Men and the city

- Flirting for dummies -

It's not a myth nor is it an absolute fact that is applicable to all the French. But I come to really think that French women do honestly life by two lipsticks and a lover. And French men have a mistress on the side for which they don't apologize.

Take Sarkozy for example, in the middle of his elections everybody was talking about him leaving his wife for a younger substitute, a bimbo. He didn't apologize, nor was there ever an explanation of his new/old marital status. BUT as for the Monica Lewinsky/Bill Clinton drama, apologies and explanations for their sexual behavior were the only thing that came out of Clinton's mouth. The president of the united states of America, making an official announcement to the world that something  happened down under, and it didn't involve his wife. Talking about too much information.

 Not a very French thing to do if you ask me, because the French obviously don't kiss and tell. They are secretive and take it as a very serious patriarchal heritage not to talk about these kinds of subjects. Marriage is sacred and so is the mistress. I laugh my heart out when Alec Baldwin says to Meryl Streep in 'it's complicated' that he thinks it's a very 'French thing' to do - having an affair with his ex-wife.

And is it a French thing to do? Having another lover, an affair, a wild ride outside of the castles walls?

Books and books have been written about the French flirting attitude. In France, the woman are in on it too, seduction is part of their everyday life. They enjoy the occasional scene out of their own bedroom and know their place when it comes to 'being the other woman'. Meaning, having no problems with the fact that their lover is happily married to his wife and will not be leaving her under any circumstances.

Historically, the French have always been ahead of any other nationality in terms of underwear. And even today, the French women spend thousands and thousands euros on their lingerie. It's fundamental for them, it's the first thing they put on and so it determines their whole mood... I now understand why, it's all about seduction. Perfume is also part of it. As a hint of perfume should be applied wherever one wants to be kissed according to Coco Chanel. 

I guess starting 'an affair' in the capital that screams romance isn't so hard. It is therefore that it has dawn to me that French men find it very easy and inviting to come up to a strange woman, whom they have never met, in the middle of the street and ask her out for coffee. Sometimes they invite you to have a cigarette with them, even though there is no indication off your smoking habits or non-existing smoking habits for that matter. They ask you where you are from and if you need any directions. But most of all they stroll out numbers of catchy phrases like, 'bonjour miss France' just to attract your attention. It seems to come so natural to them, the whole flirting in the streets thing.

And although I have come to notice and embrace some of the specific treats to the French and Parisian species, I do feel that I still have a long way to go to get it all. Men chatting me up in the street doesn't really do it for me. I guess it must be a southern thing, being a girl from the north I must have a natural immunity against it. Because really, 'wanna have a smoke with me outside', what's that for a one-liner?

Never out of style

- The Madame Grès exhibition -

In today’s world, we are able to see and know everything about what goes on in the fashion business. The behind the scenes of fashion shows, fashion shoots and the making of a collection have no more secrets to the wide public. We can even buy off the runway pieces in a matter of minutes. With Burberry’s live-streaming catwalk, a new hot trench is only a click away.  

And although today’s fashion is there for everyone to reach, fashion history stills houses its little secret treasures… and Madame Grès is one of them.  

Madame Grès was born Germaine Emilie Krebs in 1903. Formally trained as a sculptress, but unable to excel in her profession (as it was an unsuitable job  for a lady), she devoted herself to a career as a couturier. She opened her own fashion house in 1942 which she ran until 1988.

Inspired by classical Greek gowns, she sculpted fabrics around the feminine body. She was faremost known for creating simple but technical complex evening dresses, producing the most exquisite gowns for an array of elegant and fashionable ladies like the Duchess of Windsor, Jacqueline Kennedy , Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.  

“I wanted to be a sculptor. For me, it’s the same thing to work the fabric or the stone”

Her work, was admired by her designer colleagues , such as Givenchy, to whom she was a genius. YSL and Pierre Bergé’s foundation still houses the biggest Madame Grès collection in the world.

The simplexity in which yarns and yarns of silk jersey are draped an pleated is breathtaking. It feels like walking into Rachel Zoe's showroom just before the Oscars. Every Grès dress, every fabric panel is red carpet proofed. None of the designs look plain nor ordinary. Any given actress would be guaranteed to win a place on the best dressed list when wearing a Grès creation .

I cannot help but wonder which movie starlet will be wearing a vintage Madame Grès to the next big Hollywood event.  



From the 25th of March until the 24th of July
Musee Bourdelle
16, rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015 Paris



The horror of taking a taxi in Paris

- Spotted: Big hummer with famous fashion designer in passengers seat -

Transportation in the big city is definitely important, having a car in Paris is considered a luxury as well as a pain in the ***. I guess an explanation is in order here:  when you take your car out, you will bump into a traffic jam and just when you arrive at your destination you will realize that even after an 1 hour search, you will not be finding a parking stop. The only spots that are available are the one’s that say 'livraison' - I think they should better call it the  'don't park your car here, you will be town away within 15 minutes' - zone. So as much for a car in Paris - NO thank you - been there done that. Most Parisians don't own a car ( I don't blame them) and if they do, it is very possible it is as big as a shoebox. I guess there always is the scooter, but since I am a skirt and big hair kinda gal, a pink vespa is not my cup of tea.

My point is that public transportation in Paris is kind of a big deal. You basically rely on the metro and the bus, taxi's don't count because when you are looking for one, you will most definitely not find one and if you do, the taxi-driver will ask where you are going and if that isn't the area where he planned on going, well, you are basically screwed.

SO, just when I have clocked out my Wednesday night visit to the bar until 11.30 PM, because that's when I am sure that I will still be able to take the metro home. I realized that the metro had decided to call it a night at 11.25 PM and bail on me. Platform pumps don't really help in these kind of situations.

Walking down rue de rivoli, keeping an eye on every taxi that passes by, even doing the 'I show my leg, please stop' trick à la Sarah Jessica Parker, I realized that home was still very far away. The only thing left for me to do was to find the nearest taxi-stop and wait in line just like my co-Parisians and the occasional tourist.

The cue is endless and the stakes are high as I stand there with blisters on my feet and an urgent need to crawl into bed, wishing I was living in New York where I could most surely find a  free taxi on the corner of any given street at any given hour.

And just when I thought the wait was going to feel like forever, I see a big hummer passing by...with Karl Lagerfeld in the passengers seat...his surprise passing by just made the wait a little bit more bearable. Thanks Uncle Karl, you just have made my evening!