Paris is known for many things: its light, its bistros and, of course, its fashionably chic women. But what about its men? Do les hommes parisiens share that certain je ne sais quoi for which their female counterparts are so admired?

Alas, in a word, non.

Parisian men do, however, have distinctive style that manages to marry the rakish allure of Vincent Cassel or Olivier Martinez with the more bourgeois appeal of, say, Francois Cluzet. In short, his cool charm derives from an unstudied, imperfect look that works without looking overworked. Matchy-matchy, perfectly pressed and impeccably coordinated is just un-Parisian.

Annelie Willemijn

Here are some hallmarks of Parisian style pour homme, as seen on the city’s streets this chilly season.

Le foulard: There may be no look more “French” than an artfully tied scarf. Men are rarely seen in Paris without stylish neck wear — rain or shine. From the classic Burberry check to sumptuous cashmere or printed cotton, a casually wrapped neck is simply a must.

Les chaussures: Men’s shoes have gone narrow and pointy; classics like leather oxfords and sporty suede bucks have seemingly been stretched. A gently pointed toe is the only shoe shape that looks right right now. For weekends en ville, swap out the dress shoes for a well-worn pair of tennis — Puma or Adidas, please.

Annelie Willemijn

Les pantalons: Athletes with ample quads, beware: Modern Parisian trousers are très slim cut. Like those spotted on fashionable Parisiennes, slim-cut dark wash jeans for men can go almost anywhere in Paris these days. Worn with a tailored blazer or fine-knit sweater (think body-hugging), un jean works just as well for a stroll through the Centre Pompidou as it does for a dinner at a swank bistro. Whether it’s jeans, chinos or wool trousers, keep the cut close; a flared leg or tailored cuff is a definite style don’t.

La coiffure: For that perfectly tousled Parisian guy look, follow these simple instructions. Grab a black motorcycle helmet and fasten the chin strap (or don’t). Hop on a Vespa and speed across Paris, lighting and re-lighting a Gauloise at each traffic stop. Once the desired destination is reached, remove said helmet, rake fingers though the hair and shake vigorously. Bit of a windblown, tobacco-soaked mess? Parfait! And for men of a certain age (or hair line), offset a close-cropped ‘do and well-trimmed stubble with hipster plastic-framed lunettes. Complete the look with a fitted blazer in dark velvet or narrow corduroy for that exec-meets-Oberkampf look.

Dave Bloom; Annelie Willemijn

Les No-No’s: There are some looks that just won’t fly in Paris, no matter the season. No big surprises here: Baggy cargo shorts, baseball caps, athletic team paraphernalia in any guise, white tennis shoes (unless they’re ironically worn retro K-Swiss), white socks (but you knew that), and outdoors-y gear (think Patagonia and North Face) are all better left at home or stowed for that weekend à la campagne.

Ultimately, a Parisian man’s recipe for great style is simple: Don’t fret an extra day sans douche; a tousled confidence that says, “I just rolled out of bed,” is a key to Gallic cool.

Related Links:

• Are French men really irresistible?
• Have questions for French men? Ask a Frenchman!
• For more “typical” qualities of French men, check out Stuff Parisians Like

Written by Paige Bradley Frost for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

L’Art de la Table (literally translating as “The Art of the Table”) is probably as much about food as it is about having beautiful table linens and dinnerware, tasteful flowers, and colorful table accessories to enhance the dining experience. No wonder the French love to gather around tables to eat. No wonder that, after growing up in a food-obsessed family, I, too, love to give gifts that focus attention around the celebration of a meal.

In France, gorgeous-looking kitchen stores filled with beautiful dinnerware and designer linens can be found everywhere. During the holidays, they are favorite spots to find precious gifts to celebrate our love for beautifully presented foods. Brand names like Le Jacquard Français specialize in the art of dressing up a dining table with beautiful and colorful patterned tablecloths and napkins—I am a fan. What’s not to love about a gorgeous-looking table setting with scrumptious food at its center?

