Les Parisiennes de Mamansnet: Emergency thread!!

[Papyrophile]

Bonjour Mariannes. Sans botemps, I've taken action; if I am one of many, I'll ask MNHQ to remove this.

It was a trying week indeed for the 80+ famous crowd last week, sadly I suspect we'll get even more Yayoi Kusama commercial fashion collaborations, it was already a bit odd before with questions around her mental state.

Papyro, I'm not sure either, the youth crowd you expect the counter cultural seeds to grow from seem to be the ones most embracing of the generic blandness of algorithms.

Ah Flo can you not convince DS to go on a day out to Harrogate? I never found much for myself at the sample sales (the chaos of them did not help, but it was mostly a lack of size thing) but the prices were very good, not sure how that's been in recent years though. If they're also selling fabric I'd try very hard to make my way out there.

So much for my good intentions of not buying anything until I'd swapped out my closet to assess what I actually have... bought a secondhand The Row cashmere jumper in dark brown (though listed as dark green but pretty sure it's brown, another ebay listing for it also called it brown) because it was too good a price to pass up and it's a professional seller with free returns so very low risk.

Also ordered jeans from Weekday as I've been on the lookout for a barrel pair and it was also ridiculously discounted but it had one of those annoying countdown clocks with it for when the offer ends so I caved when I really just wanted to go see it in store first. Predictably the price went up by only a few euros when it expired and one size of the two I ordered turned out to be OOS

This morning a saved Vinted search finally paid off for a one that got away item. That's a summer piece though, maybe if it gets here quickly I can wear it for the last bit of warm weather we have at the end of the week but I'm not counting on it. Coming weekend I'm also headed to a secondhand client sale, I should probably take a peek at my wardrobe before heading out for that, weather's still too warm (despite temps suggesting differently) to swap out fully yet.

I'm also itching for new shoes... help

I had exactly the same thought (about talking my son into a trip to Harrogate) bo! The problem is, the days when he'd agree to anything for a train ride and a cake at Betty's Tea Rooms are long gone. He'd probably say, 'Nah thanks but you go', and I don't see him often enough to want to do that. But if MH is going to do regular sample sales in the north then hopefully I'll get to one sooner or later.

How's September dressing coming along for everyone? I seem to be heading into another autumn channelling the 7th Mitford sister. I've bought a couple of tank tops (sorry bo!) on Vinted, one fairisle and the other in that argyle pattern. I'm hoping for a loose fit but it doesn't matter too much as they'll mostly be worn under a tweedy jacket. Also got a Toast wool midi skirt with soft pleats that arrived with crusty food stains down the front but it's scrubbed up pretty well. And now I'm looking for my autumn trousers, and I want wide and slouchy - not barrel leg this time - and also full length, not ankle length. I suddenly desire the feeling of fabric swishing around my feet again. Probably tweedy or cord. The fit's going to be important this time so I think I'll need to either buy new or from a real second hand shop so I can try on and inspect them first. I've a feeling this is where I might need to spend some proper money but I don't have a lot to spare at the moment so I'm hoping one of the Uniqlo collabs will come to my rescue.

Drat, has time away not made him want to revert to the comfort of his younger days when he's back, Flo? Or is it the case where he's just so overworked that he just wants to zonk out when he can?

September dressing forensic accounting on <checks date> the second? Tbh I'm a bit in confusion land as it looks very autumn like with overcast clouds most of the day but temps are too warm to wear a jacket and I got the Sacai bomber jacket of my dreams in Paris in the sales that I've been desperate to wear mocking me in the hallway. Even a blazer can be stifling and a raincoat is a challenge to be comfortable in but the rain's been too heavy to go without. Shoes and socks have made me miserable too. When the sun is out it's glorious though so I'm in a weird halfway to autumn dressing with my toes out🤔Have also gone out in lightweight sleeved summer dresses with knee high boots but mostly relying on shirts at the moment.

Heavily debating putting in an order for some trainers today on a secret sale site, I have until midnight with another taunting countdown clock. I could really use a pair of one that goes with everything (clashing or complimentary, either way) and that are just comfortable right away. The latter part is usually the tricky bit but my jeans that I prematurely pulled the trigger on should arrive today, if they're any good I might just chance it with the trainers with a misguided belief that the internet shopping gods are on my side again.

