Happy Friday!

(from the Lanvin store on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré)

Holiday Window Shopping

I love this time of year, but one thing I don't like is how it gets dark SO early now. I mean, really, 5 o'clock? The lack of daylight was really getting to me this weekend, so I decided to go somewhere with lots and lots of lights - the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores.

The famous holiday window displays at both of these stores were incredible. The sidewalks were packed with people crowding around the windows, trying to get a good look. Actually the whole area was pretty packed - the two stores are literally a block away from each other, and they're right behind the Opera Garnier so it's basically a tourist heaven. But there were lots of families, too, with tons of little kids staring in awe at the dancing toys and gingerbread men.

The Galeries Lafayette theme was "gourmet holidays" so there were lots of food-related things that of course made me really hungry (i.e. towers of macaroons and really elaborate things made out of chocolate).

 These people don't spare any details - right down to the sprinkle-covered eyelashes and nails.

Printemps was definitely my favorite, though. They had kind of a Russian-doll/enchanted forest thing going on, with amazing designer clothes thrown in. I went a little crazy with taking pictures, but there was just so much cool stuff to see.

I liked these funny little dancing guys.

This one is my favorite - how amazing is that tapestry-covered horse?

Fashion Week Encounter

B and I were in the Tuileries garden two weekends ago when we stumbled upon a mass of fashion-y people with big expensive cameras all standing around waiting for something. My first guess was "hipster photographer convention?" but then I realized, oh, right, it's fashion week!

A few minutes later - total chaos as models and other important-looking types poured out of a big white tent nearby and the paparazzi scrambled to get their shots. And then we saw him. Weaving through the crowd, discretely snapping photos, impeccably dressed - it was none other than Scott Schuman, a.k.a The Sartorialist. Yes, ladies and gentleman, my first minor celebrity sighting in Paris! Now that I've seen him in action, my obsession with Scott's work has only increased - his images are incredible and he does it all without any kind of studio or lighting set-up.

Thanks to B for this photo of The Sartorialist with the equally stylish Garance Doré (and thanks for the shout-out, too!).

The best part - we saw them again less than half and hour later at Colette, completely by accident! We had no idea he was doing a book signing that day. The line was ridiculously long so we left, but B snagged me a signed copy last week at the Dublin book signing.

And finally some recent images from The Sartorialist blog, one from Paris and one from Dublin. And B, the redhead is for you. You're welcome.

 

They aren't just for New England girls...

Parisian girls have them too. The ubiquitous Longchamp tote. Seriously, they're everywhere.

Grazia Magazine

I picked up this newly-launched magazine today at the newsstand by the metro. The pages were big and glossy, I couldn't pass it up - and besides, I think the hour and a half I spent reading it counts as studying for french class, don't you? Pretty brave to launch a new magazine right now when there are already so many out there, and when so many have been cut (oh, domino, how I miss thee...). But I'm all for it! Love the large format and refreshing lack of ads between articles. Reading Grazia was also a great way to avoid dealing with the awkward no-eye-contact-rule on the metro, which I still don't understand. What is the point of pretending not to see the 20 other people who are standing within 5 feet of you, all of whom are pretending not to see you?

p.s. I just discovered that Grazia comes out weekly. That is kind of awesome. I forsee lots of homework procrastination in my future.

Zara Home

I stumbled upon Zara Home on my way from class to the metro station. Although weighed down by bags of groceries from Monoprix (my new favorite store - they have everything!) I couldn't resist taking a quick look inside this store. Their home accessories are très chic and trendy, but there are also great basic linens and even pajamas I wouldn't be ashamed to wear to class. Although anything but knick-knacks and tealights are still out of my price range, this place is pretty cheap by Paris standards. Here's hoping Zara Home follows the brand's clothing branch and comes to the U.S. so I can actually shop there.