organic fashion at monoprix

for those still unaware, monoprix if is one of the french grocery store chains. besides carrying groceries, it carries a small line of household accessories and clothing items too, basically a parisian equivalent of target. [and a great place to pick up cheap frenchy souvenirs for friends & family back home!] right now, monoprix has a line of 9 new t-shirts made of organic cotton, designed by trendy french designers like andre, robert le heros, and 100drine.

puttin' on the ritz

if you've ever wondered how to make one of the gorgeous floral arrangments that grace the 'palace' hotels here in paris, this is your chance. the ritz paris is partnering up with its floral decorator, djordje varda, to offer flower arranging lessons. from 11am to 1pm on saturday april 12, 26, or may 10, 24, you too can try your hand at l'art florale. 200 euros a course; call 01.43.16.30.50 to sign up.

smells like maison

dyptique, the mythic brand that made scented candles a must-have in chic homes worldwide, blows out its 40th candle this year. to celebrate, it is launching three new eaux de cologne [90 euros, available by calling 01.56.81.17.00] along with a book. both available in their st. germain boutique, 34 blvd st. germain, 5th.

a british influence on french cuisine?

ok, well, he's not really british, but scottish, and he's not as mean as he appears on t.v., which is probably how gordon ramsay ended up with such a great gig-- running the new resto at the trianon palace in versailles. the restaurant, which sits at the end of the gardens at the versailles palace, will serve up ramsay's famous dishes with a french twist. and the setting is a palace in itself-- the hotel has been redone and appears to be absolutely gorgeous....

soho v. st. germain

catherine malandrino, the french designer who has made a big name in nyc, has created a limited edition scarf for those of us on this side of the atlantic. the bright scarf plays up her love of the two cities-- citing st. germain and soho on the scarf. perfect for those who want to make a statement about the big apple as well as the city of light. available at galeries lafayette for 110 euros.

E + 2 = tres chic

last season, fashion team E2 made waves with their customized vintage scarves. they are back at it again this spring, this time with scarf-like tops. each one is made out of a vintage scarf, customized with flowing pieces of fabric. a one-of-a-kind creation is loads sexier than that drab old hermes in your closet, non? around 500 euros, available at colette and by order through E2 at 01.47.70.15.14.

hats off to marie mercie

famed hat createur marie mercie is the subject of a tribute starting april 5th at the bon marche. fashionable friends such as nathalie garcon and evelyne bouix sport her creations in photos taken by anne roman. a good lesson in stylish ways to wear a chapeau. [until may 10th]

uber trendy shop opening

trendy brand kitsune opens its first boutique in paris this month, featuring men's and women's collections, some home accessories, and of course, music, which is what the brand is most known for. check it out at 52 rue de richelieu, 1st.

chic & cheap paris souvenir

on my shopping tours, clients often pick up tea towels as souvenirs or little gifts for friends. i think they are great because they are french-made, easy to pack, and have wonderful graphic prints. beauville, one of the big linen brands, has just launched its spring line, which includes the 'paris magic' tea towel, above. much chic-er than an eiffel tower t-shirt, non? available at department stores for 14 euros or online in the US.

spring exposition round-up

with so many tempting expos on this spring in paris, i thought it would be best to compile them all together...here are some of the best...
Vlamick, a Fauvist painter, is on display at the Musee du Luxembourg. Combine this wildly colorful and invigorating expo with a stroll through the jardins du Luxembourg to see what spring has sprung this year. (now until july 20th)


if photography is more your thing, be sure to check out the man ray expo at la pinacotheque. this expo on the modernist master of b&w displays works and personal objets from the artist's atelier in paris. (march 5- june 1st)
95-year-old louise bourgeois' work is on display in a huge retrospective at the centre pompidou, featuring over 200 pieces of her work. her infamous sculpture, maman, a giant spider-like sculpture, is on display simultaneously at the jardin des tuilleries, a first in europe. (until june 2)

last but not least, ny punk patti smith shows off another talent at the fondation cartier-- photos, drawings, texts, & collages are on display, inspired by french greats such as arthur rimbaud & jean genet. (march 28 to june 22)

holy maloles

fresh and fun shoe maker maloles has just launched its first line of bags, with chic lucite-handled styles like anastasia [above] along with more practical oversized shoulder bags. each model corresponds to a theme in the shoe line, this season's inspiration being liberty fabrics, pop, and seventies. available at galeries and bon marche.