Related Links:

• Béatrice just wrote her first cookbook based on her blog! Coming out in February.
• Le Jacquard Français’ cute blog Mademoiselle Jacquard (in French)
• Here’s the specific way to set French silverware
• Erica’s tips on dining chez les French

Written by Béatrice Peltre for the HiP Paris Blog.  All photos by Béatrice. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Christmas is four days away et bien sûr, I am quite tardy in purchasing some very special gifts for the very special people in my life.

Since I work for a company that rents boutique Parisian flats, I do tend to gift friends and family with French-inspired goodies, items that will inject the everyday life with a bit of la vie française. Better yet, if those goodies can be French food-inspired, I’m practically guaranteed une note de gratitude before the ball drops on New Year’s.

Alas, time is of the essence and a quick trip to Paris is not in the cards before Christmas. But I can still be the belle of their hearts and kitchens by gifting an old standby: a favorite French cookbook, with all the most delicious recipes well-marked, and a quickly-assembled glass jar of sel de mer, glistening and studded with herbs de Provence.

Drying Herbs (Porter Palmer), Salt (Little Brown Pen)

If you’re also delayed in holiday shopping, I don’t mind if you take my idea and make it your own. In fact, I’ve got your back with my favorite French-inspired cookbooks of 2011. Just don’t say I never gave you anything…

1.  Based on the sweet boutiques in San Francisco, Miette: Recipes from San Francisco’s Most Charming Pastry Shop is a darling cookbook filled with scalloped pages of classic tart, cake and cookie recipes. I can imagine gifting this girly book with everything needed to make owner, chef and author Meg Ray’s famous Tomboy Cake, pictured on the book’s cover.

Miette (Yuichi Sakuraba, A Baked Creation)

Miette (Violet Blue)

2. I was at a gala celebrating Jacque Pepin’s contribution to culinaria recently and while he had a last minute hiccup that prevented his appearance, his new cookbook Essential Pepin: More Than 700 All-Time Favorites from My Life in Food stood in for him proudly. Delivered with some very good chocolate to make his version of Chocolate Mousse, this cookbook would be a prized possession.

Chocolate (Honey + Jam)

3. I made a new friend this year. Food stylist and photographer Beatrice Peltre is as delightful in person as she is on her blog, La Tartine Gourmande, and her new beautifully-photographed book, La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life, delivers the sort of healthful recipes that look, sound, and taste quite rich, but are filled with whole, gluten-free ingredients. She suggests many flour substitutes that add more heft to your foods, and I suggest gifting this book with a trio of quinoa, millet and buckwheat flours.

La Tartine Gourmande, the book, and the author Béatrice Peltre (White Loft Style)

4. In 2011, I stumbled upon Stephane Reynaud and now I want every one of his books. Released in 2009 but new to me, French Feasts: 299 Traditional Recipes for Family Meals & Gatherings feels like a homemade cookbook, ripe with big photos of one-pot wonders. Share this cookbook with a side gift of a big Dutch oven or perhaps a whole free-range chicken, so the recipient can make Stephane’s poulet roti and remember all of France in one bite.

Home Made by Yvette Van Boven (Maggie Battista)

5. While Yvette Van Boven calls Amsterdam home, she spends many weekends in her Paris pied-a-terre. We met virtually sharing our love of the city of light and I now associate her new cookbook Home Made: The Ultimate DIY Cookbook Featuring Over 200 From-Scratch Recipes with being just a little French. Regardless, it’s entirely homemade and acts as a map to building your own homemade pantry. I’d gift this beautifully designed and illustrated book with a big jar of her Homemade Muesli.

A page from Home Made, Homemade Muesli (Anouk Stricher)

Related Links:

• Parisian expat David Lebovitz picks his favorite cookbooks of 2011
• 15 Cooking tip and tricks from The Kitchn
• And in this time of holiday cheer, Joanna Goddard shares the proper wine etiquette

Written by Maggie Battista for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Not only are Alexia Hollinger‘s handbags très chic, and très Parisien, but they are made right in the heart of the city by Alexia herself, in her gorgeous studio boutique on quiet rue Therese in the 1st arrondissement. I discovered her boutique about 4 years ago when I was researching for my first book Paris: Made by Hand. When I walked into the beautifully decorated store and saw Alexia working away on her sewing machine in the back room, it felt like I’d struck gold – this was exactly what I’d hoped to find in the heart of Paris, and all it took was a wander off the main thoroughfare and into a leafy avenue.

