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.

You did tell me so bo and you were absolutely right! I think I have a romanticised idea of 20th century designers honing their craft in a maestro's atelier and I'm always disappointed when they clearly haven't.

I had a similar reaction as you to the Cecilie Bahnsen / Uniqlo collab. I kept going back to look again in case they'd added more stuff but it wasn't to be. I like your Mango collab skirt and shirt.

The weather here is pitiless.I got out of London just in time!

I don't think it's that romanticised Flo, there's definitely a good bunch of those, Balenciaga and Dior definitely fit that mold. I think Schiaparelli and even Chanel sort of were the ones who broke with the tradition and the role transitioned more from designer/maker to creative director and I think a move to a globalised business model sort of cemented it. Probably why Japanese designers are revered as they still retain something similar of a crafts person working their way up and improving their skills as they go. None of this wunderkind stuff.

I think I saw a documentary about Schiaparelli some time ago that was probably decent (don't remember it as exceptionally good or bad anyhow) but not sure if that would shed more light on her than the biography.

I'm very much over the heat but we still have days to go... ugh... had initially planned to go to Paris this week but postponed it as that's just not fun in this heat.

Hi Bo just coming quickly to say that October busy for me as travelling to South America, and September will be visiting Unis at weekends (yes ds is going to uni in a years time!) so really tricky for me those months.

Agree, also say CB at Uniqlo and was so disappointed.
And it is way to too hot here too. I love dressing in the summer but this is not fun anymore.

I am with you there red.
I wore all linen to London via train and Tube on Thursday and all cotton yesterday, and linen definitely won for coolability.

We have moved house - from the middle of nowheresville to a small village by the sea that has a little something going on!

I am so pleased. I was depressed for three years living there - nothing at all to charm the eyes beyond the mountains.

Now though, I have the shed the (dis) comfort weight, and find some style!

That is exciting marmalade . Do you have to do any work on the house? Decorating? Garden? It is always nice to think about the possibilities, until it becomes too much work!

regarding style - do you have anything interesting that are you are wearing? Have acquired?

This heat wave has been relentless hasn’t it, we have a respite this week but next week will be back!
For work I have been wearing dresses mainly.

Oh @Redandblue11 - there is so much work to do on the house - hells bells. It is in quite a state! The garden too - dry, impacted earth that looks awful.

I really want to design it in such a way that we can be free of it, if that makes any sense. So, a good flow of the space, maximize light and sea breeze, good storage. Same with the garden.

In terms of style, I have lost that completely. I never thought I would, but here we are. I need to loose weight first, get physically stronger and fitter. Then I will tackle the style issue. But I need a complete overhaul.

I follow you lot all the time and find you all inspiring in your individual ways. I love these threads.

Best of luck with the move @MaraladeorJam and I hope you get back to full fitness soon and enjoy rediscovering your style mojo.

So this should give you all a good laugh, albeit at my expense. After all these years refusing to have anything to do with Vinted, I stumbled upon what I can only describe as their vintage basement and OMG it's wild! Lots of utter shite at laughable prices but also, if you rummage, some 1950s/early '60s gems going for tuppence or thereabouts. Some of them have literally been there years. It's like being back in a 1970s jumble sale or a charity shop before the internet - not quite as enjoyable but as near as I've got for a long time. It's also quite good for books - I'm becoming a costume history bore. Ebay / Etsy / Vestiaire are far more organised and professional but not half as much fun.

Thank you @Floisme.

I often thought of trying to channel what I imagine you look like, with the Westwood tweeds and cool cuts, into my country, mountainy life. 🙃It never got much beyond a thought...

That shop sounds like a lot of fun. Especially if there is a good pay off with the odd gem here and there. Did you ever buy the culottes?

Just chipping back in to say that I am still reading along and enjoying the chat. Have been awol because DH has had some problems with his sight for six months. I hope it's in the rear view mirror now.

Most shopping has been dull, but I would recommend the M&S balloon leg jeans in cotton. Bought them in pink and white and hoping to get more in black and denim. For £30, they are absurdly flattering, and very comfortable.

How does one get to this glorious attic?

I wish I knew how @PoppySeedBagelRedux! But I just seem to have finally managed to train the Vinted algorithm to understand that when I search for, e.g. 'Vintage, women's 1950s jacket' I mean exactly what I say and not some Y2K knock offs from Sainsbury's Tu. It's taken a long time to get there and I'm sure a more systematic method than mine would have worked faster. Anyway I seem to have managed it.

@MaraladeorJam I wouldn't last 5 minutes living in the countryside and neither would my clothes! I've not bought those culottes yet, (well not a second pair) as I instead found some vintage 1970s ones in a more lightweight fabric that have been more weather appropriate these last few weeks. I might go back and grab the Uniqlo ones though before autumn hits.

@Papyrophile yay! Good to see you back and I hope DH's eyesight is sorted.

This might be worth a trip although I'm not sure how big it's going to be. Horrockses dresses aren't particularly my thing but some of those post war ready-to-wear labels are really interesting.
https://theharris.org.uk/product/horrockses-fashions/

Bonjour! Long time.
Thanks Flo, I haven’t been up north this year. I need to change that as I love it.

papyro I hope your DH sigh is manageable, I know how difficult is to manage that with a close family member.

I haven’t bought anything recently… but, ok hang on …a couple of months back I bought a couple of pre loved Isabel Marant items a couple of months ago - holiday / heat wave appropriate.
A kaftan in silk in yellow and ocre type colours and then a two piece of skirt above the knee and flowy top in dusty pink and earth colours in the lightest and softest cotton ever.

