Paris Kid Street Style: French Children’s Fashion

Tory Hoen — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:50:02 +0000

imworld.aufeminin.com/s.plurielles.fr/thesartorialist.com

I gave up long ago on the idea that I might ever effectively emulate the effortless chic of your average parisienne. It’s an innate sense of style that one is either born with or without, and it has become abundantly clear who has it (most Parisian women) and who doesn’t (me). I’m OK with this. But upon moving to Paris, I made a shocking discovery: not only do I look like a hobo compared to Parisian women, but also compared to their impeccably dressed children. This was a harder pill to swallow.

thesartorialist.com

But it’s undeniable; there is a significantly shorter—but equally intimidating—set of fashionistas roaming the streets of Paris, and they put me in my place (style-wise) on a daily basis. This realization initially sunk in one day when I found myself on a bench in the Tuileries next to a 4-year-old girl who was clearly way cooler than I will ever be. I was immediately overcome with “outfit envy.” It’s the same way I feel about the girl in the photo above. Every last detail—from the classic trench, to the trendy nautical striped shirt, to the perfect ballet flats and the playfully rolled cuffs—is absolutely spot-on and leaves me shuddering as I remember myself at age five: decked out in OshKosh B’Gosh overalls, fluorescent-colored stirrup leggings, L.L. Bean turtlenecks, and poofy hair scrunchies. On really fashion-forward days, I would rock the almighty slap bracelet. To make matters worse, I usually had peanut butter in my hair and magic marker all over my face. My look was indeed effortless, but it was far from chic.

Now, surrounded by these dapper young ones, I can only gawk in amazement and resolve to dress my own future children in head-to-toe Bonpoint. It’s not fair, and it never will be. Parisians—mini and full-sized alike—just do it better.

claireetnet.com

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

Merci: Shopping for a Cause in Paris

Tory Hoen — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:44:27 +0000

photo courtesy of: www.lescarnetsdudesign.com

Photos Erica Berman (except above)

As the global economic climate has forced consumers to shop more selectively, it has also forced retailers to sell more creatively. Merci, Paris’ newest concept store, provides a breathtaking space where visitors can shop with a conscience. Created by Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, founders of renowned children’s clothing line Bonpoint, Merci donates all of its proceeds (after breaking even) to a co-op for young women in Madagascar.

As Merci’s website explains, the concept for the store was “born of a dream,” and this whimsical attitude comes through in the store’s layout and details. From the decorative red Fiat Cinquecento that marks the store’s main door to the taxidermy animals scattered throughout the racks of clothing, this is a space that inspires reverie—in addition to shopping, of course.

Located in a three-story loft space in the 3^rd arrondissement, Merci’s atmosphere is open and inviting; it’s the kind of place where you can spend an unrushed afternoon browsing merchandise, sipping tea, and simply exploring the space, which measures roughly 1,500 square meters. Part-loft, part-library, part-garden, the store is defined by an aesthetic simplicity that balances elegance with playfulness. In addition to housing a range of merchandise, Merci also includes a café (within the store’s “library” section) and a restaurant on the lower level.

Merci stocks everything from clothing, to flowers and garden accessories, to perfumes by Annick Goutal, to custom furniture and home goods, to second-hand books in multiple languages. Clothing offerings range from children’s merchandise (by brands like Bonpoint), to contemporary French brands (like A.P.C. and Isabel Marant), to vintage, to high-end designer labels (such as YSL and Chloé). Much of the clothing on sale has been created—and priced—exclusively for Merci.

Since opening in March, Merci has received rave reviews from in-the-know Parisians. Its ability to combine understated luxury with philanthropy sets it apart from the city’s other concept stores. So whether you’re out to buy or simply to browse, this is one address you won’t want to miss.

Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris 75003. Tel: 01.42.77.00.33.

http://www.merci-merci.com/