Back from Paris: New In

Well, we're back from Paris! I'm slowly recovering from jet lag, but I think the overall lack of sleep these past 10 days is the real reason I keep falling asleep at 7:30pm every night. Needless to say, it was a very successful séjour à Paris. Among the many things we accomplished... Many a strolls through the Jardin des Tuileries, Concorde, Père Lachaise, and St. Germain, lovely breakfasts at Eric Kayser, shopping at the Bon Marché, Printemps, Isabel Marant, and Zara (to name a few), a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner at the Bristol, a visit to the Grand Palais to admire the incredible Stein collection of paintings, many long dinners with friends and family, several fabulous nights out on the town, and an abundance of champagne and rosé... I'm still in the process of uploading/organizing all of the photos, but visuals of these adventures will be up soon!

I just wanted to share with you now my favorite purchase of the entire trip: this lovely Jérôme Dreyfuss bag. I already did a post on this fabulous French designer back in September, but my love for this label lives on. I instantly fell for the sac Bobbi as the perfect going-out bag. It has just the right amount of surprise with the gold chain strap, rich burgundy python leather, and zip details on the bottom, without overpowering the rest of a look.

This next week is packed with papers, projects, and finals, all while simultaneously trying to take my mind off the fact that I'm no longer in Paris... But, it's the last day of November which means the Christmas festivities may commence! And there's no reason to be down during the holidays. I just can't wait to go home next week, take a deep breath, relax, and fill my days with friends, family, cooking, great food, and Christmas music, movies, and parties.

I hope you are all doing well! If you're overwhelmed with work like I am, well, "Bon courage !" as they say in France. More updates on the trip to come this week...

À bientôt!

First Night in Paris

Oh man... words simply cannot describe how great it feels to be back in Paris. Yesterday, Lily, Francesca, and I quickly found each other at the airport, exchanged big hugs and loud greetings at arrivals, grabbed a taxi that barely fit our bags, and made our way into Paris. Tired from jetlag and our inability to sleep on the plane (due to excitement bien sûr) we arrived at our apartment, lugged our bags up three flights of stairs, and instantly felt at home. I have to keep pinching myself because it all seems too good to be true, but I'm not sure that the fact we are actually here has totally set in yet.

Last night, we dressed for the town and met up with ma tante at the Bristol for drinks... Not a bad way to be welcomed to Paris! A few coupes of champagne and a perfectly delicious club sandwich later, we emerged refreshed and ready for a night out. And oh, what a night we had! A cheerful reunion with french friends complete with a constant flow of wine, a noise complaint from the neighbors, a walk past the Christmas displays at Printemps near midnight, and dancing at a club near Madeleine.

Lily, Martha, Me, and Francesca

This morning we enjoyed a delicious omelette with pain, confiture, et orange présée at Eric Kayser, stocked up on the immediate necessities at the pharmacie, and even picked up some groceries at the Monoprix. Walking around Saint Germain in the crisp morning air smacked massive and permanent smile across all of our faces. Ahh pure bliss!

Well, you know you're in Paris when a protest just broke out outside of your apartment... Like I said, it feels great to be back! Now I'm off to get ready for dinner at Le Comptoir. Can't wait for some delicious French food!

Hope you are all doing well - à bientôt!

Bon Voyage!

Ahh, finally... tomorrow is the day that I leave for Paris. I cannot wait to walk off the plane, find Lily and Francesca, and move in to our beautiful rental apartment for the next 10 days. But most of all, I cannot wait to wake up every morning to the incredible city of light.

Photo by Summer :)

All finished packing! Now it's off to bed so I'm well rested to navigate the busy airports tomorrow. I hope you are all having a wonderful week and looking forward to a Thanksgiving filled with family and friends! Updates to come ASAP.

À bientôt!

Looking Forward to Paris: Part 3

I am so excited for Paris right now, I don't even think I can manage an introduction.... So we'll just get right to it - A few more things I simply can't wait to do while in Paris.

Drinks at Prescription Cocktail Club: You could easily walk past this two-level bar near Odéon without even knowing it. Down Rue Mazarine you won't hear any sounds and you won't see any flashing Prescription Cocktail Club signs either. As much as this gem of a bar has tried to keep under the radar, in the past year or so it has become quite the popular spot for the chic after-work crowds. On weekends, the place is packed with 20-30 somethings sipping on Prescription's delicious drinks and loudly talking over the hip music. On weekdays though, this little bar is usually pretty mellow; a stylish spot to enjoy a drink before going out on the town. When you walk into the dim lit space it feels as though you've walked into someone's lavish study. Books line the walls and a spiral staircase openly connects the two floors. Even if it's not your "scene," the drinks alone are worth it. Freshly squeezed juices from every fruit imaginable are kept cool and masterfully mixed with top quality alcohols to create a drink that is truly unique and delicious.

