Christmas in Paris 2010

It was a beautiful Christmas this year; I awoke to sunshine and blue skies for the first time in weeks, reminiscent of my childhood holidays in Southern California. My inbox contained messages from friends and family, and I listened to funny french Christmas Carols while preparing my deliveries. Looking forward to playing Lutin this afternoon, I dressed in red and green striped stockings, a maribou trimmed stocking cap and made the rounds! With my elfin duties complete, I dropped by Eglise St. Eustache the special holiday organ audition and Christmas mass. The pipe organ c'est magnifique, sounding at once like bells, and harps, and woodwinds! I have recorded a sample for you, and I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone, Joyeux Noel à tous!

Christmas 2010 in Paris

Your Friday French Fashion Report: Hermès Spring Summer Collection 2011

Quite simply the most fabulous, chic, and hot hot hot collection of Paris Fashion Week this season is the Hermès Spring/Summer Collection for 2011. Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier artfully blends his talent for dressing women with the foundation of the Hermès tradition; leather goods. Being an aficionado of bondage himself, Gaultier (for once) uses discretion with this collection. The suggestion of such is married beautifully with the gaucho, the most feminine of silhouettes created with sumptious fabrics and flawless design, accented with strips of leather in all the right places. Our heroine is a confident self assured woman; a female Zorro, an accomplished horsewoman, a sensual seductress. My inner fashionista can't help but imagine the daring backless skirt from this collection paired with the daring backless blouse from YSL - ooh la la! (see blog archives) So pour yourself a glass of sangria, imagine for a moment you and Antonio Banderas, and crank up the AC for the hottest show in town; Hermès + Gaultier!

Hermès - Spring Summer 2011 Full Fashion Show (Exclusive)

The Family Jewels: BVLGARI

Currently on exhibition at Le Grand Palais and not to be missed is the Bulgari Collection of the blingiest bling in the history of blizizzle. On display is the rich history of a master craftsman, the medium; Earth's most spectacular minerals. We are taken on a magic carpet ride back to the day when beautiful moviestars collected-not borrowed-300 carat diamond necklaces and ginormous emeralds the way Imelda Marcos collected shoes. On display (in a room dedicated to her alone) is the private collection of Elizabeth Taylor, the ultimate collector of bling. She had Eddie Fischer AND Richard Burton buying Bulgari emeralds for her, a matched set that includes a necklace (the centerpiece of which can be removed and worn as a brooch), a stunning pair of teardrop earrings (from Fischer), a bracelet, a ring, and for her wedding gift from Monsieur Burton; a diamond and emerald brooch. "Elizabeth only knows one word of Italian; "Bulgari" Burton liked to say. As for Madame Taylor, "It was the best part of filming Cleopatra in Rome; going to the Bulgari shop in the afternoon and swapping stories!" Who wouldn't feel like royalty adorned with jewelry like this; hundreds of brilliant gems reflecting like the light in the eyes of a woman well taken care of! You can visit the Bulgari exhibition until the 12th of January from Tuesday to Sunday at 10h-18h. Tariff 12 euro (5 euro for audio guide highly recommended!) Metro ligne 1 or 13 Champs Elysées Clemenceau

Your Old Time Gospel Hour

I had the great privilege this week to have been invited to a Gospel/Jazz concert featuring Organist and chanteuse Rhoda Scott, accompanied by the Master Choir of Sevres. After a delicious comfort food meal of endive au jambon; a classic french casserole smothered in creamy white sauce (which has me indebted to my hostess for life), we donned our warmest winter coats and with the newly fallen snow crunching below our feet made our way to the local Centre d'Art. I have always found Gospel music a welcome alternative to the style of music I grew up with in church. Songs like "The Old Rugged Cross" couldn't have been more depressing, and I remember being in "Big Church" holding my hands over my ears and crying real tears - "please make it stop!" But Gospel is so uplifting - even if it can be tinged with the blues on occassion. Sevres is a small town, and everyone knows everyone. The lobby was lively and full of hello kisses, and as we made our way to our seats I discovered we were front row center. Bonne chance! Rhoda Scott was born in New Jersey in 1938 to a devout Christian family and learned to play the organ in church as a young girl. "It's really the most beautiful instrument in the world. The first thing I did was take my shoes off and work the pedals". Rhoda plays barefoot to this day, and is nicknamed "The Barefoot Contessa" and "The Barefoot Lady", possessing the biggest man-toes I have ever seen! They serve her well to play a mean bass line, as we discovered in the first half of the concert. Jazzed up "Jingle Bells" and an emotional "Oh, Tannenbaum" set the Christmas mood, then the Master Choir of Sevres joined her onstage to try out their Gospel chops as backup. Their pathetic lack of rythym was adorable but they sang their hearts out in joyous harmony as Madame Scott played the organ in true Southern Baptist Revival style. Soon the audience was swept away; singing along as one should, clapping, and I think the guy behind me was speaking in tongues! (Either that or in french - it's all the same to me.) After an encore and three curtain calls we left with our spirits uplifted, and a little video to share with you. So get on your feet, clap your hands and sing along! For more Rhoda Scott go to YouTube

