cadeau 21: star-studded baking

if you are tired of fire-engine red and pine green every year, think about entertaining with a white christmas theme. these artisanal looking "etoile" plates, made of white-washed terracota, are the perfect thing to give a little subtle sparkle to your holiday table. 50 euros, from astier de vilatte.

cadeau 20: the city of lights in hardcover

there is something magical in the way that paris lights up-- no matter how many times you take a late night stroll down the seine (or even a taxi ride for that matter) the luminous facades of the buildings are enough to make you pause. this gorgeous tome by assouline shows off the city of light at its best.

cadeau 19: power bubbles

what could be chic-er than this bottle of dom perignon, designed by artist marc newton? available in paris at la grande epicerie for the small price of 550 euros.

cadeau 18: luscious lips

this double-your-pleasure item is a sparkly necklace with hidden lipstick& gloss inside. from YSL, and available online from neiman marcus, it's like that lipgloss pendant you had as a kid, but all grown up.

cadeau 17: a little bling

there is something irresistible about these rings-- they look like something out of a candy machine, but the faceted gold rings are anything but faux. available in yellow, white, and rose gold, the ultimate selection is one of each. 250 euros each, call +33 (1) 40230330 to order.

cadeau 16: a teatime treat

le palais des thes makes a wide range of teas and tea products tucked in lovely, bright packaging. this sampler set contains 54 muslin tea bags, of 9 different varieties (Thé des Lords, Big Ben, Thé du Hammam, etc.). so tell polly to put the kettle on, and we'll all have tea!

cadeau 15: cash in cacherel

what could be cuter than this patent leather change purse from cacharel? a great addition to anyones oversized tote bag, this mini change purse is available online in the US from la garconne.

cadeau 14: chateau in a box

these nifty gift boxes are all over france again this year. why not offer someone the chance to choose their own gift? these gift certificates from chateaux et hotels offer a wide range of options-- from spa weekends to gourmet meals to weekends in a chateau. i've been to several of their listings over the years and have always been pleased.

cadeau 13: a holiday gift from dominique picquier

dominique picquier designs the fresh nature-inspired textiles used on her line of fabrics, bags, pillows, and more. her gift to her clients this holiday season is a 25% discount on all online orders, such as the gorgeous clutch pictured above.

fun things to do in paris

ever wonder where you could get a list of interesting or unique things to do in paris? check out the great list on paris notes--each description is written by the business owner, so you get a real sense of what the options are like. the list includes wine tastings, gourmet classes, bike tours, and, bien sur, shopping tours from chic shopping paris.

table for 13?

today, i walked into a cute new cooking/tableware shop, 13 a table, just down the street from bhv. the welcoming shop, which has a crate & barrel like mix of table top decor items, cooking gadgets, linens, and more, makes you want to go home and plan a dinner party. the boutique also offers cooking classes with quite reasonable rates. a fun new stop for foodies and hostesses alike.

cadeau 12: cosy cashmere

eric bompard, the king of classic french cashmere, makes basic sweaters and knits for the whole family. a new flagship shop on the champs elysees carries the collections for men, women, and children, along with home wares and coats. my faves? the striped tie-on bonnets for baby and the tunic sweater dress for mom.

cadeau 11: frenchy fondue

who wouldn't be excited to find this under the tree? A cute little hat box filled with ready-to-eat mini fondue pots, including caramel chocolate, dark chocolate with orange, and others. available online from chocolate maker mazet.

cadeau 10: a shiny sac

inspired by seeing the nutcracker ballet tonight at the opera bastille, my number 10 gift idea is this chic and shiny gym bag from repetto. repetto is the go-to for dance pros in paris, and this great tote would brighten up any trip to the gym.

cadeau 9: say "fromage"

looking for a gourmet gift, i stumbled upon this great site, gourmet foodstore, with tons of french products, notably cheese, and they ship to the US! the platter with five cheeses [above] would surely be bienvenue at any holiday dinner, and even appealed to my cheese-addict French husband. bon appetit!

cadeau 8: something for monsieur

he might not have an hermes chemise, but why not get him the cufflinks? these enameled ones, available in black and brown, will turn any old shirt into classic paris chic. [$285, available on hermes US website].

