Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: JesusFlo Superstar in a Back Lit Kaftan (Toyboy Not Included)

[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:

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Dix-sept

Flo, from the other thread, you mentioned you were looking for a long swishy woollen skirt.... I know you don't want black and this one is... but I have an ankle length black skirt I bought about 1990. It's pleated (the tops are stitched), size 10, made by Jobis, with a half self-belt and it feels quite MH-ish. I think I bought it from John Lewis in Brent Cross and it was extravagantly spendy at the time but I haven't worn it for yonks. It's a bit too long for our muddy wet weather. Is black a total no?

Floisme it's not too late for you to take up knitting.

There are people on Ravelry who show their knitting journey, and sometimes it's only a year or so from starting knitting to finishing professional looking garments. I did a colour work class with someone who did that - I've been following her on Ravelry and it's amazing what she produces now.

The key seems to be having a good local yarn shop which offers classes plus evening knitting group sessions where you can get advice from more experienced knitters like YAK in Brighton or Tribe in Richmond on Thames.

It's possible without that, though more difficult, because there are so many good videos about now, plus there's Fruity Knitting and other knitting podcasts.

I enjoyed looking at those knitting patterns, Poppy! Myself I can cast on and knit straight on but can never remember how to cast off haha.

personally I think Tár is worth a watch despite the length. If you’re prepared for a long film then you know I mean. I hadn’t looked and was not!

Hey this is like having my own personal shopping service! Desmond thank you. Black isn't a complete no-no but it's not my preferred colour because I find I just don't wear black skirts / trousers as often. But what I'm being really fussy about is the length - not maxi but right at the top of the ankle - and the fabric. The one ShangPie had spotted was a wool/ polyester mix and looked as if it would be quite fluid and drapy whereas I'm after something sterner looking with a bit of a Barbara Woodhouse vibe (but longer). Does that make any sense at all? I remember Jobis in John Lewis - happy days! Thanks so much.

Thanks MmePoppy for the knitting encouragement. I'm sure you're right, I'm just annoyed with myself because I had a whole generation of women who were expert knitters and all willing to help and advise if I hadn't been such a know-it-all.
We had a local wool shop until very recently but it closed down during the pandemic. But I'm sure there are others.

Flo, I could take a pic in the mirror one day and post it here for you to see? I think the length is what you're looking for. It's a nice wool, fully lined, but I am struggling to recall the name of the weave. It's not as tight as a twill.

That would be great Desmond if you don't mind. I'm away this coming week and might not manage to check in every day so don't worry if you don't get a response straight away - I'll be back!

Also apologies if I sound cautious. I'm sure the quality's great but it's a very specific look that I'm after, one that might only exist in my head, and there's a high risk of it going wrong!

And I've just realised I've still not said thank you Desmond, it's really good of you to offer

Cheres amies, I have a request for your opinions. You know the eternal quest for the yellow skirt? 😅I have bought this one (on vestiaire) - attached. Very risky move, it will arrive to a friend of mine and I won't be able to see it for a few months (not that I can return it, anyway). Obviously love the colour and the pleats. But I have real doubts about the buttons. What does it mean to have these contrasting buttons? Do I need some button-rich top? Shall I change them for white or yellow? I plan to wear it less like a "new look" and more with an oversized jumper kind of look, probably covering the waist.. Please give me your interpretations and opinions. But don't kill my enthusiasm for it - just yet..

Bold move micro! Sunshine and rape-fields

From the styling of the third picture, I think the dark buttons actually work well. The first two pics are styled a little too bright / 1950s pastiche (I think it’s the canvas pumps, they make me think of Grease) so the dark buttons don’t fit this look to my mind.

However, the last pic shows it can definitely work toned down. I think I’d aim to have everything in the same palette as the buttons, so a brown knit and a dark brown chunky shoe like a brogue

That is bold @microbius!

I do like the styling in the 3rd picture.

I think it would be better without the buttons. Just more versatile.

Can you remove them?

Sorry to jump on, and hi!

As annoying as it is, I think you're just going to have to wait and see until you get it. Can't your friend send it over?

