Carnival

Posted on August 16th, 2010 in Boutique, Fashion, Les Bons Plans, Paris

In the summer there is a carnival in the Tuileries gardens at the heart of Paris. I never really have been one for such events, they always creeped me out a bit to be honest but something about this Parisian version was not at all creepy and incredibly charming and fun. Mademoiselle Samantha and I played around a bit and felt like kids again! Here’s some photos of the action. It took me a long time to decide what song to include with this post but I finally decided since Samantha and I are both California girls to throw this petite chanson in there…just click play!

Looks like fun, non? Samantha and I dressed accordingly for the occasion in some outfits I picked out! Her blue frou frou fiesta dress and my carnival chemise are your’s to own in the Bardot Boutique! Go shop and support Bardot in Blue before someone else scoops them up!

P.S. I absolutely adore each and every one one of your sweet comments!

Paris Plage

Posted on August 8th, 2010 in Boutique, Fashion, Les Bons Plans, Paris

August in France, and for Parisians in particular, is the month of vacation. On the first of the month there is a mass exodus from Paris as everyone abandons work and the summer tourists and heads for their country or coast homes. It sounds quite charming but is in fact rather inconvenient as my doctor, lawyer, shrink, and favorite boulanger are out of town for the month and I am in need of all of them! For those that do get stuck in Paris for the month, mostly because of work like me, there is Paris Plage. For one month every summer they close off the quai along the right bank of the Seine between Pont Neuf and Sully Morland and set up the temporary plage. They bring in sand for little beaches and pétanque courts, little cafes, glaciers selling ice cream, a pool, a bar, and other attractions. On Saturday Mademoiselle Samantha and I headed down to check out the happenings and model this vintage parisian pinup style crop top you can buy in the Bardot Boutique! Press play and listen to Bardot serenade you while you read…

It’s not Saint Tropez but it’s pretty darn cute, n’est -ce pas? I am wearing American Apparel shorts, No Collection wedges, a bag without a label, and a vintage crop top available for purchase in the Bardot Boutique!  Please go shop and support the Bardot in Blue blogging cause. Also, don’t forget to enter the giveaway…and wear sunscreen ladies.

Ladurée Été ~ Part One

Posted on August 3rd, 2010 in Gourmandise, Les Bons Plans

After introducing you to the latest edition to the Ladurée family, the cupcake, I thought you all might be craving a bit more. Straying from my usual “ladies who lunch” approach to afternoons spent at the fabulous but very feminine institution, I invited my guy friend Habib last week to accompany me and see what summer looks like this year at Ladurée. Beleive it or not I had never been to the one in the Saint Germain area of Paris, but am now pleased to call this Ladurée my preferred location. The tea and lunch room has an asian influence with beautiful murals casting a pale blue over the salon. As lovel y as Ladurée can be, it can sometimes be a bit hectic packed with tourists, but a nice weekday afternoon spent at this location was calm and peaceful in this most serene and beautiful room.

Leaving we came across this adorable pink house hidden behind L’Eglise Saint Germain that I just had to share with you. Of course I didn’t leave without some goodies as well! You can see in my bag a little sneak peak of all the beautiful summer designs but I will show the playful window displays and seasonal packagings in my next post! Also let me know what you think of the minor redesign…new wall paper and header!

Les Palaces vus Par André

Posted on July 25th, 2010 in Fashion, Les Bons Plans, Shopping

Les Palaces vus par André is the latest theme for Printemps‘ always amazing window displays. The idea behind Les Palaces is to capture behind the glass the glamorous life: what it’s like to be a young, rich, famous, fashionable, jet-setter checking into all the best hotels.  Each display features a selected “it girl” photographed in one of Paris’ finest places to stay and all the fabulous fashion she would of course have to bring along with her…

Ashley Smith & Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière

Pixie Geldof & Hôtel Le Bristol

Sky Ferreira & Trianon Palace

Alexandra Richards & L’Hôtel Amour

Alexandra Richards & Le Grand Hôtel

Poppy Delevigne & Le Crillon

Aurel Schmidt & Le Plaza Athénée

Ashley Smith & Le Maurice

Which one of these fabulous places would you like to check into?

P.S. If you liked this post you will love my photos of the Alice in Wonderland Printemps displays!

Chez Derrière Pour Mon Anniversaire

Posted on July 1st, 2010 in Decor, Fashion, Holidays, Les Bons Plans

I have been wanting to share one of my favorite places to go in Paris with you for a while. Derrière is a fun and delicious restaurant for lunch or dinner located in the Marais. Knowing how much I love it there, my friend Nora surprised me with lunch reservations for my birthday for us and our dear friend Lauren. There couldn’t have been a better way to spend the special afternoon! Now press play and sing it with me…I got hugs for you if you were born in the 80’s…the 80’s!

We kicked things off with some pink champagne…

Which quickly put everyone in a great mood…

…exhibit A….Nora!

The concept behind Derrière is that you are meant to feel as if you are dining over at someone’s (very cool) house rather than a restaurant. So nothing is concerned with matching or a clear design approach.

Upstairs you will find this magical armoire. Open up its doors and pass through to arrive inside…

The fumoir!

Cluttered with curiosities that looks much like a trip down the rabbit hole.

In one of the upstairs dining rooms instead of a bench you are sat on a king size bed with a rather kinky mirror hanging above.

Even the toilette room is special as a bathtub replaces a normal sink when it comes time to wash your hands.

After our main course we moved outside to the sunny patio…

…and moved on to a second bottle of champagne!

…and of coarse dessert!

Want to know what I wished for?

Lauren’s awesome cowboy boots from the 70’s passed down to her from her mom.

Candy surprises!

And thoughtful and funny gifts

These shoes were my birthday gift to myself!

They are made by No Collection.

I wore them with a Manoush silk dress, Les Canotiers du Marais bowler hat, and vintage Emanuelle Kahn sunglasses.

After two bottles of champagne and lots of food we were exhausted, hehe.

Derrière

69 rue des Gravilliers

Paris 3ème

P.S. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all of your sweet birthday wishes. Your kind thoughtful words never cease to bring a smile to my face