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.

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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

Seize

Sorry to ruin your cinnamon swirl Shangpie.

Sooverthemill assuming you don't have an actual gluten intolerance, just digestion related issues, have you ever tried digestive enzymes? You have one or two with a meal. They're a lifesaver for me and allow me to eat like a normal person (on holiday and special occasions anyhow, they're not recommended as a daily thing). I use the quatrase forte from Intoleran (Dutch company but they ship to the UK, most other companies seem to be US based) but that one has several enzymes in one, for just issues related to digesting grains and pulses (and onions and garlic) you'll want fibractase, also available in a higher dose, fibractase forte. They offer sample packets but with the UK shipping that's kind of an expensive venture. There's maybe UK resellers too, over here the Boots pharmacies sell them.

I came on here to post about something else but I can't remember what it was now because I'm too busy remembering my first visit to France circa 1971. It wasn't even a particularly happy trip except for the bread and the pastries: baguettes for breakfast and OMG - that first ever croissant. We'd learned about them in school but I had never, ever tasted anything like it.

I don't think I even tried any cakes that first time - just looking at them through a patisserie window was enough.

It's great that we're all so much more connected now but I'm also glad I didn't get to taste a croissant until I was 15, and that it came from a boulangerie and not Sainsburys.

Yes, it probably is better to come in uninitiated, I remember eating pasta in Italy for the first time and realising I've just been served some weird imitation my whole life up until then. It was enlightening and depressing in equal measure.

Anyone seen the movie Tàr? I'm partial to anything with Cate Blanchett in it but it didn't sound too appealing. However, this fashion review of it in today's Guardian has made it far more appealing.

I took delivery of some &Other Stories boots today. I'm very torn, I absolutely love how they look on (and will even forgive they're patent leather as opposed to high polish leather I thought they were) but I suspect they're going to be a nightmare to break in. They're very similar in feel to a pair I bought from Mango (both made in Portugal, I half suspect it's the same factory, it's just the sole that's different) and despite my efforts they've never broken in. I actually bought the &OS ones in hopes of a more walkable version as I love how versatile they are. I don't want to pay out 10x the price for some high end ones though, and maybe it's just down to me having high arches? I really like them though, ARGH 🤬

I have been lurking. I am loving all the Paris chat, we visited Poilâne when I went on an exchange to Paris years ago, at A level. I think it was lost on us at the time (the Pernod Ricard factory was much more interesting as there was alcohol).

I'm currently stuck indoors with dd2's horrible cold that she so kindly shared.

Ha! What teacher thought a visit to Pernod Ricard was even vaguely educational 🤔 We only ever went to the WWI and WWII sights.

I was initially completely oblivious to the art work at Poilane's St Germain shop, so lost to all the delicious things on offer. I think the bread chandelier by Dali is a replica though as it didn't stand the test of time (it was a whole bedroom set initially) but they've got some really impressive paintings, not all are on display in the shop but they'll usually show you if you ask and it's not too busy. I always wonder if they're never worried about being burgled, but then again, I think there's always staff there, at night they're baking in the cellar.

bo school trips in the late 80s were a whole different thing! We were 16-18yr olds, so not too young for the alcohol, I suppose. We all went to a bar afterwards, too.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure things were much worse for us, we were 12-14 visiting France, Belgium, Germany. They'd dump us in a Formule1 hotel on an industrial estate thinking we couldn't get up to much but we'd totally cross the highway to get to a Carrefour 😳 A friend and I even snuck off in a quaint Normandy village to raid the local patisserie for their rapsberry tarts. When we got to 16 we were basically free to do what we wanted to at night, especially the trip to St Petersburg was legendary for how absolutely drunk everyone got, under the encouragement of the prim History teacher (very serious slight female, who previously taught at Sandhurst, really interesting dresser too). I assume things are different now...

