"Crumbs. Did anyone deliver the cakes?"

"Crumbs. Did anyone deliver the cakes?"

30.5.09

Marie Antoinette might not have been the first to utter those immortal-yet-possibly-fallaciously-attributed-words, “Let them eat cake.” It seems there is a trifling issue with the timeline. In the 1760s, when political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau quoted “a great princess” as saying it, Marie Antoinette was still young enough to be making mud pies and playing with toy tea sets ... and at least a year or two away from marrying.

Oh, fiddle-dee-dee. It sounds far more appropriate coming from her than some lesser known Duchess elsewhere in Europe. And it adds to scenes like these in Sofia Coppola’s movie.

I thought it was a very generous thing to say when I first heard it, having interpreted it as, “Peasants: the cake’s on me.” It could actually have been a PR exercise that went horribly wrong in the execution process. Is it a coincidence that it's so easy to lose one's head in the pâtisseries of Paris? I think not...

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One Day in Paris with Van Cleef & Arpels

One Day in Paris with Van Cleef & Arpels

26.5.09

Paris is not just the city of lights and romance, but fragrance and jewellery as well. I guess that makes sense, given all of these pleasures are so finely woven together. They go hand in hand, somewhat like the young girl and boy who take a journey through Paris and life during the little movie on Van Cleef & Arpel's site. If you love Paris, you'll adore taking a walk through her streets in this sweet clip to promote their UNE JOURNÉE À PARIS range.

The clip ends with a scene that's symbolic of this pendant.

Called Romance à Paris, it's made of white gold, lapis, turquoise, mother-of-pearl and diamonds. I love diamonds but being fair-skinned, I've always felt stones with colour suit me better. This has a little of both. So are diamonds always a girl's best friend? Perhaps it really depends on who the giver happens to be ...

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Just the Ticket for In-Flight Entertainment

Just the Ticket for In-Flight Entertainment

19.5.09

One of my girlfriends is off to visit Paris shortly... that's Paris, France, not Paris, Hilton. A piece of leather carry-on luggage in antiqued chocolate leather with a purple rose pattern could be just the thing she needs to ensure her travel is comfortable. That and a tall, dark, handsome man to wear matching loafers and spritz her with Evian as part of her in-flight entertainment.

Bon Voyage, ma petite! Don't come home until you're ready...

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Does Corsetry Tighten Loose Aromatic Morals?

Does Corsetry Tighten Loose Aromatic Morals?

16.5.09

I chatted briefly yesterday with delightful MmeBenaut about fragrance, and whether to stay with a signature perfume or be a bit loose with one's aromatic morals and dabble with a variety. It takes a lot of scentual fortitude to remain faithful to just one.

As challenging as it is, I stick with three, partly because it takes me so long to use them up that my wee dram of Scots won't allow more than that. This Jean Paul Gaultier Classique {with notes of rose, star anise, ginger, vanilla and orange blossom} is my 'summer night/winter day' signature scent. Well, not this one exactly. The bottle with the fancy corsetry is reserved for the Eau de Parfum, whereas I have the Eau de Toilette, which can't afford such elaborate underwear but still looks nice naked.

So how about you? Do you prefer corsetry or going naked? Wait ... what? Sorry, I meant to ask ... Are you a one fragrance woman? Or are the choices impossible for you to resist?

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For Eric and Paris Daily Photo

For Eric and Paris Daily Photo

14.5.09

Most of my regulars know dear Eric Tenin and his world famous blog, Paris Daily Photo. PDP blends smoothly with my morning latte to form a dangerously potent addiction, but I'm quietly confident it's a healthy one. It's certainly a happy one.

The PDP picnic has become an annual tradition and this year's was held overnight at an Irish pub in Paris. Long story. {What else would you expect in an Irish pub.} A night of great merriment was had by all, if the photos are any indication. You can see for yourself here and here.

One of Eric's regulars, Phx, arranged some surprises for the man of the hour... hours ... many hours. So I did this little illustration for Eric, to show what Paris Daily Photo means to me. Phx has kindly insisted that I put it up here. How can I resist that beaming smile! So here's Eric, readying himself to take a photo from his trademark Tenin perspective, his crowd of adoring followers impatiently awaiting his next post. Bisous!

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Do Cherubs Pontificate?

Do Cherubs Pontificate?

6.5.09

I was glad to be able to draw a statue that didn't require me to add a fig leaf. This cherub lives on the Pont Alexandre III , a bridge that's commonly thought of as the fanciest bridge in Paris and that's surely saying something. This exuberant display of opulence includes gilding, winged horses, Art Nouveau lamp posts and sculptures of nymphs and cherubs ... like this little fellow. Balancing precariously all these years has done wonders for his six pack.

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