September 2, 2010 by Parisien Salon
In Paris, the fashion trend of the moment is having your own personal shopper. From the city’s grands magasins to independent fashion advisers, there’s no shortage of creative alternatives to traditional shopping.
Many Paris shops are offering personal shopping services to their clients, including the big department stores, who offer individual sessions by appointment with a stylist. At Galeries Lafayette, for instance, a fashion adviser guides shoppers to the most fashionable brands after a private interview, showing the newest items and helps while their clients try on clothes. Printemps also offers the services of a private stylist by appointment, who will accompany shoppers throughout the store, guiding them in their choices. A personal room is made available to try on the clothes at leisure.
Independent personal shoppers, a concept that originated in the United States, are also on the rise in Paris. Continue Reading »
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August 9, 2010 by Parisien Salon
Last winter, I was strolling through the Place des Vosges, when I came upon a seemingly endless line of women snaking around the walkway. I wondered what could possibly inspire these women to wait patiently in the cold. Was Johnny Depp offering free massages inside? As it turns out, a designer had opened her showroom to the public, and these fashionable females were simply waiting to get their hands on the fine frockery inside.
In a city known for its fashion sense, designer showrooms have become the new temples for shoppers, offering a more exclusive alternative to the well-groomed Parisienne. A cross between a designer’s workshop and a boutique, these showrooms give the shopping public access to the latest lines, where they can make purchases and maybe even meet the designer. Here are just a few designers who’ve opened their showrooms to the public:
Swedish jewelry designer Viveka Bergström is at the center of haute couture, and opens her showroom on the canal Saint-Martin from Monday to Saturday and by appointment to present her new collections. (23 rue de la Grange-aux-Belles, Paris 10th, Tel +33 (0)1 40 03 04 92; Monday to Saturday, 11am-7pm)
Médecine douce welcomes fans of trendy accessories to its bohemian-chic workshop on rue de Marseille. (10 rue de Marseille, Paris 10th, Tel +33 (0)1 48 03 57 17; Monday to Saturday, 11am-7pm) Continue Reading »
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July 2, 2010 by La Mom - An American Mom in Paris
La Mom in Paris is a hilarious blog about an American mom living a très Parisian life in the city of lights. From encounters with French frat boys (yes, apparently they do exist) to profiling the Parisian Jet Set Dog, her witty anecdotes about her expat circle of friends truly make us feel as if we were there with her. Here, she gives us a fantastic breakdown of how to navigate the summer sales, Parisienne-style!
Ladies and gentlemen, get your running shoes out and your boxing gloves on.
C’est les soldes!
Wednesday marked the beginning of the fabled twice-annual deep-discount French sales.
Fabled, you might ask? Let’s just say that even Cendrillon can find a dress or two to go with those glass stilettos as prices fall to rock bottom over the 5-week sales period.
And why the boxing gloves? If it’s anything like last year’s Zadig & Voltaire markdowns, you’ll need ‘em. Normally prim and proper 16th arrondissement demoiselles morphed into banshees as they duked it out over cashmere sweaters – even resorted to slugging each other with their Hermès Birkin bags to get at the last ELVIS-logo pullover.
Trust me, those sapphire-and-diamond rings can do some damage. Better come with a game plan.
Here are La Mom’s tips for making the most of the summer soldes: Continue Reading »
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May 6, 2010 by Melissa Ladd
If you enjoy the Marais and are a history buff or a market troll, you must take the time to discover the oldest market in Paris : le Marché des Enfants Rouges.
First off, a little history to get everyone situated. Marguerite de Navarre, sister of King François the 1st and mother of King Henri the 4th (who was the one to end the religious wars that had been bloodying France), was a very well educated, politically engaged and charitable member of the royal family. In 1534 she had an orphanage constructed in what is now the Marais whose little pensioners were dressed in red as a symbol of their status. The orphanage was closed in the beginning of the 17th century and in 1615 was transformed into a market dubbed the Marché des Enfants Rouges (market of red children) to commemorate the charitable establishment that had occupied the site for almost a century.
It remains a market today and has been on the list of national historical monuments since 1982. Today, neighborhood locals still congregate to shop for produce and fresh products, to have a coffee and to converse with other locals, old-timers and merchants. Continue Reading »
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April 22, 2010 by Tory Hoen
We know, we know… enough about the volcano already. But for those stranded in Paris, it’s still the issue of the moment. From my current position in New York, I refuse to pity you, and I’m secretly hoping that when I return to Paris in May, the tectonic plates will shift in a way that will force me to stay there forever. Fingers crossed!
But for now, why not kill a few hours by picking up some unique Parisian items while you still have the chance? We’ve written at length about particular shops and goods in Paris. Here are a few favorites that are well worth checking out while you wait for the ash to settle.
Merci Store – Photo by Erica Berman
Merci. This spacious concept store has everything from home goods to vintage clothes and fresh flowers. You could literally spend a whole day inside, stopping for lunch at the restaurant in the basement or fueling up on coffee in the library’s cozy cafe. The best part? A large part of the proceeds are used to support a young women’s co-op in Madagascar. Continue Reading »
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April 20, 2010 by Melissa Ladd
Melissa Ladd, author of blog Prete Moi Paris, recently stumbled upon every woman’s dream: a private shopping lounge, reserved just for you and your friends, stocked with all the gorgeous designer items you can imagine. Fantasy? Think again!