huit celebrates 60

lingerie brand huit fetes its 60th birthday and the 40th anniversary of may 68 to re-launch its culte model Titcha [pictured], which sold over 6 million models back in its heyday. want to be a part of the sexual revolution, even if you weren't there? pick up the Titcha bra (45 euros) and panties (29 euros) in black or raspberry to channel your inner French provocateur.

eiffel tower-ing shoes

anne valerie hash's spring collection includes these lovely heels, inspired by paris' biggest landmark, la tour eiffel. while the idea sounds kitch, the designs are anything but-- the chaussures are graphic, sleek, and shiny, just like the iron lady herself. available at galeries lafayette and l'eclaireur, 465 euros.

fashion week paris: leonard show

yesterday was the leonard show, filled with their signature flowery prints that look quite graphic and modern once again. the crowd at this show was much older-- you could see many a granny in the audience who probably wore leonard tunics and minis back in the 60s and 70s....

check out the video of the show

fashion week summary

dear csp readers,
as fashion week in paris comes to a close, i thought i'd share some of my "deep thoughts" about fashion week, jotted down while waiting for the various shows to start:

• the hardest job in this business is had by the photographers. they get there early, lug tons of equipment, stack on top of each other to get the best angle [this is clearly not a job for those who suffer from claustrophobias], and are generally treated as dirt by the fashionistas, although it is these guys [and girls] who get the best shots for the mags.

• does france need a model law against overly thin models, like in italy? i wonder how some of these girls can actually walk-- and they could all use a sandwich, as my friend caroline would say

• the biggest fashion show accessory? cute kids in tow

• international language of fashion is english, even when in paris

• can't make it? fake it! if you can't get yourself an invite, fake it, and book lunch at a cafe where there are sure to be fashion editors and models hanging out. try the cafe marly or le saut au loup, both near the louvre [where many shows are held] or even one of the posh hotels

• everyone has a noticeable bag...maybe it's an old chloe, a vintage birkin, a manbag [even man purses!], the coveted latest from YSL, or a simple tote from marc j., but you must have a bag. or none at all...but this still doesn't give you the right to dress like crap [see below]

• having an It bag does not give you the right to wear tennis shoes, however, if you wear a fur, you can get away with jeans

• in a sea of black, where brights to stand out. i spotted cherry red coats with oversized hoods, an enormous fuschia faux fur [on a man], neon pink patent platforms, and more

• if you are thin and belle, you can wear the craziest outfits and people will think you are cool; and if you are not, attitude is everything

rue du mail opens on rue du mail

martine sitbon just opened her first boutique for label rue du mail, on a street with the same name. [how chic!] the large, exposed-stone space is comprised of a shop, studio, and showroom, accessible only after you are buzzed in. short, flowy dresses in sheer neon colors are the hit of the moment, woo-ing clients such as sofia coppola and vanessa paradis. 5 rue du mail, 2nd, monday- friday 12-7pm, saturday by appointment only.

vintage auctions for luxury goods

i just came across some fab sites listing upcoming auctions in paris--
check out gros-delettrez for listings on upcoming louis vuitton [monday, april 7th] and hermes [may 26-27] vintage auctions, and romain rea for info. about auctions on vintage watches and others taht are sold directly through the site. a vintage birkin or used tank watch, anyone?

classical music for the kiddos

the cite de la musique now has a saturday a.m. concert series to introduce les enfants to the finer things in life, i.e., classical concerts. tickets are only 8 euros, and the mini-concerts [1 hour long] are timed just right for the short attention span of the littlest music aficandos. a nice way to sneak in a little culture, rather than saturday a.m. cartoons. tickets and more info. available here.

givenchy's new flagship

givenchy's new paris flagship opens this friday, seated in a prime location between hermes & boucheron on faubourg st. honore. the roll out of the new shop is meant to reinvigorate the brand, which has fallen behind some of paris' others more famous labels. the shop will carry women's and men's lines, along with shoes, bags, and small leather goods in a space designed by the brand's designer Riccardo Tisci and architect Jamie Fobert.

