Chic Shopping Paris

cook up some new bijoux

2012-01-31T13:58:00.000Z

the name of this new jewelry line is quite surprising- cuisine francaise bijoux- and, luckily, their jewelry is just as fresh! [prices are quite attractive too!] i love this fun cuff bracelet [the "fanny"]for spring, and the golden macaroon bracelet is a great giftie for your sweet-toothed gal pal. the new-ish line can be purchased online [France only] or found in boutiques around paris.

fun & funky longchamp

2012-01-27T11:21:00.002Z

classic leather-goods brand longchamp keeps its image jeune & fresh by collaborating with hot young designers. following in the paths of jeremy scott and kate moss, greek designer mary katrantzou takes her turn. known for her eclectic, colorful prints, the new longchamp bags will surely bring a pop of color to your spring wardrobe. for sale exclusively at colette until mid-february, then at

make these "boyfriend" panties

2012-01-27T09:07:00.000Z

you've heard of the boyfriend sweater...and boyfriend jeans too. the latest trend? boyfriend panties! the sweatshop atelier is helping you make a surprise for valentine's day- bring in "borrowed" shirt from your boyfriend, and whip up these cute knickers. but hurry- the ateliers are this weekend only, january 28th and 29th.

happy bday brand bazar

2012-01-26T14:26:00.001Z

brand bazaar, a multi-brand boutique right near le bon marche, is celebrating it's 10th birthday....and for it's fete, ten frenchie brands [APC, Carven, Le Mont Saint Michel, Gat Rimon, etc.] have created limited-edition pieces exclusively for the boutique. stop by after february 1st to check out the collection in person- who doesn't want something she can get only in paris? [or order online

garence dore dances for petit bateau

2012-01-26T08:02:00.000Z

what do you get when you add garence dore + petit bateau? first, a great little video of garence kicking it up doing the Madison [attention! the catchy song sticks in your head....] and then you get the cute and classic line that she created of petit bateau clothing- cable knit sweaters and carrot pants, to be worn with ballet flats and red rouge a levres, a la garence. trop chic!

made by vous

2012-01-25T18:26:00.001Z

with do-it-yourself becoming such a recessionista hobby, more and more chic & cheap boutiques are catering to the crafty mademoiselle. hobbyists and paris-lovers alike will be thrilled to discover this little shop- brimming with goodies for homemade projects. yogurt or jam, scrapbooking, beauty, or knitting-- you name it, L'Effet Maison has got the gear for you to whip it up. L'Effet Maison32

24 hour museum- get there quick!

2012-01-24T08:40:00.000Z

To celebrate the reopening of Prada's Faubourg St Honore boutique this week, Miuccia Prada invited Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli for a short but stunning artistic performance. The 24 hour museum is open for 24 hours only- 24th and 25th of January, at the Palais d'Iena. The general public is invited only on the 25th, from 7am until midnight. What's in store? Vezzoli's take on femininity

pipoca patches

2012-01-24T08:32:00.000Z

how cool are these? a far cry from the elbow patches on grandpere's sweater, these funky patches from pipoca are totally hip. patches have been a la mode in boutiques for several seasons now in paris, and now do-it-yourself models are popping up everywhere. this spring, update an old sweater with a star-spangled pair, et voila! pipoca 67 rue cardinall-lemoine, 5th

smells like dior spirit

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000Z

it wouldn't be spring [well, almost!] without some hip new nail polish launch from one of the biggest names in beauty. this year, the credits go to dior, with it's fresh duo: forget-me-not and waterlily, in lilac and soft green hues. the special surprise? once dry, they smell like soft rose. spring has sprung!

Hermes not-so-secret sale

2012-01-20T18:40:00.000Z

Those in-the-know know that Hermes has a semi-annual sale, off site, twice a year with exceptional prices. This year, as in the past few years, the sale takes place at the Palais de Congres, and the final day will be tomorrow. What's in store? Scarves are by far the best buy- and you'll have to wait in line to see them- at 175 euros instead of 310 euros in stores. Ties were 83 euros.

