French Girl's Books

 I sent a desperate email to French Girl in Shanghai,

'WHERE R THE COOKIES?'

 Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

The COOKIES were in French Girl's book case (still full) holding up her books.

 U R what U read.

French Girl reads many cookbooks including Jill Colonna's Mad About Macarons.

 I asked her about this one -
The Principle of the little penguin.

It's a book to calm you down.

Oh :O

 Fr Girl is a big fan of cookbook author, Sophie Dudemaine.

So is chef Marthe!

 Elle Magazine is every French girl's bible no matter her age.

Never ever throw one away!

R U kidding?

 French girls in general LURVE these aroma bougies/candles.

 Diptyque ('Baies' is Fr Girl's personal flavor).

 Diptyque bougies serve many purposes.

Wall decor for one. Along with Repetto bags.

No wonder Fr Girl had a fit when I tried to throw mine out.

 When the candle burns down it makes a perfect brush holder. I bet FG has enough of these empties to have a big drinks soiree...

 By the way, just in case you think I'm nuts for noticing ladybugs/coccinelle (bringers of happiness) everywhere in Paris, please note FG has one doing happiness duty here.

 Everyone things French Girls have so much confidence. That certain ineffable something or other, that je ne sait quoi and a load of other bla bla bla.

Guess what?

French girls read self-help books too.

Who knew?

 This one illustrated by Soledad Bravi tells you what positive words to tell yourself bla bla bla

 It's also useful to cut up and add to the decor of your apartment...

 French girls do seem very gifted at home decor.

Some people are not major clutterers
like some other people :(

 I think the French are more crazy for tea than the British.

I brought FG this artisanal tea tin from Tay Teas

Tea title:'Better Than Sex'
Ha!

 My London assignment - bring back FG a tin of Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey Classic. Useful too as book ends.

 I'm sending French Lulu to Fortnum and Masons window for her birthday. That's a switch.

Store Windows #17

 French Girl has her own book out in fact!

 She shoots Paris windows one evening a week et voila!

All French Girls admire FAB icon, Ines de la Fressange. They need to know about Parisian Chic just as much as we do :O

Go figure...

Ines de la Fressange on rue du Bac

For her December shopping diary Ines de la Fressange of Parisian Chic walks down rue du Bac 75007... I too walked down rue du Bac my last evening in Paris...
It's full of wonderful Frenchie facades...

Loaded with potential leche-vitrine/window gazing...

This tiny print shop, Olivier de Sercey has extremement fine stamps at 220 euros(!)..

Ines adores the handmade Italian home goodies at La Paresse en Douce at 97 rue du Bac...

Moi aussi, especialment these made-to-order cashmere slippers...

You'll never go hungry browsing on rue du Bac. Why not grab an 'animal cracker' style box of macarons at Dalloyau - 63, rue du Grenelle round the corner?

Chocolat Chapon is well worth immersing yourself in chocolate at 69, rue du Bac...

Plus their adorable crockery can serve up your tea or chocolat chaud...

Mais la creme de la creme on 93, rue du Bac is Patisserie des Reves bien sur!

It's a child's playland of pastry for grownups...

I bought this irresitable tarte douce a l'orange...

Plus the 'Limonada', a creamy, lemony ball. The pastries are perfectly packed to withstand the Metro crush. Not that they made it further than 10 steps away...miam miam

Exactly nextdoor this little dog kept watch on the comings and goings on rue du Bac...

Ines can't resist saying bonjour.

Don't miss Ines' video here!

Parisian Chic 2

Just before I traipsed off to Paris I told you about Ines de la Fressange's new book, Parisian Chic. How thrilling to see Galeries Lafayette do an homage to Ines and her book (called LA PARISIENNE in the French version). No surprise either. Ines is quite the icon for the French. They even awarded her the presigious Legion d'honneur. All the vitrines/windows were filled with Ines-like mannikins set in classic iconic Parisian spots like Cafe du Flore in St.-Germain du Pres...

Including the perfect classic afternoon tea from Cafe du Flore...

The iconic Parisian street lamps were filled with miniature Eiffel Towers and L'Arc de Triomphes..

The iconic street bench painted pink...

Chaise from the jardin du Luxumborg also pink and laden with l'aire du Temps perfume (is that Ines' favorite?)

In the video Ines was nattering on about Parisian chicness:

'On her hair:

'Without product, I am like Olive Oyl.'

The Asian press call: "What is Inès's favourite restaurant?"

I never go to the restaurant!

Who goes to the restaurant?'

On being recognised:

'People imagine I am always in a Bentley with pearls and diamonds and black glasses and Karl Lagerfeld next to me. And usually people say, "It is incredible how you look like Inès de la Fressange." And then usually I say, "She is much older, isn't she?" And they say, "Maybe." ' BIG MERCI PBers for being so patient and buying Ines' book when it finally came out. I'm still struggling with the French version and must get a copy in English a toute a suite!

As I was grabbing a pile of black clothes to throw in my suitcase, I had a Parisian Chic epiphany when I noticed I had one of FRENCH GIRL's cardigans in the pile. I took a good long look and it hit me. Such amusing details! Faux leather patches at the elbows! Little brass buttons down the front! Why the heck was my black cardi so plain vanilla blah?

It made perfect sense. This flat bow is adorable on the back of French Girl's Paul Ka jacket non?

And could the details on this skirt be more charmant? Are you getting it too?

A last word from BEAR (who is working like mad on his own Le Bearsian Chic book).

Think CHIC ET PRATIQUE PBers!

And while you're tossing these thoughts around have a petit bouche/little bite of religieuse chocolat why not?

BONJOUR PARISIAN CHIC2!