Photos via 60 by 80

Photo by Carter

Shopping and Drinks/Snacks at Merci: A beautiful and spacious concept store in the Marais district of Paris, Merci has become one of my new favorite shopping destinations. It's a little ways from the center hub of the Marais, but the walk is absolutely worth it. The two-level, lofted space (apparently, this post is dedicated to multi-level establishments) is home to men's and women's clothing, unique jewelry, home and kitchen goods, as well as books, stationary, art, and a beautiful little flower shop. Plus, a portion of the profits are donated to charities, so you can feel good about your purchases. Then, when you're all shopped out, go sit and enjoy some fresh squeezed juices or home-made iced teas with a small bite to eat at Merci's charming little café. It's the perfect way to spend an afternoon!

Photos via Sunday Suppers

Photo by Carter

Picking Up the Essentials at the French Pharmacy: French pharmacies are heaven. Whenever I come to Paris, I always have a list about a page long of all the things I need to pick up for family and friends, and myself of course, at the pharmacy. So, whenever I'm walking about the city and see one of those flashing green pharmacy signs, I scurry on in to pick up the essentials. My friend Sophie swears by Spidefen, a French ibuprofen, for her headaches, and their massive selection of beauty products are magic. As for me, I'm a huge fan of the Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oatmilk and the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré facial cream. I've also heard great things about Bioderma's Créaline H20 make-up remover, Biotherm's body scrub, and Darphin's firming body cream. The pharmacy is full of great finds so I'll be sure to share them with you when I get back!

Photo via Cosme-De.com

I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday! À bientôt!

Seeing Stars

The Fall 2011 runway at Dolce & Gabbana signaled the serious return of the star. We're talking stars on everything: star printed dresses, blouses, pumps, and clutches, massive star-drop earrings, stars in sequins... The whole collection was just one mega star-studded event. And rightfully so! Stars were never just meant for your flawless homework in the 1st grade or the American flag... Oh no, stars serve many a purpose and luckily, Dolce & Gabbana felt like reminding us of their fashion worthy status.

D&G Fall 2011 Collection via Style.com

Fans of the stars rejoiced at the Spring/Summer 2012 shows when ACNE made sure to secure the stars for at least another season or two with its fabulous ready-to-wear collection. Leather clad stars, cut-out stars in tops and skirts, star studded jackets and pants... I think it's safe to say the stars are here to stay.

ACNE S/S 2012 Collection via Style.com

Thankfully, Zara remains on top of the runway fashions, making it possible for us mere mortals to wear this season's best without breaking the bank. So when I stumbled across this gorgeous star printed blouse while browsing through their online store last week, of course I snatched it right up. It's the perfect piece to throw on with jeans for day or for going out at night with some smokey eyes, leather leggings, and booties. Cheers to versatility!

Zara Stars Printed Shirt

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! The countdown continues at THREE days til Paris!!!!!

À bientôt!

In Case You Didn't Know...

J'ADORE Isabel Marant.

Check out this fun video of models expressing their love for the Parisian designer too:

Come on... A short sleeved, over-sized field jacket? Embellished vests? Metallic dresses? Short shorts and chunky knits? Heaven. Finished off with that perfectly messy hair and easy, natural make-up, the Isabel Marant girl is effortlessly cool, edgy, and confident.

You know you're looking at a great designer when they have succeeded in establishing such a powerful brand and image of what it means to live life in their clothes. It's inspiring moments like these that make fashion the fascinating industry that it is.

Looking Forward to Paris: Part 2

Oy... these days leading up to Paris are just too loooong. Nevertheless, the countdown continues at 7 days to go! Here are a few more things I will be looking forward to until then...

Our Rental Apartment in Saint Germain: When I visited Paris this Summer, I booked a lovely apartment on Rue du Bac through vacation-rental agency, Haven in Paris. I was so impressed by the quality of the apartment, the incredible services offered, their friendly staff, and the simplicity of the rental process, that I booked with them again for this trip. In my opinion, there is nothing better than seeing Paris like a local, and having your own apartment as opposed to staying in a hotel is key to achieving this. I love getting to know the neighborhood and being able to cook in the apartment (we plan to make a Thanksgiving dinner!), entertain friends, and enjoy a leisurely apéro before stepping out for dinner. Not only do you end up saving a lot of money, but you also get a lot more space for your euro, which is great - especially when you are traveling with friends!

