the smallest hotel in paris

making the rounds in all the mags in paris right now-- the everland hotel. this art installation/hotel is only in paris until the end of 2008. the pod-like structure, pearched ontop of the palais de tokyo contemporary art musuem, is a one-room-only hotel, rented by the night. it sleeps two, and provides a stunning view of paris. the everland was created by a pair of swiss artists, and has already made a few other stops in europe. the rates for this once in a lifetime experience are 333 euros for a sunday, tuesday or wednesday, and 444 euros for thursday, friday, and saturday.

and a quick side note-- if you just want to visit the hotel and are here on november 15th-- the palais de tokyo is offering guided visits of the hotel for one day only.

for cozy cocktails....

the fashionistas are flocking here-- wini june, a charmant little bar in the haute marais neighborhood. vintage tables, a candle-lit atmosphere and crystal glases make this the perfect place for your next aperatif. 16 rue DuPetit Thouars, 3rd.

CSP in the guardian

chic shopping paris was also featured in the guardian this past weekend-- twice! one article discusses the chic shopping paris blog in a blog by blog guide to festive shopping, and a second piece discusses a few of my shopping faves, perfect for those who are hoping over to paris on the eurostar.

shopping as a special event

chic shopping paris was featured today in eventline, a newletter from special events magazine. scroll down the page under "product line" to check out the details. merci to special events mag!

bon anniversaire dior!

famous french fashion house dior, started by christian dior in 1947, blows out 60 candles this year. to celebrate, the house's most famous address in paris, 30 avenue montaigne, has had a makeover. peter marino, a US designer, was behind the new look. marino used over 50 shades of grey to achieve a new look in the boutique, along with updating the house's classic themes of louis xvi medallion chairs mixed with jungle prints.

taxi bike

i've seen these mini-taxis around town for a while, but in very limited numbers. just found out that the company is called cyclobulle, and these electric bike/taxis are becoming very much the rage in several cities in europe. in paris, the offering is still a bit limited, as the 'taxis' only go in certain areas [between concorde and gare st. lazare and from chateau d'eau and hotel de ville]. they hold 2 people, plus packages [phew!] call to book one up for a quick and eco-friendly ride though town, or check out their site-seeing tour on ile st. louis [1/2 tour for 19 euros].

on your lips, not on your hips

laduree fans can now take part in a delicious beauty ritual as well-- starting in december, the famous patisserie will debut a line of beauty care products inspired by its famous pastries. some are offered exclusively at the le bon marche, such as the almond-based line [pictured, top]. others [such as the lip gloss, bottom photo], will be sold at sephora and at laduree's champs-elysees address, starting november 15th.

collection of style: coming soon

h&m's pricier line, COS (collection of style) is set to open its first paris boutique on rue de rosiers in the marais in march 2008. if the number of h&m stores in paris is any indication, the new boutique is sure to be a hot new stop for seekers of fashionable frocks.

bag ladies

it all started with anya hindmarch's "i'm not a plastic bag" phenomenon-- the bag was given to stars at the oscars, and many have since been spotted carrying around the cotton tote. other big brands, catching the eco-friendly fever, have started creating reuseable or recycleable bags. bravo for agnes b, who created one out of potato starch [pictured]. stop by one of the many paris locations and walk out with your own piece of pomme de terre.

happy 80th la Coupole

famed resto in Montparnasse, la Coupole, celebrates its 80th birthday this year. to help them celebrate, you can buy a limited edition cocotte by Staub [similar to the one pictured], with la Coupole's logo on it, along with their famous recipe for curried lamb. perfect for recreating cosy french dinners chez vous.

csp: the book

it's official-- the chic shopping paris book, written by yours truly, comes out in may 2008. very exciting, and, bien sur, tres chic and full of my paris faves.

backwards bubbly

guaranteed to cause a stir at your next fete: the piper-heidsieck boutielle de champagne, designed by avantguard duo victor & rolf. the rose champagne sells for 65 euros at colette and other liquor shops.

glam glasses

as seen on the runways, chanel launches it's bijoux line of lunettes de soleil, available in january 2008, exclusively at chanel boutiques. the line is comprised of over-the-top glasses, with feathers, beads, sequins, and bien sur, camelias. in case you weren't already wearing enough sparkly accessories....

sit in deneuve's chair

if you've ever wanted to follow in the footsteps of living legend catherine deneuve, now is your chance. deneuve has recently redecorated the cafe/ salon at the cinema du pantheon, one of the oldest movie theaters in paris. the cozy chic space is open from 12pm-7pm from monday-friday-- stop by for a light lunch before a matinee or just to breathe in the aura of a cinema icon.