Paris tout petit

2012-01-20T11:46:00.000Z

Thanks to Stan the Frenchman who sent me the link for Made by Joel this morning....lots of great crafty ideas for kids, but my eyes immediately went to this printable mini-Paris scene. What a great activity for a kid stuck on the plane, learning about France, or for any other Paris lover you know! I'm sure my two mademoiselles will have a great time playing with this this weekend.....

karl by karl

2012-01-19T16:57:00.000Z

the much-anticipated karl by karl lagerfeld collection has just released a few pictures of the upcoming collection, to be released january 25th on netaporter.com and then next month on karl's new site, karl.com. the well-cut, mainly black, looks from the master himself are a fashionista's dream- and the prices are even dreamier, ranging frpom 60-300 euros.

this weekend: maison et objet

2012-01-18T14:07:00.000Z

if you have anything to do with the world of design/furniture/home decor, this is THE weekend to be in paris, for the semi-annual maison et objet show. the gigantic show showcases the best and newest from the chic-est designers and is an amazing place to get information/inspiration or to order up items for your boutique. i was lucky enough to tag along one time and it was truly amazing- and

this weekend: paris des chefs

2012-01-17T11:53:00.001Z

Gourmet geeks unite- if you are in town this weekend, be sure to check out Paris des Chefs. Three days dedicated to food and design, with tastings, demonstrations by chefs from around the world, and more. To top if off, many events will take place in the recently redone art deco buliding La Maison de la Mutualite [renovated by hip architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte].

pop goes the garden

2012-01-16T13:20:00.000Z

one of the cutest souvenirs i've seen in a while- a simple little card that pops up, holding a sachet of grass to water....letting you watch the grass grow with the vista of the Eiffel Tower behind. it's always greener on the other side, non? for a limited time only, available at monceau fleurs [19 euros]

hibernation at the conciergerie

2012-01-13T13:04:00.000Z

The French are so good a putting that little twist of the unexpected- that je ne sais quoi- on things to make them special. This is exactly what is so fun about the Betes Off [a pun on "best of"] expo, currently at the Conciergerie. The exhibit focuses on animals and the imaginery in the work of contemporary artists- how fun is it to have a flock of birds over your head [indoors] or walking

Galette du Rois

2012-01-12T11:43:00.001Z

It's that time of the year again- you can't pass a bakery without spotting one of these buttery, flaky concoctions known as the Galette du Rois [king's cake]. I love the etoile creation, top, available at La Grande Epicerie and the cleverness of the color-your-own-crown that comes with the delicious galette at La Patisserie des Reves. If you want to try to create the same thing at home,

the hands of Hermes

2012-01-09T20:30:00.000Z

Hermes is one of the last few true luxury brands that remains- each leather good or silk scarf is made entirely by hand, and in the case of the handbags, each one is made by one person, from start to finish. Hermes shows off their savoir-faire in this gorgeous short documentary, Les Mains d'Hermes [called "Hearts and Crafts" in the English version], which you can watch online for free. Warning:

for the kids table

2012-01-09T19:39:00.000Z

Only the French could come up with an entire store dedicated to les arts de la table for children....Le Ciel est a tout le monde is filled with Petit Jour tableware for kids- all made of BPA-free melamine- splashed with French & international kid characters like Maisy the mouse, Barbapapa, and Peter Rabbit and more. Couldn't be cuter for your little mademoiselle's next tea party. Le Ciel est

This week: Les Soldes [Sales!]

2012-01-09T14:06:00.000Z

As I've discussed previously on this blog, the two semi-annual sales periods in France are a big deal. Loads of things on sale, for about 5 weeks! Visitors who are lucky enough to be here during this time period can score some great deals [if you are willing to fight the crowds the first few days.] The sales start this Wednesday, January 11th, so look out for early store openings. Not here

bubbles for bebe

2012-01-08T19:52:00.000Z

I don't think I've ever come across a kid that is not fascinated by bubbles- by blowing them or just chasing them through the air. Who can resist these uber-chic bubbles by Maison Francis Kurkdijan- scented with glorious flavors like cut grass or pear? A chic gift that will have parents & enfants smiling and blowing away.... Maison Francis Kurkdijan 5 rue Alger, 1st

Paris at the movies

2012-01-02T18:20:00.000Z

Did you know that over 900 movies are shot in Paris each year? Who doesn't love watching movies about Paris and figuring out exactly where they were shot. The city of Paris' website, Paris.fr, offers a great list of mini guides [in English & in French] that you can print out to scout out some of the locations of famous films. Check out their site to find the promenade that will take you to

designer labels

2011-12-30T19:18:00.000Z

First it was candles, now cds....boutiques want you to recreate the ambiance of their shop chez vous. Two hot young clothing labels, The Kooples and Comptoir des Cotonniers, recently came out with their own music compilations. Why not choose a soundtrack for your trip to Paris? [Or pick up a great cadeau for a teen or music lover....]

puces du design

2010-05-17T10:52:00.001+01:00

Looking for an original gift from Paris, or a new design object for the home? Check out the Puces du Design- the "design" flea market- with loads of goodies from the 1950s to present stuff....May 27-30th in the 19th. Click here for a map.