Rhoda Scott 003.AVI

Your Friday French Fashion Report: Christian Dior Spring/Summer Womenswear Collection 2011

The all female Women's Fierce Navy; Betty Page Brigade under the leadership of Commander John Galliano has docked in St. Tropez and is on a 3 day furlough, running amok on the beaches and streets, dinner clubs and discos of southern France! Seductive in their flirty beach coverups and 7" stilletos, this company of femme fatales are to be toyed with at one's own risk - never give your heart to a sailor!

Christian Dior Spring Summer 2011 Womenswear Full Fashion Show

Does Size Really Matter?

America is truly the Land of Plenty. Plenty of space, plenty of money, plenty of stuff. And Americans take so much for granted - I know I did until I moved to romantic France and reality set in. The reality of tiny apartments, many not any bigger than 10x12 all inclusive. The reality of no closets, no cupboards, no bathtubs, just tiny shower stalls smaller than most Americans would have in their motor homes. And the kitchens? Oh la la! With the cost per square meter at an all time high for real estate in Paris, the kitchen suffers. To find a flat with 1 1/2 meters of uninterrupted counter space is like a dream come true - for me gone are the days of cooking with every bowl, pot, and spoon in the house and spreading out. Of course, the upside is the fresh factor. With little room for large refrigerators and pantry's crammed with junk food loaded with preservatives,* one shops more often. Almost every arrondissment has it's thrice weekly Farmer's Market, and of course bread is a daily event at your favorite boulangerie. Sometimes I see ads for apartments that include a "cuisine americaine"; that is a bar counter (usually about 3 feet long) that divides the kitchen from the main room in a studio apartment. Apparently a revolutionary idea! Most important however, is what one prepares in the french kitchen. Gastronomy being elevated to an intellectual art form here (ironically there are zillions of bad restaurants), still every culture has it's preferences and France is no different. The essentials in every french pantry are; tea, café, chocolat, and biscuits (cookies). No cupboard would be complete without an ancient tin of sardines, and of course wine is a must have! For the frigo it's frommage, (cheese) yogurt, jambon, (ham) eggs, butter, and smoked salmon. Throw in a fresh baguette and with these ingredients in stock, you have everything you need for a snack. If you are really clever a saucisson seche (dried sausage) is in your arsenal, as the french are particularly fond of this and will respect you for having it on offer. And after all, it takes very little space to slice a pepperoni! *(a "preserveratif" is the french word for condom, so my french friends will certainly be thrown into a state of confusion upon reading this LOL!)

Your Friday French Fashion Report: Louis Vuitton Spring Summer Collection 2011

"Happy, happy fashion - there's not much more to it than that" Marc Jacobs The shortest shorts, the most daring of plunging necklines, impossibly high platform shoes worn by the thinnest models, designer Marc Jacobs takes us on a whirlwind journey around the world in a time machine. Reflections of the Roaring 20's flash before our eyes and give way to the 70's and memories of quiana and Studio 54. Suddenly we are in the 80's with all it's jewel tones, and then we are in the boudoir of Mata Hari, then we're in Africa on a cruise with people from Palm Springs! A misguided foray into colour blocking occurs briefly in this ambitious collection, and I was left with the impression that as a whole it lacked cohesion, but nonetheless there are some really beautiful and interesting pieces. Which would you choose to wear strolling the Champs Elysées?

