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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.

1000 replies

botemp · 11/08/2024 12:50

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

Previous Thread

Les Parisiennes des Mamanset: On the Advent of Newness | Mumsnet

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4840470...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4953139-les-parisiennes-des-mamanset-on-the-advent-of-newness?page=1

OP posts:
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150
Redandblue11 · 02/01/2026 11:06

Forgot to say that those books look like such a treat flo.
Anyone has seen anything interesting in the sales? Or preloved? I have been holding my hands tight … but I do need a couple of cotton Tees long and short sleeved for layering.
I know flo every year goes in the quest. I will probably end up buying same old from JL or MS … although I should look at community clothing first …

Floisme · 03/01/2026 09:27

Ha, I'm not starting on T shirts while there's still ice on the ground Red! (OK, last year I got a couple from M&S in the end - elbow length sleeve, slightly boat neckline but still covered bra straps. They were alright.)

I've sent for a Toast skirt that I'd been eyeing up for months. I kept telling myself I could make one... but I didn't and it was almost half price. I'm slightly hacked off with them already as it'll be a week tomorrow since I ordered (standard delivery admittedly) and, apart from a confirmation email, I've not heard a word. I get that it's probably their busiest time but some communication wouldn't go amiss. Anyway here it is:
https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-sale/products/cotton-wrap-straight-skirt-slate-blue

I'd been toying with giving up internet shopping as a New Year resolution, not so much to curb spending but to cut down on scrolling. There was an interesting conversation on the 'no buy' thread where some posters were saying they spent so much time browsing online that they weren't reading books anymore and it struck a chord with me. But given that my local choice is a badly stocked M&S, H&M, TK Maxx, Next, River Island and New Look - well it was never going to happen.

And now I'm off to look at bo's couture pics over coffee, before the link runs out. Thanks bo!

Cotton Wrap Straight Skirt | Slate Blue

Cotton Wrap Straight Skirt | Slate Blue

Cotton wrap straight skirt inspired by workwear styles. Available in Slate Blue.

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-sale/products/cotton-wrap-straight-skirt-slate-blue

quirkychick · 03/01/2026 11:29

Oh, flo, I 've been eyeing that up (can't justify it and I really don't need another skirt), it's really lovely.

Floisme · 03/01/2026 11:33

Same here quirky, on both counts, and yet here I am Grin

botemp · 03/01/2026 14:29

Ah, you did right by just ordering the skirt Flo. So many times I think, I'll sew it myself and never get round to it.

Asket might be worth looking at for t-shirts next time you're in London, Red. (Is this suggestion just a selfish ploy to get intel on that store's inventory <ahem> yes Halo)

I don't need anything but I'm still obsessing over all things suede, but I hardly see any of it in shops, seems to be online only and I want to feel the quality of it, because it can be very meh. Other textural fabrics would also take my fancy and I'm not opposed to a mini skirt, though considering fit it might be better off to sew one of those myself.

Don't have any NY resolutions as such, I feel the balance of my new and secondhand buys is good atm. I do mostly buy in the shops, I think that probably does help but what probably helps more is that there's been lots of city breaks with opportunities to shop, so I often postpone the idea of shopping until I go to X and don't necessarily always buy when I get there (and a lot of 'new' being rather uninspired and overpriced so that's further kept the wallet shut). Despite having a few decent shops locally it would feel really limited only being able to buy there. Maybe I should get more regular with the sewing because I've fallen into the pattern again of making things too late in the season and it then being done on the last weather appropriate days. The constant barrage of horrific news has me endlessly scrolling more than the online shops, probably also is the thing that's halting the online consumption.

OP posts:
Redandblue11 · 03/01/2026 14:58

Yes too many horrific news atm are sending my mind into overdrive. Just as I am starting to feel progress on my back.

That skirt is a good buy flo.

ok Bo, if you insist 😅I might pop into that shop in January …

I am trying to plan a weekend in Paris, not sure yet when but I am hoping I can arrange it for when the Alaia exhibition is still on.

mini skirts - I hadn’t worn one in years and this year I wore one for one of my Xmas celebrations. I love a mini skirt.

Floisme · 05/01/2026 07:59

Those photos are fabulous bo, thanks so much, it must have taken you ages to edit them. (Are you sure you didn't have a private viewing? Grin)
I didn't think I had a stand-out favourite but the one that's stayed in my head the longest is the yellow skirt that looks like a paper Christmas decoration. Did it say / can you remember what it was made of?

botemp · 05/01/2026 21:13

The catalogue I have (it's not really a catalogue, it's a special magazine edition on the exhibit, the actual catalogue was rather heavy and a bit expensive) is not very informative, Flo, and my picture didn't capture the text. But the Met has something similar and lists the materials. Though I can't make much sense of what's b, c, or d but I guess it's b and c where d is potentially an underskirt we don't see?

It's not that difficult to remove people, there's this magic eraser thing on my photo editor and it just removes the whole person and sort of fills in the background from context. One bit of AI that's actually not terrible.

Undercover - Ensemble - Japanese - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/757274

OP posts:
andIsaid · 06/01/2026 03:54

Is that it ladies?