Photos of the apartment via Haven in Paris

A Walk Through the Jardin du Luxembourg: Every time I go to Paris, I have to visit the Jardin du Luxembourg. The park is absolutely beautiful and I've had so many great memories here of all the times I've visited since I was a child. On weekends, the park is always full of couples sitting and chatting with friends as their children run around playing and floating boats in the pond. It's a truly charming scene and I couldn't be happier that it is less than a mile away from our apartment this trip! I love walking through the park, sitting on a bench, people watching, and then enjoying un café or un verre de vin at Le Rostand, a classic cafe just across the street.

My mother, Harris, me, and Francesca walking through the park in late March of this year

The fam

Shopping at Le Bon Marché: My favorite department store in the entire world. Enough said. But seriously, this place is heaven on earth. Every floor is meticulous; beautifully designed, organized, and the sales people are usually very friendly (I've only had one bad experience out of many). Of course, they house every single one of my favorite French brands (Carven, Céline, Isabel Marant, Sandro, and Maje... just to name a few) and La Grande Épicerie is absolutely to die for with specialty foods from all over the world and a bakery section that smells divine. It just can't get much better than that - except at this time of year, when they put up their annual Christmas decorations. Oh la laaa c'est beau!

Well, that's all for now... More to come later this week! Have a very happy Wednesday and à bientôt!

Je Voudrais...

Admired these caged heels by B Brian Atwood at Nordstrom today. Sooo stinkin' cool!! Being me, I'd probably go for the black, but the neon pair are equally awesome.

B Brian Atwood Clio Sandal available at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus

Looking Forward to Paris

With Paris only 9 days away, my head is just swimming with thoughts of all the things I want to do while I am there. In case you are wondering - yes, I am totally that person who makes lists of all the places they want to see, all the restaurants they want to try, and all the museums they need to peruse. And while this may be an organized way of traveling, I realize now that I cannot put so much pressure on myself to get everything checked off my list because Paris is a city full of surprises. Linda Donahue put it nicely in a piece she wrote for one of my favorite expat-in-Paris blogs, Lost in Cheeseland, when she said "each time, I would inevitably abandon my itinerary and allow myself to just get lost."

This may sound horrifying at first... get lost? In a big city? But getting lost in Paris, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to truly get to know it. Instead of looking down at your little map, or reading every passing street sign in order to navigate the way to your next location, you are simply lost... It's a romantic idea that may arguably only work in Paris, but once you've allowed yourself to let go of the itineraries and schedules, only then will you begin to take in everything that surrounds you. And it is this leisurely calm and joie de vivre that I love most about the French.

Nevertheless, there are things that I am looking forward to. No plans or itineraries, but simple delights I will be enjoying in 9 days time...

The Express Walkways at the Charles de Gaulle Airport: this may sound strange, but for me, there is nothing like arriving in Paris. As such, I've taken a liking to some of the little things about the airport that make me pinch myself and realize I really am in Paris. Sure, but the express walkways?? I'm telling you, these walkways are so cool. They seem miles long and connect the terminal going up and down and all around. None of that fussy American stuff where you have to get off every 40 feet.

The Ferris Wheel and Vin Chaud at Concorde: every year around this time, Place de la Concorde transforms and takes on a cheerful Holiday spirit with a Ferris Wheel, little shops selling candy, games, and vin chaud. There's just nothing like being a total tourist for 30 minutes and taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel to get a gorgeous view of the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Champs Elysées, and the Tour Eiffel. Followed by a nice, long walk through the park with some vin chaud (hot spiced wine), you just couldn't ask for a better afternoon.

Lily on the Ferris Wheel

Lily eating some delicious candy in the park

The vin chaud stall

View of the Champs Elysées from the Ferris Wheel

View of the park and the Louvre from the Ferris Wheel

Dinner at La Bocca della Verita: Lily and I discovered La Bocca della Verita, a quaint little Italian restaurant hidden away on a tiny street in the 7th, around this time last year when we were living in Paris. The décor is incredibly warm and simple, the service is always friendly, and the food is absolutely to die for. Appetizers consist of gorgeous plates of grilled vegetables, rocket salads with shavings of parmesan, special Italian meats, and creamy mozzarella. Entrées consist of lemon-artichoke-pepper pasta, white truffle cheese tortellini, goat cheese ravioli with thyme and honey, and beautifully prepared meats and fish... just to name a few. With a stellar wine list and the perfect ambiance for a relaxing dinner among friends, this restaurant has become one of my absolute favorites in Paris.

Photos via La Bocca Della Verita website

Ahhhh these pictures are getting me so excited for Paris! Many more of these "looking forward to Paris" moments to come this week.

Happy Monday and à bientôt!

