designer kids sale this weekend

if you are out and about this weekend, be sure to swing by the 11th arrondisement for les fourmis rouge ("red ants") sale. combining over 40 designers of hip children's clothing and accessories, ateliers for the children [stories, makeup, etc.], and a bar for the papas, this is a weekend event for the whole famille. december 1st and 2nd only.

close the door, s'il vous plait!

it happened again today-- i walked into a neighborhood boutique to be welcomed by sweltering heat [it is 50F here, so hardly sweltering!], with the doors of the boutique wide open. --so very unpleasant!

last week, i was in a chic boutique in st. germain with clients, the door again wide open and air blowing straight into the changing rooms. my client was freezing, i asked if they could close the door. the sales woman's response? they could not close it, as they were required by management to keep it open to make the shop feel more 'welcoming'. hmmmmm....it seems to me that this is:
1. a HUGE waste of electricity [which is already quite cher here in france], and
2. not very eco-friendly

there are many other ways to make customers feel welcome-- how about a sign like the above, or, gasp!, a friendly smile when you walk in the door? fermez la porte and maybe you wouldn't have to crank the heat so high.

vintage chanel on sale

most original fashion gift? one of the 100 vintage chanel items on sale on yoox.com. the designer jewels, clothing, coats, and accessories are going quickly, so shop now if you are interested.

4 girls in 4 cities

ever wonder what it is like to live in europe? with kids? as an expat? with european style? check out the cute new blog by my friend emilie and her gal pals. babyccino explores the day to day life of 4 friends living in europe-- they things they love, the things they hate. written with that certain je ne sais quoi, of course!

private sales

This time of year, many brands are having private sales before the big sale period in January. Check out two this week-- bags by Karine Dupont and jewels by Delphine Nardin-- at two different locations in the 3rd arrondisement, this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Happy Shopping!

feeling lucky?

stop by the dior boutique at place vendome on the 1st of december to turn the dial on the bonbon machine pictured above. some of the magic 'bulles' contain junk, some contain treasures, such as dior's "oui" ring. [be sure to go to the website first to sign up to line up for your chance.]

decked out for noel: christmas lights in paris

paris gets ready for the holidays by draping lights over trees, between buildings, and in store windows. the city of light really lives up to its name at this time of year, and if you are visiting during the holiday season, here are some places to visit:

-the champs-elysees (above)- this installation (with over 1 million lights) took over 3 months of work and 850,000 euros to pull off
- the place vendome--decorated with huge chandeliers to add even more glimmer to the so-called "place des bijoux"
- the grands magasins-- check out the windows at printemps and galeries lafayette for animated fun, always a big hit with the little ones

check out the paris illume paris [paris lights up paris] brochure for details on illuminated streets in almost every quartier.

lacroix turns 20

to celebrate the 20th birthday of his fashion house, christian lacroix is playing conservator at the musee des arts decoratifs. the histories de mode exhibition plays his couture items against others from the museuem's archives, put together by theme and by color. over 400 items on display, gloriously gathered by monsieur lacroix himself.

artic chill at printemps

printemps department store is going to extremes to make their nordic christmas theme come to life. check out the glacial labyrinth on the terrace of the printemps maison building [9th floor]-- wind through the icy maze [which took over 30 tons of ice to make!] to meet the giant polar bear and have your photo taken to prove it.

happy holidays from habitat

chic shopper insider tip-- pick up this month's french edition of elle decoration, and go to habitat on friday, november 23rd or december 7th for 20% off of all your purchases. happy shopping!

luxe city guides

don't know what to get your jetsetting BF for the holidays? check out the luxe city guides boxed edition, which contains guides on 12 of the worlds most visited cities. the guides are chocked full of important info. on restaurants and shopping and tourist info., and the best part is that they are ultra-skinny, and slip into your tinniest handbag. the paris edition even mentions chic shopping paris. buy online at luxe city guides or in paris at the bon marche.

so NOT chic: the strikes in paris

just a little comment on the strikes, which have lasted WAY too long now.....without getting too politicial, a few observations:
--dear postman: don't you think it is just a little tacky to leave a note in my lobby, saying you'll be buy to sell me a calendar [and ask for a tip] during the same time when you are actually not working and the post office is on strike? i think "mademoiselle manners" would agree with me on this one....
--remember the campaign, "don't you wish everyone used dial [soap]"? maybe someone should use this one in france, especially in the overcrowded metros [see above photo]
--i seems somehow ironic, but the french actually seem to be MORE friendly when on strike-- those who aren't on strike, that is, seem to be chattier. i have had more conversations on the bus/metro/street today with strangers than in my 5+ years living here. more smiles too. misery loves company, eh? or maybe it is just that it is all so inconvienient, there is nothing else to do but laugh!
--and last but not least, when you've had to cross half the city by foot because all other means of transportation are overcrowded, stop and buy yourself a fresh baguette and a good bottle of wine. it does wonders for the soul and makes you remember why you love france.....

