This is one of my favorite meals in Paris: homemade pate, mussels and Creme Brulee. You really shouldn’t be vegan in Paris. Le Bistro d’Eustache sits unassumingly at the end of Rue Berger in the 1st, within walking distance of the Centre Pompidou and is where the locals go for mussels and wine. For 18 Euros you can have all of the above. I’ve been coming here for years with an old friend who lives next door. They recently added a live jazz musician. 37, Rue Berger, Paris 75001
I can’t remember what year I discovered The Hemingway Bar at the back of The Ritz but I’m guessing by 2000, on my 2nd trip? It’s still the best, most extravagant place for a drink, even in Paris. Aside from an association with one of the most amazing and intriguing writers of the 20th century as well as Princess Di and an unparalleled romantic period in both French and American history, The Hemingway Bar really does have the best drinks this side of the Seine even if they do start at 30 Euros (and go all the way up to 1250 Euros for a Side Car). Continue reading
Love these Gasoline Glamour boots! I also love that they have the same quote as the leader of the Mau Mau movement in Kenya, “I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees,” on their website. I took a class at Bard years ago on the Mau Mau from Maina-Wa Kinyatti who was a political prisoner in Kenya at one time for his writings on the revolution. Once in a while that information comes in handy. Who knew, one day, gorgeous boots and Mau Mau would end up in the same sentence.
The first time I came to Paris was in the Fall of 1999, a day before my birthday, just after getting hired as Fashion Editor for Russian Vogue. My father had just died three weeks prior, Polly retired and I had interviewed with Anna Harvey and Aliona Doletskaya at The Grand Hotel in Milan during Fashion Week and been hired on the spot. They flew me to Paris right after to cover the shows for the magazine and left me to sort my way. I landed at Charles de Gaulle for the first time not speaking a word of French, $30 in my pocket, a broken ATM card (which I only realized after trying to take money out after landing…), no car to meet me, just a letter from Anna Harvey announcing me as the new Fashion Editor which I was to use with the PR reps when getting into shows. I walked out of the airport with absolutely no clue how I was going to get to my hotel in the center of Paris and headed towards the first English voice I heard Continue reading
If I could I would ask for a Cecily Brown painting for the holidays. Now that’s a gift wish list… ‘Skulldiver’ from 2006 is above. Not sure if it’s available anymore but I imagine Gagosian has some other gems if you’re in the market for extravagant gifts for that hard to please loved one.
Don’t feel bad… I couldn’t figure out what it was when I first saw it either. But then I realized it was a very crafty gorgeous clutch and my heart fluttered. LA-born and now NYC-based, Jen Kao launched her womenswear line in the Fall of 2007. The beautiful clutch above is from her Spring 2011 collection. I am obsessed with her line, the delicate knits, well thought out cuts and layers.
Brian Atwood makes shoes for women who appreciate a sky-high heel. You have to love and know how to walk in a 4″ or 5″ stiletto. Thankfully I have been training for these shoes for fifteen years. It’s hard to believe there was a time in my late teens that even kitten heels made me queasy. Not anymore. These days I can walk a mile in a 5″ heel and feel like I’m walking on air. If you haven’t noticed the trend yet, this month is devoted to shoes I want so someone please make note. There is a sample sale that starts for friends and family this weekend in NYC and is open to the public on Monday December 6th. Email me if you’re interested and I will send you the address.
Trust me, you don’t have to be an expert or even a fan in order to appreciate 101 year-old Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer’s phenomenal designs. I got introduced to his work years ago while still assisting Polly. She did a shoot in Brazil with Nathaniel Goldberg for Allure and used some of his buildings as a location. Oscar Niemeyer Buildings from Rizzoli by Alan Hess came out last year and is an amazing gift for anyone, especially the design and beauty obsessed.
