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

[ShangPie]

Love the decade-season correlation theory! Definitely seems true to my mind, wonder if the 60-70s vibe may also be why I love autumn dressing so much, or if it’s just a relief to go back to trousers and jumpers after trying mostly unsuccessfully to waft around.

those platforms are so reminiscent of my teenage boots (but obviously higher and more fashion than my Miss Selfridge cheapies) Now, l how could I recreate this vibe without a massive (ie more than 2”) heel? I can totally see how they would come back with the long trousers and bootleg / wide leg trend. Somehow the silhouette looks all wrong with most of my shoes and boots - the only pair of shoes I want to wear with my bootcut jeans is the 90s indie kid trainer, but then they have the authentic 90s pavement drag issue

sorry to hear that bani, best wishes and hope to see you here once you’re out the other side

Micro I have PM you with a link as I spotted a Jil Sander crossbody bag on charity shop eBay. I think you were looking at once a few threads back, so feel free to ignore if I have misremembered. While we’re PM-ing, can someone send me the London dates? I am occasionally in town and might be able to join. Antwerp is not likely though, sorry bo.

[Redandblue11]

I just sent you details of London meet up @ShangPie , I hope you can make it.

I know a lot of you had mentioned the 90s revival , but I hadn’t seen it so obvious as the last two days. Maybe now that the kids are all out of school and is getting warm again I see literally what would be me in the 90s transported to the future walking around… very low rise wide trousers, tiny cropped tops…

I wanted a couple of denim shorts for holidays and I got them from monki (medium rise) as shorts and that sort of stuff is not something I would wear second hand, unless obviously unworn … I think the length nowadays is a bit longer but to be honest for holidays and summer I prefer to go with the short er vibe. So as inexpensive stuff goes I am very happy with the fit and the quality.

[microbius]

I have been reading but not posting. Have not taken my laptop to Cornwall, and somehow couldn't bring myself to post on a phone. I think Red helpfully pm-ed everyone our September meet up? That is the exhibition one, we can also do the MH sample sale one if there is take-up. Thanks, Shang, so much for the bag link!

I have studied the vogue article bo linked in detail. It is interesting that they mention that all collections were basically comments on previous collections / trends / specific items, but didn't actually offer an analysis or a description of what was referencing what. I wonder if this is not a level of introspection that the Vogue audience wants but I struggle to find, if I may say, research approach to fashion. Of the like that bo posts sometimes. Also Guardian's Jess Cartner-Morley's is good. Everything else I find descends into what feels like an ad very quickly and tells me what to do/buy instead of giving me tools to think with.

Noticing on another thread Flo thinking about flares and platforms for the autumn. I am slowly moving my mind in that direction. Platforms. Do they also ask for a shorter/bulkier coats, in cord/or that fabric that look like faux fur from afar but made of thousands of quite big loops [what is it called?] All in brown...

[botemp]

Nah, Vogue is essentially a very fancy press release agency and is mostly read by fashion buyers who can't afford the trend forecast agencies. Vogue actually has a history of some amazing (female) journalists and journalism but those were never discussing fashion. Hamish Bowles has a wealth of knowledge, especially about couture, but I don't think they ever publish his work online, but there might be some things on their YouTube channel.

Anyhow, it's probably a bit much to describe my brain farts as research. JCM I think has just been doing this too long to just write fluff pieces. Actual fashion journalism is very niche. If you want proper 'research' you might want to try Vestoj magazine, it's as academic as fashion gets (but that also means it can be quite abstract) and only comes out once a year. Previous issues are sometimes still available though, I don't know if CSM gives access to non students but I'm sure they have a library with all the issues.

No need for a cropped jacket necessarily with platforms, full length jackets whose hems kiss the pavement work well too. Which can also be lethal, btw. It was nice knowing you all

Shang we should start a betting agency, what are the odds on pavement trodden jeans hems coming back or not . I suspect for those who find the platform heels too much it'll be the same alternative as it was then, wedge heel boots. Although I think they were considered very frumpy (yeah, yeah, fight me MN S&B on the terms I can no longer use) then so they'd have to be reinvented to some extent.

[Floisme]

I don't think I owned a proper coat the last time I wore platforms so it'll be new territory for me, which is good and doesn't happen very often these days.

The word that starts the biggest arguments at at the moment seems to be 'dated' which I must admit I find bizarre - and I say that as someone who's been in loads of fights over language and who still thinks that words matter. I guess I've met my nemesis 😀

[XingMing]

Issey Miyake has died, at 84. RIP. A long life,fully lived and I hope a happy one.

[Redandblue11]

Indeed, rest in peace Issey Miyake.
I really admire his work and the technology he used and that forward thinking of his. I am not lucky to own anything of his brand though.
I did not know of the very traumatic
childhood he went through ❤

[botemp]

Yes, very sad news about Issey Miyake, a true innovator lost who understood the necessity of creation over replication.

Flo, I think my main issue with word meanings (on S&B anyhow) is how through the whittling down of other words, new meaning is given to the last few semi acceptable left that make it ripe for offence to be taken where none is intended.

