Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Always Have a Ball Gown at the Ready in Celebration of Your Enemy's Demise

[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

Quatorze

Quinze

Seize

floI seem to have wide legged trousers, but not jeans. I do have

I don't know what happened here, it posted before I was ready.

Try again:

Thanks flo, it's slowly getting better and I can walk a bit more. I do have wide-legged trousers, but not jeans, weirdly, as I have lots of different shaped jeans.

Some things will probably look better not ironed than others, I agree. Nothing worse than trying to go for coolly undone and instead achieving bag lady!

Glad it's getting better quirky,

I forgot to say, I love that red dress bo posted.

Short post but I think that's all my news, other than that Hadley Freeman is leaving the Guardian Definitely time for a switch.

Thanks, flo.

I meant to add to whoever was talking about American Vintage T-shirts, mine get small holes too. They are a really lovely, slubby fabric, but even washed on delicate, they get small holes. In comparison to some ancient H&M organic cotton ones, with a similar fabric, which seem indestructible.

If you have access, the Telegraph has an interview with Lucinda Chambers (I'm a bit of a fangirl) about her Collagerie collaboration with Jigsaw, which launches this week coming. I couldn't find them online yet but will try to link laateer in the week.

Ooh, that sounds interesting, Xing, thanks.

I have a 3 articles free with the telegraph, hope it comes out there Xing .
fashion news … a new dress agency came to my town and went there and ended up buying a vintage cream silk max Mara blouse with shoulder pads, a practical buy? Nope. Very romantic looking and I am a bit of a sucker for that sort of things … I wore it for dinner with friends with barrel leg black jeans and black ankle boots to give it a more grounded look.

That looks perfect for you red. Endlessly wearable.

Well I looked in the Telegraph but got sidetracked by a headline about Ghislaine Maxwell talking about her 'dear friend' Prince Andrew, which meant I'd used up my 3 free articles by the time I found the Lucinda Chambers piece. She has a very nice garden though - I saw that much. (Lucinda, not GM although nothing would surprise me.) But I googled Collagerie which I hadn't heard of before, and the first thing I saw there was a jumper from Mango and the second was a 4-figure Jil Sander cardigan, so that looks like an interesting site.

That blouse is gorgeous Red, I do love a good dress agency.

Hadley Freeman has left The Guardian has she gone to The Financial Times <hopeful> (don't worry about dashing my hopes, it'll probably be one of the Murdoch papers behind a paywall so it is). That limits my Guardian reading down to the odd bit of Jess CM, John Crace and the recipes (although the recipes aren't what they used to be either).

Enjoyed the Lucinda Chambers interview, thanks for the heads up. Flo, I've copy pasted it into a Google doc because I don't want you to miss out (as I'm fairly confident you'll enjoy it a lot).

Collagerie looks interesting but my phone doesn't seem to be able to load images but I have anticipated that these editorial sites would be the next evolution but a lot of companies are pulling back on affiliate marketing programs so I'm not sure how many will survive long term but Lucinda Chambers' seems to be more of a passion project than cash cow so it should be good. I'll have to have a look on the laptop.

Apparently an 'explosive' documentary about Shein is set to air on Channel 4 tomorrow. I have no access but I will be very disappointed if S&B is not a major dumpster fire after airing.

Hadley has gone to the Sunday Times🍾🥂

Yes The Sunday Times and I don't blame her in the least for leaving the Guardian - once they'd axed her column it was only a matter of time. I'd add Marina Hyde, John Harris and Lucy Mangan to bo's list of Graun writers still worth reading but none of them have Hadley's range.

Thanks for the google link bo, I'm sure I'll enjoy the Lucinda Chambers article.
article.

Ghislaine Maxwell's prison interview is apparently also to be broadcase in full tomorrow so, with that and the Shein doc, it could be a compulsive evening. I'll probably feel a bit of a rubbernecker tuning in to GM's interview but the thought of all those powerful people sleeping uneasily tonight in case she declares them her 'dear friends' is just irrestistible.

Ladies, after many years following you all quietly and admiring from afar I come asking for help.
DD and I will go to Paris in 10 days - we are beyond excited. We only have four days. We NEED a haircut. We live in a backwater and have had dreadful hair for the last few years.

We will stay in the Marais. Does anyone have any idea of where we could go?

We would be so grateful.

Well I've seen nothing about GM or Shein <harrumphs> what gives MN?

I don't blame Hadley either, the Guardian used to be something I really looked for to lazily reading every weekend but it's just a shell of itself now.

