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

996 replies

botemp · 19/07/2022 14:42

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between.


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OP posts:
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206
TheGander · 21/10/2022 21:54

@Justasec321 id be happy to recommend my London hairdresser who is near kings cross st Pancras in case you are taking the Eurostar- but she is very popular, works part time and gets booked up, still, PM me if you are interested. She is great.

XingMing · 22/10/2022 11:04

If Boris makes a comeback <please, no> I propose we retire this thread and dedicate the next to lettuces!

Justasec321 · 22/10/2022 14:11

TheGander · 21/10/2022 21:54

@Justasec321 id be happy to recommend my London hairdresser who is near kings cross st Pancras in case you are taking the Eurostar- but she is very popular, works part time and gets booked up, still, PM me if you are interested. She is great.

Gander - sadly I will not be passing through London so cannot take you up on your very generous offer.
@botemp one of our days will be noodling around the area you suggested after the Louvre. DD is a big fan of the TV show Lupin so the pyramid is a must.
I laughed when reading about L. Chambers and sneakers. Seems Lupin has the Best.Sneaker.Gamer.Ever.....😁Goes over my head a bit!

Floisme · 23/10/2022 09:39

I'm starting to feel nostalgic for the days when the main topic of government gossip was the Camerons and their country suppers with Rebekah Brooks. I'll be softening towards George Osborne next.

Good to see you back Elle and I'm dying to know who your mole at the Guardian is! (No, just joking, don't tell me, I'd never manage to keep my mouth shut.) It's a while since I've worn tights of any kind but, when I did I found M&S Autograph as good as any. They used to do a chunky cotton mix and I think there was a ribbed one too, but I don't know if they still sell them. I found Falke a bit of a disappointment for the price but then I used to buy them in TK Maxx so they were probably seconds and sub-quality,

botemp · 23/10/2022 11:12

Tbh I'm a little terrified of thread titles now Xing, I mean, the lettuce won and Johnson is returning from Elba. I'm still operating on my wrong turn into whakadoodle timeline theory. Was just thinking that Flo, can you Brits please go back to being a bit boring, occasionally whingy but otherwise reliable and a bit weird about nudity again?

Saying all that, the French do like to use the expression that if you "tell salads" is like the English expression of telling tall tales, so there's definitely scope for a title there but for all I know we'll be overrun and under a tomato dictatorship next...

Flo, Kunert definitely worse in TkMaxx, but I mostly buy them for socks and knee highs, tights are good at the price point but not particularly standout, aside from bright colour selection if that's your thing. I like Wolford for opaques and merino tights, Fogal for sheers and silk/cashmere tights, Kunert actually has some nice cotton/wool tights. I used to always buy Orublu for pop socks as they lasted longer than most (but it still wasn't very long) but I've just realised I haven't worn pop socks for years.

@Justasec321 I hope you've already got your Louvre tickets, the lines are crazy apparently and tickets are often sold out before the line opens 😲 it may have improved by now as it's no longer peak tourist season. Unless she just wants to see the actual pyramid, no need for tickets you can see it inside and out without going into the museum bit.

There's a lot of specialist sneaker shops in Paris but I assume you're not in the habit of dropping £££ on a growing teenager's feet but there are quite a collection of sneaker brands that set up in East of Bastille area on the Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine. Rue de Charonne that branches off of that is probably the most upmarket gentrified part of the area. In the side streets there's a few concept stores (mostly interiors based) like Ailleurs and Les Fleurs alongside vintage shops and Independent designers like Nathalie Dumeix. Down further south beyond the Promenade Plantée (viaduc des arts) is Rue Crémieux which is a bit of an insta hotspot, like a French Notting Hill, very pretty but the residents aren't overly pleased with all the attention. Speaking of insta hotspots, Brasserie Rosie (back on RdFSA) looks like an insta trap but it's actually really good and lives up to the hype. Other restaurants in the area tend to focus around wine but still good eating even if you don't drink, Clamato and Le Siffleur de Ballons are memorable ones. Mokonuts is a café, amazing cookies.

Further north on the Rue de la Roquette houses Alain Ducasse's chocolate factory and shop, it's a little tucked away. In the summer they have an ice cream shop on the road, maybe they sell hot chocolate now? Worth going to the factory/shop to inhale the smell alone, but chocolate is also excellent. If you walk even further north you'll end up at Canal Saint Martin which is more Amelie Poulain than Lupin but it's a very pretty area that is weirdly eschewed by tourists but has some good vintage and otherwise interesting shops.

