Thursday, September 30, 2010

Paris-Day Four

Paris Day Four - Discoveries:

Ile Saint Louis-vintage leather goods at Antiques de l'Ile Saint Louis www.isl-antiquites.com
Where I discovered quite a large selection of designer handbags Hermes, Chanel and the likes.

A block further a 'fun' store called Eve Baz'Art.

Restaurant of the day: Le Relais de l'Entrecote, rue Saint Benoit around the corner from Les Deux Magots.

Another great day, more tomorrow.

A demain,

Michele

Paris-day three

Discoveries of the day:

Merci-great place to shop, great place to shop. I love the concept too.
111 Boulevard Beaumarchsis in the 3rd arrondissement.

Le Bar a huitres-if you like fish and crustaces, this place should not be missed. Four locations in Paris. Www.lebarahuitres.fr

I also had fun to visit the shops in the Palais Royal, Serge Lutens, La Petite Robe Noire and Didier Ludot.

Grand disappointment: Colette Rue Saint Honore.

More tonight, a ce soir.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Paris - Day Two

Bonjour a tous,

After an adventurous morning in an 'exotic' neighorhood (quartier St Dennis) where I had to have my suitcase repaired, I continued my discovery of Le Marais. So many stores, art galeries, cafes and restaurants. One of the best discovery today is Marchand de thes Dammann. A Beautiful store and extraordinary teas at 15 place des Vosges.

Next I fell in love with...... a beautiful green leather that I acquired. Can't stop looking at it, it is that gorgious.

Tomorrow Le Louvre and l'ile Saint Louis.

Stay tuned....

A demain,

Michele

Monday, September 27, 2010

Paris - Discoveries In Le Marais

Paris Day One - rue des Francs Bourgeois, Le Marais quartier near place des Vosges.

Babylone at #11
Et vous and Pablo at #6
Arizda Bross at #7
BGN at #21 is my favorite with elegant yet contemporary pret-a-porter.
Guerlain at #10 where a facial is a must!

More tomorrow.....

A demain

Michele

Sunday, September 26, 2010

On My Way to Paris

Bonjour!
On my way to Paris with a stop over in New York for a couple of days. It was 90 degrees in New York last Friday, it was hot and humid. My very first impression was:  'how sad everyone is wearing dark colors in such warm weather'. It seems that 'do not wear white' after Labor Day is still a fact of life here and the white color has been already replaced by black.

Now at JFK and my flight is delayed...by 2.5 hours!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyKF5PN_hb0
Michele

Friday, September 10, 2010

Michele Benza: Fall Winter 2010/2011 - Trends and Little Gems

Michele Benza: Fall Winter 2010/2011 - Trends and Little Gems

Fall Winter 2010/2011 - Trends and Little Gems

Fall Winter 2010/2011 – Trends and Little Gems
By
Michele Benza


The “Mad Men” styles have invaded Banana Republic’s windows here at its flagship store in San Francisco -- and with good reasons! The nostalgia of sixties and seventies glamour! This was the era when Brigitte Bardot was the star of the moment, and the Beatles arrived as part of the “British Invasion!”

This season, feminine women are at the top of the podium. Hurrah!

Influenced by the voluptuous actresses in the series "Mad Men," some designers have borrowed the ladylike looks, bringing back feminine and sexy fashions for fall.
·      Miuccia Prada changed her style for this fall collection and showed pieces highlighting bosoms and hips. (Gasp! Models with breasts!)
·      Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton offers a tribute to Brigitte Bardot, flattering the bodice and accentuating the twirl of the skirts.
·      At Chloe, wide-leg pants and turtleneck sweaters accentuate the simplicity of beautiful sportswear and the female figure. Add to that a classic color like camel, and you get the flagship fashion for the season.
·      Meanwhile, Gucci borrows from 70's savvy elegance. Perfectly cut pants, thin belt and shirt, the best Gucci uniform of the emancipated woman. The return of classic chic will cross the years without a wrinkle!

As we are looking for a timeless ‘chic’ look, we, the women of winter 2010/2011, will be seduced by the essentials and classics of style. Indeed, after years of extravagance, fantasy and "fast fashion," the trend reverses itself, favoring the classics. The result: Real women without disguise.

Given the turmoil of the economy, the collections vary depending on the sensitivity of the designer. Thus, for winter 2010/2011, while some choose to recycle the executive woman’s pant suits adding feminine details to the menswear’s cut, others adorn fur (real or faux) as the trim of a statement piece.

There is nothing like a well-cut suit to elevate one’s confidence and ambitions. The wardrobe of the working female executive exhales a fascinating sexiness.

What about colors?
Long shunned for their lack of glamour, camel and its derivatives (green, khaki, tan, etc.) are now coming to the forefront. Classic of the classics, these colors prove in fact, to be the winner of this autumn/winter 2010-2011.

The softer side
On the soft side, needlework. Knitted and embroidered garments, both retro and chic are making a comeback on the catwalks.

The question on many minds this autumn is how to wear the trendy sweater dress without seeming to have gained in body mass or age.

A word of caution on sweater dresses. Most of us would do best to stay away from them as the sweater dress is perhaps the most universally unflattering garment in fashion today.  Only an especially slender person can wear a sweater dress combined with lightweight tights, a thin leather belt and stilettos for a marvelous chic look.

To create a glamorous effect use accessories in an intuitive and impulsive manner, there is no law here. Affirm yourself and break the fashion mold.
                  
A bientot,

Michele

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