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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[botemp]

Xpost because of lost posts.

Wrt bloggers, you're overthinking it. They mostly talk shite and replicate what another one is saying. Packing is a personal thing that can't be diluted into universal guidelines. Don't think I've ever packed shorts to go away with it anywhere...

And too much of one and too little of something else feelings are probably fever induced blogger assisted please click my affiliate link.

[botemp]

More xposts, I think Truss' gathered shoulder dresses are supposed to be a nod to Margaret Thatcher.

I do suspect she will end up in Vogue if she wins the leadership race. Here's hoping the set designer integrates lots of cheese platters

[Floisme]

Oh I'm sure she will - I was just 😮at bagging the biggest cover of the year before the leadership was even settled!

[botemp]

Sorry, no it was just Nichola Sturgeon engaging in tit for tat. At this point a Vogue cover might actually work against her? Agree Rishi is a very sharp dresser in a suit but out of it <ahem> remember the pool slides...

[microbius]

Can't find any pictures of Margaret Thatcher with gathered shoulder blazers. I thought Liz Truss did bow ties and blue suits with weird lapels as her cross-dressing. Mind you, leaked video of Johnson dancing at his wedding party put me off cream linen suits and blue linen shirts, which is such a pity. Such a beautiful summer outfit forever spoilt

[XingMing]

But Boris Johnson can (and does, regularly) reduce Savile Row's finest to jumble sale. Cannot stomach Liz Truss, but Rishi generally looks dapper.

I took far more trousers on holiday than I needed, and the June heatwave also dictated what was wearable. The dress bought for the wedding has been so useful since that I bought a shirt in the same thin cotton lawn... Holiday/heatwave clothes overlap a lot in my wardrobe.

[microbius]

I like Farm Rio colours a lot! I just bought a bright and very interestingly woven Mexican hammock and am very much looking forward to swinging in it in my garden. Basically, being ill is very bad for my bank balance...🤑

[Floisme]

My final thought on Prime Minister hopefuls is that I'm fairly confident Margaret Thatcher would have taken a very dim view of any invitations from Vogue, so think carefully Liz Truss.

microbius for what it's worth I take at least twice as many tops on holiday as bottoms. I'll change my top far more often because I'm sweaty or to go out and eat, whereas I take the view that my legs will be hidden under a table most of the evening so who cares. Hope you feel better soon

[botemp]

Ahem, the last politician I remember desperately trying to get into Vogue was Trump. Granted he wasn't officially a politician then, but he's been saying he wants to be one since before I was born, so whatever. It was for his wedding to Melania and he desperately wanted it covered and her on the cover. It did happen in the end, so Liz Truss if you're reading, I think it was a huge bigly donation to the charity attached to the Met Ball that clinched it.

Anyhow, I'm very glad I'm not asked to pick between those two. I've always found the small groups of members voting for the next PM of the UK an odd thing and this leadership race hasn't changed that.

I've just googled and Margaret Thatcher did actually have an interview with Vogue with pictures (can't see the pictures though apparently those were published in a later issue). Shock, horror, she professes to like fashion and then quickly returns to form, it's an interesting read, especially her thoughts on the role of fashion for women in public.

Micro the gathered sleeves are to add width/elongate the shoulders (which was very central to Thatcher's suit silhouettes). Truss has more boobage than her great idol though so needs a bit of structure to avoid it just looking wide and top-heavy.

[Redandblue11]

Are you feeling better micro? I hope so se feeling unwell during a mini heat wave cannot be that comfortable.

yes, I spent yesterday drooling over Farm Rio pieces. You know my taste too well Bo.
I might wait for more sales on them and actually get one for next year (thinking Chelsea flower show, a couple of big birthdays coming up).

Lol at vogue and politicians. I should be glad I am not choosing between the two, but instead I am more pissed off that once again all will come down to a few very select group of the conservative parties (probably average 60 and very very white British -nothing against that sector per say, just against that is on them to decide -).

last night I tried the sequin skirt, try to see beyond the creased linen top I had to hand at the time, then with black. It was so I saw how it would look with white or black and arms out va no arms out. In my head I have the idea of a white tee. The black vest looks more ‘rock’ in my eyes, which I suppose is not a bad look either but white might be better for me…
Do I still look like I have put a dated decorative pillow across the mid part of my body?

[Redandblue11]

I am on route to my holiday destination (not Ibiza but still Sandy beaches) with my family and I might have tried to take less bottoms than tops but I ended up packing about the same amount. I really don’t think too much about it but if I have allowance I like having options without going overboard on what I pack.

[botemp]

Ehm, no, not a pillow but it does look a bit like arrows pointing at your ahem, yeah, there, but that's me viewing it on an online pic at an odd angle, it would never read like that in RL. It's a great non pillow looking skirt.

I prefer it with white actually, fresher somehow, but I prefer the shape of the black top and the length of it that covers some of the skirt, it works better proportionally to my eyes.

[botemp]

Yes, my packing strategy is essentially fill with enough choices that are interchangeable to have different options but most crucially enough space left to buy all the things

[XingMing]

I like the skirt too... perfect for a club atmosphere, but not sold on either top (prefer the white) so I might keep my eyes open for something better at your destination.

You did leave yourself space for "souvenirs", of course?