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2011 Womenswear Full Fashion Show

This just in......

From the adventures of LL Ellison and GrandMaster G; You will never believe what happened today...okay, maybe you will. We had a great day exploring the Roman Forum and Coliseum. Had some lunch, some wine and while walking back to our hotel we got stopped by a traffic jam and a lot of Polizia on motorbikes!?! And then....The Pope went by (like within 8 feet of us standing on the street corner!) in his bulletproof Pope-mobile! Luckily, Gerard was quick on his toes and caught a great video, which I hope comes through. It was crazy and we could not have timed it better in a million years! Seems to be the way things work. Love, L & G

Joe Dassin - Les Champs-Elysées 1970

I was in the neighborhood last night, and decided to seize the moment and pop over to the Champs Elysées. During the holidays the trees that line the most famous street in the world are lit with millions of soft blue lights from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place du Concorde, and I wanted to see the view from the top of the Arc. And what a view! Every Christmas a roue à la foire (giant ferris wheel) is erected at the entrance of the Tuileries, bookending the glittering avenue with the elegant monument to Napoleons great (and unanticipated) defeat. The storefronts and cafés are decorated with flocked trees (red and also black flocking is the latest trend), and even jaded parisians take pleasure in strolling the crowded avenue during the month of December. Stroll with me down the Champs Elysées!

Your Friday French Fashion Report: John Galliano Spring/Summer Collection 2011

"The problem is with men. I know I shouldn't say this, but they've shrouded and hidden women to hide their incompetence" A lover of women, a sense of the dramatic, often over the top, John Galliano puts on a show like no other. I have always appreciated the extremes in his designs, even if I may not go out of the house bedecked in Galliano from head to toe. Unlike the very wearable YSL, the haute couture of Galliano is art in fabric; sometimes shocking, often amusing, always interesting. I love to windowshop at his boutique on the famous rue St. Honoré, (the Rodeo Drive of Paris). The displays are always edgy, the clothes a treat for the eye. His contribution to fashion for the masses is in the trickle down effect, watch the show then wait until summer; you will surely see a toned down version of Galliano everywhere. Enjoy the drama, enjoy the drag, but most of all enjoy the theatre of John's curtain call!

JOHN GALLIANO PRÊT-À-PORTER SS 2011 PARIS FULL SHOW Part 1

John Galliano - Spring Summer 2011 Full Fashion Show Part 2 - High Quali...

LL Cool Ell

I recently had the great joy of seeing friends from the States in Paris. Young, newly married, and cruising the world, they chose to spend her birthday in the City of Lights, and I was happy to share a coupe de champagne in honor of the occasion before they headed to Biarritz and then on to Morocco. I've known Lindsey since she was in high school, and it was sweet to meet her adorable husband Girard. She was glowing and as exuberant as ever, (obviously well bezed), and they have a beautiful life ahead of them! I have received a few letters since their departure, and with Madame's permission I would like to share one with you. So, from the pen of LL Ellison I give you "This bread is my life":

"This bread is my life," said the Frenchman, as he waved the baguette in my face and then shoved it in his mouth. How profound...and what a contradiction to the notion that you shouldn't buy into cultural stereotypes. The only thing that could've been better was if he would have been wearing a beret and twirling his French moustache.
What did this crazy man mean? Bread is your life? There are so many ways one could interpret such a remark! I mean, was his statement purely literal, as if to imply he had survived all of these years relying solely on the nutritional sustinence of French baguettes? Surely not. Too many carbohydrates. And besides, he looked drunk not poor and emaciated.
"This bread is my life." Obviously symbolic. Some sort of spiritual reference, a transcendence of yeast and water into nourishment of the soul. How zen of him.
Or perhaps he's referring to his strong French upbringing - A toddler amongst the lavender fields, smoking cigarettes and studying wine pairings. Once a child, now a man lost in the aroma of rising dough, reminiscent of revolutions past and his undying love for his countrymen.
But, wait! Surely "this bread," this crusty baton, isn't a reference to his French manhood? But, of course! What else are the French known for besides Eiffel Towers and Napoleon, expensive soaps and hairy armpits? Sex!!! He's making love with his baguette!