ummmm ummmm good

one of my fave neighborhood places for a quick bite when its chilly outside-- le bar a soupes. located near some fab shopping on the rue de charonne in the 11th, this yummy spot offers 6 homemade soups every day, along with great little sides like a cheese plate or charcuterie platter. check out the website before you go to find out the days specials-- and go either early [12pm] or late [after 1.30] to avoid enormous lines.

wine tasting made easy

trying to find a few bouteilles de vin to take back is always a challenge- with so many choices, it is hard to know where to start! check out the new card system at lavinia. prepay for a wine card, then taste some of the 24 wines on display at your leisure. the choices change monthly, and you can load your card with 10 to 50 euros worth of tastings. 3, bd de la madeleine, 1st.

black masterpiece

grandson of the hennessy liquor family, kilian hennessy has launched his own perfume line, by kilian. the all black packaging is gothic-chic and the scents range from "beyond love" to "cruel intentions." in all, there are 6 scents which make up 3 pairs, to be worn simultaneously or alone. hennessy credits vast influences (from 50 cent to rimbaud) for his first line, called the black masterpiece. the unisex scents are available in paris at printemps and in the us at bergdorf goodman.

hardy + gap = the perfect fall sandale

designer pierre hardy, who creates his own line of shoes along with shoes at hermes and bags at sequoia, has just created a line for the gap. the stunning sandale above ratails for 99 euros.

the smallest hotel in paris

making the rounds in all the mags in paris right now-- the everland hotel. this art installation/hotel is only in paris until the end of 2008. the pod-like structure, pearched ontop of the palais de tokyo contemporary art musuem, is a one-room-only hotel, rented by the night. it sleeps two, and provides a stunning view of paris. the everland was created by a pair of swiss artists, and has already made a few other stops in europe. the rates for this once in a lifetime experience are 333 euros for a sunday, tuesday or wednesday, and 444 euros for thursday, friday, and saturday.

and a quick side note-- if you just want to visit the hotel and are here on november 15th-- the palais de tokyo is offering guided visits of the hotel for one day only.

for cozy cocktails....

the fashionistas are flocking here-- wini june, a charmant little bar in the haute marais neighborhood. vintage tables, a candle-lit atmosphere and crystal glases make this the perfect place for your next aperatif. 16 rue DuPetit Thouars, 3rd.

CSP in the guardian

chic shopping paris was also featured in the guardian this past weekend-- twice! one article discusses the chic shopping paris blog in a blog by blog guide to festive shopping, and a second piece discusses a few of my shopping faves, perfect for those who are hoping over to paris on the eurostar.

shopping as a special event

chic shopping paris was featured today in eventline, a newletter from special events magazine. scroll down the page under "product line" to check out the details. merci to special events mag!

bon anniversaire dior!

famous french fashion house dior, started by christian dior in 1947, blows out 60 candles this year. to celebrate, the house's most famous address in paris, 30 avenue montaigne, has had a makeover. peter marino, a US designer, was behind the new look. marino used over 50 shades of grey to achieve a new look in the boutique, along with updating the house's classic themes of louis xvi medallion chairs mixed with jungle prints.

taxi bike

i've seen these mini-taxis around town for a while, but in very limited numbers. just found out that the company is called cyclobulle, and these electric bike/taxis are becoming very much the rage in several cities in europe. in paris, the offering is still a bit limited, as the 'taxis' only go in certain areas [between concorde and gare st. lazare and from chateau d'eau and hotel de ville]. they hold 2 people, plus packages [phew!] call to book one up for a quick and eco-friendly ride though town, or check out their site-seeing tour on ile st. louis [1/2 tour for 19 euros].

on your lips, not on your hips

laduree fans can now take part in a delicious beauty ritual as well-- starting in december, the famous patisserie will debut a line of beauty care products inspired by its famous pastries. some are offered exclusively at the le bon marche, such as the almond-based line [pictured, top]. others [such as the lip gloss, bottom photo], will be sold at sephora and at laduree's champs-elysees address, starting november 15th.

collection of style: coming soon

h&m's pricier line, COS (collection of style) is set to open its first paris boutique on rue de rosiers in the marais in march 2008. if the number of h&m stores in paris is any indication, the new boutique is sure to be a hot new stop for seekers of fashionable frocks.