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.

brocantes in paris

a brocante is basically an outdoor flea market, sort of a cross between a yard sale and a true antique fair. some brocantes are run by associations and only have professional exhibitors, others are just neighborhood sales. in either case, a brocante can be a fun way to get some cool french items. i've picked up old prints, steel silverware molds, vases, pottery, and the like over the years, so it is a fun way to spend a morning. [i find it interesting to see just how different french 'junk' is than american junk!] i'm listing a few upcoming sales below, and you can check this site for more listings. happy hunting!

feb 2-3, brocante on rue gros, paris 13th [metro eglise d'auteuil]
feb 9-10, brocante on rue saint charles, paris 15th [metro charles michel]
feb 16-17, brocanted on boulevard de reuilly, paris 12th [metro daumesnil]
feb 24-25, brocante at place jean lorrain, paris 16th [metro michel ange]

COS arrives in Paris

while zara goes downscale with its new stradavarious line, arch rival h&m tries to move up the ladder with its new shop, COS. the COS line, already available in london, will install itself in paris on rue de rosiers in april. does paris need more chic & cheap stops? you'll be the judge....

minnie gets a makeover

mademoiselle minnie gets a makeover to fete her 80th birthday [she looks amazing for her age, non?] to celebrate, 80 designers gave her a new look-- the glam garments will be on display at galeries lafayette from april 16 to may 17, then sold to benefit charity. for more info. check out the pretparis.com site.

CSP in the news

happy friday to me! today i am in not one, but 2 of the uk's hottest top media outlets. the first one is a mini interview of me on Sky Travel, part of the sky tv network, called "Paris with a Personal Shopper"-- check out the article below, as i did that as well.

after that, check out the article in the The Guardian, "Meet the bloggers....in Paris"-- a fun piece on my blog and other bloggers who write about paris. there are some great tips on off-the-beaten path things to do in paris, so save it for your next trip.

zara goes cheap

spanish chain zara again expands its offerings in paris with a cheaper line, aimed at competing with h&m. the new shop, stradivarius, is chic & cheap, with jeans starting at 25 euros. right near the big department stores, this place is sure to be a hit. 58bis rue de la chaussee d'antin, 9th.

salon city

this weekend, paris is home to a host of whole bunch of trade shows-- maison et objet (friday-tuesday), one of the best design/home decor shows in the world will attract all sorts of designers and the magazines that write about them. the international lingerie show (thursday- sunday) is also in town, showing off the newest in chichi undergarments, and playtime (saturday- monday), a small-scale salon, showcases all things kid-related. if you are in town for any of these shows and need extra assistance shopping in paris, contact us! and if you are in town to do your own thing, consider booking your favorite restaurants quickly!

paris tv chez vous

i just stumbled upon this when looking at something on the city of Paris website-- paris tv! the site, an initiative of the city of Paris, provides many little videos in different categoires [chaine actualities, which a news channel, deplacements, which is transportation, etc.], but my fave is the chaine culture, which has mini movies on a bunch of great expos going on around town at the moment. so if you can't make it in time to catch the exhibit on the 20s at the musee galleria, check out the video to see a bit about the exhibit-- almost like you were there, from the comfort of your own maison.

organic bebes

victoria christmas is a new line focusing on organic ["bio" in french] clothing for the 0-2 age range. the line is made up of soothing colors [mainly neutrals] and ultra-soft materials, with sweet bloomers for girls and tunisian-style chemises for boys. also be sure to check out the shops signature scent, specifically designed for delicate baby skin, and made to smell like madeleines. the shop is located in the elegant galerie vivienne covered passageway, and named after designer victoria magniant's ancestor, who was named christmas. with all the items like little gifts, the name seems quite suited to the boutique.

hotel in the heart of paris

i've often walked by this sleek little hotel on a tiny street in st. germain and though that it looked classy-- and now my suspicions have been confirmed. the 27 room hotel odeon st. germain has been redecorated by design dieu jacques garcia, leaving the hotel chic & cozy. [in fact, garcia's aim was to make it an ideal place for making babies!] i always suggest that clients stay in st. germain [very central, very parisian, & great for shopping], so this will be another to add to the list. rooms start at 195 euros.

lovely new lanvin

often when bags and garments sport hand-drawn figures or images, they can annoyingly coy or just too girly. this new sac papillote by lanvin sports the sketches of designer alber elbaz and is just the right mix of fashion and artsy coolness. the new line [22 faubourg] also contains t-shirts with similar images-- way chic-er than an eiffel tower tee, non?