Rue Therese Paris

Alexia’s designs are sophisticated but practical – every time I visit Paris, I stop into Alexia’s boutique and buy a bag for myself and another as a gift. I have quite the collection of Alexia bags now, almost one for each day of the week. Her bags make the ideal gift and if you can’t make it into the boutique yourself, then you can easily buy a bag from her latest collection online as Alexia ships all over the world.

I was honored a few months back to find out Alexia had named one of her new designs after me – featured here in this post is one of her gold linen “pia” bags. Inside there is a pocket for your phone, a key clip, and zip pocket for personal items. It’s the perfect size and I love that the handles fit over the shoulder.

Related Links:

• Check out Pia’s blog and her handmade Paris guide
• The New York Times T magazine visits Alexia Hollinger’s Paris store
• Kasia Dietz is an expat also designs lovely handbags in Paris

Written and photos by Pia Jane Bijkerk. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Paris is one of the most dangerous cities to go gift-shopping. I mean, when you’re looking for the perfect piece of the City of Light to share with your family and friends, how can you resist the soaps at Fragonard, the pottery and notebooks at Astier de Villatte, the cool kid CDs at Colette or the boites of macarons and chocolates all over town—for yourself?

It’s easy to be greedy around such lovely loot. For better or worse, the price tags keep some of the madness in check. But there’s another way to work around this fair city that’s très cher: Monoprix.

Cbertel

Seriously! If you think about the delicacies and delights we all savor in Paris, you can find some real steals right at your neighborhood grocer. Take, for example, the pajama aisle. They may not be as raffiné as what you’d find at Le Bon Marché, but the options are pretty darn cute, nonetheless. (Don’t forget the matching slippers.)

Risastla

For the men in your life, grab some jars of mustard and tins of sardines. They’re compact, come in infinite varieties, and pack a delicious punch per centime. Or, in the “personal goods” section, you can find lovely big blocks of olive oil soap, which are great “man gifts.”

Roger & Gallet

Speaking of soaps, the perfume-y scents and classic packaging of Roger & Gallet make it a perfect choice for granny, while the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a totally hip gift for your best friend—and great for the skin. Also in the cosmetics section, Bourjois lipsticks and blush will make your little sister and nieces pleased as punch.

Speculoos: Marionlon (top)/Little Daan

And we all have a sweet freak in our life. Nothing will delight them more than to feed their addiction with a bag (or two, or three) of Haribo Dragibus and Tagada. Trust me. And to make 2011 the holiday season everyone on your list will remember, stuff their stockings with the magic that is Speculoos.

Related Links:

• Monoprix gets clever with these quirky expressions on in-house packaging
• See how Monoprix’ croissant fares in Amy Thomas’ croissant smackdown last year
• Colette is also a neat one-stop shop for trendy souvenirs and gifts

Written by Amy Thomas for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

As soon as our timetable lets us go, my husband and I move from our base in Amsterdam to our tiny apartment in Paris.

We’ve lived here in Paris part time for more than 4 years now, but I still discover new places, neighborhoods, and restaurants every single time we go on a stroll. Paris is inexhaustible when it comes to surprising me in any unexpected ways.

My dear friend, stylist, photographer and author Pia Jane Bijkerk, used to live here too, and she wrote a wonderful guide that everyone should have when they go to Paris. It’s a little book that takes you on a tour of Paris’ best shops and ateliers for handmade goods. So that’s right up my alley, of course.

One of the places she lists is Le Petit Atelier de Paris, so of course I went.

