It’s uncertain times out there, with France, Italy, and now Spain on lockdown and travel bans all over. The spread of the coronavirus has thrown everyone’s lives — and travel plans — into disarray.
But while you may not be able to travel to France, there are still ways you can get a little taste of France from your own home.
Apéro
Indulge in some of your favorite French cheeses and charcuterie. Don’t forget a fresh, crusty baguette and a nice bottle of French wine, bien sûr. Need some inspiration? Check out “Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way” by Rebekah Peppler.
Movie Night
Have a movie night with some classic French films, such as Amélie or Intouchables, or films that just inspire you to dream of France, such as Chocolat or Midnight in Paris. There are also some great French films on Netflix, and plenty of series for you to binge, which we’ve written about.
Online Shopping
If you love Paris for the shopping, get online. You can still shop your favorite French brands’ new spring releases and prepare for brighter days ahead. (Note: We hope that online shopping will continue but understand things may change).
There are plenty of lovely pieces in Sézane’s new spring collection; we love the handbags by Polène or Tammy and Benjamin, grab a pair of sustainably-made sneakers from Veja, or some French lingerie from our new favorite brand Livy. In need of some outfit inspiration? Get the look by following some of our top Parisian fashion bloggers and influencers.
While you’re doing that e-shopping, there are some lovely French beauty products you can also buy online. Pamper yourself with the clean beauty products from Oh My Cream, for example.
Parisian Bloggers
There are many great Parisian Instagram accounts you can follow to get your daily dose of Paris. Check out @seemyparis, @wanderwonders, @paris.with.me, @alexandrine_r, @clangart, @deareverest, @lostncheeseland, and @davidlebovitz to name but a few.
Read
Too much screen time? Curl up with a good book. Some classics: The Little Prince, Les Misérables, A Moveable Feast, or The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
Or for something more contemporary, get your hands on “How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits” by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas, “À Paris” by Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide, “The Only Street in Paris: Life on Rue des Martyrs” by Elaine Sciolino or “When in French: Love in a Second Language” by Lauren Collins.
Plan
And the best antidote yet: start planning your next Paris trip with the help of “Don’t be a Tourist in Paris: The Messy Nessy Chic Guide” by Vanessa Grall, “Paris In Stride: An Insider’s Walking Guide” by Jessie Kanelos Weiner or “The Little(r) Museums of Paris” by Emma Jacobs. Try to keep calm, stay safe, and dream of Paris.
Related Links
- Live vicariously through Rebecca Plotnick.
- Learn about Paris’s new jewelry trends.
- Plan a future weekend getaway to Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer.
Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.
WRITTEN BY
Ali Postma
Ali is from Melbourne, Australia, where she studied Art History and Art Curatorship at Monash and The University of Melbourn. She has worked in various art galleries. Passionate about all things arts and culture, she has a particular interest French film, Nordic noir, photography, street art and architecture. Ali has lived in Paris since 2016 and has written extensively on art, food, beauty and more. Her work has in publications including BW Confidential, Oh My Mag, and HIP Paris.
Always a pleasure to be transported to Paris. Love it, love it, love it! Pure escapism in these pandemic times. Merci!