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I know what you might think..."a plant, yeah? so what..." well, let me tell you a little story about This plant... Once upon a drunken time, a girl turned 25 and a boy offered her this plant. She was excited -well the girl, not the plant, though...- anyway, she found this cute tiny little green marvel very nice in its hardstone designed pot. She thanked the guy -and did not forget the plant on a table at a gay bar, no no...- and then all the other friends around started telling things about the plant... It's a special plant, it is Carnivorous... sometimes you can hear it breath when you sleep, its leaves grow until they reach a prey, if you get too close to it, it might just eat your finger...or...well do nothing coz after all that's just a plant and you'd be a moron staring at a plant for hours.Ok, well that story may be a little arranged, but be kind, I've slept 3 hours last night.. So here is the shorter and much real story: awesome night, great 25 B-day!"The morning after...
.....
I know I could never pull that off, but I thought this girl looked really cool in her red leggings, her grungy shoes, her small brown bag and with her hair falsely loose. I liked her body language and above all, her white rounded glasses on her lightly made-up face. I liked the echo of the red leggings on her red lips. Is she coming back from a late gig? Is she maybe going to a middle-of-the-day basement gig? Nope. She was just on her way to a family lunch...
Yesterday was a beautiful day over Paris. Heat, blue sky, summer outfits out again... I wandered from The Tuileries, to Saint-Michel, to Saint-Sulpice, my camera on the alert! I saw this cute couple on a bench in the Tuileries. They were so deeply into the chess game -well at least the guy- that they didn't even notice me though I was like 6 feet away. I love how focused the guy is, trying to find the perfect next move, while the girl relaxes a little, maybe thinking "ok honey, how long is it gonna take!" Or maybe she's just acting sexy to make her boyfriend troubled to win the game? Anyways, I like this shot, their body language and the girl's outfit made me think about some amazing drawings from illustrator Norman Rockwell.
I ran into old family pictures yesterday and I just couldn't stop looking at them. From my grandmother's wedding day at Saint Germain des Près, to my mom's first steps, my grand parents' first 1936-paid vacations or a simple 1948-sunday-afternoon out in the Luxembourg garden. I love what they emit, from the deep light of the pictures, to the very detail. I chose to show you that one -one of my favorite FYI- it's a simple work day at the bank for my grand father (second from the left). I just love the setting, the suits of the bankworkers, the look on their faces, the way their hair is perfectly combed, and the moustach even! I guess this picture was shot around 1935. 75 years later banks haven't really changed, have they? Well, except maybe for the small I-love-to-take-a-break-every-10-minutes sweaty guy at the reception...
Whether you use a pen, a keyboard or an old typing machine, the feeling's the same in writing: Freedom. Still sceptical? Here is a challenge I'm giving you today. Write a short post about something that happened to you today -it can be at work, with friends, just walking, whatever... trying to depict something that caught your attention. Send it to me and I'll post the best posts on the blog. Only one order: enjoy yourself.
Who said you had to choose between the city and the countryside...
Today was a pretty day, I rode for hours along the banks of the Seine. That's a great spot to jog, shoot pictures, and stare at the amazing castle-looking houses. On my trip I ran into two old black 1940-something citroen cars, you know, those you see in the old movies. That was quite a show. I also saw this 30-something guy bragging in his shiny-but-way-too-show-off SUV. But there's only one vehicle that took my breath away. On a corner of a street, I saw this old washed-out-looking van. You just don't know how the hell a van like this ended up here! I just can't help but imagine all the roads and adventures it must have seen in its life. I love the mix between the rust and the destroyed blue, the tinted windshield, kinda making me think of Spielberg's movie Duel.
Damn it now I can't think about anything else but bring that van into my garden, arrange the inside into a great place to crash on a leather sofa, a last-minute-fixed bar and remove the doors of the left side to have a nice open space to look at the sky at night while listening to some awesome music.
Maybe it's the weather -pretty crappy for the summer-or I don't know, but lately I've felt like settling in my old brown leather sofa, a drink in the right hand, my mom's old-1964-Pioneer-stereo turntable near the other, and listening to some awesome old sound. Between the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Pink Floyd, The Who, and above all... Simon and Garfunkel! My Little Town, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, El Condor Pasa and of course Mrs Robinson -from one hell of a great movie. But the first and only track that ever gave me intense goose bumps , as far as I can recall, is The Boxer. The last 1 minute and a half: simply Indescribable.