Yves Saint Laurent at the Petit Palais

2010-03-11T18:55:00.002Z

It's been a while since I've been to the Petit Palais, and I'd forgotten how stunning the palace is. Even more stunning, though, is the YSL Retrospective that opened today. Over 300 couture pieces from the innovative designer are on display, ranging from early pant suits to the famous "Smoking" [Tuxedos], to gowns, gowns, and more gowns. An absolutely gorgeous retrospective of Monsieur Saint

Corsets sur mesure

2010-03-09T17:57:00.003Z

One of the things I love about living in Paris is that you can still find shops with real artisans, whipping up their magic and offering one of a kind items. I haven't checked out this shop, but have heard about it and thought I'd pass it on for those of you who are looking for true Parisian couture...Volute makes corsets of all kinds- from satin and lace to denim and toile. You pick fabric,

chic by candlelight

2010-03-08T12:01:00.003Z

If you are looking for an unusual [and longlasting!] souvenir, and don't already have overweight luggage, check out the gigantic candle by Cire Trudon. Weighing in at 2.8kg [that's over 6 lbs!], the famous candlemaker's luxe candle is adorned with the Trudon coat of arms, and comes in five scents: Roi Soleil, Abdel Kader, Odalisque, Spritius Sancti, and Ernesto. The best part? The long life

alice in printemps-land

2010-03-06T19:19:00.000Z

to celebrate the opening of alice au pays des merveilles [alice in wonderland], printemps department store has dedicated its exterior and interior to the theme. outside, check out the store's windows which contain alice's new wardrobe, designed by some of fashion's biggest names [note the gown by the late, great alexander mcqueen]. inside, stop in laduree's take on the mad hatter's tea room to

liberty at merci

2010-03-05T13:08:00.003Z

i have to say, i am easily seduced by a fun liberty print, and it's not hard to get into flower power when liberty is everywhere these days! it has been pretty "in" in France for the past couple of years, but the British label shows no signs of waning....the lastest stop is a huge installation of the floral print, in all its incarnations, in the concept shop Merci. you'll find adorable kids

bijoux bijoux

2010-03-02T19:02:00.003Z

Gotta love the Marais for its funky little boutiques, like this one: Ostentatoire is a multimarque jewelry boutique, meaning that it contains a bunch of different brands under one roof. Handpicked faves by owners Claire [designer] and David [photographer] include designs by Alice Hubert, Starstyling, and more, presented in a lovely treasure-filled shop.ostentatoire11 bis, rue elzevir, 3rd

one for the guys

2010-03-02T18:48:00.003Z

i'll have to admit: men are hard to shop for. for the most part, they just aren't into keeping up with the latest trends, and don't seem to have the need to "consume" like us girls do....but there are still holidays, birthdays, occasions that we need to celebrate. this is why i'm excited about estime, a line of leather goods for men, or what they call "gentlemen tech". from lovely weekend bags

back to the city of light

2010-03-02T18:39:00.002Z

as many of you might know, i am now back in the city of light, after spending 2009 in the US on a 'sabbatical' with my family. oh la la, it is great to be back! now i'm back to pounding the cobblestones and checking out the newest and chicest shops in paris...so stay tuned in the weeks to come as i try to get the blog back up to speed....and thanks for your patience!xxrebecca

advance sales at colette

2009-06-18T19:07:00.002+01:00

concept store extraordinaire colette is having some special early sales this year-- stop by before saturday to take advantage of up to 50% off women's & men's spring/summer 2009 fashion, plus assorted books/cds/misc. can't get there in the next few days? sales are also happening online.

official summer sales dates in paris

2009-06-18T18:40:00.004+01:00

it is one of my favorite times of year in paris-- sale time! the official dates for the soldes [(as set by the French government) this year are june 24- july 28. click here for more tips on shopping the soldes!

roger vivier prototypes up for auction

2009-06-18T18:13:00.002+01:00

what a great way to own an original work of art-- bid on one of roger vivier's prototypes at the upcoming auction. vivier is one of paris' master shoemakers, responsible for the famous buckle shoe worn by catherine deneuve in belle du jour. i can only imagine that his prototypes are fabulously chic, to say the least!the auction takes place thursday, july 9 at 2pm at richeulieu drouot, salle 8 [

hermes summer sale 2009

2009-06-17T18:24:00.000+01:00

the dates for this years hermes sale are....[drumroll please....].....june 24-26, again at the palais de congres, NOT at the hermes boutiques. check out the antiques diva's blog for an interview of yours truly sharing my hermes shopping tips....

Chic Book: Manolo Blahnik Drawings

2009-06-14T19:32:00.000+01:00

"My shoes are not fashion, they are gestures. So says Blahnik in a book that lays out his designs as brightly colored whimsies, sketches deftly convey the essences of his creations. Celeb quotes, interspersed throughout, heighten the spiraling sense of posturing and play. Madonna says, "They are as good as sex... and they last longer." Paloma Picasso, Isaac Mizrahi, Bianca Jagger also check in,

Chic Dots!