salon d'agriculture

paris is all about contrasts-- you can't get in to the fashion shows, for example, so you go to the cow show instead. pourquoi pas? the salon d'agriculture is on right now, until march 2nd, at the porte de versailles. check out all the raw materials that become our favorite french foods--over 600 cows and bulls are on display, along with wine makers, foie gras specialists, and beaucoup plus! [by the way, don't go saying "moo" to a french cow- they say "meuh" here!]

gaspard yurkievich

today at high noon was the gaspard yurkievich show in the carrousel du louvre. the show's theme, the beautiful fall, was taken from a book by the same name by alicia drake, about the fame and fashion in 1970s paris. the look? flowy dresses, printed tights, big exposed zippers, ladylike blouses, and short skirts with big pockets, all in tones of royal purple, black, and gold. the setting? a glittery gold runway, with sam sparro belting out his new single, "black and gold"

doggie couture

yes, the french are obsessed with their pampered pups-- i just saw a woman on the metro pull down a seat for her pooch when other people were standing due to lack of seats! want to spoil your canine a la francaise? check out the precious-stone encrusted collars by les parichiennes. made with pearls, amethysts, etc., and fine leather, you can have a bracelet made to match your chien's collar- oh la la!

af vandevorst show

my first show of the season was that of af vandevorst, which took place at the maison des metallos in the 11th. the champagne flute invite said 8pm, we were seated by 8.30, and by 8.50 the photographers [pictured above] were hooting and hollering 'let's go'-- i was in total agreement, as it was tres chaud in there!
here are a few shots from the show, which featured lots of men's wear inspired layered suits, quilted jackets and skirts, and some cozy wrapped knits, paired with silver platform heels and studded platform boots.

at 9.15pm, the show ended with waiters bringing champagne around
[normale, as the event was undersigned by piper heidsieck]-- enfin!

a short video of the show in action


and our take home treat-- a 'delicious' box of chocolates with af's logo on them. if the duo doesn't woo the fashion scene with its fall-winter collection, maybe the champagne and chocolates will do the trick?

Paris fashion week

Paris fashion week starts today, and my mail box is busy receiving all sorts of interesting invites-- each trying to out-chic the other houses. the most interesting so far was the champagne glass in a tube from af vandevorst, whose show is tonight. stay tuned for photos and updates from the shows....and to check out the full schedule of fashion week in paris, check out the wwd site or the federation francaise de la couture.

new hair from nouvelle athenes

la nouvelle athenes is one of those place i kept hearing about-- i had articles about this hot salon in my files, then a french friend told me she went and loved it, and to top it off, my hairdresser of five years retired, so it was time for a change.

the salon is set in a large, light-filled apartment behind the gare st lazare, and decorated with chic flea market furniture. no chop shop here, you really feel as if you are in someone's home. the owner, sylvie coudray, believes in looking at your face shape, hair texture, complexion, etc, before determining the best cut for you. i went in with a short cut that had gotten way overgrown, and was told that i needed a bit of hair on my forehead, less on the sides, that my color was wrong, etc. this, of course, was said in that oh-so french frank but convincing style, peppered with her saying ma belle and cherie repeatedly. who could resist? i was out of there two hours later with a new chic 'do, scared to death at first that i had bangs [but she was right, they do make my eyes pop!], and a shiny new vegetable-based color. the hair cuts [note that hair is cut dry to better see how it moves] run 65 euros and color is from 50 euros and up.

the petit plus? sylvie speaks english, having spent a year in florida. she also has great tips on products for the hair-- she recommended a great hand cream (yes, hand cream!) as a styling tool for my hair. trop genial!

mix and match fragrance

It seems that the French are always on the lookout for ways to be more and more creative, n'est-ce pas? And what could be better than an uber-unique perfume? Parfums 137 is the brainchild of nez (perfumer) Isabelle Maillebiau, inspired by French writer Marivaux's character's gift to a geisha. Three small vials of perfume are concealed in a lovely little box, to be worn together or separately: 1 story, 3 essences, 7 perfumes. the coffret nara 1869 [pictured above] is available for 60 euros through the website and at le bon marche.