I fell in love with the shop instantly. Just standing outside, even the façade is charming. Inside, eyes and hands are drawn to the tables filled with handmade ceramics, all unique pieces. I’d love to work in this atelier in another life — I have secretly always wanted to be a ceramist!

They also organize small exhibits for artists from all over the world, so there is always something new and delightful to discover every time I go.  They also make small, beautifully packaged pieces that are perfect gifts to send off to family and friends. It’s a shame to even open them! Go and have a look for yourself – you won’t regret it.

Le Petit Atelier de Paris, 31 Rue de Montmerency, 75003  Paris, open from Thursday to Saturday from 13:00 – 20:00 hrs.

Related Links:

• To see more from Yvette Van Boven, including her cookbooks, illustrations and info on her restaurant in Amsterdam, check out her website
• Check out Le Petit Atelier’s website here for upcoming exhibits and information on current collections
• View Le Petit Atelier’s most recent items on their blog, here
• Read up on Pia’s fantastic book, Paris Made by Hand, in our 2009 review here.
• Can’t get to Paris to shop at Le Petit Atelier? We think Pia’s Paris Made by Hand book would make a great gift for any francophile…

Written by Yvette Van Boven for the HiP Paris Blog. All images by Patricia, aka, Memi the Rainbow; Patricia is an Italian girl who lives in Paris to study art. She is passionate about hand-carved rubber stamps, photography, and long walks through Paris, her muse; check out her fab home-made gifts at her Etsy shop. Also check out her wonderful blog here. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

When I popped home to the UK in November, London was already in full festive swing with Christmas trees, festive songs and neon lights galore. Sent back with a Cadbury’s chocolate advent calendar adorned with an oversized Santa, I was ready to start the Christmas season with a bang.

Making Magique

Yet once back home across the pond, I realized Paris hadn’t joined in on the fun yet. I was ready to start in on my advent calendar and temperatures were plunging, but where were all those tell tale signs that our favorite mid-winter festival was fast approaching?

This set me thinking. What exactly is a Parisian Christmas? What happens in the cold windy days leading up to the big event? I set out on a mission to discover the seasonal delights that France’s most romantic city had to offer.

Little Brown Pen

Shopping

Although the Christmas shopping frenzy begins relatively late in Paris (thankfully, shops only step into gear at the end of November), once it gets going, it really gets going. Stores go all out with light shows and designer-crafted window displays – always tasteful, bien sur. First stop? Paris’s iconic department stores. Whilst London has toy-filled Hamleys and elegant Harrods, Paris showcases its trademark sophistication with Les Galleries Lafayette and the neighbouring Printemps, where Karl Lagerfeld’s touch marks this year’s displays: think Chanel-clad rock ‘n’ roll dolls strumming their electric guitars and 20m Christmas trees.

Conclusion: a little slow off the starting blocks, but Paris comes through in true style.
Printemps: 64, bd Haussmann, metro Havre Chaumartin
Galleries Lafayette: 40, bd Haussmann, metro Chausee d’Antin – Fayette

Little Brown Pen

Markets
December in Paris wouldn’t be complete without a good dose of Christmas markets. The stalls clustered along the Champs Elysees are beautifully situated (one of the most luxurious streets in the world all lit up with golden lights – what more could you want!) with the roaring traffic detracting only a little from the romantic scene. I highly recommended warming up with some mulled wine, nibbling on roasted chestnuts (a French Christmas favorite) and finishing it all off with a chocolate dipped apple.

Conclusion: Christmas markets are a key Parisian Christmas ingredient. They may not be big or overly original, but they are brimming with seasonal good cheer (with a little help from the steaming vin chaud).
November 19 – January 2, 2012, Avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde ( Metro Champs Elysées-Clemenceau or Concorde)
For a full list of Paris’ neighborhood Christmas Markets, click here

Carams

More Christmassy excitement

What else does Paris have store for Christmas-lovers? Having diligently wandered the streets, I’ve definitely had my festive fix for 2011.  My highlights include:

-    The illuminated Ferris Wheel at the Place de la Concorde
-    The elegant lights in the cobbled rue Montorgueil
-    The giant Christmas tree outside Notre Dame cathedral
-    The temporary ice skating at Hotel de Ville
Although Christmas cheer may hit the French capital a little late, Parisians certainly know how to do the festive run-up with taste. If we’ve missed anything, please drop us a comment with your favourite Paris Christmas moments below!
Wherever you are this Christmas, I wish you all a joyeux Noël!