It's kind of a tale of two stylings with those pics, it looks a quite cool yellow in the first pic, I could only see myself pairing it with a sort of airy linen or ramie unfitted shirt with a few (discreet) buttons open that's semi transparant and has a bit of texture and unlikely to wear it outside of summer. The waist is really fitted and high, whereas in the second pic it looks like it sits lower, but considering the humongous jumper volume underneath it's probably a size or two bigger, and it looks like it pairs better with warmer browns, but it also looks like they forgot to turn the lights on...

About removing buttons, eh, it's pretty much a design feature, they're not my thing (buttons as features) but I think they sort of belong on.

And hi Rhadamanth 👋

Thank you, all! The third styling is massively better but it won't fit on me like this; the skirt will be shorter and more fitted at the waist. There is a bit too much contrast with the buttons, but if I get white buttons instead, I am afraid it'll be a bit "pretty". I'll wait to see it in RL. Maybe I'll just have to wear it around the house in February in lieu of a sun lamp.

I guess the buttons are a design feature @botemp you are right.

But, but, the yellow skirt speaks for itself.

So I would bin the buttons (personally)

@Floisme apologies it’s been a tricky week with DD and I haven’t checked in much except my obsession with documenting my outfits for my MH. I learned to knit at school age 7 and made a toy rabbit. A tea cosy ages 12 I think and then I picked up needles again during A levels to make a jumper featured in Vogue ( from the knitting book). I made a bit of a pigs ear of it but wore it endlessly for years and regret growing out of it. I knitted a lot in the 70s and 80s and then not at all really. I picked up needles again in 2018 and made some truly dreadful stuff which was done the old fashioned way ( which many love) so each piece separate and then seamed to produce a garment. Then I saw a pattern I lived which was atop down in the round raglan jumper and I forced myself to make it and learn on the go all the new techniques. Now I am truly obsessed again and always have something on the go (3 things at the moment). I’ve definitely learned new techniques which are to me easier than the old way I was taught by an elderly teacher. I use YouTube videos ( purl soho is good) for things I don’t know. And I’ve joined a lot of Knitalongs (KALS) specifically for a couple of things I wanted to knit but was a a bit scared to do alone. I’m currently doing a test knit for a knitting designer which show I’ve come along nicely I think! I’m very happy for you to DM me and I can share stuff I wouldn’t want on here. Ravelry is a bit of a minefield as it’s quite cliquey but you do get good designs popping up. I find instagram very helpful for designs and I’m on there and show my knitted stuff there. Do DM if you wisj

and thank you for your kind words about my knitting! X

@microbius fwiw I would change the buttons. There are so many lovely buttons around now that were just not available years ago

Would you go for yellow buttons so that they don't jump on you, or put a zip in and swap the closure so that the buttonholes panel goes underneath the other panel?

As far as I can tell the buttons are functional, removing them entirely would be a bit odd, I think and making major changes to panels, at that point you're better off with a different skirt. If I were to replace the buttons I wouldn't go with white. Ideally I'd make some self fabric buttons (like the buttons on the Dior Bar jacket) for a more minimalist and versatile look but obviously you don't have the original self fabric but you could probably find something close, with a bit of texture would be good as interest but not detracting.

Thanks, bo, that's a good idea. If it has enough fabric folded over at the bottom, I might use that. Some of the versions of the bar jacket also have contrasting buttons. But I just need a bar jacket to go with it :)

Love the colour micro I know you do not like the buttons but I like it with them and agree that with slouchy brownish tops will look good.
I don’t understand why you cannot see it for months … but i am sure there must be a good reason.

I just seen your jacket post, i personally would not try to match tops with similar buttons features or with any buttons at all.

I can see you on that skirt micro !

Here's a good tutorial for making Dior style self buttons. I suppose you can fill the months waiting with practicing getting them right

Love the colour micro, not sure about the contrasting buttons. Maybe you could find mother of pearl buttons dyed to a similar colour or follow bo’s suggestion of self covered buttons?

Oh wow! I'll take button making as my meditative practice. All health gurus say it's good to have one but I never got around to it. Maybe the yellow skirt is my path to enlightenment