Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: It's French charm, you know, beheaded people, red wine and blood all over the place - it's romantic, it's normal.

[botemp]

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

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Ooh I always liked that Le Kilt <ehm> kilt.

Now I can usually appreciate some creative editorial shots and don't like the point and laugh stuff around it but they've finally gotten to me. Was looking at this Courrèges coat and I got to the last pic of the set and I am confusion 🫠

(They cropped it like that, not me).

Hmmm...

In other news, that lovely haberdashery shop you introduced me to, Bo, has closed, temporarily it is hoped:

Closure of oldest haberdashery prompts plan to save Paris’s shops.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b870d520-4281-4990-a952-0482023eed71?shareToken=7d05253241654251d61462f929eeebfaa_

Oh no Poppy, I've gone from confusion to sadness 😭 The owner is absolutely right, the layered smells, the creaking sounds, it's nothing without that. They have a workshop space (I think they taught millinery there) across the street (equally rickety and reeking of history), I assume that's where they'll be from now on in smaller form. Next time I'm in Paris I'll attempt to get my hands on the catalogue. I hope the feckless council gets their ass in gear before more shops like this disappear.

There are some lovely old shops in that part of Paris and to lose any is awful.

We used to have shops of character in the UK, in Soho for example, but we have so few now - i was hopeful when I saw a fair number in Paris, but it looks like they are just a bit later to starting the loss. Hopefully though there will be enough people behind stopping it to have an effect.

@Tatare = what a wonderful picture. I presume you are the woman with parisienne chic and the fur coat? 😁

I too enjoyed the old house talk - ours could join in. When ours works it is wonderfully cozy but getting to that point is trial and error that seems to change year by year.

The Savoir fashion shoot at the bottom of the page is wonderful. That model has such an interesting face and is SO elegant. Such a welcome change from very young teens with legs splayed trying to look confident and sexy!

We live in the back of beyond at the moment but will move in two years. I am so looking forward to wearing interesting clothes again, walking in galleries, and among people like you in wonderful cities.

In the meantime, I come here for some soul food. 😁

bo what did I just see? Images like that make me wonder if it's time to throw away my phone and go and live up a tree, even though I wouldn't last five minutes up a tree. In fact I wouldn't even make it up the tree and indeed I'd struggle living anywhere that wasn't urban, no matter how old or interesting the house, so solidarity with you yesmen as you dream of galleries

That article about the haberdashery is so sad. I've not been in Paris for years but I remember a lot of talk then about how the independent cafes were slowly being ousted by the bigger chains, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise if the shops are going the same way.

I think there's still a very Dickensian haberdasher's somewhere in (from memory) the east end of London, although nothing like as beautiful as that one and sells mainly supplies. I've forgotten the name now which is bugging me.

William Gee? I remember wanting to go there but it was a bit further north of Shoreditch than I anticipated. Independent cafés still seem to be going strong in Paris, I feel, anyhow. Some very old institution type restaurants do seem to be dropping like flies but I think that's just the nature of restaurants these days.

How saddening to see shops like that close. You see it happening everywhere unfortunately.
I can try and push you up the tree Flo, and then a few of of go and live there?
the branches might collapse though… as I will have to bring treasured things with me.

I am trying to make space in my wardrobe again. This time I am culling winter coats and winter stuff. I sold one already and a second one is playing in the back of my mind…
(not precious like the the linen YSL that you helped me save and since then I wore twice)
this one is ‘cheap’ but unusual in a way, looks super cool, my main problem is that looks super warm so when I reach for it I remember that is not that warm at all.

xpost with Bo

which by the way, independent cafes are all the rage where I live. There are what you would think too many, but all packed all the time.

I'm joining you all up in that tree. I've gone from sad to numb 😔

I'm not going to talk about it here bo (learned my lesson in 2020) but here you are even if is only 8am (UK time)

And you're right it was William Gee.

What a weird day. Greetings (and wine) to all.

Thank you for the house talk. After quickly realising how European bo's suggestions of MHRV really is (I don't think we can retrofit a system like this with any ease onto an Edwardian house), I've investigated PIV (love all those abbreviations), but in the end I am not at all convinced I understand the balance between ventilation and air-tightness on one hand, and the very high humidity of the isles in general versus what's achievable in the internal spaces on the other. I decided to bury my head in the sand for now (with dehumidifier + heating on the go).

Bo, did you go to Antwerp sales as you intended and did you get anything?

Red, I commiserate with you in your task of "making space". And I loved the anti digital stance of the Parisian haberdashers. But imagine what would happen if all these places go! They act as a point of reference, like MH for me is a point of reference for what a fabric should be like. I got out my old Joseph coat, it is beautiful, but the cloth is so thin, and what's worse, I hadn't even realised that at the time of buying as I had no good reference points.

I like the reference point concept. Of course we are talking here what a ‘good’ something should feel or look like without considering different price points etc. but that is the point I suppose.

