The spirit of Haute Couture

Honour where honour is due. Prestigious names that the whole world dreams of. Whether it be for a monogram or simply for a spot of window shopping, usually Avenue Montaigne is bustling with tourists and locals enjoying an extraordinary day among the grand hotels and luxury brands.

Last week, I was pretty much on my own strolling down the most sophisticated avenue of Haute Couture savouring the fashion paradise offering window after window of high-class prêt-à-porter and luxury labels. Obviously, luxury does not rank high on priorities these days albeit the holiday season, nevertheless is was a sad sight peeping through the windows and seeing empty shops with bored staff waiting in vain for clients. 

The Avenue Montaigne, at the very heart of the Golden Triangle, is punctuated with world-class boutiques, from French brands to Italian designers.

The iconic Chanel store encompasses 400 square meters of sleek interior mirroring the brand’s signature aesthetics with tweed sofas and an elegant palette of beige, white and gold. 

The Dior boutique is known for its eclectic changing façades. It was built in 1865 by the illegitimate son of Napoleon. In 1947, Christian Dior, presented an impressive 90-piece collection to magazine editors at his recently acquired Parisian townhouse on Avenue Montaigne. 

The Christian Dior shop at 30 Avenue Montaigne is currently closed for large works. The reopening is planned in 2021 with 3,000 m² of sales space, a "Galerie Dior" and a garden restaurant.

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées was made famous by the creation of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” in 1913. Today's Parisian reality looks quite different!

A dreamy festive window by Repetto.

Fendi’s Paris flagship is known for its Baguette Wall, dedicated to the house’s cult handbag style – perfect for those who are looking for a one-of-a-kind item.

This is Paris. This is the avenue. This is Dior, Dietrich and diamonds. This is where icons and trends are born and love stories have played out since 1913: the Hotel Plaza Athéenée!

My photos - My Paris

I am no professional photographer, useless at manual mode and own a pink camera. Over the past ten years my canvas has been colourful and my inspiration the Eiffel Tower. Every year I print some of my pictures to sell at the school Holiday Bazaar to raise money for charity. This year the holiday season will be different in many ways and charities need all the help they can get... so here I am - sitting in confinement in Paris - choosing my favourite shots to prepare my greeting cards à la Parisienne!

La Parisienne No.9

Fine, I need to get my head back into the game. La rentrée has begun in France and I am back in Paris. Yes, let's get real.

What better way than to kick-start myself into Parisian routine than a run around town with 25'000 other ladies? It's called La Parisienne. It happens every year and is considered the biggest female running race in Europe. Beyond the sporting challenge, La Parisienne is also a charity race, raising money for breast cancer research.

This year's theme for some bizarre reason was the American Far West.

Way back in 2011 it was the first activity I plunged myself into when we had just moved to Paris. I figured I might as well start with a bang.

I ran the race alone the first couple of years because I do prefer to run by myself. However, over the years it has become the perfect excuse for my girlfriends (who have since moved to their next destination) to return to the city of lights and visit. We make a girlie weekend out of it and it has become one of the highlights of my year... along with the rooftop yoga!

The Far West comes to the heart of the French capital

Early bird to register

Ready to go!

Iconic start beneath the Eiffel Tower

Mums and daughters this year... so chuffed Expat Girl is joining me

A few lost cow girls

A well-deserved Parisian lunch "entre copines"

Quotes that made me smile this week...

Christmas is the best time to "flâner" round the shops and department stores... you don't necessarily need to buy anything even though the temptation is great. Always a lover of personalised gifts, cards with a funny message and poster signs with a statement, these quotes made me smile...

La Parisienne 2018

Seven years ago I decided to start my Parisian Expat adventure with a bang by signing up for Europe's biggest female race La Parisienne. I dove into my new home city and have been immersing myself into it ever since.

The highlight of the year, however, must be La Parisienne when the city center shuts down for traffic and 30'000 women invade the streets... and all are smiling!!!

This year we were all particularly happy since the organization and coordination at the starting line seems to improve every time, going from 2 1/2 hours three years ago to roughly one this Sunday.

This year's theme was New York and even though we haven't really figured out why or how, having been born in the city that never sleeps I felt I belonged!

La Parisienne stands for a good cause and for many it is a yearly appointment with their girlfriends or lady colleagues. Some run, others walk but we all cross the finishing line after a 7km circuit. We are all cheered on by dads, kids, music bands and tourists. We all arrive exhausted but happy and we all receive a lovely rose along with our medal. Running for research never felt so good!

What a backdrop for a ladies' race?!?

Spot the intruder! 

Lady Liberty at the Champs de Mars

Rallying under the Eiffel tower ready to go

Warming up with a view onto Trocadero 

This view rocks!

