smells like dior spirit

it wouldn't be spring [well, almost!] without some hip new nail polish launch from one of the biggest names in beauty.  this year, the credits go to dior, with it's fresh duo: forget-me-not and waterlily, in lilac and soft green hues.  the special surprise?  once dry, they smell like soft rose.  spring has sprung!

Hermes not-so-secret sale

Those in-the-know know that Hermes has a semi-annual sale, off site, twice a year with exceptional prices.  This year, as in the past few years, the sale takes place at the Palais de Congres, and the final day will be tomorrow.  What's in store?  Scarves are by far the best buy- and you'll have to wait in line to see them- at 175 euros instead of 310 euros in stores.  Ties were 83 euros.  Racks of clothing and shoes were all on offer, with prices about 50% off, but this year there was very little jewelry or leather accessories.  If you missed this sale, not to worry, just mark your calendars for the end of June....

Paris tout petit

Thanks to Stan the Frenchman who sent me the link for Made by Joel this morning....lots of great crafty ideas for kids, but my eyes immediately went to this printable mini-Paris scene.  What a great activity for a kid stuck on the plane, learning about France, or for any other Paris lover you know!  I'm sure my two mademoiselles will have a great time playing with this this weekend.....

karl by karl

the much-anticipated karl by karl lagerfeld collection has just released a few pictures of the upcoming collection, to be released january 25th on netaporter.com and then next month on karl's new site, karl.com.   the well-cut, mainly black, looks from the master himself are a fashionista's dream- and the prices are even dreamier, ranging frpom 60-300 euros.

this weekend: maison et objet

if you have anything to do with the world of design/furniture/home decor, this is THE weekend to be in paris, for the semi-annual maison et objet show.  the gigantic show showcases the best and newest from the chic-est designers and is an amazing place to get information/inspiration or to order up items for your boutique.  i was lucky enough to tag along one time and it was truly amazing- and will make you want to redecorate your humble abode tout de suite!  jan 20-24th at paris nord villepinte

this weekend: paris des chefs

Gourmet geeks unite- if you are in town this weekend, be sure to check out Paris des Chefs.  Three days dedicated to food and design, with tastings, demonstrations by chefs from around the world, and more.  To top if off, many events will take place in the recently redone art deco buliding La Maison de la Mutualite [renovated by hip architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte].    

pop goes the garden

one of the cutest souvenirs i've seen in a while- a simple little card that pops up, holding a sachet of grass to water....letting you watch the grass grow with the vista of the Eiffel Tower behind.  it's always greener on the other side, non?  for a limited time only, available at monceau fleurs [19 euros]

hibernation at the conciergerie

The French are so good a putting that little twist of the unexpected- that je ne sais quoi- on things to  make them special.  This is exactly what is so fun about the Betes Off [a pun on "best of"] expo, currently at the Conciergerie.   The exhibit focuses on animals and the imaginery in the work of contemporary artists- how fun is it to have a flock of birds over your head [indoors] or walking under ponies suspended from the ceiling? A humorous way to check out one of Paris' treasured monuments.

Until March 11th at the Conciergerie, 2 blvd du Palais, 1st.

Galette du Rois

It's that time of the year again- you can't pass a bakery without spotting one of these buttery, flaky concoctions known as the Galette du Rois [king's cake].   I love the etoile creation, top, available at La Grande Epicerie and the cleverness of the color-your-own-crown that comes with the delicious galette at La Patisserie des Reves.  

If you want to try to create the same thing at home, there are many recipes online.  [I'm going to attempt the nutella-filled galette this weekend.  And don't forget the galette party tradition- the youngest person [usually a child!], goes under the table, and tells the cake server who gets each piece of the galette in order to not peek and see the feve [trinket/ charm].  Whoever gets the feve in his/her piece is queen or king for the day.  A vous de jouer!

the hands of Hermes

Hermes is one of the last few true luxury brands that remains- each leather good or silk scarf is made entirely by hand, and in the case of the handbags, each one is made by one person, from start to finish.  Hermes shows off their savoir-faire in this gorgeous short documentary, Les Mains d'Hermes [called "Hearts and Crafts" in the English version], which you can watch online for free. Warning:  it might make you start a secret "Hermes bag" fund.

for the kids table

Only the French could come up with an entire store dedicated to les arts de la table for children....Le Ciel est a tout le monde is filled with Petit Jour tableware for kids- all made of BPA-free melamine- splashed with French & international kid characters like Maisy the mouse, Barbapapa, and Peter Rabbit and more.  Couldn't be cuter for your little mademoiselle's next tea party.