Does Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet end here?

Say it ain't so...

It would be a terrible start to my year.

I am half way through a philosophy degree and come here when the Greeks are breaking my brain!

What will I do?

Floisme · 06/01/2026 08:58

Thanks bo, I'd never heard of Jun Takahashi and then, when I googled, found out he does collabs with Uniqlo Blush Judging from what's on Ebay, hoodies and Star Wars T shirts feature rather heavily so maybe that's why he's never registered with me. But I've also read he sings in a Sex Pistols tribute band so he sounds like my kind of guy.

Don't despair @andIsaid (Do philosophers despair?) The pace of this thread was very sedate last year, for all kinds of reasons, but we're still here!

botemp · 06/01/2026 14:35

I thought philosophers were professional despairers (not a word, I know).

JT was new to me too, I suspect he probably came via Comme des Garcons or Issey Miyake, there's a lot of smaller Japanese designers like that.

I won't have much access to my computer the coming days so I've set up a new thread in case some of you decide to start chatting in a flurry again while I'm not looking.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5471412-les-parisiennes-des-mamansnet-if-you-stumble-make-it-part-of-the-dance

OP posts:
andIsaid · 06/01/2026 21:38

I thought philosophers were professional despairers (not a word, I know).

When trying to write the essays I do indeed despair. 😁

I am a (very mature) mature student, so have come to this late in life.

I really love it, do not necessarily understand most of it, and take many wrong turns.

Most philosophers build on threads or ideas inspired from previous thinkers. And most of them have Plato in there - arguing against, with or for.

Imagine that - a thinker from 20/25 cent ago is still provoking chat!

Floisme · 07/01/2026 09:17

I did a part time Masters in my 50s and enjoyed it hugely, although I got frustrated with the academic way of doing things. My tutor said I should donate the inside of my head to science.

I've had an email that the Margaret Howell sale starts today. Despite having no intention of buying, I keep refreshing the Home page...

Papyrophile · 07/01/2026 09:58

Good luck @Floisme.

Redandblue11 · 07/01/2026 11:29

I have been playing in my head with the idea of a post grad of some sort … in my head in 5 years time I am doing a maths phd …
or doing a horticulture or botanical type degree …
I know.

just went into Margaret Howell site, I can probably afford a beanie or a pair of gloves at those prices.

but what I really want are the trousers. The fairisle jumper doesn’t seem too crazy price wise …

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.
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.
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.
andIsaid · 07/01/2026 21:51

@Floisme
My tutor said I should donate the inside of my head to science.

That made me howl!

Howell and my hips do not get along.

They used to though, in the 90s.

Floisme · 08/01/2026 09:36

My tutor was great, very astute and made me laugh. I'm not saying I wouldn't have got through it without him but he made it very enjoyable. Best of luck with it @andIsaid , it can be very rewarding.

They're great trousers Red although I'm all about skirts at the moment, and I was diverted from the Margaret Howell sale by the unexpected arrival of my Toast skirt. It's good, very good even, not quite spot on but the niggles are all fixable, I think. I've tried it with a couple of fitted, tailored jackets and I'm getting that Edwardian walking costume vibe which was just what I was hoping for - echoes of Laura Ashley and Droopy and Browns.

I'm going to wait a day or two in case I get cantankerous about paying £95 and still having to tweak things, and also to hunt around in case there's something better out there for not too much more. I did check the Margaret Howell sale skirts but only saw one straight midi length one and that was still £400. Likewise Kindred of Ireland do a lovely looking one in heavy linen but it's £300. I'm not using Vinted as I want no quibble returns.

PoppySeedBagelRedux · 08/01/2026 13:47

I couldn’t get into bo’s link to the new thread- could anyone else?

Papyrophile · 08/01/2026 13:56

No, me neither, Poppy. I've just tried, twice.

Filthy day here. Storm Goretti is imminent, and the rain is heavy but the forecast snow may not hit us. I need to make a sortie to the supermarket for firelighters and dog biscuits. The glamour...

Redandblue11 · 08/01/2026 16:28

I cannot get into the new thread either. Hopefully we do not run out of space here …

oh the storm! Hope is not too bad for you Papyro

Papyrophile · 08/01/2026 16:54

West Cornwall has a red wind warning but we're further east and fairly sheltered. It is blowing hard and very wet, so there may be power outages and falling trees are probable. Just hoping the big beech tree on the other side of the road falls in the owner's garden rather than on my desk!

Floisme · 09/01/2026 08:47

Oh dear, I can't open the new thread either and we're fast running out of posts Shock.

Bo said on Tuesday (I think) that she'd be away / otherwise occupied for a few days so, if there's no sign of her by the weekend, maybe we should start another thread - what do people think? It would be a shame to lose momentum when we've only recently starting chatting again.

I now feel I should say something meaningful so as not to waste a post but I can't think of anything! Hope everyone got through the storm ok.

PoppySeedBagelRedux · 09/01/2026 09:24

I’ve reported Bo’s post and asked mumsnet to activate the new thread

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