Galeries Lafayette probably chose the most dramatic times to open their new flagship store on the Champs Elysées but Minister Bruno Le Maire insisted, in his inauguration speech, on the Renaissance of the avenue with this magistral cathedral of design. A department store conceived like a museum, this is not new in Hong Kong or in Japan or even in … Read More
Jean-Jacques Henner and red hair, a missed opportunity
It sounded like a great idea! To celebrate red headed women in painting in one of the prettiest 19th century houses of the 17 th arrondissement, the superbly renovated home of Jean- Jaques Henner. But I should have been alerted by the subtitle of the exhibition “From J.J. Henner to Sonia Rykiel”. Well if you have never seen any work … Read More
Colombian luxury illuminates our lives
Lucia Echavarria was born in Paris from Colombian parents and studied at Brown then trained at MAD in Paris, the Guggenheim and Christie’s. Four years ago she launched Magnetic Midnight, her collection of precious gilt palm straw handbags and headpieces. She has now added belts with tassels and black velvet to complement in winter her summer creations. With her first … Read More
La Galette des Rois, a major family festivity
On January 6th, day of the Epiphany, when the Three Kings or Wise men visit Jesus in Bethlehem, everyone celebrates with a galette des rois, a pâte feuilletée cake filled with marzipan (almond cream). The youngest child in the family goes under the table and shouts out the names of the guests. One of them will get the portion with … Read More
My most clever Christmas present
I had not received such a clever present for a long time and of course it came from my precious nephew Alex! This pretty make up mirror lights up with a led light and acts as a charger for your iPhone or any other telephone. How many times have you arrived near a house and the address was in your … Read More
Free exhibitions and expensive shopping in the Seventh
With Christmas getting dangerously closer, my steps led me to rue du Bac and rue de Sèvres where two small exhibitions are quite enchanting. While doing your shopping at Hermès, at Laurence Tavernier (for nightgowns) or at “38” rue de l’Université for South African and Mexican artifacts, make sure to step into Fondation EDF next to the Récamier restaurant to … Read More
Michael Jackson celebrated by painters at Grand Palais
We have all grown up and lived with Michael Jackson (1958-2009) who died much too young at 51 and has sold over a billion records to this day. But what I didn’t know was how much he had been portrayed by his contemporaries. The National Portrait Gallery in London and the Grand Palais have jointly organized an exhibition “Michael Jackson: … Read More
Florence Lehmann, lights up jewelry
Naïla de Montbrison has a tiny jewelry gallery on rue de Bourgogne with a huge aura. And for the first time she is showing Florence Lehmann, an artist from Strasburg, who creates phosphorescent jewelry in resin: this inlcudes rings for the little finger only, large necklaces and magnetic broaches. She teaches at Strasburg School of Decorative arts and conceives jewels … Read More