Les Parisiennes des Mamanset: On the Advent of Newness

[botemp]

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

Previous thread

(I've removed the usual links to recommended shops and other places guides from the OP because I suspect they're getting very out of date at this point)

Aaah, that forum link should have come with a hairy arm warning ⚠️

Well I can only speak for myself but I don't expect anyone to keep up with all minutiae on this thread. Check in or out at your leisure and sorry to hear of all those who have been poorly. And poor your Crkd for having to leave behind a good and affordable tailor.

Ha, Flo, now that you know it's an American term are you going to be less precious about it 😉

As much as I'm a noted hater of cardigans, since they're having a bit of a moment, I have to admit that the idea of cardigan on cardigan should horrify me, but, <whispers> I kind of like it. I did spot a very nice knit hoodie at Massimo recently, 95% wool and the rest cashmere, nice metallic zip that gave it a bit more dressiness, unfortunately it was grey. Could be one for having to navigate different temperatures. Can't find it on their website, they do seem to have a bit more on offer in other colours though.

I quite like a boat neck and I think it's about time they make a return, lots of high exaggerated collars on the runway, so it should really be inevitable, the more structured ones can be a pain under a coat though. I agree that little detail on Bani's is just a bit blah, it's like a nice attempt but it just falls a bit flat but 15ish years ago when Jackie O was the recycled icon of the moment it probably would have felt just right.

I suppose The Fold do slightly nicer versions of work tops but more for upper management salaries.

Absolutely not bo, it's in my DNA now regardless of how it got there. Plus America did give us Tamla Motown and The Man From Uncle and Dallas, so not all bad. But I'll tell you what, I'll make a concession for 'slipover' cos I'm a reasonable person and it reminds me of my aunties.

Oh bani I feel bad now for putting you off that top. I was going to say I'd prefer just a plain long sleeved T shirt but then we'd be back to the godamm awful colour choices which is how we got here in the first place.

Apparently it’s the 65th anniversary of the founding of Tamla Motown. Almost as old as the debate about slipovers / pullovers / tank tops 😂

There was a programme on Friday night, showing the best bits from Top of the Pops from the 1970s. Considering they could only have acts introduced by Acceptable DJs (mostly Tony Blackburn), it was a good show. Took me right back to my Youth. Everyone was so slim, as well.

Meant to say - in the audience there were a lot of tank tops...

Ha! We often watch old Top of the Pops shows on a Friday night, which tells a tale in itself: you start off going out at the weekends and you end up watching other people going out... But I digress, we watch for the outfits just as much as for the music. I was sooo snooty about T Rex back at the time cos I was into singer-songwriters and folk, the drearier the better, but now I want every outfit Marc Bolan ever wore, and his hair.

Ha, ha, ha flo. I love watching old totp. A younger me (20s) used to channel Marc Bolan on nights out with similar hair - dark, curly bob) a feather boa and some glitter! Sky Arts had an Into the Vaults program with Guy Garvey, which had lots of itv music footage from different years.

Talking of Music and Fashion, I gave just finished The Giant Dark, one of the characters is a rock star and the descriptions of her vintage dresses and red lipstick sound great. I don't think I can pull of the wafty dresses, but red lipstick (especially as I have been wearing minimal eye makeup due to eczema) seems appealing in deepest January.

Hairy arm warning indeed Bo! Probably they feel it's part of the aesthetic.

Flo, absolutely don't worry about putting me off, that's what I need. Am sitting at work in those new trousers I bought and HATING them, they are too low waisted and I just cannot get along with it. I should not have bought them and I need to stay firm and not get seduced by something Being There.

And I agree that boat necks need to come back - or just that in general it would be nice to have a few options, especially when it comes to very basic items.

MmePoppy - there is def a difference between the more 70s style of slipover and the ones I see now (sort of on the way out this year) that are looser and signal Scandinavian hygge or something.

I feel your pain over the low waisted trousers bani. When I dug out those Gap Long n' Leans the other week, I wore them all afternoon because I liked them so much and I kept telling myself they weren't insanely low (just under the belly button) and that I'd worn them previously so must have got used to them last time.... but I just couldn't. It was partly the sensation that they were about to fall down (which never went away) and partly the draught up my back whenever I leaned forward. I've still not moved them out though!