"the french are like coconuts"

before christmas, i had the pleasure of having a wonderful intern, an inspired and inspiring british woman named catharine hewitson. she has just published her first article on her experience living in paris for two months in the uk's the northern echo. check it out for some myth-busting tales of her life in the city of lights, and especially the quote from above. on charming blog, l'embrouillamini, you'll find more about her adventures in paris. bravo, cat!

royal gateau

just the thing to cheer you up a cold winter day-- a royal-worthy cake! these cool molds by lekue are made from platinum silicone and are reproductions of cakes served in royal households across Europe. [even betty crocker would would look glam, if made in one of these!]

smell like zadig

many a chic parisian boutique has its own 'scent', so that you can instantly take in the ambiance of the shop with all of your senses. rock glam brand zadig & voltaire has recently put out its own candle, so that you can have the essence of zadig chez vous. for 32 euros, the scent of wood, leather and cashmere can make your humble abode smell like a parisian boutique.

tourism at your own pace

i just came across this site and think it's a great idea-- instead of being herded around on a bus or in a large tour group, check out the downloadable walks and tours available on cityzeum. there are over 2000 points of interested listed in paris, and the commentary is available to download on your ipod or GPS, for free! the shopping listings are a bit average, but chic shopping paris is always available to help you out in that department...

chic shirts

after years of being well known for its fun women and children's lines infused with liberty prints, cacharel is breathing new life into its men's line with a new shop solely for men, the chemiserie cacharel. ths shop carries suits, shirts, knitwear, etc., and offers a sur mesure service. the best part? the prix factory (factory prices)-- shirts are a reasonable 45- 75 euros, suits are 295 euros.

la villa de mademoiselle b

gotta love barbie-- her feet fit perfectly in the highest stilettos, and now she has some of the most interesting architects designing homes just for her. until january 27th, stop by the cite de l'architecture et du patrimoine to see what nine women architects designed for "mademoiselle b"--from an urban cottage to a make-up palace, the blond bombshell has it all!

gourmet goodies

a great new gourmet website out there to help you throw your next french fete-- goumeticone serves up some of the best french products [alain miliat juices, pictured above, foie gras, caviar, champagne], right to your door in 48 hours. of course, they only deliver in france, so if you are renting an apartment in paris or a chateau in provence, check out this site for the best of the best.

hermes secret sale

twice a year, famed french label hermes does a big sale in a secret, off-site location. those in the know find out way in advance and book their plane tickets to get bargains on silk scarves, belts, ties, and more. this years sale is at the palais des congres , from january 9th to 12th, so hurry and get there before its over!

spread the word....

with the new no-smoking laws in effect on january 1, smoking has become very un-chic....to the point that fashionistas are now wearing the no-smoking emblem around their necks. the necklace above [295 euros] is available from adamance.com

Paris shopping tips

Paris is busy promoting itself during the sale period, in hopes to attract visitors with less-than-ideal exchange rates. One of the new initiatives is the Soldes by Paris event, which aims to help visitors shop in different parts of the city. Below I have translated some of the special shopping events that they are offering. But of course, if you would like a more personal option, check out my site, Chic Shopping Paris, for a wide range of shopping tours.

happy bargain hunting!

From Soldes by Paris:

Chic Sales in the 2nd: January 18th and 19th, in the historic passage Vivienne, superbly lit for the holidays, shop owners propose a high quality tag sale (along with mulled wine and special presents)

Gastronomy in the 5th (rue Mouffetard): From January 9-13th, a special gourmet market will offer visitors a chance to find foie gras, wine, and regional products. Neighborhood restaurants and brasseries will serve typical French regional dishes.