I know it's not funny to moke a kid because he's got some difficulties with maths. That's just mean. But I'm hoping the Police Department ain't hiring kids (well they're so desperate they might one day...) anyway, I really wished I could have given a 2nd-grade math course to that cop, or maybe given him glasses or just took his beer out of his hands coz in every places around the world, 8 is before 28. You can go check, true story.I hate prejudices. You know like butchers are fat with red cheeks, History teachers can kill you with only just their breath or cops are dumb... they're just soooo mean. What? oh yeah and soooo true.
Hey everyone! Sorry for this looonng break but things have been pretty tough lately. So, you guys wanna know what a girl does on a Monday morning in the middle of summer after a whole Mad Men-season-3-night-long watching? I decided I would store some useless stuff down in my basement like a candle in the shape of a turtle -true story- a jewelery box that's too damn small to even contain a bracelet in and some pens that won't work anymore but you never know they might in 5 years... Anyway, as I loaded the things onto some shelves -next to some other million useless stuff- I made something drop on the floor of the room -next to my sauna by the way, yeah I feel like bragging today... I picked it up with, I gotta say some weird and funny emotions. I was brought back 16 years ago. 1994. Remember the time when us girls at school were wearing pants that were too damn short that, when sat, we could see our beautiful long Laura-Ingalls-looking white lace socks or was it only me? And when we would be so proud to reach level 7 of Mario Bross on our Game Boy or defeat the boss on the final level in Streets of Rage -please the youngest be respectful! WarCarft wasn't born in a day! Anyway... I was moved to hold the tape (K7 in French) of Ace of Base's 1993 Happy Nation! I used to listen to it like 10 times a day! Wonderful to learn English! Remember "A so the sa" for "I saw the sign", anyway no need to tell you'll have this song back in mind for a little while...
As I kept searching for other memorable stuff, I found some old school notebooks! Check out this page!
I was in 2nd grade (CE1 in French). Holly crap I used to write well, yep, so did all of us. That may have been my first post, as Internet wasn't yet in our homes, neither did computers!!! Yes I know I'm old. Anyway, as it was long til I got my first camera there's no picture here, but I guess the drawing will do. Oh and for the record: IP5 was a 1992 movie with Yves Montand and Olivier Martinez. I remember I loved it but you know the weirdest thing? I have absolutely no idea what it's about now! Anyway, I am about to confess something very private, something people can be ashamed of, something you can probably get forced into rehab for!! I admit. I was barely 6 and already an addict. Actually ALL our generation was addicted to one small thing used everyday at school by thousands of kids. The Cléopâtre glue!! Remember the white and blue packaging!? The small plastic stick to help you put the glue?! but above all...remember the smell???? OMG. I could sniff that all day long, though I would probably have ended up in rehab... I was so pissed when they took it off the market! When I opened my pencil case it had been replaced by some regular sniffing UHU glue. My very first desillusion as I can recall. So yeah some glues smell ok, some pencils can get you somewhere even, but there will alaways be only one glue for me. Cléopatre.
Waoh that was a moving moment. Here is a French grammar exercise. As you can see I did well, yep still bragging. What I like here is the French pride you can see through it. Renault won a Formula1 race, defeating Ferrari. And Sarko said our generation hasn't been given a we're-French-we're-so-proud! education... my ass.
I stayed for a little while in my basement rediscovering many things I had completely forgotten. Here is another great discovery... today that would probably worth like 250 euros or be displayed at Colette. A genuine 1969 Monita headphone radio! It belonged to my mom. No, she's not the girl on the box, though she probably wore stuff like that back then. It's still in good shape, the wires are still ok, I'm sure it would still work with batteries. I may take up this challenge. I may put on some cool looking 1970's clothes, roller skates and the headphone as I would skate along the Banks of the Seine. I'll keep you guys posted.
I hope this post made you think back to your early years as it did to me. And if someday you feel like storing things in the basement, the garage, your sister's room, anyway, anywhere you take your dump, well look around, sit down, take these old things you didn't throw away, drink a Tesseire Minth sirop, eat a BN and listen to Portishead's "Glory Box", Iam's"Je danse le MIA", Billy Ze Kick's"Mangez-moi", the Connelles'"74-75" or Blur's"Girls and Boys". You might just feel, well... old yeah I know but good too.