A Soeur boutique recently opened here which was exciting to browse as I've been buying more and more from them over the years. Lovely staff who were miraculously un-phased by a rather demanding American tourist who actively boasted how horrible she was to her OH right next to her 😐 . Maybe check Vinted for Souer trousers Flo, they have some nice ones, though they have their phases with materials (currently I'm not too thrilled with the inclusion of sustainable fibres like viscose, lyocell and recycled polyester, just give me the natural fibres undiluted like you used to, please). Though maybe reworking a men's pair is your best bet?

I've gotten over my hankering for something suede though, I've left it too long and now it's being bandied about as the must have texture of the season which has taken the shine off of it but maybe I can still get on board with nubuck...

Oh, also, what I came here to gossip about, John Galliano exhibit at the Met cancelled. I thought it was an ill advised choice to start with but hadn't really paid attention to its reception and assumed they had gathered some support/insulation in advance of the announcement so was rather surprised in the end to see it cancelled.

I’m already quite well set up for autumn, Flo, as in spring, what I bought to take to Japan was all in quite autumnal shapes and fabrics.

I’ve also just finished knitting a Missoni-designed jumper from the 1970s, back when they sold knitting yarn, that I’ve been working on since 2020, which is nice and warm and after a couple of re-knits of the yoke, now fits very well. It doesn’t look like it will fit when it’s laid out, but it does.

Lots of ends to weave in, and I had to do some engineering as I knitted the front and back in different sizes, hence the orange stripes just visible down the sides (woops). But I am delighted with it.

Oh Missoni jumper! This summer I have been dreaming with missoni beach cover ups, but never got round to getting anything… now you are re igniting my desire for Missoni style..

here, similar to Bo, the cloudy weather is not matched by temperatures. So my wardrobe is still confused . Also I have a short holiday coming up somewhere warm (hopefully) so I have not fully transitioned into September dressing.
But temperatures here are definitely not in tank top territory.
Today for example I wore a yellow mustard Sezane pleated trousers with a white polka dot shirt , black dots.

I do envy those that can knit, my mother lacked the patience to teach me. I know the internet could probably teach me these days but I don't need another expensive hobby (at least that's my impression, good wool that's nice to use comes at a premium) I can crochet well though, so feel I should just be able to knit. Never crocheted clothes though just tiny cute things.

Your jumper looks wonderful Poppy and I'm glad it's exactly as you like after all the time spent on it. Is it just something you work on when you feel like it or have you constantly been knitting in all your spare time. Please tell me it's the latter so I can stop myself getting a giant spool of nice looking wool next time I'm at the Christian Wijnants sample sale, they have a whole room of them and they look like giant delightful jewels...

Good to know I'm not the only one stuck with a confused wardrobe, Red, all the talk of super El Niño isn't helping. More extreme wet weather really isn't great for dressing but at least it's deterring me from looking to longingly at shoes as it'll be boots or wellies for a while. Speaking of footwear, remembered our local department store carried the brand of the trainers I was contemplating on the secret sales site and they had the same model in a different colour to try on. I liked them well enough but was a bit miffed to discover they were made in Cambodia when the brand constantly goes on about manufacturing in Spain, guess that's just the leather shoes. Anyhow, would prefer something made in Europe, especially at that price point (even discounted by half, it feels overpriced). Jeans were also a bust, the internet shopping gods seem to be as temperamental as the weather, as ever.

Sorry Bo, the actual knitting didn’t take that long, and I wasn’t actually doing it that much – mostly when I was on holiday. It was the weaving in of the ends, knitting of the extra bits to go up the sides because of knitting different size front and back, and then redoing the yoke a couple of times that took the time! I’m actually quite a quick knitter, and I have done other things in the meantime. I just loved the fabric that the particular pattern created – you slip stitches when you’re knitting in an colour other than cream or mid orange, thus creating an interesting, textured, reverse side of fabric and then use the reverse on the outside: it was really clever - well done Missoni!
I’m using knitting, particularly on my commute, as a way of stopping myself relatively mindlessly being on social media. As a consequence, I’ve also been watching quite a lot of knitting videos , both from very experienced, and then fairly inexperienced knitters and have learned quite a lot. Although all knitting is basically just a combination of knit and purl stitches, the variations and different ways of knitting are, it seems, almost endless: it’s fascinating!

