May
17

In the Trenches

Yesterday, after spending a quiet day at home. I ventured out for a spot, for lack of a better word, of culture. Having been invited to see a performance by La Clique at Bobino, I took it as a new experience here in Paris. The only other live performances I have seen here have been dance and music, so I was interested in testing out my french in a new way.

La Clique is essentially, a Circus. The acts are fairly short, but impressive, and the whole thing has a naughty side. I for one was not expecting nudity when I left the apartment. I really had a good time. I laughed a lot, was inspired by the athleticism of the performers and I felt a sense of renewal when it was over. I used to thrive performance, but it is something that I’ve put aside since I began living abroad.

The venue Bobino is adorable. Very cabaret, but tidy and verging on modern. I loved it.

Here is a video I found on youtube of La Clique. Only about half the acts in this video were part of the performance I saw, but you get the idea. The guy with the tennis rackets, Captain Frodo, was hysterical.

For my theatre going attire, I went with my favourite outfit of the moment. I’m loving the cut of this H&M top. The discovery of my favourite scarf at the back of my wardrobe a few weeks ago, has meant I wear it with whatever I can, whenever I can. My Country Road Trench is also the perfect outer-layer for the changing temperatures. It adds some class, and helps to dress-up my very old jeans. I love this coat. The details are lovely and subtle. The colour is even more lovely in reality. And it looks good open, closed, belted, tied, etc.

H&M Garden Collection Top, Vintage Necklace, Lila Conti Necklace, Meltin’ Pot Jeans, Jigsaw Scarf, Repetto Ballet Flats and Country Road Trench.

Mar
26

Time for Spring

I’ve decided it is time for Spring. The days are warmer, the sun has been playing peek-a-boo, and the stores are flooded with colour. Even a tree on our street has popped out some pretty pink flowers to go with the changing climate.

Yesterday I had hoped to take some lovely spring photos outside, but when I stepped out onto our balcony, it was raining. So I resigned myself to remaining springy inside.

As luck would have it, only a few hours later (when I was rushed off my feet) the sun pierced the sky bringing with it heat and the possibility of a tan. However, only an hour or so after that the sky clouded over again, and brought with it some of the heaviest showers I have seen since living in Paris.

So perhaps the photos in this post are a bit odd considering. Not to mention we escaped to the Alps (again) yesterday afternoon, and it is snowing here. Fingers are crossed for some blue sky, over the weekend, so I can bust-a-move on my snowboard.

Happy weekend xxx

Ear-rings Mim, Vintage necklace and ring, gifted bangle, H&M ‘Garden Collection’ tank, Country Road belted denim shorts and Repetto ballet flats.

Mar
16

A right/wrong Turn

Images of yesterday evening.

As promised, here is the rest of Friday’s adventure.

After finding my Five on Friday, the queue in Starbucks was longer than when we left it. Finding ourselves in close proximity to Les Halles, Liz and I decided to take refreshements at Paul. They do a wicked chocolat chaud. After which I sorted through nearly every pair of boyfriend jeans in H&M looking for my size, to no avail.

Later we took a wrong street looking for Kookaï Stock, and found ourselves on Rue Montmartre. There is a fantastic selection of stores on this street. We stopped in at Vogue Optique 1, Rue Montmartre, they have an excellent selection of frames. I think I may have finally found the right reading glasses (Tom Ford), and they had an interesting pair of sunnies (Marc Jacobs) both of which have been added to my ever growing wish-list.

Further down the street we went into Yaya Store. I have mentioned this boutique in a post last year, but couldn’t remember the name. Well this is it. I absolutely adore this shop. Yaya Store is located at 55, rue Montmartre. They have a really eclectic and interesting assortment of clothing and accessories. A very vintage feel. I ‘ooh’ed and ‘ahh’ed over almost everything. And the lady who has the boutique is super friendly and helpful (she speaks English too).

I love when boutiques introduce us to smaller, less known labels. Yaya Store stocks Gat Rimon, a label I had never heard of until Friday. I tried on their ‘Diane’ Silk Jumpsuit. It was divine. I loved it on the rack, but was somewhat hesitant about trying it on. In general one-piece garments just aren’t long enough in the body for me. This was, and it made me feel so pretty and feminine. I was able to flick through the Gat Rimon look-book while Liz tried on a few items. I was so impressed. Fresh, feminine and now, I will be following this label.

Petit Bateau tee, Zara skirt, Marks and Spencers thermal rich tights, Repetto ballet flats and Version Sud blazer.

Jan
26

Buried Treasure

Panic!!! A serious shoe problem!! I had the outfit and I had the headband… but I didn’t have the shoes. My Dolce‘s while practically begging to be taken out for the night, were sadly not invited to the party. It’s a bit of a rule of mine to not wear good and/or new shoes to a party. Parties tend to be messy, with someone inevitably spilling something sticky on me.

In general, I plan my outfits around my shoes (unless, I have something new that I really want to wear). A quick, mental inventory of my shoe collection decided that matters were dire. A good portion of my shoes are in storage, waiting for the day when they are in style again. I have a feeling they will be reappearing soon.

