so, shopping in Paris? meh.
maybe it's because i can find so many of the same things in the States, but i wasn't super impressed by the selection. so many of the harder to find labels like Repetto, A.P.C., Isabel Marant, Tsumori Chisato, IRO, Antik Batik, aren't so hard to find nowadays thanks to shops in NYC and online.
or maybe it's because the currency exchange rate is still pretty rotten (although much better than over the summer). considering so many shops like Bird and Creatures of Comfort had already begun their steep markdowns, i decided to save my money.
i do, however, love claudie pierlot, so it was particularly nice to stop by the shop. if it weren't for the exchange rate, most of her pieces would actually be quite affordable (dresses for 280 euros).
anyway, the store that i fell in love with was L'Eclaireur. their two shops in the Marais were right down the street from us. even though many of the pieces can be found elsewhere (Marni, Dries, Margiela), the selection was perfectly edited. this is why i love places like Impulse or Stel's so much: not only do their shops look like my dream closet (wearable, perfectly styled, inspiring), but the owners and salespeople are clearly enthusiastic about what they do and are welcoming whether or not you're 'just looking.'
i bought my lambskin aviator hat (Issac Sellam) at the Rue Herold outpost of L'Eclaireur. every shop is a little different, and this one was gorgeous, very gothic and dark. it was also completely empty (tucked away on an alley, no signs). the saleswoman has my dream haircut, a short bob with bangs that somehow manages to avoid being too severe. i wish i had had the nerve to take a photo of her, but needless to say, i am very close to chopping my hair off.
she had me try on everything even though she knew we weren't going to buy them. i tried on a gorgeous short cashmere jacket with an accordion pleat in the back made of stiff moiré.
she also showed me an amazing seed stitch shawl with three holes for your arms or head. it was about 6 feet long, loosely knit, and 2-3 feet wide. i am pretty sure any of us could replicate this. i wish i could draw, i would sketch it for the knitters out there.
as for food, we ate at the apartment most of the time, or packed sandwiches for our expeditions. i ate way too many pains au chocolat from legay choc. and the yogurt. why is the yogurt so darn good in europe? i think i miss that the most...
26 comments:
Oh, man, sorry the shopping wasn't great, but your hat is CUTE
I do love your hat--I've never seen anything like it. It's amazing.
I just called Barneys--they are calling me back about the Mayle sale items. If I get any great news, I'll blog on it or leave you a comment. I have to read through my chapter but they just had further markdowns and it was too distracting. I can't believe I am so superficial... But I am trying to be more disciplined. Sometimes, however, temptation is too much.
Love the hat!!
The yogurt is better because it has lots of fat in it, yummy!!
That hat is adorable, but may I just say...
SKETCH! I need a sketch of the shawl. Plz.
I still think wistfully of the homemade yogurt I had on a farm in northern Portugal when I was 14. It was probably the best food I have ever eaten in my life.
AHHHHH!
I love the hat!
the hat is so cute!
i need to do another trip to paris stat!
You are adorable! I love the hat!
sara-
yes, it must be the extra yummy fat that makes the yogurt so good.
does anyone make their own yogurt? is it worth trying?
it's funny how the little things, like yogurt, are what stick with you after all those years.
I subsisted on creamy yogurt in London for a week after graduating high school. Even buying the expensive "european" brands here doesn't quite compare. You should definitely chop your hair. That would be my dream haircut, if I didn't have the sort of hair I have, and I think it would look lovely on you. (Plus, less for the baby to get a hold of and yank.) I told Sarah about the shawl. Hopefully she will design it for Play's Fall 2009.
sounds like a wonderful trip. and you had such self-control with the shopping! the hat is a nice choice. it's good you got at least one souvenir.
That hat is such a great find and looks lovely on you! You sure you want to cut your hair, it's so gorgeous?
omg, the hat is too cute! Looks great on you.
Oh the yogurt in France! Honestly, every time I go, the absolutely first thing I do is go and buy yogurt - the sheep milk one in the glass jar with a foil top is the one I crave, as you can't get it here. Sometimes I think it's not the fat, it's just you can't have it unless you're in Paris/France! Your hat is lovely and I commiserate about the shopping - I didn't buy anything either before Xmas - except yogurt and bread to gnaw on in lieu of expensive meals!
hmm, i ate a lot of yogurt in a glass jar with a foil top. maybe it was the sheep milk one? regardless, it was the most delicious thing in the world.
yes, lots of yogurt and bread instead of proper meals for us, too! we made sandwiches and sometime had vietnamese take out, but that was very expensive.
Damn it, now I want an aviator hat.
I don't shop in Paris anymore, though I was last there in June when the dollar was at its lowest. I instead drink lots of Champagne and coffee. Why does the food taste better in Paris? Richer ingredients, but also freshness. Dairy products there are kept on the shelf and transported for much shorter periods of time.
Once you have the setup making yogurt at home is much better. Though not necessary, a yogurt machine with its own cups just makes things easier. Of course, I'm describing what my mother does. I don't have the time. It's quite different from French yogurt, but try the Desi Dahi you can get in the Indian store in Central Square. Just Google this out of curiosity:
http://www.littleindia.com/news/128/ARTICLE/1652/2007-02-02.html
Definitely well described...
BB
interested in the vague description of the seed stitch shawl with holes. last winter i made a gigantic scarf (a "balaklava") that is insanely long, though perhaps not as wide. and no arm/ neck holes, and all garter stitch i think soon i'll try to do something along the lines of your description... can you give me a little more to go on?
My hairdresser told me that pregnant women have impulses to cut their hair off! Regardless, I think you would look really cut with a bob, although your hair looks really gorgeous right now. I especially love the waves!
It's funny, when we were in Spain last year, H&M wasn't so exciting because they've expanded so much in the U.S. & topshop now ships to the U.S. So I understand what you're saying (even though I know APC is much better than both of those.)
The hat is ridiculously adorable.
that's an amazing hat - channeling a bit of amelia earheart in a very modern way!
and i know how you feel about wanting to lop off your hair - i go through a recurring thing every year around early spring when i want to cut it off to a bob, a pixie, etc...
SO CUTE!!!! i love this one you. you look adorable. i love euro yogurt too. it's so creamy and not too sweet.
You look so, so cute in that hat it's killing me!
My favourite French pastry is mille-feuille, though unfortunately something I'm not supposed to touch during pregnancy.
The bob with bangs is my perfect haircut too and actually, it would perfect with an aviator hat like yours...
:)
L'Eclaireur is one of my all-time favorite shops! We stayed right near the Rue de Rosiers one last time we were in Paris. *sigh*
And the yogurt: I agree it's superior in Europe and I think it's because there's very little low-fat yogurt available, whereas here that's all you can get except for Yobaby. My kids still talk about the yogurt.
Post a Comment