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.

Previous Thread

I was wearing my Seafarer jeans, Red, the ones Jane Birkin popularised. (I attached images but they always seem to be delayed).

I'm doing ok - ups and downs but it's not a brave face ;) I'm upset about separating mostly because of the kids, it's a lifestyle change for them IYSWIM.

I'm having to cook every day now which is bloody awful :( so boring.

I also have flares! Bought a pair of brown jeans that don't fit me very well (nothing does) but I forgot to return them. https://www.ahlens.se/produkter/dam/vida-byxor-med-hog-midja-ika-89b776a3-3e25-4ed3-be5f-9dd9a161aa5f Well sort of flares. More wide/bootcut I suppose.

It’s nothing new really bo. Typically someone asks a question about whether or not something looks current and the thread goes up in flames. But it seems to be intensifying to lockdown levels again. I’m half expecting another proposal to split the board before long, with a separate off-shoot for fashion chat. I might even go along with it next time, even though I don’t think it would solve anything and might make things worse.

Red my flares are old ones from the last time they were a thing: a pair of Levi 519s but the style doesn’t seem to exist any more (the name’s still around but it now refers to extreme skinnies), and some Gap Long and Lean. But I think these Levi Ribcage look like a pretty close match:
https://www.levi.com/GB/enGB/clothing/women/jeans/flare/ribcage-bell-jeans/p/A87170000

I will indeed post a picture at some point, hence my constant name-changes, however, my subterfuge is rubbish so I may as well just own it. Though I do find this thread a 'safe space', there is no horror here.

@banivani, that sounds (temporarily) rubbish, as we say in Yorkshire though, you'll be reet. And you will be reet. Ten years ago we had a business go down the tubes at the same time our daughter was permanently excluded from school and we made a series of poor decisions, that was a tough time, I look back now and think, bloody hell, that was tricksy. It wasn't long after that I started to post on this thread, fashion kind of pulled me out of a bit of a hole, because clothes are always going to be there for you.

And @botemp, we moved to this area because of the aforementioned decade-ago bad times, and whilst it's a lovely area, it's not where our heart is. I realised in January that once the boy finishes his A levels, we can move anywhere and Sheffield was the obvious answer.

@Floisme yes, the boards have gone a bit haywire, I don't post much anymore because I do not have the energy for a style v fashion argument. My general rejoinder is that it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.

Which I stand by, the truly stylish have their own thing going on with a foot in both camps.

I'm just taking a break from packing a house by myself, although I made my husband drive over to New House with a car full of shoes in boxes on Saturday because when I met him and we moved in together, he had to do that twice, so, nostalgia. It was also a thinly veiled excuse to meet friends for drinks and dinner that we can walk to. Joy!

Oh, and flares!

I too am wearing ribcage bell.

I've got loads of flares because I've always loved them but I wanted a pair to wear with flats and the ribcage bell really work. I got a light wash for summer.

Hmm, Flo, most of lockdown is now a hazy memory and while I recall epic levels of batshit on here, I don't remember too many fashion ones as everyone who could embraced pyjamas and putting off washing their hair for another day or three. Wedding season once lockdowns finally ended did seem more contentious than usual. Tbh it wouldn't surprise me if the rabble rousers are outside actors, screenshot artists and/or otherwise bored individuals.

I'm with Whorl on that a foot in both camps is indeed where the interesting dressers are and have long lost the energy to argue about it. Sheffield sounds like a great new (but familiar) chapter for you Whorl, the shoes will have a lovely home, I'm sure.

Hope the kids are managing bani, think they're all late teens or older, right? My aunt and uncle separated when my cousin was around that age and she didn't cope well with it at the time but got over it quicker than I anticipated once the shock had passed. I quite like the brown flares, is it just a slightly too tight thing (so there's hope for them yet) or just an all wrong destined for the charity shop thing?

Ahh @banivani if they're older, they'll be fine. My parents split when I was 19, it was absolutely fine.

My mum had a 'reduced circumstances' existence (her words), but both parents and all five children have excellent lives. The separation of parents ain't always bad.

And you will be more than fine, just take time to make a space for you. Think about your new life.

I guarantee it will be acers.

I might need to look at flares … but maybe after the summer.

I don’t want to be that siren voice in your ear Red but I always think the best time for flares is the summer…

Do those Ribcage Bells work with flats Whorl? I haven’t bought any new flares (yet) but I did have to shell out on some platforms for them, which puzzles me because I don’t remember wearing them with heels the last time around but, judging by the length, I think maybe I must have done.

Yes, I'm coming round to the idea of flares being good for the shit summer weather we get sometimes. I'm undecided if this year will be another one of those. Early in the year I was convinced we'd have another hellish one with constant heatwaves as spring was so uncharacteristically dry but I'm less convinced of it now, but it's only early June yet, so to soon to tell.

Ugh don't trigger me with talk about platforms, Flo, there was the most enticing pair at the Dries van Noten sample sale and while they fit and had me all giddy they were just a touch too small. They were so affordable too, took far too much effort to talk sense into myself and not buy them

Ok no more platforms talk from me bo (but I do love them - they're so ridiculous).