Problem. This month has already seen some unusually high expenditure. It was the sale’s fault! How can someone on a budget (in need of clothes AND shoes) pass up great savings?

Time. Or lack there of. I had an afternoon of culinary artistry ahead of me, if I was to be admitted to the festivities. A big batch of my famous Pasta Salad was my ticket to a night of champagne and dancing. I figured a brief detour while out gathering my ingredients, wouldn’t hurt. If anything I could weigh-up all my options.

Nothing really matched my criteria, even if I was close to buying a pair of suede, heels (with loads of buckles) in the Zara sale. They were a half-size too small, and subsequently pinched my feet. The Voice-of-Reason spoke. Dancing was on the agenda. The romance would be short-lived.

With my landslide of Pasta Salad ready-to-go, one last raid of the shoe collection was in order. If worst came to worst, I had my black Repetto Ballet pumps. In fact the whole combination would be pretty cute.

While rummaging I considered my black pixie shoes, bought a lifetime ago at Office in London. These offer a tiny heel to elongate the leg, but I still wanted more. And then… I struck gold!

My Jigsaw Buckle shoes. I had sadly forgotten all about them. It was like unearthing some lost relic, a buried treasure of sorts. Not only do they go smashingly with my outfit, they are very comfortable shoes. I used to wear these all day on the shop floor. And then out after work. And all about town.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

The only remaining issue was what belt to wear with my Whistles dress? I had an old elastic belt, but the pleather bow on the front was not going to work. Five minutes, a brief clash between pleather and pliers, and I had a new canvas to work with (and a small hole to cover). Sifting through my sewing box it became evident I had a problem. What I needed was a brooch. Certain I didn’t have one, I reluctantly emptied the contents of my jewellery box, and came across this.

Another Jigsaw piece forgotten by time. It originally came with a cape, and after the fastener broke, had found it’s way to the bottom of the box. Needle and thread, a few quick stitches, and the outfit was complete.

DIY Headband, Whistles Dress, Vintage necklace, DIY Belt, Bracelets from Mim, Bonds Micro-fibre Tights, Jigsaw Buckle Shoes.

Jan
13

And this is why…

Sorry to have left you all hanging yesterday. Oh, you love the suspense… I know it!

It feels like I’m never in the the right place at the right time to take full advantage of the soldes (sales). Inevitably, I’ll be having a great time on holiday somewhere across the first few days. I wouldn’t change that, but sometimes my imagination takes me to a place where I see all the bargains I missed out on. Silly really.

This time I managed to get to the soldes on the sixth day. I met American Gal (who has now become one of my favourite shopping partners) in the Printemps, Citadium and Galleries Lafayette area. Our first stop was Citadium. I was desperate to see if those Silver Nikes were in the sale… and well they must have been since there were none left (I may have to do some research and track a pair down). I very nearly drowned my sorrows on a pair of black sequined hightops for €20, but as the day was young, I decided to give it more thought and see what else the day would bring.

In Printemps, we worked our way from floor to floor, savouring the soft leathers, silks, wools and the comparative emptiness of the store at that time of day. I couldn’t get over the reductions, and the savings. I don’t think I’ve ever seen sales like this before. My hometown of Perth, Australia, has nothing like it, and as I said above, I have a habit of never being near the sales in the opening days.

On the bottom floor, I saw the other pair of shoes (boots) which have been constantly on my mind since Christmas shopping. They are a pair of black leather ankle boots from Maje (of which I cannot find a picture). They are the most me boots I have ever seen. They are still a little out of my reach financially, but American Gal informs me that the second markdowns are approaching, and that might be the best time to snap them up.

On the fifth floor of Printemps is Mecca the Shoe Department. While I scoped out the reductions at the Repetto stand (always on the hunt for beautiful ballet flats), American Gal dashed over and tried on a pair of Jimmy Choo‘s. Sooo pretty. We made a decent lap around the floor, and soon found ourselves at Dolce & Gabbana. I was just play shopping at this point. Picking up shoes, drooling, and reluctantly putting them back. At some point my hand settled on a pair of stiletto snake skin sling-backs. I marvelled at the shape, the classic styling, and timelessness of this shoe. In a trance-like state I slipped off my trusty boot and slipped my foot into heaven. Perfection. I gently removed it and flipped it over, revealing the price, which to my surprise was very reasonable (for designer footwear anyway).

This started the mental calculations, the should I shouldn’t I’s, and picturing the Frog’s reaction to such a purchase. I was certain these were the shoes I’d been searching for. Black heels have been on my list for so long now, and here were these Dolce’s begging to be bought. The nice Dolce dude allowed me to put them aside for an hour, and with that American Gal and I headed for coffee, lunch and a micro-tele-conference with the Frog.