Unusual finds in the 10th [Canal Saint Martin]: Ethnic goods, ethical goods, and organic....shop owners will be ambassadors of their products.

back to the city of light

after a few weeks vacation in the US, i am happy to be back to a smoke-free and on-sale paris, filled with thin and fashionable types. [i'm from the midwest, so i've seen my fair share of sweat pants and fast food restos to last me the rest of the year, merci!] but seriously, i feel fortunate to live between two cultures, and enjoy both!

happy new year to all my readers and thanks for being patient while i was away......stay tuned for a year of shopping tips and other random notes on paris in my blog.

on your marks, get set, SOLDES!

the soldes, Paris' official sales, start tomorrow. so if you are out and about today, start cruising the shops and check out what bargains will be had starting tomorrow a.m. and be sure to check out my previous posts on the sales for more info.

many shops will be opening early [department stores printemps and galeries layfette at 9am, bon marche at 8.30am] and/or staying up late, so take advantage of the extended hours!

bonne annee!

happy new year to all! i am back in paris and getting ready for a new year full of blogging and shopping. stay tuned....

cadeau 21: star-studded baking

if you are tired of fire-engine red and pine green every year, think about entertaining with a white christmas theme. these artisanal looking "etoile" plates, made of white-washed terracota, are the perfect thing to give a little subtle sparkle to your holiday table. 50 euros, from astier de vilatte.

cadeau 20: the city of lights in hardcover

there is something magical in the way that paris lights up-- no matter how many times you take a late night stroll down the seine (or even a taxi ride for that matter) the luminous facades of the buildings are enough to make you pause. this gorgeous tome by assouline shows off the city of light at its best.

cadeau 19: power bubbles

what could be chic-er than this bottle of dom perignon, designed by artist marc newton? available in paris at la grande epicerie for the small price of 550 euros.

cadeau 18: luscious lips

this double-your-pleasure item is a sparkly necklace with hidden lipstick& gloss inside. from YSL, and available online from neiman marcus, it's like that lipgloss pendant you had as a kid, but all grown up.

cadeau 17: a little bling

there is something irresistible about these rings-- they look like something out of a candy machine, but the faceted gold rings are anything but faux. available in yellow, white, and rose gold, the ultimate selection is one of each. 250 euros each, call +33 (1) 40230330 to order.

cadeau 16: a teatime treat

le palais des thes makes a wide range of teas and tea products tucked in lovely, bright packaging. this sampler set contains 54 muslin tea bags, of 9 different varieties (Thé des Lords, Big Ben, Thé du Hammam, etc.). so tell polly to put the kettle on, and we'll all have tea!

cadeau 15: cash in cacherel

what could be cuter than this patent leather change purse from cacharel? a great addition to anyones oversized tote bag, this mini change purse is available online in the US from la garconne.

cadeau 14: chateau in a box

these nifty gift boxes are all over france again this year. why not offer someone the chance to choose their own gift? these gift certificates from chateaux et hotels offer a wide range of options-- from spa weekends to gourmet meals to weekends in a chateau. i've been to several of their listings over the years and have always been pleased.

cadeau 13: a holiday gift from dominique picquier

dominique picquier designs the fresh nature-inspired textiles used on her line of fabrics, bags, pillows, and more. her gift to her clients this holiday season is a 25% discount on all online orders, such as the gorgeous clutch pictured above.

fun things to do in paris

ever wonder where you could get a list of interesting or unique things to do in paris? check out the great list on paris notes--each description is written by the business owner, so you get a real sense of what the options are like. the list includes wine tastings, gourmet classes, bike tours, and, bien sur, shopping tours from chic shopping paris.

table for 13?

today, i walked into a cute new cooking/tableware shop, 13 a table, just down the street from bhv. the welcoming shop, which has a crate & barrel like mix of table top decor items, cooking gadgets, linens, and more, makes you want to go home and plan a dinner party. the boutique also offers cooking classes with quite reasonable rates. a fun new stop for foodies and hostesses alike.

cadeau 12: cosy cashmere

eric bompard, the king of classic french cashmere, makes basic sweaters and knits for the whole family. a new flagship shop on the champs elysees carries the collections for men, women, and children, along with home wares and coats. my faves? the striped tie-on bonnets for baby and the tunic sweater dress for mom.

cadeau 11: frenchy fondue

who wouldn't be excited to find this under the tree? A cute little hat box filled with ready-to-eat mini fondue pots, including caramel chocolate, dark chocolate with orange, and others. available online from chocolate maker mazet.

cadeau 10: a shiny sac

inspired by seeing the nutcracker ballet tonight at the opera bastille, my number 10 gift idea is this chic and shiny gym bag from repetto. repetto is the go-to for dance pros in paris, and this great tote would brighten up any trip to the gym.

cadeau 9: say "fromage"

looking for a gourmet gift, i stumbled upon this great site, gourmet foodstore, with tons of french products, notably cheese, and they ship to the US! the platter with five cheeses [above] would surely be bienvenue at any holiday dinner, and even appealed to my cheese-addict French husband. bon appetit!

