Le Parfum: Decoding the Allure of French Scent

Blentley I’ll never forget the first time I was “perfumed” in Paris. After spritzing and sniffing numerous scents at a parfumerie in the Marais, I settled on L’Eau d’Issey by Issey Miyake, a citrusy floral just right for warmer weather. The chic saleswoman held the tester aloft angled in my direction. “Je vous parfume, mademoiselle?”… …read more

Puerto Cacao: Socially Minded Chocolate in Paris

Julien Hausherr Yes, more chocolate! Paris does not lack for it. But in a town that boasts everything from over-the-top delicacies to perfectly executed classics, we’re always impressed when a shop manages to distinguish itself from the cacao-hawking competition. Puerto Cacao is not the most decadent, shocking or renowned chocolate shop in Paris, but it… …read more

A Fairy Tale Wedding at a French Chateau

Is there anything more romantic than a wedding in a French chateau? For part 2 of her story, Paige Frost takes us through her last-minute preparations for the big day…- Geneviève One and Only Paris Photography Most brides obsess over something. Will the flowers look right? Will my dress fit after the alterations? Will the… …read more

Working in Paris: Strikes, 35-hour Weeks and Real Lunch Breaks

35 hour work week – time for gazing at the Seine – Christophe Hue Many associate French working life with 35-hour weeks, strikes, long long lunch breaks and even longer holidays. This is certainly the image that I’d carefully conjured in my idealistic head before setting foot in France. The big question: does reality live… …read more

Paris Fashion Week: How to Dress the Part

Posing in the Tuileries in between shows, Paris Fashion Week 2012 (Boswell) When early March hits, something in the air changes. Models come out of the woodwork and women in New York, London, Paris and elsewhere put a bit more effort into their attire. If you’re not in the fashion industry, it’s easy to be… …read more

A Leap of Faith: Finding the Perfect Paris Apartment (Part Deux)

Lindsey Tramuta; Carams After many horrendously unsuccessful attempts at trying to find my first pied-à-terre in Paris, I had one last shot before I would literally be living in the metro.  My lead was a long one — a friend of a very distant acquaintance who could show me her place on the very last… …read more

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Three Weeks in Paris: Maggie’s Top Food & Shopping Picks

Alecska In a few days, I’ll be sipping wine at un petit café in the Marais, just in time, we all hope, for the weather to finally swing toward Spring. There’s too much to squeeze into this 3-week trip. Besides visiting Verjus and Au Passage bien sur, I hope to dine at Septime and Bistro… …read more

Paris, My Sweet: Amy Thomas’s Drool-Inducing New Book On Paris and New York’s Best Desserts

Lindsey Tramuta Here at HiP, we’re always up for a good expat adventure tale, particularly one in which desserts play a starring role. In her new book, Paris, My Sweet, food writer (and regular HiP Paris contributor!) Amy Thomas regales us with stories from her two-year stint in Paris, where she wrote advertising copy for… …read more

Kid-Friendly Travel: An American Family Visits the City of Lights

After half a day in the airport, a canceled flight and a sleepless passage over the ocean, I expected my children to nap away our first day in the City of Lights. But the magic of Paris revived us and it was 11 p.m., admiring the fire dancers at the Sacré-Coeur when my son said, “Mom,… …read more

Planning A Wedding in France: Saying “I Do” In A French Chateau

“I’ve just been offered a job in Paris,” my boyfriend of one year announced. “I won’t even consider it if you’re going to rule out coming with me…” Huh? Definitely an invitation, not quite a proposal. So what’s a young, gainfully employed, woman-in-love to do? Quit her job, pack her bags and move to Paris,… …read more

Expat Special: What To Do With One Month in Paris

Piyapat Ch You’re about to realize your dream: living in Paris for a month. You found an apartment, booked your flight, and learned how to ask for les toilettes. You imagine strolling through the city, taking in the sights, hanging out at cafés, and being…Parisian.  Of course, part of the fun of travel is making… …read more

Decoding The French Menu: The Truth About Steak à Cheval

A Paris chalkboard menu – appearances can be deceiving! (Daxis) Years into my love affair with Paris, I’m still making ridiculous rookie mistakes. I suppose it’s time to accept that France will always have the upper hand, but it still stings. My most recent humiliation is horse-related. Or at least, I thought it was. Please… …read more

Paris Winter Fashion: Les Hommes Parisiens Are Seductive, Sexy, Cool

Christopher Hue 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… …read more