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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Thank you for the comprehensive Paris summary Bo!
I wonder if is the same lurgy that is around here, I am just coming out of one that lasted a week and pretty much everyone I know has had it in the last couple of weeks.
I had to google Louise Trotter. I always liked Carven’s style. I do not know much about it tbh, so not sure what era etc but in general I always liked looking at their clothes.

Queuing for an empty shop 🙄

I am a bit confused Bo, the bits that you saw at DSM are the PP?

I will try to do a low buy year. I think I kinda done it a couple of years ago and I might give it a go again.

Lurgy has to be one of the weirdest English words. I assumed it was COVID but I tested negative as did OH. It did last longer than I anticipated and I'm still having the odd remnant cough and sneeze and my appetite still seems absent. It's a mucus type cough though, don't think I remember ever having one of those before, I thought dry coughs were bad but I hated this much more. The force of the coughs reached down into my pelvis, bleurgh.

Yes, bits of PP I saw were at Dover Street Market but it was about two racks (with things very spaced out). The new shop in shop in Galeries Lafayette isn't open yet, still not a super large foot print but a lot bigger than DSM.

Carven and Courreges are both sort of that petite futuristic 60s vibe and both seem to be trying for a brand revival atm. I think Louise Trotter has only been at Carven for two collections or so before moving onto Bottega Veneta now (it's probably a lucky escape). Did see a Courreges trench coat I liked a lot but I really don't need more trench coats...

Forgot to mention, new brands on my radar, I really liked what I saw of Marie Adam Leenaerdt but she is a bit of a media darling so I'm watching on with trepidation.

Bit more under the radar is Vautrait that seeks to make artisan level clothing. It was very well made in exceptional fabrics, I'm just a bit concerned how this works as a business model but for what it is offering it's kind of underpriced, especially since what was in store was all half off.

And one to be cautious of and keep eyes peered out for on SM, Meilleur Moment (I'm not linking for what will become clear). It's really weird they have a couple of locations in Paris (and a shop in New York), it looks fairly impressive from outside and very French archetype stuff but up close it all falls apart. Fabric compositions are wrong, cut is slightly off, upon closer inspection it's all made in China but high prices would suggest otherwise. Upon further digging, there's nothing European about it, looks to be a copy cat brand (lots of Toteme, Rohe and similar designs that do higher level manufacturing in China) but it goes through a lot of effort in pretending to be a premium European brand. The dedication is quite staggering, if they spent that effort on the fabrication and execution it would actually be good. Anyhow, am fully preparing for lots of the capsule wardrobe type influencers to embrace it and insist it's 'high' quality

Thanks for that bo and I hope you've got over whatever it was. (I think lurgy's a great word.) I've never tested positive for Covid in my life but I reckon I've had it 3 times, and twice while I've been away, which I must admit, has taken some of the edge off my travel bug.

Very interesting about the slimming down of the silhouette, although inevitable as oversize must have been a thing for around a decade by now. I've not seen mention of it in any of the 2025 trends forecasts so I suppose Paris is still ahead of the curve. Is it both top and bottom halves and was there anything new or interesting about it?

Lurgy reminds me of the school playground "you've got the lurgy" ! I think I'm fighting off the lurgy now, tired and achy for the last few days, negative for COVID as well. I only tested positive for Covid once, though I'm sure I had it more - especially when everyone in the house tested positive but I didn't, yet we all had the same symptoms.

Thanks for all the info @botemp. The change in silhouette is only to be expected, as we must be due it by now. I'm sure I read an article about Parisians embracing black, skinny jeans, recently.

I did ponder if it was the Ozempic effect (the runway models definitely have gone back to looking scarily thin and uniform) but I don't think it's the case. It doesn't seem to be about looking as slim as possible (which is really weird considering the French penchant for it), it's more the supermodel era long and lean type thing with sturdy shoulders. And I'm kind of glad for it, less skinny jeans but more slight flare and platforms, a bit like attached (but with longer fitted blazers). Which isn't all that new at all but felt it for whatever reason?

Oh I quite like that look! I thought we were talking about going back to skin tight jeans and a breton top already, but gentle flares I can happily get behind - unlike skinnies, they don't normally outstay their welcome.

