France's claim to Disney

For over one year I have managed to avoid taking Expat kids to EuroDisney or whatever they call it nowadays! I have realized I am old enough to remember when Disney actually inaugurated their first European park twenty years ago. I also recall the French labour unions demonstrating and farmers blockading the land that EuroDisney was suppose to be built upon. What has happend to them, I wonder?

Anyway, last week, on a very grey and rainy day we trecked out to Marne La Vallée - 32 km towards the eastern suburbs of Paris. Needless to say it took us nearly two hours to get through the traffic on the " boulevard periferique" but when we finally arrived the place was deserted therefore ... no queues!!!

Our first stop was to aquire a plastic raincoat like all the other 500 people who had defied the odds just like us.

Did you know that Walt Disney’s surname originates from a village in Normandy called Isigny-sur-Mer. Originally d’Isigny ("of Isigny"), it was later Anglicised into Disney. That piece of information blew MY mind. Who knew? Or maybe it is just the French claiming yet another bit of world culture?!?

Slightly sidetracked...

One of my absolute favourite spots is the fabric market at Pigalle. Located at the base of the stairs to the Sacré Coeur in Montmarte, Paris’ largest textile market never ceases to delight budding couturiers and homemade seamstresses including myself. The market quartier includes the largest and oldest department store Le Marché Saint Pierre.

It is worth a visit if only for its impressive building and the fantastic view onto the Sacre Coeur from their 5th floor.

However.... to get there you must walk along the Boulevard de Rochechouart. Admittedly, the Tati department store is not recommendable but the shoe stores along the boulevard are to die for. Not great quality but absolutely fabulous shoes for one season.

Forever the shoe goddess (only my family knows how many pairs I really posess)! I cannot - just CANNOT - walk past those stores without having a peak. This time my mind was blown away: from sexy high-heeled red boots to golden funky pailette platforms they had it all. The selection of pink boots were extremely tempting..but then again...I'm in Paris...that would be an absolute fashion faux pas.  I'm thinking: "I can always wear them in Madrid or Lugano and pass them off as the latest trend?!?"

I am resisting the urge. I am resisting BIG TIME! If I start to shop I will not leave without AT LEAST 10 pairs of shoes. At Euro 29.- a pair who can say no?

But then again I DID come to buy material, after all. I decided to move along swiftly and am very proud of myself!

Who stole the 26th Biennale des Antiquaires show?

Once in a while - thanks to my hubbies' work - I get invited to a VIP event. Little did I know that I would witness one of the most incredible occurence at the Paris Biennale des Antiquaires.

Once every two years, in September, Paris holds an International antique exhibition. The exhibition is organized by the Syndicate National des Antiquaires and takes place in the beautiful building of the Grand Palais. The glass roof is a marvellous showcase for the exhibits and the events of this unique art fair. Art dealers of the leading art houses worldwide participate and present art objects from various periods.

Alongside the world's most exclusive antique and art dealers were ten of the most desirable jewellers including Cartier, Chanel, Harry Winston, Boucheron, Piaget, Van Cleef and Arpels, Dior and for the first time ever Bulgari and Chinese jeweller Wallace Chan. All of these houses had created their most refined jewels for this event.

Chaumet's "Aigrette" white gold diadem,

with a white Ethiopian 40-carat opal cabochon,

250 diamonds, 34 blue tourmalines and 22 violet tanzanites.

I admit I got carried away with Harry Winston's showcase even before the sales person asked me for my name and then smoothly announced that the necklace I was admiring had my name written all over it. "The day I win an Oscar and need to waltz down the red carpet infront of the Kodak theatre I'll be back!"

Harry Winston's "Wave" necklace

with 534 brilliant-cut diamonds 

and a single 60.14 carat pear-cut diamond

in a platinum setting.

However, the show was utterly and completly stolen by a very unexpected guest.

See for yourself:

A pink coloured dog

European vs American coffee break

A drive along the Quais

Welcoming Bill Gaytten to the House of Galliano

John Galliano, the ousted designer!!!! His label is still on the scene although banned down to the docks for his latest fashion show. Or is he setting a trend... once again?
For the second time in one week I trecked down to Les Docks to get a glimps of Paris' fashion week.

I drove myself across Paris figuring there was less traffic on Sundays. Needless to say I got stuck in a demonstration against austerity (!!!) infront of the docks and needed to walk in my high heels from the parking which was miles away. Not a good start!

Expecting to find a lovely marquis ontop of the lofty rooftop garden, I found myself walking around the building - thanks to poor directional guidance - to get to the lower level.

After some haggling about a backstage braclet I wasn't wearing - the queen of negotiating her way inside was losing her patience and therefore - I decided to turn to being snobby, unfriendly and blasé towards the security guide who admitted my invitation was valid but that I needed a braclet. "Listen man, honestly I think I'm past the age of backstage. Seriously"! I walked over to his collegue who let me in with a smile.

Taking my seat at 5pm sharp (I am Swiss after all) we were informed/warned by a "monsieur désagréable" to step out of the runway for the rehearsal. Rehearsal???? You've got to be kidding me! The invitation says five pm! A handful of the saddest looking models paraded up and down the basement of the building to some dreary music whereafter we were kept waiting for an hour!!!! Time to write my blog post!

Then the VIPs - who had all been stuck in the same demonstration outside - started arriving and the buzz began.

The designer it turns out is Bill Gaytten and his sculptured volumes, graphic print and pure colours explored the modernity of dressing. Cut-away shapes, clean round-necklines and varying asymmetric hems in trench cottons, technical taffeta, crepe, cotton poplin punctuated this contemporary, feminine collection. The Spring/Summer 2013 collection was a restrained palette of stone, coral, navy, white, black and pale pink. It was fabulous and definately worth the wait.