly poked a finger through it.

Thanks for the Arket reminder, I always forget about them. Not tried Sunspel or Majestic Futures either.

Perhaps Sunspel have gone back to their original superior manufacturers, bo? This was a couple of years ago now and I did engage with their quality department at the time.

I always recommend on here, the cotton basic tops from Lidl. They are 95% cotton 5% elastane.
I have them in boat neck, v neck and basic t shirt.

They do not fade, go misshapen or bobble. And are about £6 for a pack of 2. The only issue is you never know when they are going to be in the middle aisle. The ones I have are made in the Czech Republic and Germany.

Other than that I like the Majestic filature linen slub tops.

Thank you for all your help for the funeral. I took the buttons off the blazer and felt appropriately/well dressed; which helped with the stress I felt (armour and all that). I have the crematorium to attend tomorrow but that is more casual so will wear wide legged trousers and a knit jumper more than likely. (Not usual to have 2 services but has happened because of covid related reasons)

I used to treat myself to Margaret Howell t shirts - gosh they lasted ages, and always looked good, and felt beautiful. Never twisted. A couple that I still wear are 20 years old.

I haven't liked the ones she's done recently and in any case someone in her shop advised me to go to Sunspel, as they make for her, and are cheaper. But I go for the sea island cotton ones.

I've tried other brands, like Uniqlo but they really are not the same - not surprising given the price difference I suppose.

Just had a rummage and think I'll get myself this from Margaret Howell

www.margarethowell.co.uk/womens/shop/sportwear/long-sleeve-boatneck-egyptian-cotton-white

You can't get long sleeved sea island cotton ones from Sunspel at the moment it seems, but MH's Egyptian cotton is extremely good IME.

Good to hear removing the buttons did the trick duvet and sending you strength for today

Good to hear Sunspel is still good SeaRabbit, if it's good enough for Margaret Howell's exacting standards it must be ok now again (maybe she scared them out of Turkey ). It's possible that like many British heritage brands they had that brief venture into moving production abroad and coming out worse for it under the guidance of questionable business consultant types. I do get what you say about noticeable difference in t-shirts, but it's very much a jump from crap crap to sort of ok for a long time to suddenly OMG amazing quality with little middle ground.

Well I've put an option on a flight (slightly sweating it because it's the flights to London city airport which are the dinkiest planes ever, if it's in any way stormy like today I'll be deeply regretting it), unfortunately trains were just not doable. Hotel choices are driving me mad though, prices fluctuate all over the place (hence me taking an option on the flight as that kept changing too while trying to figure out a hotel), I was in the middle of booking something and then the price increased by more than double when I went to finalise. I hate London hotels, I'm normally not that picky when I'm on my own but the whole pandemic thing means I want an amazing hotel with lots of room space and plush bathrobes and maybe roomservice for breakfast but mostly a better location than I had last time as that didn't feel the safest at night. I'm still much with the at the cancellation policy in most places. But what is it with so many hotels looking like faux country mansions with giant four posters squeezed into tiny rooms and carpeted bathrooms 🤮 and there's way too many that could easily have you mistaken you're in a high end chain hotel in mid west America and others look like they were designed on psychedelics. Anyhow, stormy weather means I probably won't get out much until Tuesday so I'll have all that time to torture myself with hotel choices...

Duvet good to hear the outfit worked. And I wish today is somehow peaceful for you and the close ones, specially with the high winds.

I clearly have always had average crap when it comes to tees … it makes me want one of amazing quality though… although I am worried that it will be a ‘not going back ‘ type discovery and then I will have to sustain my expensive taste … but if I have a couple of amazing ones , surely that is better than 8 mediocre ones?

I know what you mean Bo about London hotels … if something comes to mind I will let you know