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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Previous threads:

Un

Deux

Trois

Quatre

Cinq

Six

Sept

Huit

Neuf

Dix

Onze

Douze

Treize

Quatorze

Quinze

Hope all those who are I'll have recovered.

Interesting to read about the sample sale. I am envious of those of you with regular access.

Would it be worth looking on Etsy for the nightdress xing?

I'm afraid I'm only popping on with questions and requests for help.

1/ Where is the Joseph outlet store please?I'm in London next week and hoping to pop in.

2/ Any recommendations for a nice belt? I'm looking to replace a much used black leather and gold hardware
Sézane one that's past it's best. I don't mind spending a bit but I don't want any very recognizable logos.

Joseph Outlet is here:

184 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RH, United Kingdom

It's right across from Sezane so you could look in there for a belt again, there's also an Oxfam (I think) a few doors down that was pretty good and around the corner was another branch of charity shops that had children's clothes that looked to be of nice quality stuff.

Belts, not so good with actual recommendations as I've gotten the sense prices of those have hugely inflated recently. I'm guessing it's just down to general price rises but I get the sense it's accessories where they've raised the prices the most proportionally. I did see some nice ones at Isabel Marant but they gave me sticker shock. Charity shop or consignment shops would be my place to look for them at the moment, iirc there were quite a few to be found.

Speaking of Macs, there was a Mackintosh outlet in Brixton, I think, there was also a Aquascutum outlet there not sure if they're still there though. Box park, I think it was called. I also remember posting on here about a Scottish made to measure company that would repair it for life and used very hard wearing fabric of which the name is escaping me, as is the Scottish company but it was during the Flo Barbour saga.

Hell yes, what were they called?

I've done a bit of digging through my bookmarks and I think it was Hancock of Scotland. They seem to be on an innovation/renewal track and relaunching the brand in a similar aesthetic to Kassl Editions, going by their insta anyhow. Their old consumer site seems to be offline ATM but their business site is still up here, they've got quite an impressive client portfolio.

I'm in Antwerp today for the sample sales. I vowed not to buy more fabric as I haven't even touched the stuff I bought last time yet and <ahem> so far I've bought more fabric and it looks eerily similar to a fabric I bought last time [double blush]

Thanks so much for the digging bo and all the advice. I'll not act on my Norse projects impulses, what you and flo mentioned just seem vastly superior.

Eagerly awaiting pics from Antwerp!. elle will report if Joseph sale is worthy.

How weird is the new formatting? I didn't intend the bold the way it came out

Thanks Microbius. I'd love to hear if it's worth a look.

Thanks for all the info botemp I agree on the belts. The Sézane one is coming apart and the gold finish wearing off so I'm not inclined to buy a replacement from there as I didn't wear it that much. I agree with belts being seriously pricey. I think they became a thing for a while probably thanks to the ubiquitous GG ones and maybe replaced sunglasses as the entry level designer product? I like this Celine one but the price is crazy. Good luck at the fabric sales.

Yeah there was a bit of belt everything madness for a while, I remember sneering about the compulsive belt everything response on here. Pandemic seems to have killed the belt it mania

No pics as it's mostly communal changing rooms and a few also specifically say not to photograph anything. Also, I'm way too petrified of attempting to post a pic on the new MN platform.

I was good and didn't buy more fabric, I did buy a cropped jacket and a skirt at Dries van Noten which both feel weirdly nostalgic somehow, I think I'm reverting back to my Rick Owens drapy days. But as Mr Owens has also gone the way of hyperinflated prices it's probably best to get this elsewhere now. Also got a lipstick in the beautiful case (I just bought it for the case tbh the lipstick colours are nice enough but nothing groundbreaking)

in their normal shop, tried on some trousers there too including the ones Elle has been lusting over but they went all poofy sticky out at the pleats on me

Sorry, I gave the address of the Joseph Outlet before as I thought that's what you were asking for, Google tells me the Joseph sample sale is in the Music Rooms but I think that's probably on after you leave.

I did see a vintage brown Celine belt in Antwerp, it's this one and on sale, there's some overlap in the design with the new Celine one but I'm guessing the size is maybe too small (I can never make sense of belt sizes as I seem to own a variation of then and they all fit). There's also this one from a Belgian luxury leather brand, they're a super expensive brand new (and it is beautiful craftsmanship) but since they're not well known internationally all that much it doesn't retain value much. If I understand it correctly you can switch it out and wear it as a black or brown belt. There's also a few Cartier ones that look nice but those are pricier.

Comparatively the Celine belt isn't as sticker shocker as the IM were for me. I think IM belts used to be in the range of 130-200 but a couple were now at the 335-365, it's a weird world when it's not Celine that's taking the piss (autocorrect changed that to kids ) Anyone know how much the Hermès belts are as I'm guessing this is now the end game of designer belt prices...

Two other options this one has similar aesthetic features as the Celine one, 30% off in the private sale ATM but I'm guessing you're looking for something thinner. This one by APC is a bit basic but I think that's part of its charm. APC leather does tend to get that lived in look, personal preference whether you like that or not.

Thanks so much for posting those. I think based on trying on in store I need an 80, assuming brands are the same. The jeans I want to wear it with are mid rise. That rules out the two vintage ones. The thicker one is coming across as a little too country and western. I love the APC one though. I think I’ll go for that and muse on the Celine. I actually have a Hermes belt that I rarely wear as the removable buckle is an absolute faff. Maybe I should sell it given the price increase and use the proceeds.

Glad you got a lipstick. The cases are just lovely. I struggled to find a colour though and settled on a sheer bright pink which is not my usual at all. If anyone is looking for a special gift I think they’re really lovely and nicer than the Hermes ones which are very heavily scented. My only gripe is they don’t have a satisfying magnetic closure.