OP posts:
Voltefarce · 23/10/2022 11:25

I’ve always found M&S to be the best place for tights that wash well and last. I’ve just purchased a very boring but functional Rab jacket for my commute (I run and it fits into my bag) but hoping to get my sewing machine out when the crazy toddler goes for his nap. I have an evening dress to make.

Floisme · 23/10/2022 11:40

My son's 24 and I'm still in awe of anyone who can get their toddler to take a nap.

Redandblue11 · 23/10/2022 15:43

You are going to make an evening dress while your toddler naps? Bursts with envy and remembers when I had a toddler…

Great to see you again Elle, my January Paris trip might be hanging on the line as 10 days before we are now going as a family and meeting there with other family friends.
So I am not sure if I can justify going twice on the same month … but would love to join you and Bo if you make it.

Voltefarce · 23/10/2022 16:26

I managed to cut out the pieces, so not too bad going! Generally it takes me a while to complete a garment due to work etc. But my ball isn’t until the beginning of December so I’m hopeful I’ll get it done in time!

I love Paris in January 💕

Redandblue11 · 24/10/2022 11:31

What colour and fabric are you using for your ball gown @Voltefarce ?

Voltefarce · 24/10/2022 15:53

@Redandblue11 it’s a royal blue satin (which looks nicer than it sounds, but is a pain in the derrière to deal with).

ShangPie · 24/10/2022 17:44

Evening all! Been lurking around for a while enjoying the vicarious travel tips around Paris, enjoy your trip justasec

I have a napping toddler but no way would I attempt to make a ballgown while he sleeps! Much kudos volte

Elle I have bought Snag tights after a recommendation on here and they’ve lasted really well. Their advertising can be a bit 🫣 but their tights are good and heavy on the wool content.

quirkychick · 25/10/2022 18:53

@Voltefarce making a ballgown while your toddler naps <faints>. Is that on a par with learning a foreign language while you're on maternity leave?

I was going to recommend uniqlo, footless airism tights (I think flo was looking for footless tights) but I went to put them on this morning and there is a small ladder up the whole leg. They are last year's.

ToEllewithIt · 25/10/2022 20:56

Thanks for the tights recommendations. The Arket ones look good.

Flo if we meet in person I'll fill you in.

I'm incredibly impressed that you're making a ball gown Volte! Which of your enemies is dying? I managed to cut and see a seriously sloppy set of bat wings with an immobile baby on the floor and I was very proud of myself. Your task is a serious step up in difficulty on both scores!

botemp · 26/10/2022 09:00

Was Snags previously Heist or am I getting my 'direct to consumer brands that I only know about because they've upset MNers' mixed up? Speaking of DTC, I'm hearing noises a lot are heading into serious financial troubles (most never turn a profit anyhow).

Volte, very impressive on the ball gown (are you secretly Rishi Sunal and is Boris Johnson the toddler Grin). If it's slippy on the machine you can use strips of tissue paper underneath. More time intensive is to baste it all together by hand but it does get tidier results IME.

I finally got over my sewing inaction last night by finally taking in my Studio Nicholson jumpsuit that I got on Vinted. Was done surpsrisingly fast, hopefully this will get me back into some more productive effort again as the my pile of fabric is getting embarrassingly large. And it works well with a shirt layered underneath so I can wear it now in this still weirdly warm weather, although maybe it's too warm, 20+ degrees this week Confused

OP posts:
mm47 · 26/10/2022 09:07

Hello back from covid (and the rest of it) just to 👋. Need to catch up the thread but do post a photo of the altered jumpsuit!

XingMing · 26/10/2022 09:26

Genuflecting before everyone who can sew their ballroom and wrangle a toddler!

Snag and Heist are not the same company... Heist is closer to Wolford and Fogal probably. I haven't bought from either, because I so rarely wear tights.

XingMing · 26/10/2022 10:10

Ballgown... here, it's probably only bo who could whisk up a ballroom!

Justasec321 · 26/10/2022 17:46

@Voltefarce ToddleNap + Ballgown making = Showing off! 😁
I love the spirit of that, I truly do.