Very sad about all the fires, I hope there a few cooler days to help the firefighters control that. I hope no-one’s plans or families/friends are affected by this.

@Floisme

I thought of you when I saw this chap...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbWRd9ANzuC/

I am hoping the radio silence is because we are all enjoying holidays and not simply sweltering in the heat.
I am in Brittany and can say I am getting too used to this relaxing atmosphere. Is not too hot here either, a perfect 26-27 degrees and light breeze.

I bought a couple of things that will post later. And I am dithering about some last pairs on offer of some sandals …

Radio silence here is because we're still waiting for the next stage of DH's eye surgery, next Monday. And this weekend is my 70th birthday. Writing that makes me feel ancient. And our dear doggie is suddenly very geriatric. All is well, but fashion and clothes are not front and centre here right now. But I am looking forward to your pictures red.

I was away on holiday at the beginning of July in Cornwall. Penzance has a few rather nice shops, including ‘Handworked’ which used to sell lovely locally made clothes in excellent fabrics, and now sells excellent fabrics and knitting yarns, and a men/women boutique that sold lovely Japanese-made T-shirts: https://sevenstones.store/collections/sunray-spirit. They are designed in Cornwall and made in Japan (!). They are a lovely fabric - so light, and good colours, though it seems from the website that they have sold all the interesting colours. I got a yellow one and a dark olive green one.

I needed t shirts as I’d packed for a normal Cornish holiday with trousers and thin jumpers, and ended up in shorts and t shirts every day. It was gorgeous!

Oh I've missed all the new posts, and didn't even see Zack Pinsent's Instagram - what a cool guy! Thank you @MaraladeorJam and so sorry for not responding sooner.

I'm also 70 in a couple of weeks @Papyrophile It's terrifying how quickly time passes now - it feels about 5 or 6 years since 2010. Hope your husband's surgery goes well.

I'm still very into the 1950s, although not yet dressing like I'm in a Doris Day & Rock Hudson movie. I've probably bought as many books on fashion history as I have clothes recently and I've been reading up on the post World War 2 ready-to-wear explosion. It's such an interesting time when companies like Frederick Starke and Dereta and Cojana, knocked Paris couture off its perch, only to meet their own nemesis in the '60s. I'm now looking out for those labels second hand and, because they've dropped off the radar, when you do find them, they're not outrageously priced.

Hi @Floisme - I liked his videos. Would you mind posting the name of the book?

Happy birthday in advance @Papyrophile and good luck to dh.

@Redandblue11 - enjoy Brittany? It is in my heart, that place as I fell in love with a blonde haired, blue eyed, bronzed God named Jean Yves there. He was teaching me at windsurfing school - I was the grand old age of 13.

He was so sweet to me, and never took advantage.

@PoppySeedBagelRedux - good quality, well made t shirts seem rarer than hens teeth!

I too am at the sea side. It is so good to swim - I am in everyday, hail, rain or shine. I am beginning to feel ... great?! First time YEARS!

@MaraladeorJam Books on 1950s and ready to wear? I've got a few!

'Wholesale Couture, London and Beyond, 1930-70' by Liz Tregenza is the most thorough book on the subject I've found so far. It's a bit more scholarly than the others (not so many photos!) but the writing style is very accessible.

'The History of 20th Century Fashion' by Elizabeth Ewing (1974 edition). A lot of fashion history books skim over the '50s but this one covers it in quite a lot of detail although I'm not sure whether the later editions cut some of it out.

'Horrockses Fashions, off-the-peg style in the '40s and '50s' Christine Boydell

I also like 'The Golden Age of Couture, Paris and London 1947-57' (V&A) Focuses on haute couture (rather than ready-to-wear) but also covers its demise. Fab pics!

They're all available second hand - I buy a lot from World of Books

Oh papyro the bestest of the birthdays to you!!
and wishing your DH a prompt recovery.

aw marmalade we loved Brittany. Everything about it.
and holidays romances, my first one was when I was 15. Nothing beats the feeling you get and keep in your heart for years.

Actually, before going to France I got from a dress agency two sleeveless tops made in France, not sure what era they are . Maybe 80s. One in an acid green silk and the other in the best ever cotton in off white with blue circular flowers. I am wearing them both a lot this year

Didn’t mean to put the underline …

anyhow, I got this marineire cotton top in a French shop TBS. Which sells many things made in France, the shop website does not do any favours… I was very impressed with the quality/ price ratio.
it seems to aim to the sailing group. The cotton shirts were first class, unfortunately the cut for me was too severe at the neck, I need more softness or I find it does not suit
me. It was a shame as I really liked the shirts.
i think they will work well on someone with more curves or someone who is very confident with an androgynous cut.

Thank you @Floisme, @Redandblue11 and @MaraladeorJam for the birthday greetings. I had a lovely time with DH and DS.

Thank you all for your kind wishes for DH. His surgery is the final unwinding stage of an unfortunate catalogue of events that started with an insect bite and a parasitic infection. On Monday, the surgeon will remove the plug of silicon oil that has been holding his reattached retina in place, and he will know how much sight he has.

He can see out of both eyes, but the vision has been blurred in one, and it has been a strain because he's getting different inputs from each eye so his depth perception has been out of kilter. It's made it hard to read for any length of time, and driving more than 30 minutes (on known roads) has been stressful. If it goes well, we shall be cock-a-hoop!