Dated used to just mean something no longer feeling relevant now it's code for old and decrepit because dowdy, frumpy, old ladyish, mumsy, etc. are verboten.

Now I'm generally on board with the reason why some of those aren't great descriptors but by squabbling over what words can and can't be used we're not addressing the actual issue of equating old to unfashionable. And at the same time I think it should be fine to express that someone doesn't wish to be prematurely aged into a stage of life where they're not at and it not be a desperate act of holding onto youth only to please the male gaze. Anyhow, hoping for middle ground on the internet is probably hopelessly naive of me...

Red, I'm PMing you an eBay listing that may be of interest for you.

[microbius]

Thanks, bo, I've now watched videos with Hamish Bowles and I am puzzled by how youthful he looks in videos that are 4 years old versus how much older he looks in videos that are 10 years old. I just assume the chronology is off. I will check out the journal too

Talking about age, I was just visiting my ML who is turning 80 this year, and I kept saying how amazing she was, that she is eighty and she serfs, swims, etc Only then she told me she tries not to think about it too much and she hasn't YET actually turned 80 and I realised how rude I was. If anyone was telling me, you are 45, but you look so well, I'd be furious. I was projecting my own idea of old age (based on living with my grandmothers) onto her; and if I find this in myself, I can only imagine the magnitude of the scale of ideas about age and ageism in society. Don't have any answers. It should be possible to discuss styles that go out of fashion and style ruts effected by life events / biology / etc

[Redandblue11]

I have received a sequin Zara mini skirt. Not the exact I wanted as I could not find it, but a ‘similar’ one. It is new and in perfect condition.
I just tried it and reaches mid thigh, and the key will be to wear it with a t-shirt and flats (chunky ones).
I found it on eBay and the seller receives returns so if I am not convinced after trying properly I can always send it back.
Thank you Bo for the eBay link, it is a great item indeed. Shame it is not 3 days ago otherwise I could have taken it to my holiday next week too!
But it looks a good item and very much the sort of thing I would wear, so I might order it.

Here is a photo of the skirt. Now when I see the photo , I think … blimey is short! (But reaches mid thigh comfortably and all my behind etc is safely covered), then I think … I have not worn this sort of thing in absolutely ages … sometimes there is a good reason for this and sometimes is just that one becomes ‘too settled’ in their ways and happy to be unadventurous, and sometimes is that you genuinely haven’t had the chances to go to places where such thing would be appropriate…
I am wondering what the reason is in my case …

[mm47]

Go Red (there’s life in the old girl yet is always a good enough reason 😱🤡)

ok enough of my offensive humour I think that’s a fantastic skirt and you will look amazing ….

[Voltefarce]

@Redandblue11 I think that skirt is fabulous! Would look great at mo with trainers/Birks and also with chunky boots and tights for autumn 😍

[ShangPie]

Love the skirt red - wear it and revel in the special holiday vibe. Proper beachside evening heat always makes clothes feel less revealing and more sand-appropriate to my mind, so having your legs out won’t feel out of place.

Interesting about Vogue - I saw a recent issue and was shocked by how little actual content there was, but then I have never been a magazine reader (despite working in PR and meeja) One thing I did like was their use of archive photos to show trends, but that’s more a condition of their long archive and a good art editor. Will check out Vestoj, thanks for the tip bo

Not wading into the dated / mumsy / mot-interdit-du-jour chat, but dated does really seem pretty inoffensive and clear-intentioned. MN eh?!

[microbius]

Lovely skirt, Red! When to wear it if not now?

I am eyeing cross-body banana bag. The one I can afford is cos
www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/accessories/bags/product.leather-crossbody-bag-black.0969585001.html

The one I can't is Neous
www.neous.co.uk/products/orion-black

I think it is exactly what I need to go on me before my rucksack when commuting to work starts. I somehow got tired of little pouches on long straps (seems that everyone is wearing them). The worry is whether cos quality will annoy me and I'll end up not wearing it. Neous has a little logo in gold on it which is a no-no for me. What is to be done?

[botemp]

I'm the lone voice of dissent and reserving judgement on Red's skirt until I see it on as it is sending me down memory lane of my grandparents' holiday home where they had decorative pillows that looked quite like that. Colours are quite A/W as opposed to last days of summer to me too (unless you've got one of those impossibly deep tans). I'm sure it's actually quite nice if it doesn't make you think of pillows...

I've seen that Cos bag in store micro and I found it quite bulky, the nice thing about sling bags is that they sort of mold around your body and the Cos one doesn't do that it sort of hangs against the body rather than move with it. How about this one from Proenza Schouler White Label as an in between option? I've seen it in the sales (MyTheresa maybe?) and then it's about double the money of the Cos. It comes in a few colours, the white looks very cool against an all black outfit but I always worry too much about how white leather ages.

Those heat stamped gold logos are hardly noticeable when you wear them or to anyone else. But if it really bothers you, you can remove it quite easily.

[microbius]

You are the best, bo! I couldn't find any Proenza Schouler's you attached in the sales, but took to eBay and found one for just over a £100, also in clay which is great because I don't need a fourth black bag and, like you, am wary of how white leather ages. Thank you so much, I did search for banana cross body bags (matchesfashion I think) but didn't see this one!!!

