also this weekend: check out the jeff koons at versailles expo. seventeen of his works are on display, and the artist personally chose them to relate to each room of the chateau-- an interesting juxtaposition, to be sure! until dec. 14th.
if you are after something a bit more refined, check out the exquisite photos of patrick demarchelier, on display starting this saturday at the petit palais. magazine covers and portraits of some of the beautiful women of the world are the theme of the "images & mode" exposition. sept 27 to jan 4.
printed ts are all the rage at the moment-- why not get one emblazoned with a french kiss? this special sonia rykiel model was created to fete her 40 years as a designer. 90 euros, black version exclusively available at colette; other colors available chez sonia rykiel
this weekend in paris, check out the 25th annual journees de patrimoine- 2 days with insiders access to some of the most famous buildings & monuments in paris. this is your chance to see the magnificient interiors of such buildings like the hotel de ville, the elysee palace, and the tower of st. suplice.
chic shopping paris introduces our new personalized self-guided tours....for those of you who'd rather set off on your own shopping adventure, at your own pace, whenever it suits your fancy.
undiz, a funky new lingerie shop, has just opened its first parisian outpost. a bit like american apparel, the french line features a wide range of colors and encourages clients to mix and match everything from basic tanks to frilly bloomers. the location, however, is the centrally located, but not very glam forum des halles shopping center [level -3, boutique 31, porte lescot 2].
to celebrate its 10th anniversary on the champs, laduree has expanded its space with a new bar, set to open on september 16th. laduree le bar features creations by chef michel lerouet-- but don't come here to eat macaroons- with everything from caviar to gaspacho to gourmet salads, the bar focuses on the savory items in its new menu. 13 rue lincoln, 8th.
maria luisa, an uber-cool boutique that combines hot names like pierre hardy and manolo blahnik with newcomers and hot new labels, has finally expanded-- accessories, shoes, and clothing are now all under one roof, waiting to be discovered. check out their new digs at 7, rue rouget-de-l'isle, 1st.
check out new trends & fashions at paris capitale de la creation, now throught sept 9th at the porte de versailles
and for the home, follow in the footsteps of magazine editors worldwide, and check out maison et objet to see what's next in home decor
and while its probably too late to register, you can still motivate yourself to do a bit of exercise [after one too many croissants!] by watching and cheering on the marathon, la parisienne, which raises money for breast cancer.
the french version of elle magazine comes out on a weekly basis-- i'm always impressed that the mag is full of fun, fresh angles on fashion every week....and i'm also always intrigued by the little elle passions section they have, which features an outfit for sale at a reduced price, usually by a fairly well known french brand. you can check out the entire catalog of offerings by elle passions online, with everything from a classic trench to a trendy cashmere maxi sweater-- and the best part is that they ship internationally! [although for the US, you have to send them your order to get a quote first....]
this one may be slightly out of the price range of us mere mortals, but its uber-chicness compelled me to blog about it....what happens when you take goyard, the luxury french leather goods brand dating to 1853, and marry it with visonnaire, the exclusive avant guard magazine, published only 3 times a year? if you are very fortunate, you'll get this limited edition trunk, with canary yellow lining which holds the first 50 editions of the magazine. calling all collectors...
the stores around paris have already begun to move out the sand shovels and pile in the backpacks and notebooks, ready for those coming back from vacation later this month....and just in time for back-to-school-- a cute line of backpacks, bags, and accessories such as snack bags, marble bags, and smocks, with retro cute imagery on them. available from new brand miniseri, at various sales points in paris and around france.
the latest from hermes? 6 new scarves, designed by german bauhaus artist josef albers, in hommage to the square. using alber's innovative color techniques, which aim to show the interaction between colors, the eye-popping scarves are in limited edition-- only 200 of each. the box set runs 2000 euros, available at hermes, 24 rue du faubourg st. honore.
BHV [Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville] is definitely not on the tourist circuit, although sometimes I think it should be! One of the grands magasins, right near Hotel de Ville in central Paris, this place is part decorator's dream- part traditional department store. The entire basement is dedicated to bricolage-- i.e., do-it-yourself and hardware supplies-- ranging from modern bath fixtures to reproduction louis XV door knobs. another floor is decked out in home accessories-- pillows, tassles, candles, you name it, they have it. and if you're not redecorating? they stock a decent selection of french clothing, handbags, jewelry, books, kitchen supplies, etc. needless to say, i'm there on a monthly basis, with a list in hand, and almost always come home with more!
speakeasy/champagne bar flute has seen its share of success with two manhattan locations. now, flute paris has just opened, not far from l'etoile/champs-elysees area. stop in for a bit of bubbly and a nibble after a long stroll on the champs.
french lingerie creatrice fifi chachnil has just designed a new collection for brit chain topshop, available starting july 20th, online at topshop.com. the frilly & froofroo collection can even be shipped to the US [along side kate moss' collection for topshop, and other funky & inexpensive duds]. stock up now before its too late!
one of my fave home decor stores in paris, blanc d'ivoire, has recently set up shop in the upper marais, now giving us access to stunning style on both sides of the river. the warm collection of french traditional/shabby chic/gustavian/antique-inspired furniture and accessories is spralled over 3 floors, set up like a parisian apartment. so channel your inner voyeur, and stop by the new boutique to get a sense of real parisian living.
Geraldine Valluet & Rebecca Perry Magniant
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| Dear Readers, To announce the publication of Chic Shopping Paris, I turn the newsletter over to the author, American-in-Paris Rebecca Magniant, founder of the city's premier bilingual shopping service (www.chicshoppingparis.com). When Rebecca married a Frenchman and moved to Paris, she took as her role model her new belle-mère (mother-in-law), who taught her the secret of every stylish French woman: "les bonnes addresses," a personal list of favorite shops meticulously compiled and jealously guarded by every serious shopper. Here's Rebecca's letter from Paris: Even the most seasoned traveler cannot resist the allure of saying "I got this in Paris." But these days, thanks to the Internet, one can purchase almost anything from anywhere—which is why, in Chic Shopping Paris, I tried to focus on boutiques and shops that are truly offering something unique—whether it is a special service offered only in Paris (such as Christian Louboutin's sur mesure service, or the funky, one-of-a-kind accessories at Matières à réflection) or an out-of-the way boutique that is oh-so French (like Belle du Jour, which carries vintage perfume bottles, or Astier de Vilatte, with its sophisticated twist on shabby chic home décor). Bringing back something special, perhaps one-of-a-kind, is the essence of Paris, and it's what most people are searching for. We're happy to offer Chic Shopping Paris at $12.71 (25% off the retail price of $16.95). To see Rebecca's book in more detail, to read excerpts, and to see interior pages, please visit our website.
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