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the usual links to recommended shops and other places guides from the OP because I suspect they're getting very out of date at this point)

I've been on both sides of the 'suits you' debate. For a while (probably before I joined this thread) I was a real zealot about it, but then I started kicking against all the rules and the 'shoulds' and particularly the 'can'ts' and now I've come a full 180 degrees. I agree with you yogi about never knowing for sure if something's going to be 'the one'. I mean in theory I should have enough clothes by now to be able to just add a handful of carefully selected pieces every year. But at least half of them would turn out to be expensive mistakes. That Erdem shirt looks a winner though,

I'm sorry to hear about Joseph. I don't really need those kinds of clothes any more but I've had some great tailored trousers in the past and it was a label I always used to look out for.

Burgundy is probably my favourite colour to dress in and I think it goes with so many other colours too. I pretty much want everything in that montage but if I could only pick one it would be the (velvet?) trousers in the top right corner.

Day 13

I still rate the Joseph thick cotton gaberdine trousers. They last and wear well and are comfortable. They usually do them in good colours that don't overwhelm. Sizings vary. But I agree that most the rest of their offerings lack something.

Ooh pink goes fierce - good to see!

microyogi thanks for the recommendation- I love Louisiana but am not visiting our friends in Copenhagen until late February. If it’s in the permanent collection I might’ve already seen it but as I patently can’t remember (I know I’ve been in a dark room with a lot of lights somewhere but I think it was in London) I will need to check it out. BTW I’m so happy Manufactum has got over itself, for years after Brexit it wouldn’t deliver to the Uk. It looks like you’ve missed the last posting date from them although I’ve found the same manicure set here Manicure set

Don't know what's going on with my usernames (sorry!) I agree with all of you concerning the "suit me" debate. I meant more that the jumper was a badly designed/made item of clothing and probably wouldn't "suit" anyone. But even then, the moment I posted my two posts, I realised that the second one, on the acceptance of mistakes, cancels out the first one. Maybe that woman was just making her own mistakes, and learning in the process.

Massive thanks, bo and mm, for the manicure set recommendations! Invaluable and generous as always!

This is my favourite day! I love the hat! And the undine/punk look in the top right corner.

micro I meant to say I like your Erdem top, it’s really sweet.

bo pink today I love bottom left (even if middle right is my reality).

quirky sounds like a frightening morning, hurrah for retail therapy.

I certainly can’t predict what will become the 1% I wear all the time at point of purchase. I wish I could! and I’ve definitely moved from dressing in as flattering a way as possible to being slightly more open to trying to things for the hell of it. Makes for some
pretty excruciating outfits so a lot of my clothes get redonated …

Great to see some anti-Barbie pinks bo!

I love yesterday’s burgundies, my favourite dream-wardrobe item was the two-tone coat in the furry belt shot. These rich yet earthy tones suit me (although I suspect not my bank balance)

Not surprised by the poor-fitting-jumper tale micro. Generally, sample sales are not good places for considered purchases, for me at least. Most have too few mirrors to properly assess things, and there’s often a weird vibe combining ‘smash and grab trolley-dash gotta catch them all’ and strangers saying ‘oh, that looks lovely on you’, pushing you towards things you don’t love. It can be a bit heady, especially when many of the items are overstocks that didn’t sell cos of a poor fit in the first place.

Bo seems to have great success in Antwerp, maybe the Euro ones are better run?

I forgot to say, quirky, I am so glad it was a false alarm and that everything turned out ok! ShangPie - I generally agree, sample sales could be the way you describe. But my reality is that over the past 2 years I almost exclusively shopped at sample sales and for me personally it became a very successful strategy.

Lots of things need to combine for sample sales to work. One should live near enough the shop to go often so it's not a burden and there isn't a pressure to buy something because you travelled all the way. At the same time, you need to go selectively and know your brands as some are just useless. Somehow I am able to make right decisions in terms of what to buy on the spot. My best sample sales were:
-Sunspel where I bought basic tops made for Japanese men which meant the sleeves were long enough for me.
-Matchesfashion where I was able to find some fabulous items - generally mislabeled in terms of sizing (that's why they ended there)
-brands I generally buy (Margaret Howell and Studio Nicholson)

I would even go as far as to say I became somewhat of a sample sales pro. Antwerp design sales is probably another planet. There is a company organising high-end design sales in London, but the items are still too expensive for me (and there is never Rick Owens or Dries van Notten, etc)

Thanks flo and yogibutton. A&E is not my favourite place, but they were very good.

