My Dream Day in Paris

Sometimes…just sometimes…dreaming in fashion isn’t quite enough. When it’s frosty, cold and I’m stressed, I dream in holidays. That’s not to say the two can’t be combined, Paris is known as one of the chicest cities in the world and it certainly didn’t disappoint when I visited earlier this year with the lovely ladies at Wearesocial. They have invited me to take part in a competition with Le Noveau Paris to win an amazing weekend in Paris, I just need to describe what I would do in Paris with €1000 to spend. So…what would I do in my second favourite fashion city with enough disposable income for a pretty good time?! First thing’s first, I would check into a fabulous hotel. I generally don’t spend much of my holidays in the hotel, but it’s always nice to know you have somewhere decadent to have a quick power nap before heading out again. Paris has plenty of super luxe hotels to choose from, but for me there is only one; the Plaza Athénée…better known as ‘Carrie’s hotel in Paris’. Ever since I saw it in the last couple of episodes of SATC, it’s stuck in my mind as one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen and somewhere that I must visit, one day. I would loiter around Avenue Montaigne and Rue de Faubourg St. Honore, watching elegant Parisian woman indulge in some retail therapy. They are renowned for being impossibly chic, so I’m sure I could pick up a tip or two about being a bit more polished! I would definitely head over to Laduree to indulge on a macaroon or 10, while doing some more people watching. My inevitable sugar rush will almost certainly put me in the mood for window shopping. Paris is home to some ridiculously cool, iconic boutiques: Colette, Surface to Air and L’Eclaireur. Of course, no fashion trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to Chanel on Rue Cambon. The almost legendary building houses a Chanel store, haute couture dressing room, the workshop and Coco Chanel’s apartment. It’s such a beautiful building, here’s a video from Vogue TV inside….

I’m sure a fair amount of time would be spent looking out for Karl Lagerfeld’s yellow hummer, if I saw it I would probably throw myself at him! On a more affordable note, I would visit some of the markets and rummage around for some bargains. Marche aux Puces de Clignancourt is one of the largest markets in Europe, it’s actually made up of 15-20 smaller markets and has over 2,000 stalls! For something a little more less crowded, I would head to Marche aux Puces de Vanves for some vintage clothes and costume jewellery. Last time I was in Paris, I had a whistle stop visit of the Madeleine Vionnet exhibition at Les Arts Decoratifs. The visit was cut short (champagne tasting…) but it is most definitely worth a second visit. The museum has a new exhibit starting next year, Histoire ideale de la mode contemporaire 1971-2008, which looks at the evolution of fashion. I think I will be all fashioned out by then, if that’s even possible. My ideal evening would be spent at The Crazy Horse or the Moulin Rouge. I’m sure the Dior Institut spa, situated in the hotel, will be put to good use after that action packed day!! Of course, if I went during Paris Fashion Week it would be a different story. I would beg/borrow/barter my way into Balenciaga/Galliano/Dior/Chanel/McQueen shows…or at least hang out in the Jardin des Tuileries!