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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IhaveneverLivedintheCastle , it's not boiled wool but it's a very dense tight knit. So I am optimistic that it will be warm, just not as windproof as felted wool.

I truly love these threads - I save them up to read as a treat. So many things strike me when reading not least the continuity of us humans!

it stuck me when I saw that really beautiful wool dress @banivani . I used to wear something that in the 90s. Actually, let me rephrase that - I used to ROCK something like that in the 90s! 😀

Now, in menopause, I can no longer wear that style not because of weight but because of heat. Sporadic, unpredictable heat.

I really wish there was some excellent design for this stage of life (that is not excruciatingly expensive).

Fabric is all important but so are clever slits that can be opened or closed like with ski wear.

I could go on for ages but won’t; what I really would like to say is enjoy every minute of the scale of selection and ways of presentation.

It's a toughie @botemp. I was in town on Wednesday with DD. She loves shopping with me because every time I'm out with her I'm always stopped and told how great I look but it's always by gay men or Japanese women.

I don't know why.

I think I have a flamboyance that appeals to a very particular cohort.

I honestly don't know. I do know that I am loved by gay men. I don't know why though.

I was wearing a blue cord flared Bella Freud suit, a vintage Dolce ruffled plaid shirt, pointy white Aeyede boots and massive Gucci square gold framed glasses.

It was definitely a look.

And gay men look at me and say 'You'.

And I say YAS.

I'm a sucker for it.

I feel very seen by gay men in the way I dress.

I have a walk too.

It's a thing.

I like that woollen dress too.
With the weather more autumnal now I am thinking about boots and general cosiness.
Anyone has any boots on mind this season?

You definitely have a distinct style Tartare. Sounds wonderful.

I would love to see a pic of this outfit 😊

Me too!

I had to think of you last night Tatare as I received a newsletter for some Tom Ford Gucci special from Resee, although aside from the red velvet suit I wasn't overly consumed with want for the selection compiled in the link the way the old Gucci images inspire.

My particular cohort of style admirers is elderly women who'd rather risk a broken hip than wear sensible shoes and little girls in princess dresses. I do get the occasional gay man appreciation but a few have really rubbed me the wrong way, a memorable one was when I was informed they wanted to skin me and wear me like a suit 🫣 Hated the whole having to accept 'ratched' as a compliment too, thankfully that was a short lived trend.

Red, I think I'm good for boots but I haven't really looked at my a/w wardrobe yet as last week was unseasonably warm (around 23° most days) but I think it really is getting properly autumnal now. I did nearly buy some Chloe short wellies last year that you could wear pretty much anywhere but even in the sale they felt unreasonably overpriced for what they were. I might look if they're available cheaper on some of the outlet sites.

Update: size down if you buy knitwear from Jigsaw... the XS red dress fits much better, and still not tight!!

Oh Bani I'm so sorry to hear that. How are you holding up?

Tartare - I love the sound of that outfit. I have been eyeing up different gold-framed sunglasses, but I should have bought them going into summer. I've no call for them now.

Boots - I'm going to stick to what I have, having built out my boot collection over the past few years. I expect I'll wear my stompy Bottega chelsea boots and the flat knee-high version lots with casual wear and in the rain. For work I'll be wearing my slouchy 70s knee length block heel boots; they're great under skirts and dresses. Also a pair of heeled ankle boots (that have a touch of the fabled "mum boot" about them. Then mid heeled western-lite ankle boots in dark red, and flat brogued laced boots with jeans.

Tom Ford for Gucci... I wouldn't wear most of it now, but I love it for what it means to me. I was just leaving school and getting into fashion when he was at Gucci and it was so aspirational to me. When I got a job, I bought two pieces, a pair of low slung black trousers with the silver logo on each hip and a plunging evening gown (that probably cost a week's wages). I still have the dress.

Papyrophile - Glad that you got the correct fit. It's a great colour. I also just bought a wool dress but in burnt orange

Dries SS25 is very nice, and to my eye, very in the spirit of the man himself, clearly a good team in the atelier. The red and purple also reminds me of Gucci.... https://www.driesvannoten.com/en-eu/pages/show-ss-25-women

Hurray for the right knit dress, Payro.