I love the hat and punk pink, too!

Good to hear DD was fine quirky, must be stressful.

Microyogi (as I've decided to call you now, which gives me weird imagary of someone microdosing yoghurt ) I think you might also need to reconcile yourself a bit that you discovered sample sales in a sort of golden age for buyers as there was a lot of excess stock due to the pandemic and it needed to get rid of quick. Going forward the stock will be more as it used to be, as far as I can tell, random pieces and higher prices.

I agree with Shangpie that sample sales are not the place to go for your workhorse pieces, they're there for the unexpected pieces that liven up your wardrobe at a digestible price. The Antwerp sample sales definitely feel less hectic than the London ones and there's good mirrors so it has that going for it for a start. I actually think sample sales from brands you really really like are actually the most annoying, you secretly hope to find some piece that got away that is never there and walking away empty handed at one of those feels way more disappointing so you're more likely to buy something random just because.

Getting back to the art and food crossover, this time a proper chef. I didn't know I could get so grabby gimme gimme over some pain au chocolats (more partial to a pain Suisse usually), annoying (or maybe not) that I'd have to travel to Japan for them. But they're so pretty 😍

Agree, bo, I was suspecting this might have been the case of the amazing sample sales past covid. [Oh no! I'll have to develop a new strategy now]

This is my latest favourite piece of clothing and I will never ever find it at a sample sale for 20% of the price...

OMG I just watched the video. A bit lost for words

utterly stunning patisserie work. And those Dior dresses and pleats and leopard print croissants or whatever they were, totally amazing. And best of all - those buttons. Especially the white ones on the white jacket. ❤️

microyogi are you tempting fate as in never say never 🤞🏼that works 🤡😘

Wow, what a feast in all senses of the word. Thanks for sharing bo

Day 14

bo love the utilitarian kit eg the Fendi tool belt (although I suspect that really is clickbait can’t think anybody who can afford to buying actually wearing it although that might be a lack of imagination on my part). Also the leather dungarees. Is that a sewing machine or an overlocker, what’s the story behind that picture?

Oh, it's a leather sewing machine, I think, very aesthetic leather atelier in Germany. I think it doubles up as a showroom, probably just used for making prototypes.

I think it's more than clickbait, there's definitely a sort of awe for workmanship among those with stupid money, especially if it's generational wealth or built on something non physical. All the A list celebs in Hollywood are very into pottery atm, and being super serious about it rather than it just being a relaxing hobby. The silicon valley techbros seem to have a similar approach to hobbies. It's a bit reminiscent of Marie Antoinette pretend playing as a shepherdess at Versailles.

Marie Antoinette is exactly what went through my mind and I dismissed it thinking I was going a bit far but obviously not if it occurred to you too bo!

I made a thing! it’s got an even number of pearls (odd is better but I didn't use a long enough piece of fishing line or want to restring for the nth time #callmeslapdash). It’s a present for someone who is a bit of a boho rock chick goes to festivals sort of person and I think it’s more
that than than Margaret Thatcher. I hope it will end up feeling really nice to wear as the leather thong will become far more flexible as it softens with use.

Speaking of leather 😜 here are some photos of that bag I had made. I also had a few guitar straps made (late adopter), one from my deceased father in law’s Joint Services HQ belt (better than having it lying around in a drawer doing nothing and funnily enough it’s my favourite).

Second time lucky

These are the extra guitar straps (I think that’s what they are called). (

(🐕‍🦺🐾🐾 photobombing in a desperate bid for fame and fortune - think of all the dog treats that could buy!!!)

I had the rather yucky clips and plastic bits removed and replaced with leather and brass - makes a huge difference. I love the lurex-y one - both of these are for a different bag which is being repaired at the moment.

The oversized crossbody bum bag leather will just get darker and softer as time goes on, passing from dead pig/cow colour to a gorgeous deep tan. I love things that get better as they get older rather than being at peak perfection on being unwrapped and it’s downhill from thereon in once in my grubby little paws!

Aargh I pressed post before the photo loaded!

FFS

That Dior video with the patisseries! Just amazing works of art: the buttons with tweed, the pleats - wow!

microbius that brown jacket is gorgeous, I love that kind of assymetric/funnel style.

mm47 you are very talented, the bag is lovely and you're right, will develop a lovely patina with age.

mm, I love the necklace; and envy your friend. The bag is great too! Do you have plans to expand your production :)?