13 rue victor cousin, 5th

goyard meets lancome meets gucci

an uber chic gift for the beauty fan--luxe luggage maker goyard has teamed up with french beauty house lancome to launch a limited edition malle, or handmade makeup case. the case is designed specifically for professional makeup tools by gucci westman neville, the line's makeup director. only 8 editions are being released, in 6 sales outlets across the world. bergdorf goodman will sell them stateside, for $18,000, beginning november 1st.

cozy fall cuisine

local favorite christian constant has done it again with another resto (les cocottes) on the rue saint dominique in the 7th-- his 4th on the same street! cocottes are a sort of famous french casserole, and all the dishes are served in them-- from cesear sald to pigeo with sweet peas, each dish is served up in a ceramic or glass cocotte. an upscale french 'diner,' this one is sure to warm you up, inside out, on chilly fall nights.

135 rue st. dominique, 7th, tel: 0145501031

trocadero boutique hotel

another one to check out for your next trip here: le jays paris, a new boutique hotel near the trocadero. the all-suites design hotel [5 suites total], opened by new zeland native judy brahman, is situated in gorgeously renovated 19th century building. each suite has a different decor, from the romantic "provence" suite [pictured] to the classic louis XVI suite (from 390 euros)

chic lunch spot in st. germain

although i've passed by 100s of times, i've never had the chance to stop at cuisine du bar, which is right near the famous boulangerie poilane (rue du cherche midi in st. germain). i finally had the chance to stop for a quick bite with a client today, and years of wondering were finally satisfied-- this tiny cantine-like cafe is just what it looks like-- minimal, healthy, chic, and quick. the menu consists mainly of tartines [open faced sandwiches, slightly grilled] and small salads with lovely house-made desserts and fresh juices. for 12.50 euros, you can have a small salad, a tartine, a dessert, a glass of wine and a coffee-- a bargain, by parisian standards. i had the delicious tartine with fresh goat cheese, ratatouille and coppa ham. a delight, simple and perfectly satisfying.

les annees 20

celebrating the 1920s alongside the musee galliera, the musee baccarat shows its own collection of items from the 20s including art deco inspired perfume bottles and other lovely sparkly things. make time to stop by the crystal room resto if you have some time to languish over a fine french meal in an over-the-top philippe starck designed setting.

les anness 20, until feb 29th at musee bacccarat 11, place des etats-unis, 16th arr.

the big mac

after the FIAC art show this month, the MAC [manifestation d'art contemporain] contemporary art event takes place in november, showcasing 130 invited artists from around the world. each artist presents a personal expo and the artists are at their booth during the entire show. check out eva touroglou-bony's latex sculptures and christitian goyon's interesting 3D images, among other up-and-coming artistes.

november 22-25, at espace champerret

ethical fashion show

this sunday, october 14th, more than 70 french and foreign designers will show off their new collections of ethically-made fashions. using ancient textile methods or the newest recycling procedures, the show is a mix of couture and sportswear. the ethical fashion show is open to the public, 6 euros entry fee.
67, rue du faubourg st. martin, 10th.

uniqlo in paris

you heard it here first-- chic & cheap japanese chain uniqlo arrives in paris this fall. already a huge hit in new york, this muji-meets-h&m chain shop stocks well-designed basics for men, women, and children at incredibly low prices. the location is said to be in la defense, in december 2007, but we are hoping that one will also open in central paris. a voir....

chic bebe gifts

i've always loved these antique french baby rattles, but couldn't find the perfect one for my new niece. then i discovered this french website, sanaissance.com, which offers new versions of antique models, complete with engraving, all at a very reasonable price. they also offer baby spoons, egg cups, silver cups, etc. the website might be a bit simple looking, but the customer service is top-rate-- my order was hand-delivered to my door in 24 hours as i needed it in a hurry. bravo!

i *heart* rien

just spotted this in a magazine and it cracked me up-- oh-so parisien! translation: 'i love nothing, i'm parisien'. available as a sticker in several different color combos online at paristic.fr. the site also offers other frenchy wall stickers like an almost life-sized "metro" sign.

swiss spa special

to celebrate it's 10th anniversary, luxury swiss skincare brand la colline is offering a two-for-one spa special. called the 'soin prestige anniversaire pour visage,' the treatment combines a facial with a hand massage, foot massage, and back massage, leaving you completely relaxed and velvety smooth. the one and a half hour treatment is 145 euros for two people (usually 145 euros for one.) 24, avenue de l'opera, 1st, tel: 01.49.26.03.66

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.