Ladies - thank you all so much for your well wishes and tips. @botemp I have organized two days around your ideas - I will let you know. DD is jumping out of her skin with excitment. It is contagious. Re the Louvre: This year they are doing the Renaissance in history so if we only study the outside I am happy enough. She has a long life ahead of her, and plenty of time to go inside in the future. I lived in NYC for a (glorious) while, and we had a hack for skipping the line at the MET by going in a side door to the shop! I am sure there is such a hack for the Louvre - I must set dd off on an investigation.....
@Floisme - or anyone else for that matter! I am 56 and find it very difficult to find clothing that accomodates the sporadic bursts heat from my body, the cold that follows, and the winter outside. I am now in phase of all of this where there is a lot of misture with these heat bursts. Obviously layering, attention to fabrics and so on are key but the what and how esape.
The idea of wearning my carigans back to front inspired by thses threads work brilliantly actually, But I m a bit confounded to tell the truth. Would appreciate any thoughts you have!
I will be reading as I travel but will not be posting. Once again thank you so much for you good wishes - the kindness of stangers!

Justasec321 · 26/10/2022 18:02

Oh dear! Loads of typos - sorry. I hit send without reading.

botemp · 26/10/2022 19:13

I hope you and DD have a great time Justasec, for Renaissance Paris definitely stop by Place des Voges (and have an overpriced coffeeband attempt to peer up into seeing some of the painted ceilings) it should still be fairly pretty with the autumn foliage and mild temperatures. Musée Carnavalet is also quite close to there which was closed for years for renovations but reopened last year and they restored some gorgeous Renaissance ceilings, well worth the visit, much more interesting than the Louvre imho (not sure about secret entrances, I get the impression local Parisians don't go there the way local NYers do visit the Met but not the Statue of Liberty).

Would also recommend "Catherine de Medici" by Leonie Frieda, I read it when I was about your DD's age (well probably a bit older) and was absolutely engrossed. She very much brought the Renaissance to France and was a very interesting figure beyond that. I think there's also a new show about her, Serpent Queen, but I think it's on a less popular streaming platform (one I don't have anyhow, need to see if I can 'source' it somehow 🤫).

Welcome back mm47 did you suffer from Covid that long, you poor thing? You've reminded me I need to book my booster already.

OP posts:
mm47 · 26/10/2022 22:36

Hello bo’ no I wasn’t covid stricken
until just now - I rose from my bed of pain (not literally but I did take forever to test negative) to cater for 16 over a shooting weekend almost two weeks ago and then I needed 10 days to recover from the trauma of doing this as I can make salade nicoise for two on a good day normally!!!

mm47 · 26/10/2022 22:46

I was very pleased with my clothes over the shooting weekend until I was sent this photo:
my worst fears have come true and I have turned into a doppelgänger for Margaret Rutherford 🤡

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Always Have a Ball Gown at the Ready in Celebration of Your Enemy's Demise
Floisme · 27/10/2022 10:45

Sympathies Justasec321 I had a big stroke of fortune when I was going through it because the big trend at the time was a simple, plain knit round neck cardigan, the kind you can shrug on and off without drawing attention to yourself. So I didn't need to think about it too hard. I had quite a collection (still got a lot of them) in cotton, wool, cashmere and even a couple of silk knit/embellished ones, so all occasions were covered. And at one point, when I was alternaing between getting the sweats and feeling really cold, I'd wear a second cardi tied around my shoulders, as a change from a scarf.

That type of cardi's still around of course and just as useful versatile but you're less likely to get people coming up to you and asking you where it's from (which at the time boosted my ego no end, vain and shallow as I am). I'm trying to think what the equivalent might be now. I'm wearing blazers, jackets and chunky men's cardigans a lot but they're not so good for sticking in your bag or slipping on and off discreetly. Maybe an oversize flannel shirt? Kate Moss was wearing one with jeans on the catwalk a couple of weeks ago (admittedly over a leather T shirt). Or a tank top, aka sleeveless jumper that will leave the arms free / less sweaty? I think I'm the only person on this thread who likes them but mark my words, they'll thank me one day.

I'll keep thinking. If it's any comfort (and it probably isn't right now) it does come to an end.

mm47 · 27/10/2022 22:35

flo you are not alone I absolutely love tank tops.

justasec321 I sympathise - the sweats are a particularly horrid part of the menopause. I wonder if linen shirts might help you, they seem to wick away a lot more moisture a lot less obviously than cotton does.