I'm even wearing a long line, very fitted jacket today, from an old equestrian outfitters judging by the label. So maybe I'm picking up the zeitgeist.

I like that look, too! Slim/slight flare jeans and a blazer, looks good to me.

Yes, pondering on it a bit more, I don't think it's so much this specific silhouette but more the vision of womanhood or muse. I think fashion has very much presented sort of passive woman for a bit, the quiet luxury thing very much coded as kept woman. The poofy dresses as milkmaids, prairies and pastiche feminity. There was a bit of 1950s housewife here and there too, especially with the emphasis of the waist and belting it into an hourglass shape and revival of Dior as a brand.

We haven't really had the goddess and warrior muses that were a lot more prevalent previously, so the strong shoulders and the more imposing figure you get with the emphasis on extremities as opposed to the boob/butt torso area focus, definitely feels like a switch to the strong woman thing without necessarily being masculine/androgynous. Heels are slipping back in too and I think they also psychologically tie up with the strong woman muse type (don't @ me feminists, this is fashion world logic). Considering the politics across the water, which isn't contained to just there, it makes sense that we're moving onto different muses.

You could well be right @botemp I'm not a fan of the milkmaid look, personally.

I would have loved to see in person Vautrait and also Marie Adam L. I really like what I saw in their websites.

That silhouette also reminds me some (not all) of what Claudia W sometimes wears. Yes, she is dressed by a stylist, but I agree that is a very much strong woman look.
The quiet luxury being a kept woman nails it for me as a description, I never quite liked it in a literal way and wasn’t sure why, but I think that is the vibes it was giving me.

Hmm are those dresses particularly feminine? I'm not sure. I think you could make an argument that they're more utilitarian than decorative and that they've been a welcome backlash against bodycon dressing and the whole thing about whether the purpose of dressing well should be to look as thin as possible. I don't wear them so I've no position to defend.

I'll be quite pleased if heels come back though, not because I've any intention of wearing them but because I'm so bored with the self righteousness of (some) born again flats fans.

Milkmaids dresses very much empahsise the breasts and I think the popularity had a lot to do with how that worked on social media. Buffet dresses which overlapped in the frilly tiered dress aesthetic were maybe an anti body con thing for some, but tbh I think it's much more of a post COVID can't be bothered to wear anything with a fitted waist anymore.

I'm just musing aloud, btw, it's far from a perfect explanation but it makes the most sense to me now.

I really like the idea of that new silhouette - it would work very well for me.

In fact I have an old McQueen jacket that would work very well for that.

My problem that never changes is finding the bloody trousers/pants/jean that fits and looks nice.

Just found this wonderful thread.. Will read the whole thing tonight.

I found it because I'm going to Paris in early May for a Friday - Monday weekend and I would dearly love some help with putting together a capsule wardrobe..

I am planning to visit the wonderful main sights plus dinners out.

if it helps, I'm 5 foot 3 inches and a size 10 heading for size 8.. I habe dark brown hair, hazel eyes and am a jewel winter.. All advice and tips welcome, thank you

Welcome @EatTheBastard.

@botemp I think your musings are pretty spot on with buffet dresses post COVID. I would much rather wear variations of a blazer/jacker with jeans/trousers.

@andIsaid , trousers tend to be problematic. A number of us regularly moan about that.
What body type ? Height are you? And what brands do you have in trousers?
FWIW I am a bit straight up and down, 5,7 height, size 10-12 at the bottom.
If I have to summarise the trousers that I found to be me well , at a high street level I rate Whistles for fit, then Sezane fits me well in trousers (I only have two from them as I don’t highly rate quality/price) but the fit is good, certain Cos trousers are also a good fit for me, and going higher end I have a pair of black Fendi that are really good and very much on the above cut, Margaret Howell (always from sample sales) can be good but not great in length if you are taller.

welcome eatthebastard! What do you normally like wearing?