the paint-by-numbers fendi baguette

to fete its 10 year anniversary, the newest fendi baguette bag comes in its birthday suit-- "nude" with 10 bright pantone markers, so that you can customize it all on your own. retailing for 850 euros, its a pretty penny to pay for a paint-by-numbers doodlefest, but sure to be a collector's item. on sale at the new fendi store at 22, avenue montaigne, 8th arr.

put a little spring in your step

repetto has just put out it's famous BB [for brigitte bardot] ballerina flat, with new neon edging for spring-- so fun and springy, non? available exclusively at colette until the end of march, 140 euros.

antiques diva divulges hermes secrets

thought you hermes fans out there might read this-- a friend's blog post about hermes tips and more., including some of my own advice. check out the antiques diva's hermes primer!

ps- i was just at the le monde du voyage shop at the puces de st. ouen on sunday, feb. 17th-- they have several models of birkins and kellys in stock starting at about 4500 euros and going up. [some are in pristine condition-- meaning that you get a birkin without the year plus wait that you would have at the shop!] plus, the shop will accept payment by wire transfer and will fedex the merch....

pps--another top tip? it is easy to get confused by the two most popular styles, the kelly and the birkin. the kelly has one handle and is usually smaller, and the birkin has two handles plus a 'guide' for the belt/strap that goes around it [pictured above.]

new tea palace in paris

damman freres started their tea business way back in 1692 under the reign of Louis XIV, becoming the exclusive distributors of tea in france at the time. their firstboutique for us mere mortals [before, the products were only sold in gourmet epiceries] has just opened at the lovely place des vosges , selling classic and flavored teas in gorgeous tins. [side note: the boutique is open right now, but will close at the end of march for an expansion...so go now!] 15, place des vosges, 4th arr.

more treats for your sweet

it seems like valentine's day is in full force this year-- every brand is sprouting up ideas for gifts for your amour. see below for some un-traditional cadeaux....kumsi sweet love tea, a black china tea with ginsing and pink pepper, sure to spice up your morning cuppa. 12 euros, from kusmitea.com or from their boutique in st. germain.
ysl's "biarrtiz" thongs, from the yves saint laurent cruise line. 150 euros, also available in pink.

and for the littlest valentine? how about this chic coloring book, playtime: cahier de coloriage. some of paris' biggest kids designers [antik batik, wowo, balouga] drew a page for this special coloring book, whose sales benefits an association to make sure all children receive an eduction. 5 euros, available at habitat.

poiret's glam gowns on auction

a collection of over 30 pieces owned by denise poiret, wife of designer paul poiret, will be up for auction at hotel drouot on february 14th. the collection includes dresses, coats, scarves, and necklaces are museum worthy pieces, and are estimated to sell from between 200 and 2500 euros a piece. on your marks, get set, bid!

valentine's day hints

oh, wouldn't it be nice if all men just spontaneously got great gift ideas for valentine's day? well, in case you aren't living that dream either, why not forward this blog post to the homme in your life? and monsieurs, here are a few hints....petals of love ring in white and yellow gold, with petals that turn. 1900 euros from tess v.
cartier's love bracelet (3200 e), which was made famous in the 1970s. you have to screw it on, with a mini screwdriver, so your love reminder never leaves your wrist. also available as a ring, a pendant, a huge cuff, etc.


this last little number is a mother of pearl charm on a bracelet, from petits tresors, starting 39 euros. sweet and dainty, and the price is so reasonably, you wouldn't feel guilty going to that three star michelin resto...

colette dance class

colette, the chic boutique that defines "cool" in paris, offers dance classes to help you move as hip as you look. offered the first monday of every month at le paris paris club, the free classes start at 10pm, last an hour, then the dj takes over and the fete continues. a guest choreographer shows the moves to a different dance style each week-- allez, dansez!

sonia rykiel reopens in the 6th

after a long closing for renovations, the sonia rykiel boutique on blvd st. germain in the 6th reopened on february 1st. for the occasion, sonia re-launched old faves such as her "poor boy sweater" (175 euros) and a special bird broach set with 175 jewels. what's with the 175? that's the address of the now mythic flagship shop, 175 blvd. st. germain.