Paris: Shopping with Huguette
Or I should say, watching Huguette shop, a repeat of former outings, when my longtime friend ushers me through hip shops, with great brio. Last year I felt sorrowful, because nothing fit me, an American 12-14; now I ride along for the edification, as if visiting a museum.
But if you are a size 6 or 8 with a thin frame and a fat wallet, Momoni, an Italian company with audacious silk prints, would please.
As the aria goes, La Donna è mobile, and none more "mobile" than a clothes-collector Parisienne. Out with former flirtations (Cotelac, Maje, Irie), in with the new. She likes wild pattern mixing and quirky proportions and finds my wardrobe much less daring than when we met. She's right! When I asked if she ever wore jeans, she had to stop and think.
She whisked into NorieM—Japanese clothes and shoes, the exact flats on the model below, which edged over $US 400 and that was with a 'preferred client' card. You can't see the back detail, which offers a little tab like a cat's tongue that rises from the heel, and therefore those in the know see that these are not Clark's. Such cognoscenti codes are the lifeblood of this sensibility.
Shoes here seem expensive to me, but it may be where we were shopping (Carrefour Croix Rouge), and the sturdy pair she bought accommodate her bunions. I'm all for taking the hit on quality shoes that treat your feet kindly.
NorieM clothing is made from plush natural fibers, often hand-dyed, in the modern Japanese style—not simple like Eileen Fisher. It requires a devoted approach: you need to wear the whole look.
Another current favourite is Bellerose, where I admired touches like knit sleeves on the viscose Solong shirt; small details elevate the design.
After our tour, I realized it takes a population of women who understand these clothes and will thus make the investment to support such designers. (All shown have boutiques elsewhere.) I was sorry to see that one I long liked in our neighbourhood, Eunhwa, was gone.
I asked that we stop in when we passed Uniqulo, and now have a new tee from their Marimekko collaboration, of which Huguette approves, and so does my budget— it was under $20.
The next post will be on Tuesday, May 22.
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| Momoni trousers |
But if you are a size 6 or 8 with a thin frame and a fat wallet, Momoni, an Italian company with audacious silk prints, would please.
As the aria goes, La Donna è mobile, and none more "mobile" than a clothes-collector Parisienne. Out with former flirtations (Cotelac, Maje, Irie), in with the new. She likes wild pattern mixing and quirky proportions and finds my wardrobe much less daring than when we met. She's right! When I asked if she ever wore jeans, she had to stop and think.
She whisked into NorieM—Japanese clothes and shoes, the exact flats on the model below, which edged over $US 400 and that was with a 'preferred client' card. You can't see the back detail, which offers a little tab like a cat's tongue that rises from the heel, and therefore those in the know see that these are not Clark's. Such cognoscenti codes are the lifeblood of this sensibility.
Shoes here seem expensive to me, but it may be where we were shopping (Carrefour Croix Rouge), and the sturdy pair she bought accommodate her bunions. I'm all for taking the hit on quality shoes that treat your feet kindly.
 |
| NorieM |
NorieM clothing is made from plush natural fibers, often hand-dyed, in the modern Japanese style—not simple like Eileen Fisher. It requires a devoted approach: you need to wear the whole look.
Another current favourite is Bellerose, where I admired touches like knit sleeves on the viscose Solong shirt; small details elevate the design.
 |
| Bellerose |
After our tour, I realized it takes a population of women who understand these clothes and will thus make the investment to support such designers. (All shown have boutiques elsewhere.) I was sorry to see that one I long liked in our neighbourhood, Eunhwa, was gone.
I asked that we stop in when we passed Uniqulo, and now have a new tee from their Marimekko collaboration, of which Huguette approves, and so does my budget— it was under $20.
 |
| Uniqulo |
The next post will be on Tuesday, May 22.
Comments
Still, it is good to look at unusual clothing that is well-made. And if one has the money and the need, 400$ comfy and supportive shoes are not a luxury.
My friend Vivianne (a now emerita Italian professor) had a bit of that arty approach in dressing, but I haven't seen her in 20 years and she is 85 now - and still in fine form! Wonder how her dress sense has evolved...
These clothes are not 'strict', another clothing meme. Strict shows the body, but without embellishment, or any kind of frill or that 'pop of colour' thing. Strict is clean, very well cut and not voluminous. Usually expensive but some of the Scandinavian brands are reasonable.
lagatta: Thanks, not sure how much I will wear it, but for the price,not worrying. This trip I was gobsmacked by the prices, such as €260 for a simple linen top or €450 for a linen dress which is just a rectangle with sleeves not even set in.
Plus two tips, look round the Monoprix supermarket clothes range. They have very good linen shirts, dresses trousers and excellent well -made jeans. My other tip is, if you need to buy household linens then head for the Marche St Pierre, near Montmartre and if you are a dressmaker there is Sacred Coupe selling 3 metre lengths of last seasons designer fabrics nearby.
The thing that surprised me most? Being the only visitor at the Azzedine Alaia: Je suits un couturier show in his old atelier in the Marais. It is only 5 Euros and was absolutely my stand out visit this week.