A Foreign Affair

The ColettexGap pop-up opened today next to the 5th and 54th flagship with much very little fanfare— only a quiet "bonjour" from the sales associate.  I had to wait about an hour to get in as they monitor the door and only let in about 25 people at a time, and when I left the line stretched around the block.  But with limited edition Repettos, Longchamp totes, t-shirts and all sorts of the knick-knacks Colette is famous for (my favorite are the pencils with mustaches), the wait is very much worth it.  Its je ne sais quoi will last until October 5th. 

Neglect to Spritz at Your Own Peril

Since I can remember, I've always worn perfume.  I don't have a signature scent, but choose to rotate through a few favorites.  The important thing is not to forget SOME type of fragrance in the morning.  It's not because of BO or men or vanity (though I'm plenty vain), but rather because of superstition.  Imagine how surprised I was when I was transcribing an interview with Aaron de Mey and he spoke about his mother having the same belief.  After all, Chanel once said, "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

But it wasn't until today, when I read the interview with Lagerfeld in the UK Times that I decided maybe us crazies know what we're talking about.

Lagerfeld says as only he can, "I have no problem with journalists— many are friends.  Only if they are really stupid, or if they've got bad breath, or if they smell.  Yesterday I had a problem.  I said, 'I'm sorry, you've got to tell this woman that she needs to be taken away.  Her smell is not possible.'"

So help me God, I will never be that woman.

Roitfeld/Wintour '08

It's no secret that the fashion industry loveloveloves Obama.  Wintour, Calvin Klein and others hosted a fundraiser for him a few months back, which will be followed by another this NY Fashion Week. But now the campaign is pulling a Project Runway and has coordinated about 20 designers, including Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Derek Lam and DVF to design official merchandise for the chic senator's campaign.  Rumor has it that Reese originally submitted a $400 silk dress that was shot down because of price (the pieces will be under $200).  I plan on buying the top she ended up creating— though I would have loved to have seen Michelle in the official Obama frock.

Twins

Since I can't have Karl Lagerfeld for my daily amusement, I figure his limited edition teddy bear, which will be sold next month at Neiman Marcus for $1,500, is the next best thing.

One Kilt, or Two?

Reading about the new men's skirt phenomenon, I was brought back to some eternal questions—Where's the line between funky and freaky in menswear?  How much of it actually dallies from the traditional?  And would I actually date someone wearing this stuff?  I have to admit that I've always found menswear to be a bit of a mystery.  I can't apply my eye to it, since I keep inserting my own bias (ogle but please, don't feed the models).  With that in mind, some of my favorite designers for men are Burberry Prorsum, Paul Smith and Paul & Jo.

True Love Comes in All Shapes and Sizes, But I Like Mes Amours in the Form of Soft Leather

Out prowling the sales at Bon Marche other day, I wasn't finding anything to write home about.  No flawlessly tailored jackets, no charming Parisian frocks- not even a measly scarf.  Until I saw them- the goat skin jazz shoes by Repetto with such perfect detailing and tiny laces.  It was love at first sight.  But of course, the only model-like quality I am blessed with is my shoe size (I am sample) so any pairs even close to my taille were long gone.  

This is when my killer instincts kicked in to the extreme.  Some say I lack drive.  This is not true.  My drive is selective.

I looked up all of the providers in Paris and went to ten in one day to no avail.  I had given them up for a missed connection until I went back to Bon Marche and - lo and behold- my size had been returned by some fool.  I snatched the flats up, and we are very much in love.

The moral: The sales are getting past the honeymoon period.  The best pieces and popular sizes are going fast, so if you really want something, don't hesitate.

Okay, so maybe there's no moral.  I just needed an excuse to post a photo.

THIS IS SPARTA!

Les soldes started today.  At 10 a.m. (one hour after les grands magasins opened) I saw a young man with two huge Printemps shopping bags filled with YSL shoes.  Teach me, oh wise one. 

Do Your Homework

If college has taught me anything, it's that sometimes a little effort really does pay off— big time.  And when the national soldes start on June 25th, the last thing you want to do is be the one who forgot to study for your exams.  Here's some advice: start shopping NOW and bring a Moleskine with you.  Visit the stores, try on everything and write down your sizes for each piece.  If you're hardcore, target which stores (if they're a chain) are well-stocked beforehand.  On the morning of the 25th, drop your macaroon and make a victory lap of the shops to pick up your well-earned treasure.  No sweat necessary. 

Viens à Saint Germain

Paris isn't NYC.  

If you're an American partier, particularly one who is used to that great playground of Manhattan, it's best to know that before you set out for a night in Paris.  I made the mistake of not doing that last night.  Looking everywhere for an American style dance club, I wasted my night in the trashy, touristy parts of town (Montparnasse, Champs-E, etc). 

The lamest part?  The whole time I knew of a great place to go— St-Germain.  Sure, if you're dead-set on the kind of club or bar you're used to, you might not find it there.  But it's rich in nightlife, young people and has a great, charming atmosphere that's a mix between rural and urban.  Enjoy it and don't try to force Paris to be something it's not.

Some places to hit up there:

1. Chez Georges.  Don't be turned off by the top floor. Wait for the downstairs wine cellar and be prepared for shoulder-to-shoulder drinking, a quirky playlist and impromptu table dancing.

2. The Frog and the Princess.  A great mix of ex-pats and French students.  Everyone's friendly and the drinks are strong.  If you don't care to stay inside, the street it's one is lined with bars and pubs so you can socialize in the crowds there.

3. Le Bar du Marche/ cafes lining rue du Bac.  It's fun to start or end a night by grabbing a drink and snack at one of these places.  The standing areas around the bars are usually swarmed with people as well.

Wander around- you're sure to find whatever you're looking for.

A New Beginning

Yesterday I started my internship at the Paris office of a NYC-based publication.  It's been awhile since I've been around the buzz of a fashion office and I enjoyed being back.  After the usual internly duties of packaging sample returns, I actually got to try my hand at writing a piece on hot spots for the well-heeled in Paris (something I was only too happy to do).  Hopefully it will be published in a couple weeks, but here's a few bits of what I recommend to keep it interesting in the city of lights:

L'Hotel (la pavillion d'amour pictured): Michelin-starred restaurant, glitzy but intimate bar, private bath/steam rooms, well-chosen DVD/CD library, amazing neighborhood... the works.  Plus, Oscar Wilde died here and the place reeks of literati history.

Ferdi: The first time I went to this place, it was after a horrible couple days and it instantly cheered me up.  Family-owned and decorated with the son's very colorful toy collection, the restaurant has huge heart (something that can be hard to find in the neighborhood).  The menu is rumored to be based off of what the mother cooked when she had her pregnancy cravings and is pretty eclectic: truffle risotto, Spanish tapas, burgers and even real mac & cheese (yes, in Paris).  The young son/bartender makes a wild mojito.  Maybe what I love most is that despite Ferdi's lack of pretension, it attracts Marc Jacobs, Pierre Hardy and Penelope Cruz as regulars.  

Abou d'abi Bazaar: This is one of my long-time favorite one-stop best bets.  It carries tons of the more affordable (dresses 100-500 euro) popular French brands plus newcomers.  I actually went today and they just started a small vintage section... no real labels but very reasonable for some fun summer pieces.