[mm47]

micro I think you know it’s not worth getting the Cos bag (I’m not passing judgment on the bag itself but your gut is already saying you will get sick of it ie it’s not really you). The Neous is fabulous. I also don’t like visible branding but if the logo is easy to remove maybe it’s worth waiting (saving?) for? bo’s suggested alternative is pretty glorious as well…

[mm47]

eek cross post sorry

[Redandblue11]

Grandparents decorative pillows 😂
I know I will not reach an impossible tan. I will try to get some photos of it on me on Friday and send you all.

that Proenza shoulder bag is fab.
Quick micro wear it while you can. you are right… I am back at wearing my laptop backpack and a small crossbody with thin straps for mobile phone, tickets and lip balm. Nothing too interesting (at least only twice a week).

[botemp]

Hmm just seen that Vogue is in the news. I'm sorry Liz Truss, but sartorially speaking you're no Theresa May...

I've noticed the brand Farm Rio is now available this side of the Atlantic. Some pieces in the Liberty's high summer sale and some new pieces on Net A Porter. They're not outrageously expensive by those shops standard but I'm not going to claim it's cheap either. Anyhow, think you'd like it Red.

Micro, I think sling bag is usually the name they go by. The French call them a banane but those tend to be fabric usually, Make My Lemonade and Six Soeurs have some nice examples of those. I also saw some made out of linen scraps that I nearly bought (was put off by something wrapping around my body in summer hear) when in Paris but I'd have to look up the brand name.

[microbius]

I'll report on the sling bag when it arrives. Proenza Schoeler is fatter than the Neous's one; Neous's bag seems to be a cross between a bum/sling bag and a baguette bag as I understand first popularised by Sex in the City.

A summer linen one also sounds very good! Do you think it would be gettable in Britain, bo?
I am getting unexpectedly irritated by the need to carry a bag, and by bags being included in women's photoshoots as part of the outfit design. Why do women need to hold something in their hand? But decades old habit makes me feel insecure stuffing my phone and wallet in the pockets and going on public transport. What a conundrum. I want freedom from bags!

Red, I also wear a laptop rucksack (female Patagonia sits much better on your back) and I am tired of the small crossbody swinging around as I walk. I wore this combination for 15 years after all

[Floisme]

Wow I thought for a moment Lizz Truss was on the cover of September Vogue which would have been an extraordinarily um.... confident move. Anyway if there were a vote strictly on dress sense then I have to say Rishi Sunak would win hands down for me.

I think I prefer sequins in muted colours so it's a thumbs up from me for that skirt Red. As regards length, I think it's about your own instincts. I know I reached a point where a short skirt just made me feel anxious and cautious about bending down and I took that as my signal to move on.

microbius I think this is partly why I got so obsessed with men's jackets - I still can't get over all the inside pockets and I love the feeling of going out without a bag. It feels weird at first but it's very freeing.

[microbius]

Disclaimer: I am ill in bed with a fever and bored, so spending my time looking at various crap on the internets (can't read books or work). Feel free to ignore me, (hopefully) holidaying, healthy people!

I found a number of bloggers who post their holiday packing lists and all of them have almost an equal number of tops and bottoms. 4 tops 3 shorts, for instance, for an extended week-end away (!) And 3 pairs of sandals. Obviously 3 different bags.

I know this is not reality, but maybe herein lies some of the problems with my wardrobe? I have 1 pair of shorts and if I went away for a weekend I would probably pack 3 tops and 1 shorts, 1 sandals and the go-to only bag, not a separate one for the plane/walking around the city etc. Maybe I get bored of my clothes because I historically had less bottoms than tops?

Anyone has disproportionate amount of certain kinds of things in their wardrobe and not enough of others? Is there a good proportion of tops to bottoms (laundry would obv influence this) or this is all very personal?

[botemp]

Ugh lost my post. Bags are here, they do seem to ship to the UK for €7. I tried on the white one in oversized, I think. Also, I lied, they're not made from linen scraps but from vintage linen (very nice linen TBF). I'm still team fabric tote bag for summer (my own dodgy topstitching and all).

Wrt SATC and popularising things, well it depends how you define that term. It's often forgotten with SATC that at the time we weren't so globalised (in fashion terms and trends) as now and the US was always trailing behind. The Fendi baguette bags were very much a thing long before they became a story line in SATC. Add in production times, subtitles, by the time things hit European screens it was long passé, as IT bags had a very high turnover rate at the time that we haven't really seen since (it's moved to £££ trainers). A lot of magazines liked to report about it ad nauseam regardless which would have you belief that all sorts of delayed echo trends were happening. But not really, despite the myth that SATC was influential in increasing fashion sales, those sales were mostly fashion magazines and some high street derivatives.

In the broader strokes of history it probably did make fashion fashion a broader thing to a very specific group of women. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is something that's still to be determined. For the moment I'm erring on the not so great side of it.

[microbius]

Sorry, cross-post, flo! This is a great reminder/idea! [must look out for internal pockets] My newly found love for MH will undoubtedly help

I also googled Vogue and Truss. I really don't get her love for gathered shoulders in dresses and blazers