Haha! St Peters burg sounds fab. I think school trips used to be a bit fly by the seat of your pants with little or no health & safety. As an ex-teacher, I can remember risk assessments coming in for trips, but that wasn't until the 2000s. Our French teacher was pretty staid and sweet, so not sure what the Pernod factory was about, French culture or something. At Primary school our teacher decided spontaneously that 2 classes on a residential should walk 10 miles along Hadrian's Wall with a massive drop on one side with boulders at the bottom in sweltering heat and no water or drinks!

I like the & Other Stories boots. The Gucci Diana bag, not so much.

My one regret of giving up Russian at Uni (back in 1981 ) was that I didn't get to spend a term in St Petersburg

I've made another Vinted purchase: a Paul Costello grey cashmere zip up hoodie. The person selling it was making her first sale and with my vast experience of one purchase was having to talk her through it

It's actually been quite helpful for me as. I want to sell a few things myself.

prettybird dd1 is doing Russian history at A level but due to the war in Ukraine she's missed out on a Russian trip.

The cashmere hoodie sounds good. I have a navy Diesel cardigan from Vinted coming. I keep meaning to try to sell some bits, too.

In the 70s a friend doing French and Russian at uni spent her year in Paris but living in a Russian monastery!

Here I've been accusing Bani of being a long game Russian bot all this time but I've obviously been wrong, you sleepers have been hiding in plain sight 🧐

Living in a Russian monastery in Paris sounds kind of brilliant though. I had no choice but to study Russian history in IGCSE and IB (it's finally of some use) but what was appealing about it back in the 70/80s to study it voluntarily? Or was it an easy in with the intelligence services?

As for St Petersburg, I'd go to Helsinki or Tbilisi any day of the week over SP. Although for Tbilisi probably wait a bit until all the refuseniks have moved on. Georgian food is amazing btw, and their people even more so.

From French patisseries to trips 😀 and the underlying fashion as a thread. This is why I keep coming to read you all.

I also missed a Russian trip … not a school one (imagine a school trip from Argentina to Russia), too long story but basically issues with lack of argentinean consulate where I was living at the time and not being able to get a visa unless I quickly went scorted by a male and covered in an abaya to Saudi…

With all the covid malarkey, my DS school only started taking children out last year, but they had to prioritise the older years that were about to finish school and had missed their main trips. Pre covid they went to Russia, china etc now with war etc they are not venturing that way. They instead are taking them to Costa Rica to teach them a more environmentally focus curriculum and throwing a bit of Spanish too.

Taking note of Georgian food … I wonder if I can find some in London

I've not been (it's a bit far out) but I've bookmarked Samaia in London. Don't remember where I got the recommendation from anymore though 🤷

Well, having so far failed to buy and keep any of the dark grey charcoal polo necks I've ordered this winter, I've just tried Vinted! And it presented me with a very nice looking ribbed one from Archie Foal which I have read about but never seen in real life... so I've bought it, and now have to wait for delivery. I hope it lives up to its pictures.

I'd love to see Russia, but it's not going to be anytime Putin is in office. One of DS's closest friends grew up there until he was about 13, but can't go back until he's over 30 -- or he would be conscripted. I think his DM must miss it, although she now lives in France.

Saw this on Vinted and thought of you lot

https://www.vinted.co.uk/women/clothes/jumpers-and-sweaters/sweaters/knitted-jumpers/2626004451-vintage-ralph-lauren-fair-isle-jumper-large-12-14

I'll not be buying it (although I think it could look good over an over sized/long shirt ) as I've just bought one cashmere off Vinted, have another Vinted one on the way and a new black cashmere polo/turtle net coming from Lipolla (?) - £39.99 in its sale

Dd1 wants to do German and Russian at uni. She was sorely disillusioned with the war, though.

Not Vinted, but thanks to whoever recommended faux leather joggers last winter - time? I bought a black pair earlier in the autumn from the charity shop and they have been worn loads, especially in c any cold and rainy weather.

