Colour Show Off

There is a time, a day, a moment, to keep your outfits simple and let your surroundings do the show. 

That time might be around just now and I went for dark blue denim, black and white. When the trees of Paris take on their autumn hues, ranging from green, to yellow, orange and maroon, walking around and taking it all in seems like and evidence. Sadly, there are not many red trees (no maples?) and the colours are not that spectacular, but hey, that's the only kind of autumn we get here, so I decided to be happy with it as it is. We can't all live in New England, it's as simple as that.

Outfit photos copyright Vincent

Jardin des Tuileries, packed as always, but still so beautiful. There is a modern art exhibit going on as well. If you're in Paris, go check out the trees (and the art, of course). If you get cold, or hungry, or have a sweet tooth, there is always Angelina - the best hot chocolate in Paris, just around the corner.

Outfit

Jacket - a very very old inherited piece

Shirt - Mango

Jeans - and old (and sadly torn) Levi's

Bag - gift, beautiful leather

Shoes - Agnes b., gift too

Time for a Sweater

Independently of seasons, there are days when the only thing on my mind is keeping it cosy. But autumn makes the frequency of the "cosy days" hit new hights. Keeping warm (and dry) seems to be an every day battle. Cosy doesn't necessarilly mean ugly or out of style. High heels make the big old sweater seem like fashion again. I'd venture to say the bigger the sweater, the higher the heels you need... What do you say?

Fern earrings seem to channel the cosy autumn feelings as well. I still need to find myself a fireplace, to make autumn the perfect season, though. One day, maybe, who knows...

Have a cosy day, too.

Welcome, Mr Autumn

Well, I guess it's official. Indian summer is a goner and it's Mr Autumn's turn to keep us company. 

If you've been reading this blog since spring, you might remember I love to hear the "seasons' click". There is no denying it, the seasons have just clicked here alright. Woolen sweaters and scarves, foggy mornings, the air gorged with rain and the foliage that begins to change colours accordingly.

Hello, Mr Autumn.

I'm taking out my woolen socks and keeping to my oranges + tea to avoid getting sick as everyone around me!

Back to Renaissance

The other day, I wrote about how clothes or accessories can bring back amazing memories when you wear them. Sometimes, they can also transport you to a completely different time or country. It is the case with my brocade skirt. Even thought it is not real silk and it is definitely way too short to have been worn in late Middle Ages or during Renaissance, it still has an antique, exquisite and aristocratic feel to it. It is what you'd call a statement piece of clothing. With a very simple white t-shirt and flats, it steals the show. Plus, it has a bow. What more could you want ?

Maybe to take it out for a walk in the gardens of Paris and feel like a princess.

PS.: There is now a goat in charge of the lawns in Jardin des Tuileries.

Top of a Diamond

Rooftop terraces are right up my street. I can still hope I will have one some day, somewhere... For now, visiting some when they are open is the only thing I can do... This last terrace was special, it was on top of a diamond, once the biggest known diamond, the Koh-i-Noor.

For generations now, most little children in Central Europe start their drawing career with a set of coloured pencils from Koh-i-Noor Hardmuth. I still own two sets  of these pencils plus one of aquarel pencils. They last and have beautiful colours. 

The company was originally founded in the Austria-Hungary Empire in 1790. By the beginning of the 20th Century, they've expanded to Milan, New York and Paris. In Paris, a very contemporary building was built by the company in 1906, mostly of metal and glass. Koh-I-Noor Hardmuth doesn't own the building any more but it is newly renovated and opened to the public during the European Heritage Days. It's a hidden gem, a real work of art in a small street, a real diamond.

Are You Photoshopped, Mr Cloud?

 

Paris has a special sky. It knows very well, how to be gray and heavy with rain, there is no doubt about it. But it also has moments when the light is so surreal and the clouds so spectacular, that you would think they are either photoshopped or painted by Michelangelo, Rubens or maybe Turner. It might be that the sky here got inspired by what it sees in the Louvre...

Most of the time, this kind of sky spectacle happens when I am walking from work (or basically at any given moment when I don't have my camera with me). Last weekend though, I decided it was a beautiful day and that taking my camera for a walk to the Jardin du Luxembourg might be a good idea. I am not saying more, you can see the result for yourselves...

Can I go and play, too??

American Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is an activity I find quite pleasant, anytime. And this time it went along with a really tasty dinner. It also was a gift my husband received, which made the experience even nicer. You eat great food, you taste nice wines and at the end, you don't have to pay... Thanks guys!

This particular wine tasting dinner took part in a place called Ô Chateau, in the very centre of Paris, very close to Les Halles, that part that Zola used to call "le Ventre de Paris" ("the Belly of Paris"). It was French wine and French food but it had one specificity. It took place in english. Which was fine with us, we understand english, you know. It just meant that we were the only non-Americans in the room. And all the other guests were quite excited about our chance to live in this amazing city. I should have probably put this as a quote.

We were quite happy we decided to dress up. Americans always dress up for dinner and this one was definitely not an exception. French people don't do that at all. Unless maybe when invited for a dinner at the Ritz or somewhere. That's one thing I really don't get here in France, people's ability to wear jeans everywhere, even to the Opera...

Everyone in the room was very friendly and had excellent art of conversation. No one was left out of the discussions. That would probably never have happened with French people, either. Because nobody would have thought about presenting himself in the first place (me included, I have to admit). It was a nice change and a very pleasant evening.

But back to the dinner. We had champagne for apéritif, a very nice Blanc de Blanc. Then, with entrée we had a light Sancerre. With the main course (a very tender pavé de Salers), the sommelier went for Haut-Médoc (Bordeaux). We were very lucky on that one. They used to do the wine tasting with the 2008 vintage but ran out of it about a week before we came over for dinner. Which meant we had the 2009 vintage (the best year for red Bordeaux wines in the past decade along with 2005). This one was my favourite. The Malbec from Cahors we had with dessert was not bad either, though.

For a "wine tasting" it was more of a real dinner with a lot of good wine. No spitting, no small amounts. Real big glasses of all of them. At the end, I had to refuse the sommelier's offer to pour me another glass of my favourite wine of the evening, because I still had two unfinished glasses in front of me (none of them contained water...).

What an evening!