from our favorite francophile

fab francophile john malkovich is at it again, directing another play here in paris. the last one, hysteria, was such a success that monsieur malkovich has taken to directing, in french, an american play by author zach helm. good canary is about a tumultuous love story in new york in the 1980s, directed under the close eye of mr. dangerous liasons himself.

a room of one's own

as a resident of paris, i rarely see the interiors of many hotel rooms, but i'm always asked for recommendations. here are two that seem worth investigating, full of parisian glamour and charm... the above is one of the rooms in the christian lacroix designed hotel, the hotel du petit moulin, in the up-&-coming haute marais district. the over-the-top decor is signature lacroix, so if you are visiting and can't afford some of his couture, you may just be able to check into his hotel instead. the surrounding area is definitely worth checking out [hip new shops, restos, etc.] as well.
the second place to check out is the marais house, near the centre pompidou. this place is a giant hotel particulier [mansion] that has been redone to the highest standards. the entire place can be rented out if you are having a huge fete, or if you just want to have your own not-so-humble abode in paris for a week or so. recently featured in w magazine and on dailycandy, plan to book way in advance.

chic chair sos

check out this clever design from 5.5 Designers, a great way to spruce up old chairs. the plastic 'prothesis' adds a funky deco edge as well as a practical way to keep you from falling through the chaise. from 150 euros, available online.

rugby rugby rugby

the ultimate gift for a posh rugby fan, and a special souvenir for those who have been afflicted with rugby-mania.... a limited-edition chanel logo ball, 130 euros.

eye lash bar

if you are strolling around st. germain and decide your jetlagged visage could use a little pick-me-up, pop into the recently redone shu uemura boutique. a quick visit the tokyo lash bar will have you batting your eyes and saying 'oh la la' with a gorgeous set of fake lashes. too bold for you? then check out their famous makeup removing oils, wide range of makeup colors, and the shop's new secret japanese garden.
176 blvd st. germain, 6th; tel 01 45 48 02 55

white nights

mark your calendar for this year's edition of the nuit blanche, on the night of october 6th to 7th (from 7pm to 6am), when all of paris stays up late. installations and art expos are up in several different areas across this city, many dealing with the theme of light. pictured above is louis rollide's light work on the maison de victor hugo in the marais, which will be animated with music, poetry and lights. check out the official website for a full listing of events. this is truly a chance to see paris as you've never seen it before.

lagerfeld confidential

for fashion fans, the much anticipated film about designer karl lagerfeld, lagerfeld confidential, looks like a must-see. lagerfeld takes off his infamous dark glasses to show the real man behind the creative genius, as well as his theories about his mother, his drawers full of gloves and stiff collars, and his collections. the film opens in paris on october 10th- be sure to check here to find a theater playing the film in french with english subtitles.

the beret is back

as seen in many a fall magazine, the quintessential french hat, the beret, is back for fall. check out models from sinequanone, lacoste, or vuitton [pictured] if you are visiting paris, or check out this great website i just found, berets.com, which stocks berets from around the world.

chez ki

kenzo's beauty line, kenzoki, has just opened a beauty shop inside it's showroom at the place des victoires. in the chez ki space, one can come to learn about the whole line of kenzoki beauty products while sipping a cup of tea. just sign up online to make your free rendez-vous and relax in the new, ultra-modern beauty space.

two centuries of design

a new expo at the grand palais shows off over 300 design objects dating from the beginning of the industrial revolution to today. furniture, architecture, fashion, and art pieces are on display to continue the dialog between different design periods. on display until january 8th.

one for the guys

a good gift idea for the homme in your life-- the new skincare line called au bonheur des hommes, made in france with all natural ingredients. packaged in kitchy-retro style black and white bottles and tubes, you won't mind if he leaves it lying around the bathroom! (availabe at printemps department store's mens shop- printemps de l'homme)

bar a chignons

get off the plane with a bad 'do? stop by the marianne gray salon in st. germain to take advantage of her bar a chignons ["bun bar"]. on thursdays and fridays, you can stop in for a super quick up-do-- the price of which depends on how long it takes to do up your hair! (10 euros for 10 minutes, 20 euros for 20 min, etc.)
53 rue saint andre des arts, 6th

go ga-ga over these gloves

famed made-in-france glove house causse has just opened its first boutique in paris at 12 rue de castiglione, 1st arr. fans of the french gantier (which dates back to 1892) include madonna and karl lagerfeld, the latter of whom orders 250 pairs of his famed fingerless gloves at a time. the chic 07/08 winter collection includes lovely specimens in golden lambskin and panther pony.