I'm sure this is a stupid question but bear with me: This new V&A East, what does it do? I've had loads of emails about it but they're all so opaque and pompous, e.g. 'its a sourcebook for your creativity' I get the storehouse bit, cos that's in the name, and that you can go and view an object if you order in advance. But does anyone know if there's anything to see if you trek out to Olympic Park and just drop in?

I admit I'm a bit pissed off with them because they keep sending me stuff about this new place and yet I can't remember getting anything about closing their main fashion gallery for the next 2 years. If I'd known that was coming, I might have held off renewing my membership.

Well I can't speak for V&A East but I suspect it's very similar to the Booijmans & Beuningen Depot in Rotterdam which I'd highly recommend anyone visiting Rotterdam. It's basically turning the depot space into an attraction and it tends to be a less stiff version of a museum so brings in a different audience. Younger crowd and it's also a good day out with children because no one cares if they're noisy or run around, the attraction isn't so much the art works but being able to look behind the scenes, there's some education around preservation, etc. Think they also do programs around showcasing artists that aren't necessarily relevant to having in the collection but are representative of the moment and/or place.

In case of the Rotterdam one, the building's architecture (have a search for it) and the rooftop view are as much of an attraction (and for some the primary reason to go visit). It's just about diversifying and being able to monetise an otherwise functional and costly building. Although museums tend to be free in the UK, is the V&A East free to visit?

Ah that makes more sense. The photos I've seen are mainly just stuff packed away in crates, which is partly why I wasn't clear what there was to actually see but it sounds like it's worth a trip if I ever make it to London again. Yes it seems to be free. Thanks bo, they should put you in charge of their communications!

Yes I was also bemused/curious about that V&A
what do you mean they are closing the main fashion gallery for the next two years? I don’t remember that … or maybe I forgot??

ok, I had flares but they left me for the charity shop pile. One really lovely pair from Cos, but sadly became a tad too tight on my waist and got tired of waiting to be right time of the month to wear them. I feel I am less inclined to wear things that are not 100 comfy, and maybe my comfy threshold has also changed.

Still I will get some new ones after my summer holidays as we are leaving in 4 weeks ish. Taking a long holiday and need to think about packing wisely as there will be different parts to the holiday.

I got a member's newsletter from them on Monday, Red and it was mentioned there, buried in a piece about a 'fashion trail' of the whole museum. Not sure if this link will work but the relevant sentence is: '
The launch of this trail coincides with the closure of the Fashion gallery ahead of a major transformation project due for completion in spring 2027'.

I don't recall seeing anything before and they email a membership newsletter out every week so they've had plenty of opportunity. When I dug around, there was a piece in Time Out too.

The special exhibitions will continue but it's the free permanent collection that's closed.It will re-open as 'The Burberry Gallery'. Here's another

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/va-trail-fashion?src=450036_Membership_Monday_Inspired_by_Members_Week_Shop_Range_02_06_2025_EMAIL&utm_source=dotdigital&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=450036_Membership_Monday_Inspired_by_Members_Week_Shop_Range_02_06_2025_EMAIL&dm_i=7H4Q,9N90,27C66V,188BU,1

Edited to add, to be fair I've only been skimming the newsletter recently so it's possible that they'd said something already and I'd missed it.

Oh!
thanks Flo
yes … 🤔

And now I’m wondering what costume museums / galleries are still open in the UK?

V&A collection closed until 2025.

Bath Costume Museum closed until 2030.

Platt Hall in Manchester had a big costume collection that was taken over by the City Art Gallery around 2022 and seems to have mostly disappeared. Bits and pieces in 2 interesting but small temporary exhibitions but not a sniff of most of it the last time I looked.

Can’t think of any more in England. Are there any in Scotland/ Wales/ NI?

The Fashion and Textile Museum in Berdmonsey?

https://fashiontextilemuseum.org

Good shout - they put on exhibitions but do they have a permanent fashion collection? I don’t think they do.

I assume most of the effort into publicising the new V&A is happening on Instagram and Tiktok, Flo, probably why it's all a bit vague in text in a newsletter. How does the free admission work in the UK? Over here museums are paid entry but subsidised and they basically get funds allocated based on ticket sales.

I don't know my UK museums that well but I think there's one with a historical collection, I just can't remember what it's called, somewhere rural. I did see Kensington Palace is putting on another fashion themed exhibition about dress codes, so not only what Royals wear to fancy banquets but also the uniforms of the palace staff, the latter probably being the more interesting.

I saw a documentary a while back about making all the uniforms for Charles' inauguration. It was presented by Patrick Grant so I'm guessing it was BBC but I think I stumbled across it on YT, will see if I can find it. It was really interesting, did not know the MOD pretty much keeps one textile mill in business for that signature red cloth and a lot of the ceremonial uniforms seem to be pretty much unchanged from centuries ago. There's a similar company in Belgium that's kept alive by orders from the papal court.

Found it quicker than I thought

They absolutely do @Floisme, 'tis why I bought them.

I'm very sad. My best friend died. By herself. From sepsis. My heart is fucking broken.

That's awful, Whorl, no wonder you're sad and awake in the small hours.

I'm so very sorry @Whorl - losing friends and family is really tough, take care.