Hi @Justasec321 , are you looking for someone who speaks English? The big name is Delphine Courteille, she does celeb (worldwide A list ones, not just the French ones) and fashion work and is very highly regarded and has an unassuming salon where anyone can go. It's not cheap but comparatively in any other capital it would be at least double what she's personally asking and probably more, so it's kind of a bargain (but I'm not sure if she'd just be available at this short notice). Other stylists in the salon are cheaper (and more likely to have a vacancy) but by Paris standards it's quite a high price so a bit of odd economics going on there but they'll give you an actual good cut that just requires maintenance iykwim, people are known to just go there twice a year, etc.

Otherwise Christophe Robin has expanded, generally regarded as good and mid range in prices. Colour has always been the CR focus but apparently the salons are good at both cutting and dyeing and likely to speak English.

Another good chain is in Le Bon Marche (but other locations too but LBM most likely to have English speaking staff) is Marisol.

David Mallet salons also meant to be good but I think in a more steady and reliable kind of way iywkim and likely to have English speakers. Depending on your dd's age it may not be her thing.

I think the Treatwell app is also popular in France, you'll see lots of reviews (including English ones) often specifically mentioning which staff member gave them an amazing cut and you can easily book. Considering how hypercritical the French are in online reviews this is probably a useful tool in narrowing it down.

The Guardian's like a student newspaper these days, I regret how long it took me to spot it but once you do, you can't unsee it. They even had a piece on that Ghislaine Maxwell interview the other day that described GM as a 'disgraced socialite', as if she'd been caught snorting coke in the Groucho Club as opposed to convicted of child sex trafficking.

Anyway I'm mostly spending my TV time either hopping from one news channel to another or watching old movies so forgot all about both GM and her 'dear friends' and Shein last night.

Yes I thoroughly enjoyed the Lucinda Chambers interview, thank you Xing for the tip off and bo for the link. I'm pleased to see her thriving too. I can understand Edward Enninful wanting to take on the boarding school cronyism at Vogue, but I think he ditched some real talent in process, plus I get the sense he might just have replaced that clique with one of his own.

Welcome Justasec321and I hope you stick around. I'm afraid I've not been to Paris for at least 12 years - why they let me on this thread I have no idea - but I'm pleased, and not surprised, that bo is on the case. We stayed in the Marais the last time I was there and I remember being really struck by the number and range of independent shops. Idon't know if it's still like that but, if it is, you should be in for a treat.

Alas, no, the Marais is very gentrified (but in that LGBT gentrified way, nothing to do with LGBT, it's just that new formula of painting rainbows on the sidewalk next to overpriced coffee shops that look independent but aren't and some high threshold conceptual shops that sell little of substance but reads as the place to be for the unknowing alongside the usual suspects commercial slightly upmarket chain shops) these days. If you want a taste of what it once was you need to go east of Bastille where it's still gritty and off beat.

Although even there it's rapidly gentrifying but the restaurants are still excellent and cheap alongside crafty boulangiers/patissiers trying to make a name for themselves with interesting concoctions, natural wine bars, single origin chocolate makers and obsessive coffee roasters. Some good shops and secondhand spots still but I fully expect many of them to be displaced the next time I'm there but hopefully the industrious character of the isn't eroded as quickly. (There's a pseudo high line style park made out of an old railway bridge thingy).

Yeah, Lucinda Chambers never struck me as the boarding school set and find it weird she's maligned as such just because much of British Vogue was. I did think while reading it if she'd ever have make it with her background in fashion today. As you say, it's one set exchanged for another but it's still very closed off to a very large set of people and I'd argue the threshold is higher now than it used to be. LC did say as much in her parting Vestoj interview, it's been a while since I've read so don't want to misquote but it was along the lines of talent mattering little and just having the right look. Tbh, I'm half convinced this is the issue with the Guardian too.

Ugh lots of missing words, should have proofread

Hmm just did a bit of googling over lunch to see if the hairdresser advice was still up to date. Looks like the Christophe Robin salons have closed, it's just the original very expensive colouring one that's still going.

Marisol is no longer in LBM but it's still going elsewhere. And prices seem to have gone up everywhere except at Delphine Courteille which is looking a bit like a bargain among direct competitors (still not cheap by any measure).

Thnak you so much Bo and Flo. DD is 15 and I am 55.

Bo - thank you for the East of Bastille suggestion. We will head there to noodle around. We would love to rummage through some good independant shops and try for an interesting/fun/good purchase or two. Could I bother you for the name of a street to get us started?

We will definately be eating in your falafel shop!