guest designers

this fall, h & m recruited roberto cavalli to do a limited edition line (available November 8th), while mango is using the creative talents of penelope cruz and her sister monica to bring in business. apparently the "guest appearance" tactic has not worn out its welcome just yet...

belle in paris

2 new beauty items from top french brands worth mentionning-- a streetcar named desire lipstick collection from lancome, which was originally lanced alongside the film in 1951, has been relaunched. check out the oh-so-chic red reds, such as the rouge absolu desir 130, for a perfectly parisian pout.

also just released to the masses is givenchy's scent "le de," originally created in 1957 as a gift fragrance that was only given to haute couture customers. it is now been made available to us common folk.

this weekend in paris

the annual 'journees du patrimoine' ("heritage days") take place this weekend in paris. this yearly event offers secret behind-the-scenes visits of all sorts of cultural places in paris for free-- check out churches, government buildings, museums, etc you'll get a glimpse into loads of places that are not normally open to the public (such as the gorgeous "hotel de ville"), so take advantage of it if you are in town! the listings of the places available to vist can be found on paris.fr (unfortunately, they are only listed in french).

au marche!

just got back from the marche d'aligre, my local outdoor market, with this lovely bunch of dahlias and purple foliage. [all for an insanely reasonable 5 euros!] so i thought i'd give a 'shout out' to the markets of paris. if you haven't experienced one, check out the list on the mayor's website to find a marche near you, and go check it out to buy a lovely bouquet for your hotel room or some fresh produce to munch on while you are in town, and experience the real parisian's paris.

mini tea salon

kusmi tea, which has recently celebrated its 140th anniversary in paris, has just opened a teeny tiny tea salon above their boutique in st. germain. stop by to try out one of their many teas, served either hot or cold, in this ultra-modern space. [the 'detox' tea is a favorite of local fashionistas.] downstairs, you can purchase teas to take home-- their bright and colorful packaging will cheer you up on a cool fall day.

happy 70th!

scarves are making a big comeback around paris this season. check out the hermes carre 70, a 70cm square scarf made for the 70th anniversary of the infamous hermes scarf., available in several styles, including a redition of their first scarf. so chic!

ysl does graffiti

designers these days seem to be going to new heights [and lows] to get our attention. on sept. 12th, yves st. laurent took fashion to the streets- literally. this graffiti 'tag' was seen by yours truly on the streets of st. germain. the 12th was also the date of ysl's first mini newspaper, released in metro stations and over 180 sights around the city, filled with photos of the new collection-- a future collector's item?

chic new lipgloss

another great accessory to add to your makeup case--chanel's latest fall lipcolors, with the glosses in the shape of their signature camelia flowers. made to wear layered together or alone, these lipglosses are almost too preety to use! all this in the shiny, black chanel compact that oozes paris chic.

vendome luxury

the ritz is famous for its bar, its stars, and now, its limited editions. from october 4th to 7th, the ritz will host the vendome luxury trade show, which will offer a boutique filled with limited edition pieces [such as the patent leather repettos, pictured], a luxury bar to relax in between two fashion shows, as well as a beauty center tucked away in the ritz gardens. so if you aren't invited to the fashion shows in paris, you can at least pretend you are part of the It crowd by stopping by the ritz...

au revoir valentino!

legendary designer valentino has just announced that he will step down, presumably to retire after a 45 year career that was recently feted by a 3 day celebration in rome. fashionistas, get ready to snatch up his last ready to wear and couture collections this next season-- future collectors items, bien sur.

chic shopping in greece?

this chic shopper is off for a much needed holiday in greece. i plan to soak up the sun, visit some sites, and do a bit of shopping, bien sur. i'll definitely be stocking up on korres natural beauty products, custom-made sandals, and greek fisherman shirts. this time it is my turn to ask YOUR shopping advice-- any other shopping tips for greece?

i'll be back in a week with more tips for paris shopping...a bientot!

the white blouse spa?

famous for her white blouses, designer anne fontaine has opened up a new concept store that combines shopping and spa treatments. the gorgeous white boutique proposes spa treatments with her fontaine's line of organic cosmetics-- and if they promise to make you feel as crisp and clean as a new white shirt, why not?
370 rue st. honore, 1st. arr.

homage a Paris

Catherine Malandrino, the French designer who started her line in New York, just created an exlusive dress, to be sold only at Galeries Lafayette. The dress, made entirely of sequins, is done in a brightly colored patchwork style and spells out "I love Paris"....and for only 3000 euros, you can proclaim your love for the city of light as well.

