~The Paris Flapper ~

Those intriguing ladies of the 20's....

 French actress Stacia Napierkowska

Outfitted in that oh so popular garçonne' look...

 Paris

With bobbed hair and cloche...

 Coco Chanel 

Lavin, Patou, Chanel, and Perugia...

Josephine Baker ~ Photo by Murray Korman

Oh, to be a Flapper in Paris!

Vintage: The Way Only Paris Can Do It!

Free'P'Star another great stop on your hunt for vintage fashion

Image from store website

Bonjour Friends! I have been aching to shop in Paris and I have been dreaming of a classic Chanel piece of jewelry. One from the time when Chanel herself ran things. *sigh*

For now it is a only a dream but someday! For now I am content visiting some amazing vintage shops in Paris. I hope you enjoy then as much as I have.

Mamz'Elle Swing Image from Allure.blogspot.com

Mamz'Elle Swing on the rue du Roi de Sicile is a favorite. I love the storefront and the owner is a wonderful lady. If you get lucky you may run into vintage Hermes, Dior, and Chanel here. A definite stop for any vintage gal.

Wochdom Image from ParisNY.com

Wochdom is one of the coolest stores I've been in. It has a dark club kind of atmosphere with dark walls and boutique merchandising. It a gorgeous place to shop. It really sets the mood for finding clothes with a history. the downstairs is amazing and huge!!! This shop is great you can find vintage Lanvin (one of my faves) mixed with ready to wear vintage, fabulous!!! Across the street you can find another Wochdom that specializes in shoes and accessories...heaven!!!

Quidam de Revel Image via Lucky magazine

Quidam de Revel is an incredible by appointment only vintage shop specializing in clothing from Roger Vivier, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Hermes, Pucci, Dior, Lanvin, Biba, and Ossie Clarck. If you can get in the door you are in for a sublime treat!

Yukiko is an absolutely incredible shop. I saved the best for last. The owner Yukiko selects only the finest vintage for her beautiful shop. The place is dreamy, girly and sophisticated all at once. Making you think Grace Kelly is about to walk in at any moment. I didn't want to leave, seriously, I was forced by my companion to leave! Yukiko also produces her own line of very feminine furs and slinky pieces. The owner/designer has started an Eshop called Vintage Paris and it is fantastic! I drool every time I stop in for a peek! I'm about to go look now, I might just find my dream Chanel piece.

All Yukiko Images from Yukiko site

Have a lovely weekend my friends! à bientôt!

XOXO

*Sigh*

Christian Lacroix

Bonjour my Friends!!! Happy Friday to you! My family and I are heading off to Palm Springs to visit my Dad. It is going to be sizzlin' hot! I can't wait to see my little Prince enjoying himself in the pool :)

Lacroix

I am simply mad about these couture confections! Why am I so obsessed with this dream world of couture lately!?! I heard today that Christian Lacroix is filing for what is equivalent in the US to bankruptcy. Hard times are hitting us all. :(

Chanel

The hair detracts from the beauty of this gown. Just look at those whispery soft layers (the gown not the hair)!

Armani

I simply cannot decide which is more beautiful the setting or the couture!

Dior


Dior always amazes and astounds me with beauty.

Dior


At least the hair is partially covered in this one!

Dior

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Hello My Friends! Today is the day! The new Coco Avant Chanel movie is being released in France today. Those lucky ducks! If you do not speak French you may be waiting a while for the subtitled version. I cannot wait to see this movie. I am a huge fan of Coco Chanel. Not as much for the fashion (which is amazing) but more so for her life story. Very inspiring, very controversial, very real.

Audrey Tautou (of Amelie fame) is playing the young Coco. The stills from the film are stunning.

I can hardly contain my excitement!

What I wouldn't give to walk the back areas of the atelier! Who has Karl's number, I need a personal tour!

The photo shoot in Coco's apartment on Rue Cambon. I did a post on Chanel and her apartment many moons ago. Here it is if you are interested.


Some fabulous pics of Audrey for you.

I love this one! Very reminiscent of another Audrey to me!

Wow! I thought she was a great fit as the young Coco. Then I saw this image of Coco and Audrey next to each other. Definitely a match. I can imagine this is close to what Chanel looked like in her youth.