Stop by the Corner

Related Links:

• The NY Times has some great tips on what to do in Paris on Christmas Day
• Here’s a funny post on the French love for fake Christmas trees… truly inexplicable. 
• Paris By Mouth has a great list of restaurant recommendations open for Christmas in Paris

Written by Victoria Wall for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

I got my first Opinel pocket knife at age seven—the age of reason, my parents must have thought—during a summer vacation in the French Alps. Each member of my family had one, and they got plenty of use during mountain hikes: my father’s to carve intricate pattern on his walking stick, my mother’s to butter the baguette sandwiches when we stopped for the midday picnic.

I was thrilled to get my own, a tiny, child-size replica of the classic Savoyard pocket knife, with its glossy wood handle, its pointy steel blade, and the rotating ring that locked it all into place.

Twenty-five years later, this miniature Opinel is much too small for me to use, but I have a grownup’s version now, which I’m sure to take with me on any walk in the wild, and especially on mushroom foraging trips: not to brag, but that Opinel has seen its share of porcini.

Kaspar Metz

Opinel pocket knives make for wonderful gifts, too: they’re not at all expensive, they’ll last a lifetime, and they’ll accompany the recipient on their outdoor adventures—even if it’s just an improvised picnic in the park. Just be sure to have them give you a coin (any small piece of change will do) in exchange for the knife: French superstition states that if you give away a knife without getting anything in return, you risk severing the friendship.

Related Links:

• Order Opinel knives online from the States here or on Amazon
• For fantastic recipes and foodie inspiration, check out Clotilde’s great blog
• Clotilde is also mad for Laguiole pocket knives, the other famous French knife.
• Making a trip to Paris? Pick up her book, Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris, and let her guide you through her all-time favorite Paris food experiences.

Written by Clotilde Dusoulier for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

French Felt Scarves

These beautiful scarves are handmade in Normandy. I love the texture, subtle shine and classic shades.

Rifle Paper Co Paris Notecards

I wish these illustrations were available as large prints. Aren’t they adorable?

Cubist Literature Tees

Cubist Literature has a great sense of humor. I’ve been admiring this silly French tee for months.

French text: “Moi, je veux te dire que je ne te quitterai jamais. Et puis, si tu es triste, je pourrais toujours te donner un peu d’alcool pour te rechauffer le coeur. xo”

Translation from their site: “I want you to know that I will never leave you. And, if you’re ever sad, I can always give you a little alcohol to make you feel better”.

Love it!

Related Links:

• Check our Nichole’s gorgeous blog here
• Looking for more last-minute gifts? Nichole’s prints, sold here, bring a little Paris charm into any home.
• If you stay in our Marais Rosiers flat, decorated with a selection of Nichole’s work, you can enjoy her shots from the comfort of your very own Paris apartment!

Written by Nichole Robertson for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Two years ago, my New Year’s Resolution was to dress like a French woman. My only question was…how? My first step was buying a bunch of striped shirts (obviously). My second step was to pull my hair up in a top bun. And my third–and favorite–step was discovering Bensimon.

Bensimon shoes are the French girl’s Converse. Comfy and cute, the sneakers are great for running errands, traveling or kicking back at home–while still feeling like you have that Parisian je-ne-sais-quoi. My mom, sister and best friend now all wear them, too. They’re a perfect stocking stuffer. xo

Related Links:

• Badaude also loves Bensimons (seen here on sketches of Trench-bedecked Parisiennes.)
• Check out Joanna’s 2011 Holiday Gift Guide
• We love these faux-fur lined numbers for keeping toasty this winter

Written by Joanna Goddard  for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.