classically green

fancy some classical music in a idyllic garden setting? check out this years "classique au vert" festival in the parc floral. all the concerts are outdoors and free (after paying the park's 2.50 entry fee)-- take a little wine & frommage and make an evening of it. every saturday and sunday at 4pm, until september 23rd.

la chaise Tolix

i've seen this chair around for years, and still can't get enough of it. i recently found out that the original version comes from the brand tolix, and it has been around for nearly a century. still chic today, the chair is made from galvanized zinc, and its clean lines are a bit retro, a bit industrial. oh-so-chic to mix a set of them with a big country table at your maison de campagne, non?

meet marcello

marcello is cartier's new edition to the "it bag" market. the luxury brand that gave us tank watches and love bracelets is now trying to make a mark in the handbag market, where it will undoubtlessly succeed. the lovely bag, pictured above, sports clean, classic lines, and is available in leather or in fur. starting in november, those with the means can even have it customized (choice of lining, handles, etc.). prices start at around 1460 euros- oh la la!

new website for chic shopping paris!

i'm very excited to announce chic shopping paris' new website-- check out www.chicshoppingparis.com to see our fab new logo (also featured here on the blog) and new website. many thanks to amit and his team at webart softech for doing such a great job.

A former jewelry designer for Dior and Galliano, talented young designer Alexis Mabille is one to watch. His amazing line Treizor focuses on the updated bow tie-- in a jillion permuations. With beads, in denim, to wear in your hair or as a belt, the unisex creations are a truly unique accessory. He does not yet have his own shop, but check out his goods at Colette and Le Bon Marche

zara a la maison

chic and not cher chain zara has (finally!) brought their home store-- zara home-- to paris. focussing on accessories for every room of the home, the look ranges from white-on-white to spanish hacienda to shabby chic and tradtional french. the kid's line is especially adorable. check it out at 2, boulevard de la madeleine, right next to french homeware shop habitat.

galerie chanel

famed fashion house chanel met up with Pritzker prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, and the result is this amazing, futuristc mobile art space. the moveable capsule will hold an art expo featuring artistic interpretations of chanel's famous quilted bag. the mobile art space will travel to 7 cities worldwide, it's final destination being paris in 2010.

the ultimate grocery sac: silkypop from hermes

i've been talking a lot about the newest bags & shoes-- well, what else would a girl want to take back from paris, after all? one of the new items out there is the "silkypop" by hermes. it is a silk scarf-like bag that folds into a teeny pouch, all chic-ly zipped up. a great way to have 'extra storage' on hand when you are out shopping rue st. honore, or, for the chicest of them all, a stop at the marche. and for only 700 euros, don't we all need several of them?

michel vivien for andre

famed shoe creator michel vivien is putting out a line for chain store andre this fall. vivien, who is most famous for the square-buckled shoes that catherine deneuve wore in belle du jour, has made a big comback in the past few years. now those with more modest budgets can have some of his original creations as well. ballerinas, above, for 125 euros, along with other gorgeous styles, inspired by some of his best sellers.

dj lancel

prestigious leather goods brand lancel has just announced a new line by cecile togni, a famed nightlife presence and dj. the young and funky line is available at colette starting september 3rd (and later in lancel stores). check out the bags, adorned with drawings of lipstick, stilettos, and records, bien sur.

rain, rain, go away!

ok, so we've officially [in my book anyway!] had the rainiest summer in years, and the worst part its that it alternates with periods of gorgeous [though short-lived] sunshine! what is a girl to do but throw her lunettes de soleil in her bag and go shopping for rainboots? sure to come in handy, and oh so funky with a little dress with tights-- check out this neon version by le chameau.

new fall chanel bag

the new fall chanel bags are out-- these rainbow bright colored croco bags, which start at 1950 euros, and are sure to become an instant collectors item. keep your eyes open for faux versions all over town, for chic copycats like zara are sure to be following the trend.....

Inspired by a text about gardens under Louix XIV, the Reunion des Musees Nationaux has partnered up with Gien to create this lovely edition of contempory porcelain adorned with 17th century floral patterns (called l'Herbier du Roy). It can be ordered online or found at some of the boutique musuems around Paris. A good gift option for those who are inspired by France's lovely gardens, and long to take a piece of them home.

chic chain: princesse tam tam

i'm starting a new category here-- in an aim to let you paris fans know about all the cute chain stores that are out there. princesse tam tam is one of those great little frenchy shops-- they are sprouting up all over the city, but the lingerie is not as expensive like the big french lines [chantal thomas, huit, etc.], and it is oh-so-cute! great little bra and panty sets, adorable nighties, cute swimsuits-- often with a vintagey theme, with just the right amount of lace and embellishment.