I love to stop by this small park at the entrance of Rue Mazarine. Whether it's for reading or just observing people like the group of Russian workers taking their lunch break here everyday. There's always something or someone that inspires me. An old lady feeding the pigeons, a boy from the Beaux Arts sketching on a paper, or even this old man sitting on the exact same bench everyday with the exact same posture: resting his chin on his cane, giving smiles to the people passing by. I love this place. Probably because my grand mother living in rue Mazarine used to take me here when I was little, but also because not so many people know about it so it's generally the regulars of the neighbourhood that come by. But the thing I like the most are the beautiful benches sculpted in the shape of opened books. Sometimes, tourists sit on these benches and look around to take pictures of the Institute without paying attention about what is right under their buts...
I went shopping the other day in Chatelet, in the heart of Paris, when I saw this cute scene. A group of 6-coming-out-of-nowhere monks was doing shopping in the mall! Their beautiful orange gowns caught my attention. And then I noticed their sneakers underneath... It happened so quickly, I had only 10 seconds to grab my camera out of my bag and shoot! So the upshot isn't great but I like the shadows and the light hightlighting their outfit.I have only one thing to say: Namasté...
I almost had a heart attack last Friday at 2.35pm when I walked in 173...173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, the new amazing, mindblowing flagship store of Ralph Lauren in Paris - the biggest in Europe FYI - It was the big opening of this truly outstanding display of class, elegance and architectural/design mastering.5 floors, mostly dedicated to men -but it ain't a problem ladies right?, a watch salon, on your right at the entrance, many displays of RL accessories- I just found my new coup de cœur: the thin, elegant and styly pant suspenders! Just perfect on a great pair of blue jeans with a more formal black jacket... it gives you a boyish touch yet without undermining your girl style.When you enter, you can't miss the beautiful inside courtyard, where you can rest for a while enjoying a drink on the white and blue benches and chairs.Have you heard of Ralph's!? No it's not the new nickname of Mister Lauren, it is his can't-wait-to-taste-it new restaurant, where you'll be able to taste Real American food! Yes Americans do have great food, starting with lobsters, real hamburgers (not the doutful ones from Mc Donald's...) amazing key lime pies...I'm guessing it will soon be the new place to be seen.Let's get back to the setting of this XVIIth century hotel... forget the elevator, walk up the stairs to look at the great paintings and pictures hung on the walls... especially the huge old American stars 'n stripes on the last floor! It's not a store, it's a museum.
I love how the clothes mix with art. On the Purple Label floor, just take a look in the central room, where a sofa and newspapers are displayed, you'll feel Mister Lauren is just about to sit down next to you, it feels very homy, and that's what I love about Ralph Lauren: though all the products are real luxurious pieces of art, you don't feel unease or intimidated. Mister Lauren wants you to feel good in your clothes, and in your mind. He's one of the very few designers who's understood that trust me!Many magazines dedicated their covers to Mister Lauren this month and since Mister Lauren doesn't often give interviews, you should jump on the bandwagon and read them, because they tell a lot about the man, the creator, the businessman he is.I could go on and on about Ralph Lauren! And I probably will in the weeks to come...
I was walking near the Louvre today, when I ran into this elegant old man! I just loved how he was dressed, the nice hat, the great hardly-noticable blue shirt. I loved the colors, very Springish! But what stroke me the most was his resemblance with Ernest Hemingway... He kindly posed for me, so this post is for all the elderly people who just play along with the camera! "merci Monsieur!"Oh and did I mention that right after the shot it started raining like hell and a car just splashed all the dirty water on me while I crossed the street? But still, that was worth the shot right...
Here is a shot of a leather ring, hand made by a wonderful talented guy. And if you think that's the only piece he can do... you couldn't be more wrong! he can basically do anything with leather: rings, bags, purses, key chains, and... car interiors! You should see his mini... A, I wish you the best for your projects!
H will be lucky to have you!For you people who would be interested in these unique pieces -and you should be!- please contact me.
Ok so here is my new pair of shoes (yeah I know, must be like the 32nd but whatever!) Some like cigarettes, ex, booze...
I love shoes! ok yeah and a drink once in a while...
It took me like what, 2 minutes to buy them. I saw, I tried on, I conquered!
Yeah my banker is probably gonna kill me, but he'd better not piss me off coz these heels ladies and gentlemen, can do some serious damage!!
I was on a bench on the Seine banks, enjoying this very first hot 'n sunny day of the year, when this cute sixty-something couple sat right next to me to relax. My mind bugged for a while because what you can't see here is that this -very elegant- man, looked exactly like Giorgio Armani! The same grey hair, the same smile and face shape, the same body figure...Anyway, I liked how close and casual they were. But my favorite thing here is the man's awesome vintage helmet with the glasses on it, very Lawrence-of-Arabia like!
Nice statues right?