Le Ciel est overt a tout le monde
10 rue Gay-Lassac, 5th

This week: Les Soldes [Sales!]

As I've discussed previously on this blog, the two semi-annual sales periods in France are a big deal.  Loads of things on sale, for about 5 weeks!  Visitors who are lucky enough to be here during this time period can score some great deals [if you are willing to fight the crowds the first few days.]  The sales start this Wednesday, January 11th, so look out for early store openings.

Not here for the soldes? Not to fret.... In recent years, the French government has loosened up the regulations regarding sales, and now stores can run brief 2- week sales and 'de-stocking' promotions outside of the 2 big sales periods.  So keep your eyes out for flashy signs and words like destockage, promotion, etc.  Happy bargain hunting!

bubbles for bebe

I don't think I've ever come across a kid that is not fascinated by bubbles- by blowing them or just chasing them through the air.  Who can resist these uber-chic bubbles by Maison Francis Kurkdijan- scented with glorious flavors like cut grass or pear?  A chic gift that will have parents & enfants smiling and blowing away....

Maison Francis Kurkdijan
5 rue Alger, 1st

Paris at the movies

Did you know that over 900 movies are shot in Paris each year?  Who doesn't love watching movies about Paris and figuring out exactly where they were shot.  The city of Paris' website, Paris.fr, offers a great list of mini guides  [in English & in French] that you can print out to scout out some of the locations of famous films.  Check out their site to find the promenade that will take you to the spots in Midnight in Paris, The Devil Wears Prada, and many more.

designer labels

First it was candles, now cds....boutiques want you to recreate the ambiance of their shop chez vous.  Two hot young clothing labels, The Kooples and Comptoir des Cotonniers, recently came out with their own music compilations.  Why not choose a soundtrack for your trip to Paris?  [Or pick up a great cadeau for a teen or music lover....]

puces du design

Looking for an original gift from Paris, or a new design object for the home? Check out the Puces du Design- the "design" flea market- with loads of goodies from the 1950s to present stuff....May 27-30th in the 19th. Click here for a map.

Yves Saint Laurent at the Petit Palais

It's been a while since I've been to the Petit Palais, and I'd forgotten how stunning the palace is. Even more stunning, though, is the YSL Retrospective that opened today. Over 300 couture pieces from the innovative designer are on display, ranging from early pant suits to the famous "Smoking" [Tuxedos], to gowns, gowns, and more gowns. An absolutely gorgeous retrospective of Monsieur Saint Laurent's talent, and kudos to the museum for designing such a magnifique show. My advice? Go early in the day, have a nibble in the cafe's garden, and buy your tickets beforehand to avoid the queue.

YSL at the Petit Palais, until August 29, 2010

Corsets sur mesure

One of the things I love about living in Paris is that you can still find shops with real artisans, whipping up their magic and offering one of a kind items. I haven't checked out this shop, but have heard about it and thought I'd pass it on for those of you who are looking for true Parisian couture...Volute makes corsets of all kinds- from satin and lace to denim and toile. You pick fabric, shape, everything, as they are entirely made to measure. For a special occasion [prom, wedding] or everyday fashion [the 80s thing is coming back, right?], Caroline will whip up your corset sur mesure. C'est chic, non? {Note: The boutique/atelier is only open by appointment, so call/ email before you go.}

Volute Corsets
80 rue des Gravilliers, 75003 Paris

chic by candlelight

If you are looking for an unusual [and longlasting!] souvenir, and don't already have overweight luggage, check out the gigantic candle by Cire Trudon. Weighing in at 2.8kg [that's over 6 lbs!], the famous candlemaker's luxe candle is adorned with the Trudon coat of arms, and comes in five scents: Roi Soleil, Abdel Kader, Odalisque, Spritius Sancti, and Ernesto. The best part? The long life of this candle is over 400 hours. Vive la bougie!