And before leaving the subject of 70s music, I was really sad to read Annie Nightingale had died. I'm not sure how well known she was outside of the UK but, when I was growing up, she was just about the only female voice you heard speaking on Radio One.

flo, Annie Nightingale's Sunday Night Request Show was a rite of passage for teenagers. She played such an eclectic mix, I discovered lots of music thanks to her.

Ha yes, I used to do my homework on a Sunday evening listening to that show.

<waves> I've returned from Paris and as much as I love the place if anyone's planning any trips I'd say postpone it till after the Olympics, it's really ruining the vibe of the city <haughty sniff>.

It was very magical with the flurries of snow though, didn't get much shopping in (no loss by the looks of it, sales were very disappointing, I got a cashmere jumper, nothing else, unheard of for me, otherwise it was all just not quite right in some way. A shame as I really loved a pair of JW Anderson trousers but the rise just didn't feel comfortable) but lots of my favourite places have closed down or are in the process of closing down <sheds a tear for Tom Greyhound>. Apparently the Olympics are increasing the cost of everything, tourist tax was tripled (€10 something pp per night 😮) and public transport costs will nearly double during the Olympics. The logic is lost on me.

Thankfully all the exhibitions I went to were excellent (the Rothko exhibition was definitely worth the hype and I hope the Alaia and Iris van Herpen exhibitions will travel). But probably the most excitement was reserved for the supermarket where I discovered the Crepe Dentelles god have almost answered my prayers for an adult Kinder Bueno. I'd just need to coat it in chocolate and sprinkle on some toasted chopped hazelnuts to fulfil my dreams. They're tiny though, very cute and far too easy to eat...

Interesting Botemp. I often pop over at the end of Feb for the Agricultural Salon but I’m going to give it a miss this year.
re JW Anderson trouser rise, was it too high? We’ve had so low your pubes were on show, and now they’re up to my boobs. I think there was a brief “ mid rise” window, I’d like it to come back but maybe expecting the designers to come up with something comfortable and sensible yet stylish is for the birds.

Ah you name changers, I can never keep track but with the mention of the agricultural salon it's dawned, you had a hair related username previously and made good recommendations for Indian food near Gare du Nord iirc? Must admit an agricultural salon sounds kind of fun, although I suspect it's more tractors and combine harvesters than lovely regional produce.

Tbh, I was getting rushed when trying on the JW Anderson trousers, they did sit at a weird spot slightly high on the waist and into the rib cage but the belt thingy was confusing and having seen pictures of the trousers online now I suspect I was wearing them wrong and the person before me had overly tightened the belt (it had a traditional buckle but also pop buttons on both sides, I don't think the buckle is actually that functional, but all three spots could be configured to be smaller or bigger) so I was wearing it high when it should probably be worn slightly low waisted. In the pictures it looks like it was digging in my sides but it wasn't but an odd part of my body when worn with tops that made my top half look proportionally off so it just left me confused. I'm contemplating ordering them online (but there's three different colours to choose from <aaah>), although I did find all the metal hardware overly fussy and I can't remember if the belt can be replaced entirely or if I'd have to make something but going by the pictures online you can hide it with the flappy thingies. I clearly didn't spend enough time figuring out exactly how to wear it, stupid hangry OH 🤬

No , that wasn’t me, I’ve only changed name once, I was whataboutbob before ( of Sainsbury’s baguette fame). The Salon is actually a wonderful showcase of French produce, all the regions are represented with a particularly large showing for Brittany due no doubt to the economic importance of its agricultural sector. French speaking former colonies and DomToms also represented. Most of the exhibited produce is also for sale. I’ll stop before I become a Salon bore!
Sounds like you have unfinished business with the trousers. Annoying to be left with questions about an item and not able to pop back in and give them a second try. I imagine they’re not exactly cheap so they’d need to be perfect. Good luck!

