HOT 5 - 11/10/22
Salut Les Amies Hot!
Just returned from a quick 1-week dream trip to Paris so of course this week's Hot 5 will be dedicated to the time spent in my favorite city :) One week is nothing in Paris, especially when you once lived there and have many old friends and memories to reconnect with. We flew over on my husband Robert's birthday, which was the perfect choice for this year's birthday celebration. We enjoyed every magical moment and can't wait for our next visit. Huge thanks to dearest friends Pascale and family, Michèle and Thierry, and Eric Pasquet of Vivin! Keep reading for a little taste of Parisian life.
This week's Hot 5:
1. Up Close and Personal with French Girl Style
2. Hot Shops the All New La Samaritaine
3. Hot Pick --New Scarves!
4. Elsa Schiapparelli at Musée Des Arts Decoratifs
5. Favorite New Restaurant -- Mimosa!
1. Up Close and Personal with French Girl Style
I prefer to call it French Woman Style because the French girls looked much like American girls when it came to their sartorial choices -- oversize low-cut baggy pants paired with snug-fitting cropped tops, lug sole massive shoes, and tiny handbags. French Women's Style on the other hand is very much alive and just as I remembered from my time living there as well as from countless trips since. French women are well-groomed and have impeccable, effortless style. They never look like they're trying too hard and with their polished uniform approach to dressing, seem to have the utmost confidence in their fashion choices. No workout clothes as streetwear for these women! What a relief to see nary a pair of Lululemons worn as pants on the streets of Paris! Of course, I didn't have time to check out the street style in all the great neighborhoods of Paris but I did hit many, and here's what I observed:
This uniform was spotted everywhere; expensive looking khaki trench, dark jeans, striped T, bright silk scarf, chic crossbody bags in great colors, and white vejas.
Shades of pink are just as big there as they are here
French men wear scarves just as beautifully as French women
Everyone and I mean everyone, sports Vejas sneakers
No one wears workout clothing as streetwear (thank goodness!)
I saw tons of women wearing oversized bright eyeglass chains like these
Interestingly, I noticed women wearing multiple wide band rings in gold and/or silver, tres chic!
2. Hot Shops -- La Samaritaine
When we first moved to Paris in 1987, La Samaritaine was an old-fashioned, classic French department store known for well-priced goods like hardware, cooking utensils, and great planters for terraces. 34 years later it's been reborn as an ultra-luxury hub in the center of the city. Purchased by LVMH in 2010, La Samaritain re-opened in 2021 after an amazing redesign by Japanese architectural firm Sanaa which managed to preserve its historic legacy by fusing the building's art nouveau and art deco elements with contemporary features and touches. It's truly amazing and filled with expensive designer fashion, luxurious beauty products, and fabulously curated experiences. It's definitely giving the old girls Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marche, and Printemps a run for their money. Speaking of Printemps, I just read that an outpost of the French Department store is coming to an old bank tower at 1 Wall Street in Manhattan in 2024. It's billed as 'pioneering a new format of experiential retail". Let's hope its a little more affordable!
3. Hot Pick -- Scarves!
Visiting Paris inspired me to make scarves my Hot pick this week. Just check out my fabulous friend Michèle above in her Hermès Carré! Tying a scarf just so seems to be a superpower for both French women and men and in fact, I'd say les hommes were outdoing les femmes this time around (or maybe I was just noticing them more :) Anyway, there's no denying what a gorgeous, well-tied scarf can do for your outfit. And for some help with that, I've just received an order of incredible Lalela scarves. You'll remember that The Lalela Scarf is a luxury accessory brand built to sustain a nonprofit which provides arts education to at-risk youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The designs are all original works of art created by Lalela students. The best part about buying a Lalela scarf is that you're giving back while looking chic! Check out the stunning new scarves available on the site now. And if you need help tying a scarf like the French, watch this helpful 5-minute video.
4. Elsa Schiapparelli at Musée Des Arts Decoratifs
At the top of my 'must-do in Paris' list was a visit to the Musée Des Arts Decoratifs to see the Elsa Schiapparelli exhibit. Reader, it did not disappoint! The retrospective entitled Shocking! The surreal worlds of Elsa Schiaparelli was devoted to the Italian designer who was famous for her witty designs and for collaborating with avant-guarde artists Dali, Cocteau, and Man Ray in Paris during the 1920s and 30s. We were treated to an amazing array of costumes, accessories, jewelry, perfumes, drawings, paintings, and sculptures as well as photographs and posters by the greatest artists of the time. I was blown away by the sheer magnitude of her body of work and truly struck by how ahead of her time she was. Don't miss this if you get to Paris before the show ends on Jan. 22nd. And you can read more about the fascinating designer here.
5. Favorite New Restaurant -- Mimosa!
I found one of my favorite new restaurants in Paris quite by accident. Our lovely son and daughter-in-law arranged with a very in-the-know Parisian to reserve a special place for Robert's birthday lunch. Located near Place de la Concord in the stunning Hotel de Marine, we were immediately blown away by the exquisitely decorated dining room which is comfortable and elegant. You could be in the south of France eating by the sea and I could move into this restaurant! The very famous chef, Jean-François Piège outdoes himself here with a menu of Mediterranean-inspired fare and we loved every single morsel. Of course, we started with a delicious Mimosa and also sampled the famous "oeuf mimosa" which is known as a deviled egg in English. But these devilled eggs are unlike any I've ever had with toppings of caviar, lobster, and other delicacies. If you get to Paris be sure and make a reservation for Mimosa!
À bientôt!
Terry xoxo