And, of course an image of the legend herself! If you are lucky enough to view the film, I would love to hear how it was. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Until next time!

Some Dom Perignon, please...

More stunning photography from Karl Lagerfeld. After stumbling onto the photos from the Versailles shoot it seems as though I fell into a hole full of Lagerfeld photos and they were all gorgeous. It was so very hard to pick just a few and I couldn't stop at the Versailles photos, so here are a few more. I promise, I'll start a new topic tomorrow!

For now enjoy the eye~candy and soak up the luxury. I just love the tones and the moods. So romantic and decadent.

I just love this photo, it seems to capture a sexy and adventurous time period. Exactly how I picture a good 'ol scandalous flapper!

This image above is from an ad campaign for Dom Perignon with model Eva Herzigova in 2006. The entire set is just stunning. You can see more of it here. The florals and the colors, heavenly!

This photograph is from Harper's Baazar and it is titled "The Duchess". Look at the detail on her couture! Dreamy *sigh*...


Every girls boudoir needs a fabulously chic clutch and a hot little number next to her! The jewels and the satin chemise, just icing on the cake! :)


These two photos are from Karl's second ad campaign with Dom Perignon in 2007 with model Claudia Schiffer. It is a fabulous shoot and it is about a quaint little couple. The bored husband is fantasizing about his wife as many different women...interesting.

You can see the entire story here. The photos are imaginative and pretty. Schiffer goes from preppy little wife to sexy French maid, Marie~Antoinettesque femme fatal (seen above), powerhouse business women, Madame Butterfly~esque seductress, and it goes on and on. Very creative.

I hope you enjoy. Bonsoir!

A Dream of Versailles

Bonjour my friends! I am of course a huge fan of the very talented Mr. Karl Lagerfeld. I love his designs, his vision, his creativity, and his photography. I have many times swooned over his perfect editorial pages and his ads (for example his gorgeous photos for the Dom Perignon ads). However, this must be my favorite!

This photo shoot by the world-famous couturier takes place on the grounds of one of my favorite locales...Versailles. I can't imagine a more breath taking backdrop than the gardens of Versailles for any photo.

The shoot was inspired by the outrageous and fashionable Marie~Antoinette and is just beautiful.

Models: Jessica Stam and Snejana Onopka.

I love this one...

This one reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face

I do believe that the next time I visit I shall dress in couture and commission a hat from my local millinery designer, feathers and all! A dream, I know...:)

All photos taken by Karl Lagerfeld and published in the Harper's Bazaar Romania

Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs! Christmas in Paris

La sapin de Louis Vuitton

Photos taken by Miguel Adrover

In Paris for the holidays the fashion world contributed 44 designer Christmas trees at the annual "Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs" charity auction. A grand total of €101,000 was raised for the Sol En Si charity organization that helps children and families living with AIDS.

Chanel *sigh*

The trees came in all shapes, sizes and designer styles. My personal favorite was Louis Vuitton's golden metal tree forged out of hundreds of LV emblems. It was the first time that top name artists in the world of design had contributed to the auction. Designs by Norman Foster, India Mahdavi, and Jacques Rougerie, were among the top bids. But it was the white column of circling shapes from Zaha Hadid that bid the highest for the evening.

Norman Foster

The fashion journalist Marie-Christiane Marek, who started the charity auction 13 years ago, said that the money would be used to create a residence in Togo for children orphaned by the disease. Amazingly, the total more than tripled the amount raised last year and the charity will be able to build much more than originally planned. Yippee!

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

No live trees were used in the designs, making all of the trees sustainable luxuries.

La sapin de Jean Paul Gaultier

The French even do Christmas trees with flair. I love this idea, what a luxurious way to bring about some Christmas cheer. Well, I've been inspired to decorate my own tree now. I've been a bit of a Christmas Grinch this year. I need to get into the spirit and decorate.

Gucci (of course)

Happy holidays from my home to yours! I hope that this holiday brings you what your heart desires most, and I don't mean the store~bought desires. Many, Many warm wishes your way!

Valentino *sigh*

La sapin de Christian LaCroix

Bisou Mon Amis!