I’ve actually just sent off for a book of Japanese knitting patterns. It’s all in Japanese but their patterns are written as a picture with numbers telling you where to increase and decrease, so apparently it’s quite easy to knit from. A lot of Japanese patterns have really interesting and special details in them, are often quite quirky, and use unusual shapes. I’m knitting a cardigan from a Japanese pattern at the moment but that’s written in English.
Anyway, I’ve sent off a book that this scarf pattern is in, with a view to working my way up to being able to knit this jumper:

Boo, poppy, not helping

Can you just do it on autopilot, that's what kind of appeals to me about knitting, that it looks a bit meditative and the needles are nowhere near sharp enough to accidentally injure yourself with while zoning out.

Interesting about Japan being slightly different with the knitting patterns too. I was reading somewhere a while ago about how knitting exists in some other cultures where it developed in an entirely different way. It was about a Native American tribe between Canada and the NW US IIRC. They were also really innovative with their fibres and spinning making for really unique qualities in the finished items. Apparently the jumpers go for thousands.

If you get the DeepL app you can take pictures with it and it will translate text for you from the image. Google has something similar in Google Lens but their translations are really janky, especially Japanese.

The jumper pattern is somewhat reminiscent of Icelandic jumpers and the scarf reminds me a bit of Turkish socks my mother always got as a gift (in blue and white or turquoise). I do find the black and white a bit sharp in contrast, is it just for effect, I've noticed this with a lot of sewing patterns, that they'll make it in fabrics that will draw a lot of attention on screen for marketing purposes but you do wonder what tiny group of people can carry that colour well.

Very envious of your knitting skills Poppy. I've tried learning a couple of times but not managed to pick it up and I don't have the patience to persevere.

Thanks Flo, I'm going to tell myself I don't have the perseverance for knitting either, that should tide me over for when I'm next tempted by the yarn room at Christian Wijnants.

Small success at the client sale this weekend, got a Dusan silk and cashmere jumper in a kind of unusual shape when it was on the hanger that I was a bit hesitant about before trying on but it was so deliciously soft I had to try it and it was surprisingly really nice on. Found it [https://lagarconne.com/products/kda002fw18-dusan-cashmere-silk-round-neck-sweater (I paid less than a tenth of its original price, woohoo), colour is a touch lighter that really emphasises the softness of the knit. It's not a super show stopper but one of those items that are most enjoyable to the wearer. And now I suddenly have a need for velvet trousers to go with it and some of those glove leather shoes I'd already been hankering after...

Also got a very nice bias cut Humanoid almost halterneck cami in cotton jersey, had originally grabbed it to try under the cashmere jumper as what I had on wouldn't work but it was also surprisingly nice and only a tenner. I probably could have found more but I woke up feeling a bit iffy so didn't have my usual energy to elbow my way through it all.

Flo, my UK geography is crap as ever, but if Dundee is a manageable distance, I saw the V&A is opening a Vivienne Westwood exhibit there next year, think focusing on the jewellery, if that takes your fancy. I have personally started taking more of an interest in jewellery recently, semi-proper stuff, I worry a bit that it's a recession indicator...

ahk formatting gone wrong, I don't dare touch it in fear of killing the link but as far as I can see the link works, I'll repost if not.

That La Garconne sweater is a steal bo

joining the envious crew who cannot knit . Really interesting about Japanese patterns, I didn’t know but I suppose it makes sense.

Ok, is there anyone here who didn’t manage to see the Queen’s wardrobe exhibition? And wants to join Bo and myself early 2027?
looking at dates , some availability Friday and Sundays on last weekends Jan
for Saturday I saw availability April when finishes. It is going fast so we need to move …

Thanks Red, I'm going next month - a friend booked it for my birthday. I've not given up on making it to the Ossie Clark / Celia Birtwell exhibition too while I'm there, but can't figure out a way of doing it without being a complete arse to my friend (who's not into them and would be bored senseless). I know, I know, that's because there isn't a way.

Thanks for the Vivienne Westwood in Dundee tip off bo. It's a bit of a trek and last time we were in Scotland we both went down with Covid but I shouldn't hold that against them. I don't know much at all about her jewellery so that should be interesting. Nice jumper!

