bag must have

[one of the many] must have bags of the season-- this shiny red number, designed by up-and-coming designer gaspard yurkievich for la bagagerie. 270 euros.

this weekend in paris

this weekend marks the beginning of the foire a la brocante et aux jambons [antique & ham fair], in chatou, just outside of paris. funny name aside, this is a great place to spend an afternoon hunting for antique treasures-- over 800 proffesionals from all over france have their wares on display, so you can pick up everything from knicknacks to armoires. don't forget to arrive for dejeuner-- a bit plate of ham is de rigeur! from sept 26 to oct 5.
if you are after something a bit more refined, check out the exquisite photos of patrick demarchelier, on display starting this saturday at the petit palais. magazine covers and portraits of some of the beautiful women of the world are the theme of the "images & mode" exposition. sept 27 to jan 4.

cute cadeau

i just love these new little leather pins by miu miu- put your initials on your fall jacket, or spell out something chic like 'amour.' 45 euros a piece at miu miu.

kiss kiss t

printed ts are all the rage at the moment-- why not get one emblazoned with a french kiss? this special sonia rykiel model was created to fete her 40 years as a designer. 90 euros, black version exclusively available at colette; other colors available chez sonia rykiel

this weekend in paris

this weekend in paris, check out the 25th annual journees de patrimoine- 2 days with insiders access to some of the most famous buildings & monuments in paris. this is your chance to see the magnificient interiors of such buildings like the hotel de ville, the elysee palace, and the tower of st. suplice.

book signing october 2nd in paris

please join me as i talk about and sign my book, chic shopping paris, on thursday, october 2nd at wh smith bookstore in paris. click here to reserve your spot!

bourjois bijoux

bourjois, one of france's most well known makeup brands, has been making french women belle since 1862. manufactured using the same pigments as chanel makeup, the line is available at sephora and monoprix chains all over france. and starting today, you can purchase a special, numbered set of vintage powder compacts, available exclusively at hip boutique l'eclaireur, for 100 euros.

introducing self-guided tours

chic shopping paris introduces our new personalized self-guided tours....for those of you who'd rather set off on your own shopping adventure, at your own pace, whenever it suits your fancy.

how does it work?
we'll get details from you on your budget, style, shopping desires, knowledge of paris, etc., and then we'll map out a half day itinerary for you, and just for you, along with a detailed map. set off on your own to discover some of paris' most unique shops, shopping at your own pace: do a few shops one day, a few another, or shop 'til you drop!

the best part is that we are not a travel agent with yesterday's news-- you'll get an insiders look at shopping in the city of light, from someone who really lives here, and knows the chic-est shopping spots.

what does it cost?
a half day personalized self-guided tour starts at 100 euros-- rates vary according to the complexity of the tour required and the length. we'd suggest about four hours for a good shopping spree, but if you'd like the whole day mapped out, we can do that too!

email us to find out more details. happy shopping!

go underground for undiz

undiz, a funky new lingerie shop, has just opened its first parisian outpost. a bit like american apparel, the french line features a wide range of colors and encourages clients to mix and match everything from basic tanks to frilly bloomers. the location, however, is the centrally located, but not very glam forum des halles shopping center [level -3, boutique 31, porte lescot 2].

magic jardin

jardins de cristal, at the parc de bagatelle, proposes just that-- some of the biggest names in crystal [baccarat, daum, lalique...] on display in an extraordinary way-- walk through the gardens at the Bagatelle, and you'll find crystal chandeliers hanging in trees, small fragile sculptures on the edges of fountains-- in brief, a gorgeous mix of nature, raw materials, and rare treasures. until nov. 2.

laduree le bar

to celebrate its 10th anniversary on the champs, laduree has expanded its space with a new bar, set to open on september 16th. laduree le bar features creations by chef michel lerouet-- but don't come here to eat macaroons- with everything from caviar to gaspacho to gourmet salads, the bar focuses on the savory items in its new menu. 13 rue lincoln, 8th.

repetto opens on the left bank

enfin- a new repetto boutique in the left bank for all the fashionistas who prefer st. germain to st. honore.....the famous line of ballerina flats has opened a second address at 51 rue du four, 6th. so skip on by and check out their new fall line...

maria luisa 3 in 1

maria luisa, an uber-cool boutique that combines hot names like pierre hardy and manolo blahnik with newcomers and hot new labels, has finally expanded-- accessories, shoes, and clothing are now all under one roof, waiting to be discovered. check out their new digs at 7, rue rouget-de-l'isle, 1st.

graffiti artists bags a deal

clients are often in search of something with french writing on it, other than the ubiquitous j'adore paris t-shirt.....here is a great option if you are here this fall. Miss Tic, a famous parisienne graffiti artist, has collaborated with leather brand Lamarthe to create a small line of bags with her image on them, along with the phrase Je crois en l'eternel feminin. Prices range from 65 to 250 euros, and the bags are available exclusively at 107Rivoli, then after September 15th at Lamarthe stores.

this weekend in paris

la rentree in paris means back to school for the little ones, and back to being the city of fashion and creativitiy for everyone else! this weekend, the city of light hosts two giant tradeshows, just before the fashion show season starts.check out new trends & fashions at paris capitale de la creation, now throught sept 9th at the porte de versailles
and for the home, follow in the footsteps of magazine editors worldwide, and check out maison et objet to see what's next in home decor
and while its probably too late to register, you can still motivate yourself to do a bit of exercise [after one too many croissants!] by watching and cheering on the marathon, la parisienne, which raises money for breast cancer.