[deeperthanallroses]

I’m about to pack for a week, very family life packing so probably 1 x shorts (+running shorts and top ), 1 x skirt, 2 x trousers, maybe 3 tees/tops and 3 long sleeve tops/shirts, cardigan, and jury’s out on # dresses- one long sleeveless black linen that is a bit bulkier than ideal, one short blue cotton, maybe one black nursing dress (so exciting) and I can’t remember what else I can breastfeed in. Bathers x 2, sarong. Thongs runners sandals/slides so very boring on the shoes. Now I’ve written that out I will end up with double that much laid out on the bed, but that was actually really helpful for me so thanks!
i like the white tee red, I’m not so sure about the black - would like it better if it were a bit strappier /racer /a line of bead, basically some slight detail/texture to meet the skirt to take it to rock. Mean bo to put that interpretation on the arrow pattern, those things are hard to unsee! I have a dress in a cupboard somewhere with a deep pink Rorschach type pattern symmetrical across the front and one day I looked at it and saw a huge flooding period arrived by surprise type disaster and haven’t worn it since. I still have it as I keep telling myself mind over matter but that hasn’t worked yet 😁

[Redandblue11]

Yes agree that those are not the tops for the skirt, it was just a quick try to show with something that wouldn’t clash too much. I have space for a souvenir or two … so a suitable top might make its way into my luggage…

[microbius]

I also vote for the white with the skirt, Red, I think more fitted and shorter vest perhaps.
The geometric design to me looks like the art of the nations of the north - chukchi, evenki. I attach one design of the bag; climatically opposite of Ibiza (!). I think these patterns are connected with the representations of the fish and fishing and perhaps also pointed tops of yurts. [to make you unsee bo's visions, red :)]

Very interesting about gathered shoulders and boobage. That's why it doesn't work on Truss, I get it now! To me this makes her look mummy-like [she actually reminds me of my mother] and I dislike her even more because I actually like my mother and I resent Truss for trespassing the visual territory/[memory?] of my mom. Loathsome Priti Patel looks better in her indigo suits

There is perhaps something in the proportion of tops to bottoms in one's wardrobe. I think because I found it hard to buy trousers/skirts because of my height, all my experimentation went with the upper half, which is ultimately restrictive and made me bored. Especially that I recently read an interview with Nick of Studio Nicholson and she mentioned someone who once said to her that one should always starts dressing from putting the trousers on as they guide the outfit

The bag has arrived and it is fabulous. Very soft leather and looks very good quality leather, zips and hardware (albeit made in Vietnam and am not sure what the ethical credentials are of Proenza Schouler). Excuse me for photography, not best.
I love it, thank you, bo, again

[botemp]

Argh, I'm sorry if I overstepped and should probably just kept my arrow observations to myself 🤐

Lol at your 'period' dress roses (now I have the misfortune of itching sewing hands that want to create an actual period 'period' dress...)

I have no idea on Proenza Schouler's ethic credentials. I suspect they'll do the obligatory sustainability talk for PR but probably don't disclose much or participate in those rating systems where you basically have to pay to get a good rating and they'll automatically mark you down anyhow for using leather, wool, silk, etc. I was curious to know where they made these bags as PS White Label is their diffusion line as they're really competitively priced designer handbags, even for a diffusion brand.

AFAIK Vietnam's leather industry is fairly young and emerging and one the country is desperate to profile itself with so that should, in theory, be a positive sign WRT ethics and sustainability as they're not bothered by having to overhaul an old flawed system.

Question, I'm wondering if this is a local thing or a global thing, but somewhere in the past week or two a switch seems have been flipped and all the baby tees and crop tops have suddenly been swapped for band shirts like the Ramones and Nirvana, I've seen some punk band ones too, I might enjoy the spectacle if that returns (per my calendar predictions should be autumn into winter time). The last band t shirts trend of teeny boppers with never having ever listened to those bands doesn't seem that long ago though. I think they were still a thing going into the pandemic, it was petering out and the demographic was wider than adolescents but I'm fairly sure they were still a thing...

[Redandblue11]

Incidentally two days ago I was talking to someone wearing a Ramones top… and I thought to myself that is interesting … as it was not the type of person I would normally see in that type of tops…

No need to apologise Bo! I have been in this thread long enough and I quite enjoy the openness and chats we have here. Quite like that sort of humour in the writing too. So please carry on.

[Redandblue11]

I have bag envy micro!

[Floisme]

Oh oh oh I've got a Ramones T shirt! Well it's actually Mr Flo's who was (still is) a huge fan. I wear it with a tweed jacket though so it's an autumn/winter thing and it'll be out of vogue again by then I guess..

[microbius]

Your vast knowledge never ceases to amaze me, bo. Well done, Vietnam leather industry, the bag is excellent and superior to all I've ever had. Red, I got it brand new and a hundred quid; - set up an eBay alert and one will come to you too! I'll make sure to bring it to our meeting though so that you can try it on. I think it was sold because it can be too long/big for a woman of normal height, not giantess like me.

Have not seen band T shirts in London yet, but will report if I notice anything new to this effect

[Voltefarce]

My toddler has a Queen t-shirt, and a Guns n Roses T-shirt. Clearly a fashion forward tot!

[botemp]

Well if the toddlers are in on it surely they must have sent out the message at that frequency only young people can hear.

I think my uncle will throw a tantrum if he sees any toddlers in The Ramones and The Clash t-shirts though, which would be fitting.

Is there a word for accidentally being in fashion, if not, there should be one.

But going by this random selection of people in band T-shirts, is patient zero Primark? Tonight on Bo Investigates...

[Redandblue11]

I think primark is patient zero. No doubt.