cadeau 7: a scent from serge

looking for a unique french scent? check out the latest from serge lutens, sarrasins, with notes of jasmin. availble in its standard packaging, right, for 105 euros, or go all out and get the limited edition, engraved in platinum or gold, for 850 euros. [only 30 of the limited edition were made.]

cadeau 6: sonia's stripes

what could be more fashionably french than sonia rykiel's signature stripes? this year, she is offering her scarves sur mesure-- you make your own scarf, depending on how long you want it. so chic!

official winter sales dates

book your airline tickets! the official sale dates are out-- january sales begin on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th, and go until february 16th. here's hoping for lots of cash in your christmas stocking.....

for hints on doing the sales right, check out my articles on les soldes and the website soldes by paris.

cadeau 5: the world of wine

if you are planning on coming to paris soon, why not indulge yourself or a loved one in learning about wine? for french speakers, check out the programs at l'ecole du vin; english speakers will be thrilled with one of the courses given by my friend Olivier at O Chateau. from bordeaux to burgandy, you'll have it sorted out after a few pleasant sips....sante!

thursday night shopping

a street in my branche [trendy] neighborhood, rue de la forge royale, is hosting a late night shopping fete this thursday, december 6th from 6pm to 10.30pm. come by to check out kiddie couture at lillibulle, unique menswear at brutals, and wall stickers at walldesign, among other happenings. the tiny, one-way street is a 10-minute walk from the bastille, and the bourgeois-bohemian neighborhood is a slice of real paris. check out the blog for more info.

chic bust: DON'T shop at BGN

Trendy boutique BGN, on rue Francs Bourgeois in the 4th, is sometimes on my circuit of shops when shopping with clients in the Marais. I recently had a terrible customer service episode with them, so want to warn my readers and clients to stay away. Bottom line is that they were very rude, including the manager, Fred. They did not offer any help for a client of mine who bought a 500 euro coat there, which started to fall apart a week after its purchase. So stay clear of the shop, and be sure to ask about any store's return policies in case of problems with big purchases!

cadeau 4: say "fromage"

authentic retro cheese labels grace these colorful plates from genvieve lethu-- no pottery barn reproduction here, these fun fromage plates are the genuine article. 45 euros for a set of 6. Spoil your giftee with dreams of mouth-watering French cheese. (45 euros for a set of 6.)

cadeau 3: pearls of chocolate

cadeau numero trois is this gorgeous pearl ornament, entirely made of chocolate from the maison du chocolate, which sells for $138. made of dark chocolate and filled with pearlized balls of white chocolate, this one is definitely a carry on. the US website sells many of the companies other goodies, but the precious pearl ornament, for obvious reasons, cannot be shipped. come to paris and enjoy one or pack light to save space to take this home!

sultry senderens

last night we celebrated a birthday at the bar le passage at senderens [formerly the famous lucas carton restaurant, at the place de la madeleine.] as we were going to a play at 9pm, i was thrilled to find a place to get a bite early [which in paris is anywhere before 8.30pm] -- we reserved and dined on delicious small plates and lovely wine. the entrance to the bar is in the charming covered passage next to the resto-- go up the stairs and you will be greeted by a small, warm, modern space with amazing embroidered walls and gold leafed banquettes. worth a stop if you are looking for a taste of senderens cuisine, without the time commitment for a longer meal.

cadeau 2: chic clutch

the clutch [or pochette, en francais] is the hot bag of the moment. brontibay paris has been making these great little satin numbers for years now, and they have expanded to include a line in leather and in sparkly fabric, perfect for this festive time of year. available online in their eshop-- and they ship to the US.

cadeau 1: sublime spray

to celebrate the holiday season, i'm going to post a fabulous frenchy gift item each day. pass on the links as a helpful HINT to those in need....

the first chic cadeau is guerlain's forever gold spray terracota. i'm a sucker for anything in a vintagey atomizer bottle, and this gorgeous bottle spritzes just the right amount of shimmery bronzer on your face and decollete. available in the US at sephora for $78.