I have a bit of an unsure relationship with thick cloth fabrics on something like coats etc. I feel there is a point where they get just too heavy in weight and is uncomfortable for the wearer. I think that happened a lot with handbags and winter coats. I get that feeling of carrying a weight so I always decide against it for that reason.
I know one of the main things I see in the fabrics is how they feel to the touch and they need to have weight like you say micro but just right, not too much for me to wear it.
I am not mentioning here the looks…

I clearly have too much time on my hands suddenly. Trying to recover from an infection so watching too much Netflix and so on.

Any good clothes in the things you're watching, red?

The Trousers have arrived. They fit well, are well-made, and the material is gorgeous - like dark hammered brass, more than gold, so more sophisticated IMHO. They look more expensive than their cost (£145). They do sparkle a bit, or maybe it's more they scintillate. They are half-lined in pale pink satin (gorgeous!). They seem to be sold out so you can't find them easily but here's a link:

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/trousers/straight-trousers/product.tapered-metallic-jacquard-trousers-gold.1246611001.html

The issue is that I have a size 36, but the taper seems to be for a bigger size. They look fine from the front and the back but are verging on the Angela Merkel seen from the side - they are too wide, for tapered trousers. They would be fine in a larger size. I suppose that what you pay for with a more expensive brand is proper grading of the sizes.

I will ponder overnight. I do like them a lot, and there is a good alteration place in our town, so I am sure they can taper them to how they should be. I have to go there tomorrow, to pick up something, so I may ask her advice. It would be good to have something like them, as they can be worn any time of year, and are adaptable, and different.

The trousers sound great poppy , did you get them because you fancied them? Or do you have a specific occasion to wear them ? Or is it because they are a great item for any festive occasion?
In any case, I feel you like them properly, and if they look good (tapering aside) the tailoring is a good option. You are of slight frame so taking them to a tailor might really be the way to go actually as you will end with something that fits you to perfection.

Well, I finally watched Mrs Harris goes to Paris which is beautifully done and really does justice to the outfits. Also binged on Nobody Wants This, great watch for passing the time, good looking people and outfits oh and also The Perfect Couple, with Nicole Kidman doing what she does best - frosty bitch with a nudge of heart somewhere that comes out at the end, outfits here are also a good watch.

I'm pretty sure alterations would be do-able Poppy but I think that, if the trousers are semi-lined there's likely to be some de-construction involved e.g. removing the waistband. If they're side fastening then the zip may need to come off too. Same with the side pockets. I guess it depends partly on where the re-tapering needs to start. I still think it's all do-able, just that it could end up a more complex, expensive job than it might seem.

But I'm an amateur at this, I'd get advice - and a quote - from someone who knows what they're doing. Fingers crossed, they'll look amazing if you can get the fit right.

I got them because they spoke to me, red. They not the sort of thing I usually buy. My mum said to buy evening wear that I like when I see it, as she always found that if you look for something specific you can't find anything you like. Or maybe she just liked buying sparkly dresses...

The alterations lady admired the trousers and the detailed way they are made, but as Flo said, that does mean they will be difficult and expensive to alter. My son, and a friend of his whose opinions I value are coming over soon, so I'll take their advice. MrPSB is on the fence.

There are a few pairs of gold brocade trousers available to buy from places like Dolce & Gabbana, but they aren't as nice in general. Argh.

Good idea - ds and friend should be able to advise.

I saw these ones too:
dries

Sandro

Roberto verino

The Dries one looks good, but I didn’t pay attention at the availability or size, the Sandro is different shape so it depends and also darker, the last one I do not know the brand and again the colour doesn’t quite have the impact.

I am enjoying the gold trousers search

Thanks red! The Dries ones only seem to be available in size 12. But they are lovely. The Sandro ones are also nice and are (possibly) my size.

My son's instant reaction was they are hideous. His friend was more polite. Still wavering. This is ridiculous- I'm usually more decisive but these are outside my comfort zone.

I'm all for breaking out of comfort zones Poppy but I think you still have to be confident that the fit and the shape are right. I guess it's a bit of a gamble. If the alterations people can deliver then you've got some fab, perfectly fitting evening trousers for whatever they charge plus the original price. But if it doesn't work out then you're doubly out of pocket as you'd still have to pay them (unless they'd totally botched it) plus you wouldn't be able to return the trousers.

I think a lot depends on how much you trust the alterations service. Have you used them before?

Poppy, not quite gold (looks a bit copper on my screen anyhow) but in the same vein, could these be an alternative option?

The alterations place is good, but it would be so much money to alter them.
And I would not be sure of liking the end result enough at the end of the day. I do like the Dries trousers that Bo linked, though, and they have my size so will definitely return the & Other Stories ones, and may order the Dries ones. Or I may stay in my comfort zone and wear the perfectly nice dress I already own...

Sounds like returning the other stories is the way to go poppy.

I have bought a le kilt dupe … I found this M&S second hand one at a very low price, good fabric too. I haven’t quite decided how to wear it, but chunky books as sweater are probably the way.

Ooh good find Red! Is it M&S St Michael? They used to do fab stuff, you can often tell it's them just by the weight.

Is not St Michael flo , yes I love a good st Michael find. Is M&S collection, so not vintage but I think the collection line is the slightly better quality? Is not pure wool but a mix.