A very special weekend

Seeing one friend after the other leave Paris - going into my eighth year - pretty much all of my soul mates have left the city for their next destination. Don't get me wrong I have friends and I love hanging out with them but the bond you create when arriving in a new city at the same time is unique.

The obvious answer is: make new friends which I have but if there is only one thing better than making a new friend, and that is keeping an old one.

There are two solutions: old stories are like old friends, you have to visit them from time to time OR invite them to come visit you.

For the past three years a dear Swedish friend takes on the journey every September to spend the weekend in Paris and run "La Parisienne" with me. It is a time to catch up and spend some time together just the two of us. A bit of sight-seeing, a little shopping, a hint of culture, lots of walking and even more photos and smiles.

Of course, we treat ourselves to a glass of champagne along the way to celebrate our friendship and when on Sunday morning we cross that finishing line hand in hand I think of Albert Camus' words: "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend."

Warming up for La Parisienne by climbing the 300 steps of the St.Jacques tower...

and the view is spectacular.

Les Halles is well worth a visit for its impressive architecture.

A new discovery... Tintin mural in the 2nd arrondissement

Too early for champagne, how about some cidre?

When your son's name is written on the wall!

I wonder what this store used to sell?

Unmistakably ... Galerie Vivienne

Nope, that limo is not waiting for us.

A delicious dinner with only the freshest produce.

Ready, set, go!

A well deserved drink on a beautiful sunny Sunday in Paris!

Reality has caught up fast

Same as every year, I hit the ground running. After a long summer full of sunshine and relaxation, I drove into Paris last Saturday to find the trees already wearing their autumn colours and starting to loose their foliage... gosh, was I really still at the beach just this morning?!?

Welcoming Expat girl back from her overseas trip and folding her into my arms was my priority. The smile on her face while telling me all about her adventures was priceless.

Ready to jump into the new school year we took ourselves off to the Welcome picnic for the school's returning and new families on Sunday. After seven years it is lovely to still see some old familiar faces...there are very few left given the turnover of Expats in this city.

Monday morning and I kicked myself into shape at the gym. Tuesday was dedicated to welcoming my friends at home kicking off "La rentrée" with many good intentions of seeing more of each other this coming year.

Living in a Parisian apartment you canot get around at least one water leak. Well, we are onto our third one and the insurance guy popped by to inspect the damage in the middle of our girly pow-wow! "Puis-je vous offrir un café" was my question to a rather intimidated looking young fellow.

A stop at the dentist with Expat boy home for two days, an appointment at the Italian embassy to renew Expat girl's passport, a meeting with the Conseil Syndical (condominium council), another meeting with the new Head of School, a PTA coffee morning, a Meet&Greet the teachers, registration for La Parisienne, coffee with a friend, a manicure to keep up the appearances and some hot yoga... all before the weekend!

I might not be a working mother but Parisian life sure keeps me busy... vive la rentrée!

Time flies when you are having fun...

What happened to summer? 

A brand new campus

Welcome back: vive La Rentrée

Familiar Parisian sidewalk scenes

Registering for my eighth "La Parisienne"

Tasting Paris with 100 recipes

Tucked away on rue du Général Camou near the Eiffel Tower, lies the American library unknown to most tourists, but deeply embedded in the hearts of expats from dozens of countries, not just the United States, who sometimes need to read and think in English. A quarter of its 2,500 members are French, in fact, drawn to the library’s Anglophone-friendly 120,000-book collection.

Compared with other Parisian' libraries, it is a quiet, uncrowded oasis offering two to three special events every week, including children’s programs, book groups and author lectures. Rarely do I venture down to this historical site but last week their guest lecturer was bound to provide a refreshing view on demystifying the art of French cooking. How could I resist a free evening of discussion around Paris and food!?

Not only is the author of "Tasting Paris" a French food writer she is the mind behind the award-winning Chocolate & Zucchini blog. In 2010 this was the first French foodie blog I subscribed to when news hit that we were about to move to Paris! I love Clotilde Dusoulier's approach to food as it is all about fresh, simple, seasonal foods from her picturesque Paris kitchen.

With a visiting girlfriend from Switzerland in tow we sat down in the newly renovated lecture hall of the American library and let ourselves be mesmerised by one of Paris' most famous foodie bloggers presenting her latest cookbook "Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local", and sharing her perspective on Parisian cuisine, food writing, and French food culture.

Featuring classic recipes like Roast Chicken with Herbed Butter and Croutons, and Profiteroles, as well as newer dishes that reflect the way Parisians eat today, such as Ratatouille Pita Sandwich with Chopped Eggs and Tahini Sauce and Spiralized Zucchini Salad with Peach and Green Almonds the author made it sound like child's play to bring the flavours and allure of this favorite culinary destination to everyone's very own kitchen.

Now, all I need to do is start cooking... my family will be delighted!