I'm following but commenting sparingly as I can only log on through my phone at the moment and posting on there is a faff. (I also can't access PMs just in case any one's tried). But I meant to get back to you ages ago microbius about what I'd wear with that Margaret Howell skirt. I think the general principle of balancing long and voluminous with something short and shape defining would work. So if it were me, I'd try a jumper ending at the waist (maybe that's why so many of her current jumpers are cropped) or a long, thin one tucked in. Or something loose fitting but with a bit of skin on show e.g a deepish V neck or just rolled up sleeves (like in the pic). Or have you got a short, fitted jacket? They've not been in fashion recently but that's probly what I'd try first.

I like it by the way and, if the pleats are stitched down at the top (I can't quite see) that can counteract the ballooning effect around the tummy?

I've probably already said but I'm increasingly drawn to skirts again: long-ish - not maxi but ankle-shaving. I have a couple in the cupboard so there'd be no or only minimal shopping involved. The only thing really putting me off is the thought of going back to tights but, if the rumours of a low waisted jeans/trousers revival are correct then that might just be the push I need.

As much as I grumble about the influencer mediascape, I will credit it for diversifying size and shapes. And the great added benefit of that is that this bi-weekly freakout on the S&B boards about something horribly unflattering like low rise jeans being 'back' is all just wind. When the dominant 'influencers' were all the same shape they'd all jump on the next thing obligingly, helpfully assisted by a stylist. Unflattering barely knew them, or they were otherwise ridiculously beautiful to get away with it. Now it's just the few rare fashion slaves and if it doesn't look good, people aren't emulating it. Probably explains why fashion has been utterly dull for years now, but for the normies it's a bit of liberation.

Meanwhile, I, for whatever reason, am craving shorts 🥶 don't even mind low waisted

Thank you, Flo, for the answer, I'll try those options.

Georgian food is amazing. Apparently the best place in London (someone was asking upthread) is Little Georgia in Islington. I tried going once but it was renovating so didn't actually eat there. But I got the book by the owner called Supra I often cook from. There is a bit of intersection of spices with Ottolenghi, like fenugreek, etc. They cook with lots with walnuts, coriander, pomegranates. It's generally amazing. And Georgian mineral water, Borjomi, is the best. Sometimes you can get it in Russian / Polish food shops in London.

There is a cafe nearer to me, The Georgian in Clapham Junction. It is not fine dining, but one can get some sense of the cuisine. Their khachapuris are good even if fatty a bit.

Will add the Georgian place to my list for a future trip to London, thanks micro. Also, Paris via Russian nuns, whatever next!

Not actually all that bothered about low waisted jeans coming back, prefer them to the ribcage huggers. I seriously hope assume that no-one is going to recreate the diamante thong look for maximum 2003 vibes.

Anyway, I came by to see if anyone had spotted this fashion auction at Christie’s - worth a look, if not a punt:
www.christies.com/en/events/collection-didier-ludot-mon-defile-secret/about

That Christie's auction looks great, will take a look, no trip to Paris is complete without peering into Didier Ludot's shop windows.

But I come bearing very important news, we are no longer allowed to say 'the French ' <chastises self>, henceforth they are people with Frenchness 🤨🥖

Goodness botemp what a load of spherical objects with danglinessbollocks. Henceforth, I shall become a mute and I'll bet even that offends someone somewhere

I wanted to look at the Christie's link but my phone announced it was a security risk and I must update my browser RIGHT NOW to avoid viruses, so I did it and then the browser kept kicking me out and shutting itself down. So that put me off a bit and I've come back to lurk on Mumsnet instead

Stop being so dehumanising and change your name to BabyWithBlueSummeriness already. And something about educating yourself

Here's the direct link for the catalog (not within the Christie's site so should be able to access) :

issuu.com/artcurialbpt/docs/it4321?e=6268161/12789934

That counts as education, right?