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