I don’t think I’ll make the sample sale sadly due to dates but maybe another trip. I’ll try the outlet store as I’d like to see the Peter Do trousers in person.

Elle if you want something utterly unbranded, this lovely Shropshire based leather maker, Matt Fothergill, does a lovely classic belt:

www.mattfothergill.com/Product/305/Feather+Edged+Belts

As they are handmade, you can choose size, width, and colour of leather and fittings

To my fabric-loving maids, I spotted this huge swatch (is that the right term?) of Harris Tweed for sale on my favourite ebay charity shop:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HARRIS-TWEED-Brown-100-Pure-New-Wool-Fabric-29-W-x-20ft-36-L-O10-/374070634897?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

It ends in a few days so no rush to bid just yet.

Perhaps flo you could regain your post-sleeve sanity by making your own tweed jacket? Just in time for the Scandi honeymoon after your Ibiza wedding 😂

Am very interested in what drapy days look like. In terms of belts, can only advise what not to buy

ShangPie thanks for that tweed link - that's an enormous piece of fabric and the colours in the close up pic look really good. It's just a real shame they can't authenticate it but I guess if they could it would be several times the price. I'm going to think it over.

I've never worked with tweed, does it unravel easily?

For drapy days just Google Rick Owens in his early days, micro. I'd post a pic but atm my editing software seems to be kaput and on the new platform the pictures appear to be tiny anyhow and when you click on one it's even more tiny

I came across a few other belts, Elle but I think they're taking the piss with the price since they're not a leather specialist brand with this one. Very aesthetically pleasing to my eyes somehow though.

This is a bargain in comparison, 30% off but you might need to be part of their member program (easily signed up with, I think) but I'm not familiar with the brand and looks a little chunkier Farfetch.

I'm such a rubbish contributor to this thread, I do lurk and occasionally post under various names and always enjoy your chat, I don't contribute enough because you're all too knowledgeable and I really am a fashion flibbertigibbet.

Anyhoo! I think I've found the perfect summer dresses and @botemp will probably be able to tell me if they're everything I dream they are.

They're by Zeus & Dion. A Greek company, made in Greece. They look perfect and perfectly simple in all the best ways. Have you heard of them?

(Sorry for crashing without engaging btw, it is a bit rude).

And yes, I appreciate you all making your clothes.

I often say to my writer friends, 'I'm a reader. Writers need readers'.

Similarly, I'm not a creator of clothes, or art, or architecture or music. I'm not a creator.

I am an astute observer though.

And I do enjoy observing this thread.

I've never seen them in person Spooky, I just know they're very pretty but £££ if I could at SophieLion without crashing out of MN I'd do that, if someone else can do that without issue, much appreciated. I know she lurks occasionally on here and lives in Greece and I think she's more familiar with the brand, I remember talking to her about it once and Mary Karantzou (sp?).

Funnily enough I saw that Toteme one too, but the price definitely feels
for that brand. I took a look at the Celine one in London and it is nice. The APC would be a safe bet too I feel.

I didn't make it to the Joseph outlet as mini Elle was not having any of it in the very warm weather so I had to content myself with a brief browse of Liberty.

Let me try to @sophielion

Hmm I think it might be case sensitive I shall attempt it and hope nothing implodes @SophieLion

Poor mini Elle, weather has been weirdly warm lately must have been even worse in London.

Hello! Just got an email from this thread. Is it about Zeus and Dione?

Yes, I send out the Zeus and Dione bat signal as I knew you had expertise where I have none. Hope all is well with you (and the curly hair is still looking good)

Hi Bo 👋 Zeus and Dione are great. Beautiful clothes, bags, shoes etc. Excellent quality (all made here). As you say though, not the cheapest!

I think our curly hair thread died - I do feel there is a limit to how much I can talk about hair! I'm amazed at these Instagram people who post every day for years about curly hair.

Hey I've got curly hair too! I agree though, there's not that much to say about it.

Those dresses look lovely. You're overselling my sewing skills Spooky but thank you. bo I've never tried sewing tweed but my guess is the weave varies but that Harris Tweed would be fairly tight. I see that piece has gone now which will teach me not to dither. Did anyone get it?

I've had a double success this week. First I finally tracked down some replacement off white trousers - Whistles, £20 from my dress agency. I didn't want to shell out for new as I'll hardly ever wear them but I wanted some to go with that bubble gum pink 60s linen jacket I wore to a wedding a year or so BP (Before Pandemic).

And then I called into H&M, expecting precisely nothing and found some trousers to go with that teenage boys linen and cotton suit jacket I bought a few months ago. I did get the trousers too at the time but they were too tight and went back. These are much better so hurray for H&M crazy sizing.

So now I've got two kind-of-newish summer event outfits. Only one event to go to so far but hey.

I still can't post photos (don't ask) but this link is close enough, possibly a brighter blue plus I've cut out the stupid fake breast pocket hanky. I think I'll be giving the tie a miss too.

The trousers are from a couple of seasons ago but they're this kind of thing, except they're a linen cotton mix (you know my views on most pure linen trousers) and they've got a proper, no-elastic waist band. So nothing like really but it's the best I can do, sorry.

Thank you Sophie for the additional information about Z+D, I hope it's helpful to Spooky

Yes, I agree with there's only so much talking about curly hair to be done unless you endlessly want to try new products. I'm still happy with my routine now and am still attempting to get through other products when I'm feeling more effort minded about it.

X-post with Flo looks like you've done well shopping, I've been thoroughly unimpressed by what's on offer lately. I'd forgotten about the Uniqlo Marni Collab launching last Thursday, don't thin I even got an email. Debating whether to do a quick trip in today, like now, before it gets overly busy or just nip in on Monday and risk there being less available...