Napoléon’s death’s 200 th anniversary is being celebrated everywhere this week, and even President Macron attended the ceremony around his tomb at the Invalides with the young Jean-Christophe Napoléon Bonaparte (b. 11 July 1986), a Harvard Business school graduate, who is the pretender to the throne. The Emperor has created many fabulous schools and law reforms but has also left … Read More
Chantal Thomass puts her life’s creations up for auction and Kenzo’s furniture is also sold
We mostly know Chantal Thomass for her whimsical luxury lingerie which she sold for many years on rue des Petits Champs near the gardens of the Palais Royal but she started designing fashion at 20 with Dorothée Bis and was part of the trendy “Le Palace” crowd in the late 1970’s. The auction organized by Millon at Hôtel Drouot on … Read More
Easter is chocolate time!
Sales of chocolate are so important for Easter in France that chocolate shops have been called “essential shops” like hairdressers and bookstores in the new lockdown law. I just read in Guide Lebey‘s newsletter, the guide of food and drinks which is sent out on Fridays, about a young chocolate creator, L’Instant Cacao at 3 rue des Petits Champs. The … Read More
Spring has arrived at Naïla de Monbrison
Naïla de Montbrison has been exhibiting artists’ jewelry since 1987 and her enthusiasm and the youthful style of her pieces are unchanged. This new exhibition of six artists can be seen by appointment: it is full of spring colors and vegetal influences. The Greek sculptor Corinna Coutouzi, Delphine Nardin, Violaine Febvret, Hong Kong based Rose Morant, Swiss artist Gilles Jonemann, … Read More
The Bic ballpoint pen gets dressed up by Pinel & Pinel
I love coincidences and little daily happenings. I was trying out a new hairdresser highly recommended by my former one and as you do with hairdressers, we chatted for two hours non stop. And while Soad was telling me about her twin daughters, who sound like they are true characters, she described their apprenticeship in leather goods manufacturing companies. One … Read More
New habits, new pleasures and lots to read.
Everything has changed in our lives in the last year and one positive detail is that we have more time to read. This week I enjoyed reading at last, Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian’s biography of Tiger Woods and I was surprised at how excellent it is, even for non golfers. The golf champion was in an accident two weeks … Read More
Pierre Cardin is honored at la Madeleine
The mass for Pierre Cardin (who died on December 29) at Eglise de la Madeleine, was a moving moment of intelligence and wit. The three speakers, two Academicians and Père Bruno Horaist, curé de la Madeleine, spoke with humor and from their heart, with no pomp and no exaggerated eulogism. There was no starization of the event (photographers are not … Read More
The inauguration, a sunny colorful moment
I don’t know if you noticed but after a spell of snow, the sun came out shining as soon as President Biden started speaking. It was a good omen and the Inauguration as seen from Paris at cocktail hour (we celebrated with champagne) was a very happy moment. Jill Biden‘s couture blue mask matching her elegant coat and dress ensemble … Read More