Allons-y! Paris - Inspiration
Our journey to Paris was for inspiration; to find my mojo; to feel passion for fashion again.
Well, I've found it but not in the most obvious of places.
I had a very long list of shops to go to in Paris (and I'll share them with you in a shopping guide to come), but it wasn't really in the trendy boutiques that I found it. It was literally in the air.
You see, French women wear perfume... and lots of it. Perhaps it's because they want to smell nice even after a night out at the smoke-filled bars. But it's never over-powering; it's just mesmerizing almost spell-binding. The French women take better care of themselves. I got inspired by such little things. The perfume was one detail.
Another was the healthy nature of life. The idea that Europeans take their personal life seriously is not something unknown. Older women biking on the streets is common. People looked healthier, more relaxed there. Working hard is important, but playing hard even more so. We need to take both into consideration to be happy - and look great. We took part by riding the free Velib bikes that are stationed all over Paris. We biked from our area of le Marais to the Eiffel Tower. Such tourists.
Also, I wasn't looking to buy anything practical while I was over there. But it was so darn cold, my flimsy (but seriously cute) trench coat with its 3/4 length sleeves weren't going to do me any good. I found this one shop Comptoir des Cotonniers and what must have France's best-selling salesman. He sold me a coat with his chic gay Parisienne style and persuasive French accent. The way he tied a scarf around my neck just so. When the French tie a scarf around the neck, it's not just wrapped around for warmth. It's tied perfectly to make a statement, whatever that may be. Even if it's messy, that's been done on purpose.
My conclusion?
1) spray yourself with some annick goutal
2) Expore the bike share program in nyc
3) Learn how to tie a scarf
and live hard, play hard. panties and vodka!