Yes, the more fitted the trousers, the more problems 🫤 I think I'm going to have to get round it by making my own. I have just put in an order with NAP for some a.w.a.k.e. mode trousers, interesting cut with a slight flare but I suspect it won't be an instant perfect fit (sized up just in case). Also ordered a Marie Adam Leenaerdt oversized shirt which will probably be more like a dress on me, fair few bits at 70% off so figured it was worth a punt.

Welcome eatthebastard, I'm not in the business of dissuading anyone from dressing up for an occasion, no matter how flimsy the excuse, but would just point out that by no means does Paris require a specific wardrobe. Whatever you'd wear for a day out in London would be fine and restaurants are not particularly formal at all. If you're doing the sites you'll mostly be among other tourists who will sensibly prioritise footwear and comfort, so there's really no need (unless you want to, don't let me stop you). May is tricky, it could be super sunny with summer temps or it very well may be freezing with a flurry of wet snow. So my best tip is not to start planning until very close to the day and work from shoes and coat that the weather will require, it'll usually involve layers of sorts. Since you're doing tourist sites, be mindful of the bag you take, it's crawling with pickpockets in those areas, especially around the metro. A zippable bag that you can clench under your armpit is a good choice.

Welcome EatTheBastard. I've not visited Paris for years (I don't know why they allow me on this thread really) but I've been on a number of European and UK city breaks and the main thing I've learned is that we never, ever go back to the hotel (or wherever) to change before dinner. We just stay out until we're hungry and tired and then we find somewhere to eat wherever we happen to be. So I never take 'going out for dinner' clothes any more, instead I take my very favourite informal clothes that will work for sightseeing but that I wouldn't feel conspicuous in if we did end up in a naice restaurant.

I only wear flat shoes anyway but yes, comfortable footwear. I take a coat / jacket for swanning around and posing in rather than for practicalities, which has sometimes been a mistake but it's not like we hang around outside for long if it's cold or raining. I do always carry a very un-parisienne rain hat though and (apologies if too much information) deodorant and toothbrush so that I can at least do a basic freshen up before dinner.

One thing I remember from Paris shops is that. more than any other city I've visited, they're much more welcoming and receptive if you go in with a big smile and say 'Bonjour!' even if that's the only French you know. In fact the worse your French is, the more they seem to like it, just as long as you've made an effort.

Will you be able to go to the Louvre Couture exhibition? Do report back if yes!

https://www.louvre.fr/en/exhibitions-and-events/exhibitions/louvre-couture

Back in the 90s (😁) a fitter me with no children looked very good in Helmut Lang and Yamamoto trousers and skirts. Dries pants swallowed me. I liked and needed a neat cut. Levis Long n Lean looked great too.

Nowadays, I am more apple I think, with fat storage on the top of my thighs and bottom of my bum.

I am 5ft 8in. I only wear skirts now as I cannot find any trousers. For some reason they make my legs look short even though the are not.

Cos swallows me a bit. I got a pair of Comptoir light, 3/7 leg, light late summer/early Autumn which are the first pair in years that look ok.

I never thought to look in Whistles - thank you for that.

Fendi will have to wait for the post dc in uni life, one that I am really looking forward to!

I would love to know which Bastard needs to be eaten!

I think it's a reference to this amusing thread, She has eaten him. Where I saw eat the bastard first coined anyhow.

Thank you @botemp

Mumsnetters are very funny.

Good evening, ladies, what do you think?
I bought a skirt on Vestiare, quite similar to this from Ecole de Curiosites (shorter on me). Second pic is the same styled differently at La Garconne.

But as you can imagine, with all the pleats, it makes me look wide (I am not). I thought I don't care about clothes that only makes you look slim and want just to play with the silhouettes. But I am unsure. I think I need you to tell me something interesting and inspiring so that I accept this look.

To begin with, it reminds me of two things, Sofie D'Hoore who reminds me of bo, whom I learned from about the brand. And bo is architecture and knowledge. And women in Tokyo metro on their way to work, they wear a lot of pleated skirts. But they have very narrow frames.

My first thought is that the blouse in picture 1 is appalling, ill chosen and wouldn't be flattering even on a supermodel. And the second picture (the monochrome) is actually useful, and wearable, for most people. Even if, like me, you don't love it.