Cire Trudon
78 rue de Seine, 6th

alice in printemps-land

to celebrate the opening of alice au pays des merveilles [alice in wonderland], printemps department store has dedicated its exterior and interior to the theme. outside, check out the store's windows which contain alice's new wardrobe, designed by some of fashion's biggest names [note the gown by the late, great alexander mcqueen]. inside, stop in laduree's take on the mad hatter's tea room to digest some delectable pastries. if i could take the right pill to land myself in this tea room every afternoon, i'd do it as well! hurry by if you want to check this out, as it ends march 13th.

printemps haussman
64 blvd haussman, 9th

liberty at merci

i have to say, i am easily seduced by a fun liberty print, and it's not hard to get into flower power when liberty is everywhere these days! it has been pretty "in" in France for the past couple of years, but the British label shows no signs of waning....the lastest stop is a huge installation of the floral print, in all its incarnations, in the concept shop Merci. you'll find adorable kids clothing, mugs, suitcases, home decor, and more, all covered in fleurs. all during the month of march. spring has sprung!

merci
111 blvd beaumarchais, 3rd

bijoux bijoux

Gotta love the Marais for its funky little boutiques, like this one: Ostentatoire is a multimarque jewelry boutique, meaning that it contains a bunch of different brands under one roof. Handpicked faves by owners Claire [designer] and David [photographer] include designs by Alice Hubert, Starstyling, and more, presented in a lovely treasure-filled shop.

ostentatoire
11 bis, rue elzevir, 3rd

one for the guys

i'll have to admit: men are hard to shop for. for the most part, they just aren't into keeping up with the latest trends, and don't seem to have the need to "consume" like us girls do....but there are still holidays, birthdays, occasions that we need to celebrate. this is why i'm excited about estime, a line of leather goods for men, or what they call "gentlemen tech". from lovely weekend bags [above] to computer bags, toiletry bags, business card holders, and more, you are sure to find something for the homme in your life. i'm looking forward to the next occasion to shop for my cheri....

estime
61 rue bonaparte, 6th

back to the city of light

as many of you might know, i am now back in the city of light, after spending 2009 in the US on a 'sabbatical' with my family. oh la la, it is great to be back! now i'm back to pounding the cobblestones and checking out the newest and chicest shops in paris...so stay tuned in the weeks to come as i try to get the blog back up to speed....and thanks for your patience!
xx
rebecca

advance sales at colette

concept store extraordinaire colette is having some special early sales this year-- stop by before saturday to take advantage of up to 50% off women's & men's spring/summer 2009 fashion, plus assorted books/cds/misc. can't get there in the next few days? sales are also happening online.

official summer sales dates in paris

it is one of my favorite times of year in paris-- sale time! the official dates for the soldes [(as set by the French government) this year are june 24- july 28. click here for more tips on shopping the soldes!

roger vivier prototypes up for auction

what a great way to own an original work of art-- bid on one of roger vivier's prototypes at the upcoming auction. vivier is one of paris' master shoemakers, responsible for the famous buckle shoe worn by catherine deneuve in belle du jour. i can only imagine that his prototypes are fabulously chic, to say the least!

the auction takes place thursday, july 9 at 2pm at richeulieu drouot, salle 8 [room 8]. you can stop by to peruse the wares on wednesday, july 8 form 11am-6pm in the same place.

hermes summer sale 2009

the dates for this years hermes sale are....[drumroll please....].....june 24-26, again at the palais de congres, NOT at the hermes boutiques. check out the antiques diva's blog for an interview of yours truly sharing my hermes shopping tips....