Ah, right, sorry, I'm mistaking you with another poster who moved to rural France and I think also frequently attended the AS for work but maybe it was a different conference 🤔. My memory for useless details isn't always perfect, I think you liked a particular brand of US jeans, just can't remember which of the premium jeans brands it was.

No, no, do tell more. The Agricultural Salon sounds like a great time, is it very open to the public then? Do people just leave with bags full of goodies?

Yes, they're quite pricey especially considering they're JW Anderson and not the pricier Loewe he also designs for so they definitely need to be perfect. I'll be in Antwerp later this week so hopefully a shop there might have a pair to try on again, otherwise I'll order online.

I think your memory is pretty good Bo. I am indeed a fan of Paige jeans and mourn the closing of otrium.uk , a great NL based discount site where I could get them 1/2 price.
The Salon must be government subsidised, the entry price is 16 euros and it’s open to all. Not much style inspo there, the dress code is strictly Decathlon, Monoprix and wherever french farmers buy their workwear.
Good luck with the trousers in Antwerp, it’s important to get the due diligence done before committing.

<waves back to Gander and bo> I'm far too lazy to change names, unless Kim Jong Un ever tracks me down for disrespecting him.

Thanks for the Paris warning. I'd just been thinking that we hadn't been on a European city break for ages, but while I enjoy the Olympics, I'm quite happy watching it on the telly without the crowds and the cheeky metro prices.

Unfinished trouser business is a tricksy thing. I walked away from some Oska trousers today because it's so cold I couldn't face getting undressed to try them on. Plus they were black - I've bought so many black trousers over the years thinking they'd be useful and they never actually are.

Cheeky French , sounds like Paris will be an overpriced hotspot for the Olympics. We are planning to be there, not looking forward to the crowded metro though, but love the Olympics.

Those trousers look fab on the model, so frustrating that you couldn’t get to try them properly Bo.

Now I am googling about The Salon, sounds like a great place to drive to and fill the boot of your car!

In terms of fashion I can report The leather skirt made an outing last week and was met with the approval of people who like that sort of stuff. I have also purchased a pair of Sartore paris below the knee boots, that were in great second hand condition. I have always been very particular about second hand shoes, but made an exception for these as they were so good on me. ;)

Yes the Salon is a great one stop shop for lovely french produce. Check about car parking though, I can’t remember what the arrangements are as I’m always on foot. You can also totally geek out on who won what medal for what https://www.concours-general-agricole.fr/le-gout-avant-tout/les-medailles/

Thought this article about how Regency authors wrote about clothing (among other things) might be interesting for the historically- and literary-inclined among us.

Thanks for the Paris update bo - will add those crepes dentelles to the mental shopping list for my next trip to France (not Paris, thankfully/ sadly)

Thanks for that article ShangPie. Jane Austen's Wardrobe was on my Christmas present list but nobody took the hint so I guess I'll have to buy it myself.

I like the sound of 'Japandi—Scandinavian functionalism crossed with Japanese minimalism'

Thanks for the article, Shangpie and for the chat upthread about the agricultural salon (my mouth watered) and Paris.

Give me advice, please. I bought these Dries Van Notten trousers. They just arrived. Super wide leg has fascinated me since I started this thread (bo, you had a lot of pics of fabulous wide leg trousers). I never really had wide leg trousers since 1999. So, Dries. The corduroy is ok, the finish is not great. I am surprised. Some seams along the waist are not very straight and it just does not compare with, say, Margaret Howell. I will post separate comparison pics of the inside.

I don't know whether to keep them. The overall silhouette looks great but the cut seems (maybe deceptively) very simple and I am just surprised at the cost versus execution. They are long enough for me - hurray! But I think the pleats at the waist give me a bit of a belly. I just don't know whether to wait for a flat front wide leg to come my way (might never happen for my height) or stick with this pair.

All opinions welcome and also, bo, you have good knowledge of DVN, what do you think?

The pics of the insides for comparison - MH and Dries VN.

On the model, the trouser sits lower - I have a size bigger too, which sits like it does on the model but it's lower all around and where legs join together (I don't know the sartorial english term for this) is much lower and feels weird.

Sorry this morning my English is not great