cadeau 8: something for monsieur

he might not have an hermes chemise, but why not get him the cufflinks? these enameled ones, available in black and brown, will turn any old shirt into classic paris chic. [$285, available on hermes US website].

cadeau 7: a scent from serge

looking for a unique french scent? check out the latest from serge lutens, sarrasins, with notes of jasmin. availble in its standard packaging, right, for 105 euros, or go all out and get the limited edition, engraved in platinum or gold, for 850 euros. [only 30 of the limited edition were made.]

cadeau 6: sonia's stripes

what could be more fashionably french than sonia rykiel's signature stripes? this year, she is offering her scarves sur mesure-- you make your own scarf, depending on how long you want it. so chic!

official winter sales dates

book your airline tickets! the official sale dates are out-- january sales begin on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th, and go until february 16th. here's hoping for lots of cash in your christmas stocking.....

for hints on doing the sales right, check out my articles on les soldes and the website soldes by paris.

cadeau 5: the world of wine

if you are planning on coming to paris soon, why not indulge yourself or a loved one in learning about wine? for french speakers, check out the programs at l'ecole du vin; english speakers will be thrilled with one of the courses given by my friend Olivier at O Chateau. from bordeaux to burgandy, you'll have it sorted out after a few pleasant sips....sante!

thursday night shopping

a street in my branche [trendy] neighborhood, rue de la forge royale, is hosting a late night shopping fete this thursday, december 6th from 6pm to 10.30pm. come by to check out kiddie couture at lillibulle, unique menswear at brutals, and wall stickers at walldesign, among other happenings. the tiny, one-way street is a 10-minute walk from the bastille, and the bourgeois-bohemian neighborhood is a slice of real paris. check out the blog for more info.

chic bust: DON'T shop at BGN

Trendy boutique BGN, on rue Francs Bourgeois in the 4th, is sometimes on my circuit of shops when shopping with clients in the Marais. I recently had a terrible customer service episode with them, so want to warn my readers and clients to stay away. Bottom line is that they were very rude, including the manager, Fred. They did not offer any help for a client of mine who bought a 500 euro coat there, which started to fall apart a week after its purchase. So stay clear of the shop, and be sure to ask about any store's return policies in case of problems with big purchases!

cadeau 4: say "fromage"

authentic retro cheese labels grace these colorful plates from genvieve lethu-- no pottery barn reproduction here, these fun fromage plates are the genuine article. 45 euros for a set of 6. Spoil your giftee with dreams of mouth-watering French cheese. (45 euros for a set of 6.)

cadeau 3: pearls of chocolate

cadeau numero trois is this gorgeous pearl ornament, entirely made of chocolate from the maison du chocolate, which sells for $138. made of dark chocolate and filled with pearlized balls of white chocolate, this one is definitely a carry on. the US website sells many of the companies other goodies, but the precious pearl ornament, for obvious reasons, cannot be shipped. come to paris and enjoy one or pack light to save space to take this home!

sultry senderens

last night we celebrated a birthday at the bar le passage at senderens [formerly the famous lucas carton restaurant, at the place de la madeleine.] as we were going to a play at 9pm, i was thrilled to find a place to get a bite early [which in paris is anywhere before 8.30pm] -- we reserved and dined on delicious small plates and lovely wine. the entrance to the bar is in the charming covered passage next to the resto-- go up the stairs and you will be greeted by a small, warm, modern space with amazing embroidered walls and gold leafed banquettes. worth a stop if you are looking for a taste of senderens cuisine, without the time commitment for a longer meal.

cadeau 2: chic clutch

the clutch [or pochette, en francais] is the hot bag of the moment. brontibay paris has been making these great little satin numbers for years now, and they have expanded to include a line in leather and in sparkly fabric, perfect for this festive time of year. available online in their eshop-- and they ship to the US.

cadeau 1: sublime spray

to celebrate the holiday season, i'm going to post a fabulous frenchy gift item each day. pass on the links as a helpful HINT to those in need....

the first chic cadeau is guerlain's forever gold spray terracota. i'm a sucker for anything in a vintagey atomizer bottle, and this gorgeous bottle spritzes just the right amount of shimmery bronzer on your face and decollete. available in the US at sephora for $78.