Category: Style and shopping

There’s no better way to start a new season in the fashion capital than with a whole new look. True, Paris can be pricy, but during the two yearly sales, prices are slashed to invite some healthy indulgence of retail therapy. The summer sales (called soldes in French)  go to July 23. Continue reading “Paris’ Summer Sales 2024”

Okay, fellas, it’s time to think about making an impression on Valentine’s Day. You can do like every other guy in town and take the love of your life flowers. Or, you can score lots of  points by offering her a gift of the gods that’s 18 karat gold. In Paris, prices range from a couple of hundred Euros for a modest bauble from Tati’s “fine jewelry” boutique, to two or three  times that at Galeries Lafayette, or maybe 50 times that for the Cartier dream. Continue reading “Paris Valentine with the Midas Touch”

The YSL brand has been long considered synonymous with French classic design. Now a there is a museum dedicated to the couturier’s work at the premises of his former haute couture house located at 5, avenue Marceau in Paris’ 16th arrondissement. Housed in the Second Empire mansion where the designer’s team worked for three decades, the museum covers all the major themes in Saint Laurent’s work, including: the most emblematic designs embodying the designer’s quintessential style, such as the tuxedo, the safari jacket, the jumpsuit and the trench coat; his various tributes to art such as the famous Mondrian dress and the collections inspired by his imagined journeys to such faraway places as China and India. Continue reading “New Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris”

For the first time ever, a major French art museum has dedicated it’s space to one of the most famous American icons of our times….Barbie!

Throughout 1500 square meters within the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, 700 dolls tell the story of Barbie and her impact on pop culture. By the nature of the subject matter, it is easy to forget this show is a cultural exhibition and not a toy store display. Continue reading “Barbie, an American Icon in Paris”

‟Fashion Forward, 3 Centuries of Fashion (1715-2016)” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs brings together 300 items of men’s, women’s and children’s fashion from the 18th century to today, selected from the museum’s collections to provide a  chronological overview (to August 14, 2016).

France has long been associated with fashion and style.  It is widely credited as beginning during the reign of Louis XVI when the luxury goods industries in France came increasingly under royal control and the French royal court became the arbiter of taste and style in Europe. At the close of the 18th century, Paris contained 262 embroiderers, 1824 shoemakers, 1702 dressmakers and 128 fan-makers. Continue reading “Fashion Forward in Paris”

Last week, while having a drink with a friend at an outdoor cafe, we were commenting on how horrible the people on the street were dressed. “Everybody dresses like rats,” I said with disdain. “True. There is a lack of elegance and style on the street,” my friend added. With that, we headed a few blocks over to see some “real” fashion at the exhibition, “Yves Saint Laurent: 1971.” Continue reading “Yves Saint Laurent’s 1971 Scandal”

After showcasing the works of France’s “bad boy” of fashion in nine other cities around the world, the much anticipated “Gaultier” exhibition has finally landed in Paris. For this tenth edition, installations were specifically designed for its newest venue, Le Grand Palais, and clips from French cinema and early TV personal designer were added. Moreover, about a third of the garments were replaced with others from his most recent couture collections, all in an effort to keep the show fresh and revelent. Continue reading ““Gaultier,” The Exhibition”

In the 17th century buttons were so precious that the kings of France attempted to regulate their number and use. Buttons meet fashion with an exhibition— Déboutonner la Mode—featuring over 3000 buttons from the amazing collection of Loic Allio at Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs (to July 19, 2015). Continue reading “Unbuttoning Fashion”

The most dazzling ornaments aren’t found in any Paris department store this year, instead you will need to head over to the newest exhibition to open at the Grand Palais, “Cartier: Style and History.” Conceived as a history of decorative arts, this show of breathless baubles tells not only the story of Cartier but also retraces the evolution of tastes, aesthetics and diversity of cultures within the jewelry industry as told through precious stones and metals. Continue reading “Cartier… a History of Style”

What does an innovative French luggage maker from the 1800’s have in common with a cutting edge American garment designer operating today? The current exhibition at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs takes a look at the renowned luggage firm of Louis Vuitton, the fashion environment and products created by its founder in the 1800’s as they contrast those of its current artistic director, Marc Jacobs. Continue reading “Louis Vuitton & Marc Jacobs at Arts Decoratifs”

While the Palais Galliera which houses the Musee de la Mode et du Textile, is involved with the renovation of its building, it continues with its “Outside Walls” program, a schedule of fashion exhibitions held in a variety of spaces and around Paris. This spring, director Olivier Saillard has taken part of its archives and set up two shows at Les Docks, Cite de la Mode et du Design. On view until October 7, 2012 are two elegant and wildly contrasting fashion fexhibitions: “Balenciaga, Fashion Collector” and “Comme des Garcons: White Drama.” Continue reading “Balenciaga and Comme Des Garcons”