After presenting my case, the Frog gave me permission, and I could not stop grinning. We decided that I needed them. I’m starting the job hunt here in Paris, and these will be perfect for Fashion Job interviews, and work (when I get it). It is rather embarrasing to reveal that my shoe collection was lacking a basic such as black heels… but then if my wardrobe hadn’t become so depleted over the last few years, then I wouldn’t be writing this blog.

I was on cloud nine (I never understood where that expression came from). I practically skipped back to Dolce. And here comes another embarrassing confession… (try not to judge me) these Dolce’s were to be my first ever pair of designer shoes. And what a place to start!!!

I was grinning like a dork when the Dolce dude, handed me my shoes. He must spot first timers a mile away. After that everything passed by in a haze. I also felt so much more confident walking into the designer stands after that in Galleries Lafayette. It probably sounds silly to you, but I felt like if a scary sales person looked me down, I’d whip out my Dolce’s and say “Ha!”

I was also looking out for a new money purse and came by a lovely Jérôme Dreyfuss, which is now under serious consideration (maybe in the second round of markdowns… if I’m lucky).

At the Karen Millen stand, I very nearly purchased a silk top, which also would have been very good for interviews, but it did have a few small holes and pulls in it, which I decided would not hold up for all that long, and so I let it go (maybe in the next round too).

I have been looking at my new shoes all day today. I still can’t believe they belong to me. I love them! This afternoon, before writing this I decided to dress-up and have a mini photo-shoot with my Dolce’s. One of my resolutions for 2010 was to include more pictures of myself (and my outfits) in the blog. I’m hoping it’ll help lift my confidence, and as I acquire more new thing’s it’ll start to get easier for me to put together better outfits.

So without further ado…

Dolce & Gabbana Slingbacks, Vintage Necklace, Mim Bracelets, Jigsaw Skirt, and Corset of my own design and construction.

Nov
04

Loving Labels

I intend on making several posts like this one, as I’m always discovering new labels, or re-discovering brands. So here’s my first list of labels I love and why.

Country Road- This is an Australian brand which for me is classic, fresh AUSTRALIAN. They make mens, womens, childrens and homewares. I love Country Road for cool casuals like linen pants, summer shorts, gorgeous quality tees, tops and dresses. Their winter collections are so snuggly. When I wear clothing from Country Road I feel comfortable, confident and casual yet classy. They make great suits for men and women. My Frog Prince looks great in Country Road. I’m not sure I can say enough good things about it as a label. They also make brilliant canvas bags which are somewhat iconic for the brand. When I travel I always stash one of these bags in my suitcase. They are perfect for adding those extra purchases, and when not traveling they come in handy as a brilliant sports bag.

Petit Bateau- Brilliant for tees. They are such good quality, and always look good. Many people don’t realise that Petit Bateau make for adults… but they DO! The baby and childrens clothing is gorgeous and if you know the quality those you can understand what I’m talking about. I’m a firm believer is paying a bit more for good basics like tees. They tend to look better, last longer and wash better. Worth the investment.

Sandro- This is a label I’ve discovered since being in Paris. I don’t own anything from Sandro… YET! I plan on adding many Sandro items to my wardrobe in the future. Amongst my acquaintance there is an abundance of Sandro garments. They look great, and no one has had any complaints about anything, so that’s a pretty good indication of cut and quality. They have collections for men and women. The clothing is always up-to-the-minute and extremely stylish. I always leave the stores wishing I could take everything with me.

Maje- I especially love the jackets at Maje. For me their style is typically French and chic. They have several leather pieces this season which will be appearing on my Christmas wishlist.

Jigsaw- Has been one of my favourites for years. I worked for them when I lived in the UK and that only increased how much I like their clothing. A good portion of my wardrobe is devoted to Jigsaw. I’ve given all my pieces quite the thrashing, and everything has held up remarkably well. I’ve worn the same clothes I used to wear to work on a very regular basis for years now, and only now are they starting to show wear and tear. The quality is fantastic! It’s been a few years since I’ve treated myself to anything Jiggy, so I can’t wait to check out the clothing in-the-flesh on my trip to the UK next week! I’ll be paying special attention to their winter woolies, tees, skirts and coats.

French Connection (FCUK)- I can always rely on FCUK to have something that pleases me, and something that can quickly update my look. I don’t own nearly as many FCUK items as I’d like but all in good time.

Repetto- This French label is the bench-mark for ballerina shoes. I live in ballerinas and have a reasonable collection. I have a few pairs from Repetto, and they are undoubtedly the most comfortable and durable of all. They are hand finished, and the soles are sewn to the body of the shoe (not glued like the most part of shoes on the market). The cut of the shoes are gorgeous and available in a broad spectrum of colours. The leathers used are very high quality and so soft. Price wise they’ll set you back a fair bit more than the average ballerina shoe, but it’s money well spent. Repettos will outlast the cheaper versions making them a good investment. I’ve not been disappointed yet. Repetto also sells “actual” ballet shoes and dance wear. I love the whole dance look, and hope to purchase a few pieces for doing stretches at home and keeping comfy.

I hope you like my list. As I said it’s ever growing, and I’ve only really touched on the subject in this post.