Stylish in Paris: Taylor Tomasi Hill

Okay, so she may not be a parisienne, but for style icon Taylor Tomasi Hill, I'm willing to bend the rules a bit. The obsession all started when I stumbled upon this video that Taylor did for Barney's a while back. As I watched Taylor style her favorite looks for the Fall season, I was struck by how fresh and keen her sense of fashion is. Pulling together a number of different head-to-toe looks, Taylor demonstrates her skills and impeccable eye by adding a few tweaks of her own in this video. I just love how she knots the bottom of the white Derek Lam dress and incorporates leather or animal print into almost every look. Check it out...

Taylor's Take: Taylor Tomasi Hill Styles Amanda Hearst in Her Fall Must-Haves for Barneys New York from Barneys The Window on Vimeo.

As the Style and Accessories Director at Marie Claire, Taylor Tomasi Hill never fails to impress me with her knockout ensembles. She always manages to create something interesting and eye-catching without overdoing it - A perfect role model for those of us (aka me) who like to keep it simple but could use some excitement in their wardrobe. In keeping with the overall Parisian theme of this blog, all of these fabulous shots of Taylor were taken on the streets of Paris during fashion week earlier last month... How's that for bending the rules!

Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons leather dress / Balenciaga blouse, Proenza Schouler sequined skirt

Thakoon skirt / Unknown Blush Pink chiffon dress

Dries Van Noten top


Alexander Wang top, Balenciaga skirt, Comme des Garçons wallet / And the rad dog print t-shirt is Men's Givenchy
All photos via The Cut, Tommy Ton for Style.com, The Fashion Spot, and Harper's BAZAAR

Granted, Taylor's gorgeous looks, scorching, red hair, and killer legs help her cause, but there is just no arguing that she is one of the most stylish women in the industry. She's already bumped Marie Claire up on my reading material radar and I just can't wait to see what she'll come up with next. How's that for some fashion inspiration?

Happy Friday - I hope you all have a fun and relaxing weekend ahead of you! The Paris countdown continues at T-11 days... Oooohh mannn!

À bientôt!

Shop Around Portland

Last Saturday, Lily and I spent the day shopping around Portland. It was a beautiful, clear Fall day, perfect for walking around downtown and hopping in and out of some of our favorite shops. First, we checked out jewelry shop Twist and the boutique just next door, Blake, in uptown. If you're my friend, you know that I think bracelets just make the best gifts, so I was happy to see that Twist had a great selection of funky bracelets by Tai, Julie Rofman, Shashi, Stormie, and many more. With the holidays coming up, I'll be keeping that in mind. Next door at Blake, I was surprised by how nicely they filled up the bigger space. They used to be located down 23rd avenue and this was my first time at their new spot. The service, selection of denim and sale denim is the same, but their men's section is much bigger now and they have a ton of Pendleton's Portland line; fitting enough, I'd say.

Next, we scooted downtown to Nordstrom's which continued to impress me with their large selection of Carven, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Vince, and Alexander Wang. I resisted all of the temptations however, and continued reminding myself that shopping in Paris will be oh sooo much better. In the end, I left with a new wine colored lipstick from YSL and Giorgio Armani's 'Eyes to Kill' mascara which has instantly become my new favorite.

Lily wearing her new Joie cape, vintage blouse, Helmut Lang leggings, Prada patent loafers, and Rebecca Minkoff bag

A little shopped out, we made our way into the Pearl for some warm apple cider at a cafe in Jamison square called Cloud Seven. It's a cute little cafe with lots of indoor seating for those busy at work, and a great outdoor space right in the square perfect for people watching. Although we were disappointed by the quality of their cider (or heated up apple juice, I should say) they had some good things on the menu and the coffees looked great. I'll be going back over Christmas with some friends for sure.

ACNE men's sweater, Sandro tank, Rag & Bone waxed leggings, Isabel Marant boots, Proenza Schouler bag

On our way home, Lily showed me this awesome little leather shop called Tanner Goods on Burnside. They specialize in hand-crafted goods that they produce by hand right in their studio in northwest Portland. Think customizable belts, wallets, lanyards, hand-assembled notebooks, and pet collars, as well as a cool collection of books and some clothing. It's a neat little shop and the perfect place to pick up a gift for those hard-to-shop-for dudes in your life.

Conveniently enough, right across the street from Tanner Goods is one of my favorite little women's boutiques in all of Portland. I love Odessa for the fact they carry mostly one line, Étoile Isabel Marant, along with their regular selection of Repetto flats. Of course, I was drooling over every single piece, shoe, belt, and accessory as Lily stood back and watched me rifle through each rack about ten times. I just can't even wait to walk into the Isabel Marant store in Paris in two weeks and get my full fix for what has to be my favorite line at the moment. Two weeks, that is fourteen days from today I tell you!! Incroyable!

Here's to the continued countdown and to the second day of November. I hope you all remembered to say "rabbit, rabbit!" For the first time in my entire life, I actually did... Something tells me, it's going to be a great month.

À bientôt!