All photos courtesy of Miki
I don’t ever want to shop in a store again. I don’t want to do the queue for the dressing rooms, I don’t want to deal with pushy people grabbing the last black silk blazer in my size from my ecstatic fingers, and I am done with finding the perfect item after hours of searching only to discover the collar smeared with lipstick. Enough! Terminé! Finito!
And although I also love the comfort of browsing from home, online shopping is not conducive to the immediate gratification we crave — I have sent jeans back to Yoox three times in a row before finding the perfect fit. Personal shoppers are fabulous, but it can be tough to part with their fees when that cash could be put towards actual clothes…
What if I told you I know of a place that combines the best of these shopping worlds, brought to you by an Italian woman no less ?
Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living, Shopping | 2 Comments »
April 19, 2010 by Maggie Battista
All photos by Maggie Battista, except where noted
The volcanic eruption in Iceland has changed my (and likely your) travel plans pretty dramatically. I was supposed to be back with the husband in cold and rainy New England but am instead stranded in bright and sunny Paris. Despite feeling pretty helpless, as you may imagine, I am not getting much sympathy from friends and family. Taking the bull by the horns, I have decided to make the most of every extra moment in this perfect city. I’m sharing my five-step plan with you, with the hopes that it may help those of you also stranded in Paris or anywhere in Europe.
1. Revisit your favorite restaurant and hope for a sweet homecoming. I’ve visited some fabulous restaurants during my stay in Paris, only to be warmly welcomed (most of the time) upon my second visit. The staff at Le Miroir, Glou and, especially, Le Pure Café have been attentive, sweet and delighted by my return visits. However, I only just discovered my favorite restaurant in Paris a few days ago. La Laiterie Sainte Clotilde (64 Rue de Bellechasse 75007 Paris, Tel: 01 45 51 74 61) is a little neighborhood joint, only four blocks from my flat, run by an unlikely duo – she’s an experienced grandmother-like host, he’s a young, cool bartender/server. Together, they run an efficient, candle-lit, warm diner that whips up nine seasonal comfort dishes (three entrees, three plats, three desserts) and easy, affordable wine. I felt so at home here, so much so that I’m hoping a return trip will ease my travel plan pain. If it doesn’t, I’m pretty certain a return trip to my favorite Paris wine bar, Le Baron Rouge, will do the trick. Wine cures all ills, right?
Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Parisian Living, Shopping, Travel | 6 Comments »
April 9, 2010 by Sally Peabody
Premiere Pression Provence, the go-to new Parisian source for the finest quality Provençal olive oils, is the latest creative enterprise of Olivier Baussan, founder of O & Co and the now ubiquitous chain L’Occitane. This new mini-chain of inviting shops is Baussan’s homage to a region he loves, with the goal of supporting and encouraging native craftsmen and their small-scale, high-quality production.
Première Pression Boutique – Rue des Martyrs
I was fortunate enough to discover the shop in the 11th while heading to the Place d’Aligre market via Blé Sucré, one of my favorite little patisseries anywhere in Paris, on the rue Antoine Vollon. Up until that morning it had remained my favorite foodie spot on the street. Now, a lovely, light, wood-paneled shop selling fabulous olive oils has joined the mix.
Continue Reading »
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April 8, 2010 by Heather Jerue
HiP Paris friend and wedding planner, Heather, from Rendez-Vous in Paris, recently met with Aimée Lohrebauer, an utterly romantic wedding & cocktail gown designer who recently opened a delightfully inviting atelier in Paris. A talented designer, she has taught at Parsons School of Design and freelanced for companies including Ralph Lauren, Kenzo and Nina Ricci. After years of working for other brands, she is now putting the finishing touches on her first official gown collection, signed LOHR Couture.
While sipping tea out of vintage china and nibbling sweet macarons seated in velour covered chairs she’d spotted at a local brocante (flea market), Aimée talked frankly and earnestly with Heather of her passion for design, fashion and weddings.
So, what’s the best part of being a gown designer?
First, with her gaze drifting towards the sunny window, she came out with a true artist’s response: “Draping,” she said, “the step between the design on paper and the first pattern. While working, laying, scrunching and draping the silk, satin or lace on the dummy, the fabric is full of possibilities and has the potential to become anything.”
Then, she looked me in the eye and came out with a true woman’s response : “And, the moment the dress is ready. I take 2 steps back and realize it’s perfect – there’s a feeling of accomplishment, admiration and 2 seconds of pride, followed by excitement. Once it’s done, I can’t wait to show the bride!”
Continue Reading »
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April 1, 2010 by Zeva Bellel
Photos Fabrice Fortin for Paris By Appointment Only
Stylish, understated accessorizing—there are few things the French do better. Especially the men, and especially when it comes to their scarves. After a decade of careful observation I’m convinced that the entire French male population has been genetically perfected to give good scarf. Believe me, if I had a dollar for ever time a visiting American guy friend asked me to give him a French echarpe tutorial, I’d be a rich lady.
But the next time someone asks I’ll give my neck a rest and introduce Meilleur Ami instead. Launched in November 2008, Meilleur Ami is a new niche Paris-based men’s accessories brand whose name is its promise—to create designs that behave like best friends. Continue Reading »
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