Feel good in your soul and in your shoes...

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...

The man of the week, month, year, century...

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...

Casual chic Monsieur...

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...

Leather forever...

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.

Take a walk on the peaceful side...

What better place to relax and enjoy a book, music or just the view than the banks of Paris on a sunny day right? I really liked the electric blue sky we had yesterday over Paris. It gives a special natural light I love to work with. You're all stressed out? Just go take a walk or enjoy an impromptu lunch with a bunch of friends and a nice bottle of wine on the Seine Banks.

Love at first sight

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!!

From the bike to the bank...

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!

Antique and Modern Art...

Nice statues right?

Resting on a chair...

Ah what's more delightful than a sunbath right? Ok so maybe I was a little close to that woman. But I thought she was just so peaceful and relaxed. The only thing I was scared about was to wake her because of my shooting sound. Guess what? not even the sound of a drunk weirdo only 4 metres away woke her up! That, dear People, is true peacefulness.



Yeah I know I'm a little intrusive... but I found that scene so cute and so movie-like. This man was resting on this chair and thinking about his love (the woman on the picture: zoom in!) Well I'm guessing it was his lover right, because if it's just his sister well that's just... gross right!

Him

Ok so today was a sunny day over Paris. I like this period, when winter is slowly -yeah I know VERY slowly- moving away, letting spring slowly settling in. I was glad to see so many people in the Tuileries again, lying on the grass, sleeping on the chairs, almost making love leaning on a tree... yep true story! Here comes the sun and here comes the fun obviously!
So here I'm continuing my shooting. Today is a nice and elegant Swedish young man. It took him like mmmm 15 minutes to figure out what to write, but I think he came up with a great word. Listen up people, let the SHINING come into your life...

These shoes are made for watching...

Ok so I guess you people already know I'm a shoe addict - kind of a no-brainer for a girl! - This master piece is signed Nicholas Kirkwood, the oh-so-talented new face of shoe design. Displayed especially for the Printemps window on the theme Alice in Wonderland -about to be released in theatres and directed by Tim Burton. Look how detailed and meticulous the work is: the famous watch of the rabbit, the tea pot, flowers and leaves.... More than a shoe, a piece of Art.

Let's get back in shape for Spring!

Ok so, sorry for the silent week! I'm still working on the shooting series of YOU, but I wanted to share this awesome book with you. It's called "If someone offered you this book, well, take the hint!" Seriously love the title, plus I've decided to work out again so!
Anyway can you believe this book -which smells like old books (love this smell by the way)- was written in the 1940's! Check out the drawing and the comments. Ok so obviously I didn't find that book at la FNAC, nope, I found it in the most extraordinary and most amazing library in Paris: Shakespeare and Company. Though you won't probably see him, this library is still runned by a 90-year-old man, who used to be friend with Ernest Emingway, yep true story!
I was jaw breaking when I first entered the place: Thousands of books placed anywhere you can find space (on the stairs, up to the ceiling with beautiful wood beams...)
Upstairs is my favorite room: the one with the piano surrounded by all the books, there's a nice sofa you can sit on and read for hours, or at least for 10 minutes because it's so crowded people stare at you like "Jizz move your ass already!" But still that's definitely a place to visit even just for 5 minutes.
A tip for you ladies: forget the heels! I went there with heels and I tripped like 4 times, true story!
Also the place is often full of English and American people! They're very friendly and they don't all voted for Bush! (yeah I know a lot of French people still think Americans are all hamburger-and-gun lovers...)
Anyway if you're looking for the latest Dan Brown, or classic editions of J.D Salinger or F.Scott Fitzgerald... just push open the door of this library you won't regret it.
metro: St Michel, 37 rue de la Bûcherie.

Him & Him

Ok so here I continue the shooting, starting with A, this guy is really something... a nice purple-ralph-lauren-mini-lover-dandy guy who knows how to rock MY WAY. A, this post is for you.



This post is also for you S, god knows time ain't that great right now, but I know and I believe things can only get better. So cheer up and can't wait for the next Poker night!

Him & Her

Ok so here are the first two persons I shot for my new series. I saw this cute couple walking across the street. I love what they emitted, and look how complementary their style is. I thought ok let's do it, ask them! I was nicely surprised coz they quickly said yes! So maybe Parisians are not that cold after all... Anyway I want to thank them for playing along with the camera and also for giving me this energy to continue the shooting.
Tomorrow I'll be wandering in the Tuileries, so People... get ready to be shot!

A new shooting series: YOU

Hello People!
So tomorrow I will start a brand new shooting series on Paris. The subject? You.
I will shoot some of you with my camera and not with something else FYI! You'll be posing, just the way you are with a small note on which you'll write anything you want that comes right to your mind. Really ANYTHING, but please play along, and easy with the calling names ;-)
I'm hoping you will all play along, even though I know I'll be probably rejected by like mmm let's say 80% of you! But anyway I'm looking forward to this series!
So watch out tomorrow... You may be on my way... hopefully!

mmmm a boy or a girl ?

Ok so I just can't hold it anymore!!! I know sister you want me to just shut the **** up but I can't!! I'm gonna be an aunty for the third time !!!! So this post is for you J, a huge kiss coming from the deep desert of Utah! Love you and your soon-to-be-round belly...

Fashion lost AMQ

Yesterday I was in the subway and this woman was reading the paper, and I just stopped for a while a bit in shock at the back page. Alexander Mc Queen just killed himself. And you think sometimes people have it all... The world of Fashion ain't all that glamourous right...

Style in 5 feet and 4 inches tall!

I want to dedicate this post to this oh-so-styled young woman! Always perfectly dressed, with elegance and with awesome shoes and bags. I took that shot in Florence. The streets at night are just perfect places to shoot. Y you just rock!