csp's long lost cousin

shop gotham is like chic shopping paris' new york cousin-- they do similar shopping tours in the big apple, with all the new york attitude and best shopping tips. i met shop gotham's owner marla yesterday on her vacation to paris. what fun! you can see how shopping in nyc would be so much cooler after meeting with marla, a fun, bubbly new yorker who knows her stuff.

fin de series

while the sales officially ended on saturday, stores have now moved on to sneakily calling their leftover sale items things like "fin de series" [end of series] or "les bests de l'ete" [summer bests] or just "promotion". the government regulates the official sale dates, thus, stores can't technically call a sale a sale, but a sale by any other name....is just the same! so bargain shoppers, keep your eyes peeled for special signs, as the shops try to move out the last of the summer goods.

new perfume by serge lutens

you'll have to admit-- having a scent that is very rare is a very chic thing! serge lutens, who creates exclusive scents for the gorgeous perfumerie salons du palais royale sheisdo, has just come out with his new scent, Sarrasins, his 24th exclusive creation for the boutique. be sure to check out the nearby palais royale gardens nearby.

little white blouse

these days, the white blouse seems to be everywhere, and i think it is a great alternative to a t-shirt. it's cool in hot weather, and always the epitome of chic. i've seen great versions around town, paired with skinny jeans, a flowy little skirt, short shorts....check out white blouse queen anne fontaine, for an every changing selection of white shirts, or the sheer version featured at zara .

sales-- la fin

this week marks the end of the sales-- august 4th, to be precise. i have to say, i'm not all that impressed this year with the markdowns [or lack thereof!] but maybe it is because i spent a few weeks in the US, and by comparison, everything in paris seems to be rather cher. [quel surprise!] i've been scouting out the end of the end though, just to see if there is anything out there to be had. there still seem to be a few nice items left at comptoir des cotonniers, muji, and gerard darel in the marais as i walked through yesterday-- the catch seems to be that only the large sizes [42+] are left. in st. germain, i spotted sale jewels at nadine delepine and cute frocks at tara jarmon. at des petits hauts on rue keller in the bastille, there are tons of tops left, again in larger sizes.

i also spotted some great little black dresses at- where else-- la petite robe noire, in palais royale. the sample sizes were on sale last time i was in, which means size 38. 200 or 300 euros and a US size 6, and you'll be tres chic with a great LBD from didier ludot.

jolie jewels in montmartre

while doing some shopping 'research' last week, i accidentally-on-purpose stumbled into this colorful jewelry boudoir boutique. geraldine valluet does all sorts of creative things with silver, pearls, etc-- jewels for mom, jewels for bebe, and for yourself too. this all takes place in her colorful boutique-slash-atelier. the best part is the prices, which are completely reasonable for bijoux that are practically made right before your eyes in her workshop. styles run from a simple little pendant to a long ornate pair of earrings. let yourself stumble across this shop next time you are in the montmartre/piagalle neighborhood, and i bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.

geraldine valluet
5 rue houdon
paris 18
open monday-saturday, and even sunday afternoons

famed fash photos at the carnavalet

Photographer Willy Maywald moved to Paris in the 1930s and became the photographer of la vie boheme -- photographing artists like Leger and Clader and models sporting the latest duds in the streets of Paris, alongside scenes of everyday Parisian life. Over 200 photos from the years 1931 to 1955 are on display in the charming Musee Carnavalet, until Sept. 30th.

bebe got back

voila the new french fad-- special panties to lift your buttocks! while all of the jeunes americaines are trying oh-so-hard to lift up their buste, lithe french girls apparently dream of j.lo-style booties [who knew?]. french lingerie company huit has created 'magic pulp' panties to round out their bums. now there is an original souvenir...

lacroix at laredoute

la redoute is sort of a chic version of that retro jcpenny's catalog you flipped through as a kid-- a multipurpose catalog that sells everything under the soleil. they, like all the other big retail players [monoprix, etam, h & m], have snapped up special collections by big names to highlight their catalogs. new for fall are the colorful, extravagant looks of christian lacroix-- who has designed, clothing, furniture, boots, and even bed linens for the catalog. the line seems to be available only on the french version of the site, although the american catalog does offer some other chic french designers [maje, ventilo], which are hard to find elsewhere.

mini palais, maxi chic

the new chic place to have a drink this summer-- the mini palais under the columns in the grand palais, a new uber-chic summer terrace, complete with baccarat light fixtures and faux croco walls [in the interior.] the menu is by gilles choukroun [of the angl'opera restaurant], and serves up salads, sandwiches, and little plates - plan on spending 25 euros. open from 10am to 1am, 7 days of the week.