2009-06-13T11:42:00.005+01:00

Everytime I take clients on a shopping tour in the St Germain de Pres area I always go back to my favourite store - Sabre. [Also featured in Chic Shopping Paris, the book, FYI!] Bright, fun, happy colors are the theme of this boutique that specializes in table wear. I love collecting the big coffee cups in every color possible. If you get a chance do check out Sabre at 4 rue des Quatres Vents in

Mini Fashionistas

2009-06-13T11:24:00.005+01:00

A one stop shop for Chloe, Burberry, DKNY and many more - this fabulous boutique with gorgeous moldings and parquet flooring is a must for your little black book. Among the fabulous clothing there is a little corner dedicated to newborns with great gift ideas for all of those chics mamans!Atelier de Courcelles113 avenue Victor Hugo75016 Parisx Stephanie

Twice as Chic

2009-06-13T11:06:00.010+01:00

A must see shop when in Paris -the fabulous lingerie/home wear store Princess Tam Tam is making mother/daughter bikinis in adorable cotton poplin printed fabric. For more details have a look at their website or visit one of 26 stores in Paris. My fave is at 9 rue Brea in the chic 6th arrondissement!x Stephanie

chic spring snack

2009-05-11T18:59:00.003+01:00

following in the steps of other fashion designers [paco rabanne, gaspard yurkievich], franck sorbier has designed this season's spring dessert at the cafe de la paix. named the porte bonheur [good luck charm], the four hearts each have a different flavor, ranging from milk chocolate with orange zest to dark chocolate. the dessert is only available until may 15, so get ready to eat your hearts

Beautiful Lingerie Bien Sur!

2009-05-11T18:14:00.005+01:00

The French do such a great job of making beautiful lingerie for everyone. If you can get past the very unfrench name - Womens Secret - carries gorgeous pieces at very reasonable prices. I love the boxer shorts in this picture - stylish and pretty. [There is a nice big shop right by the Odeon metro station...]I *heart* this blue girlie silk ensemble by Elise Anderegg. For more check out

jewelry sale: may 15-17

2009-05-11T15:11:00.004+01:00

yet another jewelry sale on tap for next weekend. check out the chic boho designs by 5octobre at their atelier sale, friday, may 15, 17pm and saturday& sunday may 16/17, 2.30-6pm.address: 3 rue beautrellis, paris 4

jewerly sale: may 15-16

2009-05-08T18:59:00.000+01:00

Check out another sale this weekend, chez Tiennette la Belette. Jewerly, "neck accessories," linens, and organic products are on sale. Hours: Friday, May 15, 11am- 8pm; Saturday, May 16, 11am- 7,30pm. 49 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris

chic soles?

2009-05-07T19:34:00.000+01:00

The latest from Converse are the crocodile All-Stars. Soon to be seen on all the Parisians given their love for these casual but chic shoes. I think I’ll have to bypass this trend and stick to my cotton canvas converse in fun spring colours like yellow and light pink but all of you fashionistas should go for it!-- Stephanie

secret sale- may 14-16

2009-05-06T19:26:00.003+01:00

mark your calendars-- les prairies de paris, a great little brand, tucked away in a little street by my former pad, is having a 'secret' sale in their design offices...thursday, may 14 [10am- 8pm], friday, may 15 [10am- 7pm] and saturday, may 16 [10am- 6pm]....grab your best shopping pal and head over to the 11th, tout de suite!xx rebeccales praires de paris, 9 passage st. bernard, 11th

chic store

2009-05-06T19:22:00.001+01:00

Merci, The Charity Store, has opened up in Paris- created by Marie-France et Bernard Cohen, the founders of Bonpoint. Fabulous and fashionable finds in this concept store that include a kids’ corner, a garden of gorgeous flowers, a vintage library and a tea room are just waiting to be discovered. French and international designers who have given up their profits to charity sell their goods in

Petits Hauts

2009-05-06T19:10:00.003+01:00

One of my favourite lines, Des Petits Hauts, has a fantastic selection of spring tops right now. I love the detailing in all the tops and blouses. If you are in Paris or heading this way make sure take home a few of their chic pieces for spring/summer. You won’t be disappointed!--Stephanie

Introducing Stephanie

2009-05-05T19:36:00.002+01:00

Chic Shopping Paris is proud to present a new blogger to our team: Stephanie! She introduces herself below...I've been in France for 12 years now - how time flies! My two darling boys have started school and I'm finding myself with some time on my hands - I can only play so much tennis! Rebecca and I met through a mutual friend over 5 years ago and hit it off instantly. I was keen to join her

ladies love paris- an event for paris lovers in nyc

2009-05-05T19:28:00.002+01:00