Seems like hair will not be so easy Bo. We will try and forage when there. Thank you for the app recomendation, that will surley help.

What is my falafel shop 😳, if it's Pitzmann they've been temporarily closed for forever. I was a fan of L'As du Falafel prior to that, that's probably still good but it's too famous now so always busy and a long wait. I'm not allowed chickpeas anymore so I'm out of the loop tbh (and feeling very bereft).

I've attached a screenshot as just sending you to a street isn't that helpful (I don't know how to share maps anonymously, otherwise I'd offer that), Bastille is on the left, you just head on into Rue de la Roquette once you've oriented yourself out of the Bastille Metro. It's a variation of streets and some parts of it feel vacant so you could be thinking, oh this is the edge of it but then it just continues on after. I'll see if I can pick out some highlights and post them later, definitely don't miss out on Cour Damoye, it's a lovely little passage. Viaduc des Arts is the highline Parisian knock off, it's very pretty but not sure how it looks this time of year. There's some nice little shops underneath too.

With a 15yo, if she's into that, the Japanese neighborhood is also a fun area and there's a good Depot Vente for you in the Gallerie Vivienne. And DD will probably want to take social media pics in the Palais Royal gardens not far from that (and you can lust over Didier Ludot's shop window).

Oh THANK YOU!

DD is going to be so IMPRESSED with her frumpy mama knowing so much about Paris! 😁

And I am sorry ladies but I am going to keep you secret and steal your limelight!.

Thank you thank you thank you!

And yes BO - it was Pitzman!

I'm addicted to L'As du Falafel. The queues tend to be for the takeaway.

DD had an interview with Lucinda Chambers at her house a couple of years ago. She said both she and the house were lovely and it was the nicest rejection letter she'd ever had!

Hi all. Things were a bit busy here, but I’m in a better place to wade back in.

justasec have a lovely trip. I love the idea of impressing your daughter with the inside track on Paris hair salons.

I know at least one Guardian writer well and, from what I hear, morale is a bit low. It was pronoun central with only a handful of holdouts, one of whom left obviously. I’m glad I subscribed to The Times last month.

I’m definitely here for chunky boots and miniskirts. It’s one of my favourite winter looks. Does anyone know where I’d get warm grey ribbed tights ideally with some wool or at least cotton?

I don't think I'll make Antwerp in November, but Paris in January might be a possibility.

Hi, Elle, I did wonder where you had disappeared to so good to see you again. PM me if you need to know exact dates of when I'm in Paris. I did see some fine knit rib tights at Arket that are almost half wool, normally I'd look at Falke, Wolford and Fogal first. I did get some recycled opaques at Arket last year (I think, it was during the pandemic may have been during the first wave too) and they've held up pretty well.

Incidentally I just returned from Antwerp yesterday to stock up on more Dries van Noten fabrics . It's getting a bit weird now, all the super serious fashion hypebeast types are overrunning the place as tourists and they look so out of place (Antwerp is a very bourgeois conservative/traditional leaning place, the fashion that's made it famous was always in response to that). I'm not quite sure what these Hypies make of this supposed fashion Mecca as a result though 🤷 (I've got a boatload of nice wools though, no interesting patterns caught my eye this time, probably a good thing as I have yet to start on the previous ones I've bought ).

@Justasec321 I haven't forgotten you, I just need to sit down at my laptop and type out anything of interest in the area, going back and forth on my phone is too tedious. I did want to say quickly as it may be helpful, Treatwell is not just an app, if you go to Treatwell.fr and just search Paris you can get a headstart. I think there's also an intro discount for your first appointment. My top tips are look for a salon that has been rated as 'top rated 2021' and a couple of years in a row previously, a lot show samples of their work too. And I'd caution for ones that are 'top rated' as above and are very affordable, it's a weird thing on TW that the cheapest places are the highest rated simply on the back of price but maybe that's just a Dutch quirk. But top rated alongside high customer reviews should get you somewhere decent, it may not be a life changing cut (I've yet to figure out the secret formula to that) but it at least somewhat guarantees a good cut.

And Pitzman is apparently open, maybe, no promises, Google info is just out of date apparently. Otherwise L'As is great but expect to wait a while on busy weekend nights.

TwoBlondes, has she kept that rejection letter? I think we need to all gather round and ooh and aah at it on here

Ahem, and also, when I came up with the title of this thread I hadn't been anticipating it would outlive Lettuce Liz and having just finished the Londongrad podcast (very good, would recommend, short-ish too) I'm rather horrified at the idea of Boris Johnson dusting off his ball gown 👗I'm a terrible excuse of a Nostradamus