Chic Book: Manolo Blahnik Drawings

"My shoes are not fashion, they are gestures. So says Blahnik in a book that lays out his designs as brightly colored whimsies, sketches deftly convey the essences of his creations. Celeb quotes, interspersed throughout, heighten the spiraling sense of posturing and play. Madonna says, "They are as good as sex... and they last longer." Paloma Picasso, Isaac Mizrahi, Bianca Jagger also check in, and there are introductory essays by Vogue titans Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley and Anna Piaggi, as well as by Michael Roberts of The New Yorker. It should appeal to any fashionista or design aficionado anyone with a sense of shoes as art."
(Publishers Weekly)

I just ordered my copy from amazon - can't wait to have this on my coffee table.
x Stephanie

Chic Dots!

Everytime I take clients on a shopping tour in the St Germain de Pres area I always go back to my favourite store - Sabre. [Also featured in Chic Shopping Paris, the book, FYI!] Bright, fun, happy colors are the theme of this boutique that specializes in table wear. I love collecting the big coffee cups in every color possible. If you get a chance do check out Sabre at 4 rue des Quatres Vents in the 6th arrondissement!

x Stephanie

Mini Fashionistas

A one stop shop for Chloe, Burberry, DKNY and many more - this fabulous boutique with gorgeous moldings and parquet flooring is a must for your little black book. Among the fabulous clothing there is a little corner dedicated to newborns with great gift ideas for all of those chics mamans!

Atelier de Courcelles
113 avenue Victor Hugo
75016 Paris

x Stephanie

Twice as Chic

A must see shop when in Paris -the fabulous lingerie/home wear store Princess Tam Tam is making mother/daughter bikinis in adorable cotton poplin printed fabric. For more details have a look at their website or visit one of 26 stores in Paris. My fave is at 9 rue Brea in the chic 6th arrondissement!
x Stephanie

chic spring snack

following in the steps of other fashion designers [paco rabanne, gaspard yurkievich], franck sorbier has designed this season's spring dessert at the cafe de la paix. named the porte bonheur [good luck charm], the four hearts each have a different flavor, ranging from milk chocolate with orange zest to dark chocolate. the dessert is only available until may 15, so get ready to eat your hearts out-- vite!

Beautiful Lingerie Bien Sur!

The French do such a great job of making beautiful lingerie for everyone. If you can get past the very unfrench name - Womens Secret - carries gorgeous pieces at very reasonable prices. I love the boxer shorts in this picture - stylish and pretty. [There is a nice big shop right by the Odeon metro station...]

I *heart* this blue girlie silk ensemble by Elise Anderegg. For more check out www.eliseanderegg.com

Tres jolie, non?
x Stephanie

jewelry sale: may 15-17

yet another jewelry sale on tap for next weekend. check out the chic boho designs by 5octobre at their atelier sale, friday, may 15, 17pm and saturday& sunday may 16/17, 2.30-6pm.

address: 3 rue beautrellis, paris 4

jewerly sale: may 15-16

Check out another sale this weekend, chez Tiennette la Belette. Jewerly, "neck accessories," linens, and organic products are on sale. Hours: Friday, May 15, 11am- 8pm; Saturday, May 16, 11am- 7,30pm.

49 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris

chic soles?

The latest from Converse are the crocodile All-Stars. Soon to be seen on all the Parisians given their love for these casual but chic shoes. I think I’ll have to bypass this trend and stick to my cotton canvas converse in fun spring colours like yellow and light pink but all of you fashionistas should go for it!

-- Stephanie

secret sale- may 14-16

mark your calendars-- les prairies de paris, a great little brand, tucked away in a little street by my former pad, is having a 'secret' sale in their design offices...thursday, may 14 [10am- 8pm], friday, may 15 [10am- 7pm] and saturday, may 16 [10am- 6pm]....grab your best shopping pal and head over to the 11th, tout de suite!
xx rebecca

les praires de paris, 9 passage st. bernard, 11th

chic store

Merci, The Charity Store, has opened up in Paris- created by Marie-France et Bernard Cohen, the founders of Bonpoint. Fabulous and fashionable finds in this concept store that include a kids’ corner, a garden of gorgeous flowers, a vintage library and a tea room are just waiting to be discovered. French and international designers who have given up their profits to charity sell their goods in this store on the Blvd Beaumarchais. Come and have a look – style and a good conscience; a chic mix, n’est-ce pas?

111, boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris 3e
--Stephanie