I bought my gold framed sunglasses maybe two years ago? Anyhow, I wear them year-round and way more than I anticipated (my poor other pairs). I think they're actually a bit better in cooler weather (outfit wise) so wouldn't say it's too late to get any now, Elle. Mine are Linda Farrow (made in Japan as opposed to that one factory in Italy where all other designer brands seem to be made) and they're so comfortable to wear and very different to other designer brands. They feel more substantial (but still very light) especially the bit that rests on the nose.

Coincidentally, I just watched the Dries show. While I agree it honoured the spirit and there were several things that made me grabby (bright red shoes, a statement bracelet and several dresses, skirts, and blazer tucked into trousers combos) I did feel it lacked a bit of an editors eye that ruthlessly axed the less strong looks. I suppose those are harder to get rid of when it's a team effort.

Oh, and I lied previously, I am actually on the lookout for an 'arty' boot, with a bit of an odd nose, a bit duck foot like iykwim. I like how they look under barrel leg and other cropped wide legs but all the ones I've seen so far have an added impracticality, top contenders are suede and the current storm raging outside isn't persuading me to put in the order...

I also came across this randomly on YouTube about Le Bon Marché as the template for modern shopping and also its impact on the shaping of society and womens' place in it. It made for an entertaining watch, think it might be from Australia.

Oh, btw have you been to Paris yet Elle? The Row just opened a store there (although they've just gotten major outside investment from the owners of L'Oréal and Chanel so I'm kind of assuming it's all downhill from here 🙈).

Your sunglasses are so good Bo, and you wear them very well. Am I correct you wore them in our last meet up?

That red and purple from Dries is a thing of beauty. And yes that collection is very nice indeed.

’arty’ boot? …

Oh the colours in that Dries show are glorious, especially, I agree, the red and purple.

I probably did wear them last time Red, I only have one pair of gold rimmed glasses anyhow.

'arty' boot is a bit of a riff on the tabi boots, I suppose, but those are a bit too cliché for my tastes atm. Something that's a bit animal foot/hoof like in shape, but the Alexander McQueen hoof boots (pic with the white skirt) are a bit too extreme and literal for me, hence, 'arty' boot but maybe 'marmite' boot is more apt🤷

Since we're on the topic of Dries - either of these do it? The one on the left is probably not arty enough, one on the right is suede... so I've talked you out of them anyway!

I like the front of the top left one you posted, but with the heel of the top right one.

Yes, that's my Goldilocks annoyance too, like the heel of one, not the other, something's always not 100%.

Funnily enough I tried on some almost closed toed mule versions of the Dries boots on the right and it's probably what started this 'arty' boot search. I loved those mules but I just couldn't find my balance in them and I couldn't go round walking like a stumbling fawn no matter how much I liked them. Something about the heel and I suspect where my feet balance with a high arch? The sales assistant at Dries said it was a unique to me thing, anyhow 🫣

The left ones are indeed a bit basic, something I'd anticipate from Madewell, alas, my search continues. Upon closer inspection of the Dries show, they have some trotter like shoes in there as well, maybe I should hold out for S/S 🤔

Arty boots don’t call my name.
I am too much of a classic shoe person I think.
I can admire them on someone else though.

I'm going to Leeds with DD to meet my brother tomorrow, he's taking DD out for a birthday shop and lunch.

I don't usually repeat outfits.

But I might for;

A) photos

B) Leeds response.

C) I can keep drinking wine rather than doing wardrobe maths.

I'm in.

Plus, I'm very annoyed with the people I've booked for a weekend who promised me the earth and are giving me a very mid service.

I'm sorting it all out myself. But am very, very fucking irritated about a venue for my & DHs' 50th birthday weekend.

£15,000.

Annoying.

I've got a vintage Alexander McQueen fishtail gown to wear and I've dug out a vintage Gaultier corset dress for DD and took her to buy a pair of Louboutins. Which cheered me up a bit.

And I've just ordered a Le Kilt, they collaborated with Dior and look amazing.

https://lekilt.co.uk/

I'm just super-annoyed that a venue promised me the earth and it seems that I've got much more experience of organising events than they do.

When I eventually managed to speak to the owner is was a 'WHAT?' situation from me.

And then a 'don't worry about it, I will sort it'

Ugh.

I only booked because it was a castle that was accessible for 30 all over the country.

I am peed off though.

Super-irritated.

Hang on Missus, you've hired a castle?
I clearly have some catching up to do. But happy birthday, the Le Kilt looks very cool.