A good thing to pass time is browsing the lots of upcoming Christie’s auction of the Devil Wears Prada 2 wadrobe
auction

Thanks Red, that made for interesting browsing. Curious to see what people are bidding on and not. Did anyone see the movie, it didn't really appeal to me? I was left a bit meh with the first one (I'd read the book, probably had something to do with it) so a sequel didn't feel like it would improve much on that. Diana's revenge dress is also going up for auction, would have anticipated it going for much more money than the current estimate. But I've never been able to make much sense of high profile auctions.

Speaking of movies, Call My Agent is back in a movie form, haven't read the review as I don't want to be spoiled but the rating at least gave me hope it isn't a waste of time. Link to Guardian review.

Also, forgot to mention I finally found some Tunisian olive oil last weekend, totally randomly at a food fair type of thing. It's a Dutch couple importing it, one is half Tunisian and it's delicious, I got vague flashbacks to the best olive oil I had as a teenager in Italy. Surprisingly affordable considering it's organic as well.

I can’t make the EIIR exhibition in January (it’s my busiest month) but I already have a ticket for 10:00 on 7 Feb, making good use of the fact that you get a 12 month free pass, so it’ll be my second viewing. I want to see the jewels and evening dresses again.

If you were not able to go in January and can get tickets for that day, it’d be good to meet up.

My Japanese knitting book has arrived - so many lovely things, and mrPSB wants me to do him the scarf I got the book for, possibly in burnt orange and natural. To my surprise and delight there are instructions in English too, but it will be fun fathoming out the Japanese ones first.

Diana’s revenge dress eh! I remember laughing out loud the first time I saw the pics but, even then, I didn’t actually like the dress very much. And now…well let’s just say that time, in my personal opinion, has not been kind to it. So I’m not surprised the bids aren’t higher.

Alarming experience in Manchester yesterday. I was all set for an afternoon of non-stop shopping but what happened was I went to M&S because it’s a big branch and I wanted to see Jaeger in real life, and then Uniqlo because I wanted to see the C range and after that, that I’d had enough I don’t know if it’s age catching up with me or whether shops have got less interesting or whether I’ve got too used to browsing in my phone and lost the knack.

Anyway Uniqlo C looks promising again although I didn’t buy anything. I’m looking for a few separates that I can mix with vintage clothes to stop me tipping into fancy dress and I saw a couple of things there that I think will do the job

I’ve had that, Flo. Younger me would have been astounded that I would ever not be interested in shopping, but yes, it is possible. I have howybeen to cities and towns with good small independent shops recently, though, and funnily enough I am very happy pootling round in those, and even buying things in them.

Yes you’re right about independent shops being less energy sapping Poppy - maybe there’s some life in me yet! But there’s definitely something about the big chains that drains me these days. I think it’s the combination of everything being a bit bland while at the same time assailing your senses on all fronts - flashing screens, music, smells from bakery and perfume counters etc etc The trouble was, on this occasion I didn’t want to go rummaging in the Northern Quarter, I wanted to see the shiny, the new and the reasonably inexpensive. (And I wanted a closer look at a waterproof raincoat in Jaeger.)

I am quite a bit younger than you both but for over a year I have found the same … even shops that I like which are very easy for me to get to eg Cos, Uniqlo , or even whistles … I cannot bring myself to set foot in them.
last time I was in Uniqlo, we were going as family somewhere and ds asked us to stop as he needed some trousers. My dh and ds ended up going in and I sat outside waiting for them 😱
tell me I have not lost all my senses

I still enjoy clothes and stuff enormously.
small shops, agency shops, Vinted, charity shops or have been recently in Spain and was very happy to mooch around small shops.
It is all the big shops and media stuff being sold all the time that I feel I don’t have time for anymore.

At the moment though, for other reasons it is a bit difficult for me. A bit shit to be honest, but I am hoping in the next few weeks things calm down.

Really sorry to hear that Red. I hope things calm down soon and, if we can distract you in the meantime, please let us know

Thank you Flo. This thread is always a lovely place to come to. So yes happy to chat about here x

I am sorry to hear that too @Redandblue11 . I hope that the next few weeks bring the calm you need.

I am with you and @Floisme . I do not get any pleasure from the big shops even though they are quite the novelty for me after our recent move! I agree it is the combo of lights and music but also a feeling of - try this and if that does not work - that. But most of it is a bit meh and too expensive for meh!

I love a good boutique/smaller shop with a good buyer. They are hard to find though.

I am enjoying Sharon Horgan's style on her latest HBO show.