Celebrating Italy with "La Famiglia" at the Embassy

When his excellency the Italian Ambassador to France and his wife invite you for afternoon cocktails sponsored by Le Bon Marché how can you resist? It was them who helped bring on board many of the Italian brands currently being showcased at Paris' most fashionable department store in an Italian-themed fall exhibition, which spans fashion, food, homewares and sport. 

Teams from the department store and food emporium traveled deep into Italian regions from north to south to unearth unique, little-known products and discover the passionate people and stories behind them. The result is a selection of the purest essence of contemporary Italy in all its amazing ebullience. 

Being married to an Italian I was lucky to receive a personal invitation to celebrate the launch of “La Famiglia,” within the closed walls - and the magnificent garden - of the Italian Embassy in Paris.  Take a look for yourselves:

Wondering what's behind the closed doors?

A simple yet stylish invitation... so Italian!

Entering a world of history mixed with glamour and fashion.

Following the orange thread and the golden shoes... Dorothy and Toto would be so jealous!

Leading straight into the magnificent ballroom

Condiments Italian style

Can I take that Panettone home with me?

Guess what this is? Hint: it tastes delicious with the panettone

A cosy spot to have a rest.

Displaying fragrances on the Ambassador's desk

Another touch of orange 

I might just use that lovely bike to ride home. 

 Grazie mille Le Bon Marché and the Italian Embassy for a lovely afternoon.

Mingling with the models...

The Grand Palais hosts the most impressive exhibitions of all Paris and is one of my favourite buildings in the city. When Place Vendôme decides to sponsor Vogue's Fashion Night Out at the Mini Palais following a private viewing of the Irving Penn photo exhibition inside the Grand Palais you know it can't get much more glamorous.

Arriving at 9 pm - late for a museum visit but early for the fashion crowd - it turned out "tout Paris" of the fashion world was mingling inside darkened exhibition rooms rather than actually admiring the photographs. My luck because it seemed Jean Paul Gaultier was also more interested in the photos than the audience and we kept on bumping into each other... literally. He was busy sharing his views with Ditta van Tesse, a burlesque character which just begs to be photographed. She did make a stunning model.

What can I say Kylie Minogue was the only person shorter than me in the entire gathering and I could not name a single one of the models. I did, however, recognise Mario Testino looking slick as ever.

As we were invited to drinks under the glittering disco balls at the adjacent Mini Palais, I ended up chatting with some business partners of past times and could not stop thinking how lucky I am to live in Paris.

It is these magical moments when through all the glitz and glamour I peak out the room and past the Ionic columns of the Grand Palais onto the spectacular lit-up dome of the Petit Palais and can silently appreciate "la grandeur et la splendeur" of this city's heritage.

Ditta ven Tesse provided for a perfect shot

The most magical view of the evening

It wouldn't be a party without disco music

When fashion meets history

A quick trip to Ibiza and back

What to do when your kids are off on a field trip and your husband has announced the upcoming work week will be the busiest one of the year? Go for little voyage yourself of course!

My destination: the island of Ibiza!

There was a mission behind this trip and given the cloudy weather this was just as well. How to cover Ibiza's market in furniture and decoration in four days. Clocking 300km and covering everything from chic lounge style to flee market vintage, this is what I found...

Wouldn't that look great in our Parisian living room?

Another exotic touch that would look good in Paris.

Mexican vibe definitely works better in Ibiza

My kind of slogan:

A dose of peace and love is always welcome in Ibiza

How quaint is this little boutique?

Not sure what I'd do with these in my living room?

A blast from the past: vinyl records

Collage of materials and colours

The local flea market called Ibiza troc

Milka cows with the colour gone wrong?!?

Total kitch and I'm loving it!

Not my style but great inspiration 

Spot the pink flamingos... #ifIhadagarden

If you happen to like the Mafia style

150 Euros for a pair of serving spoons... seriously?!?

"Grow old with me the best is yet to be"

The biggest flea market in the world

A sunny Saturday afternoon and Expat husband and I are off to the St.Ouen flea market on our little Italian vespa. Weekend traffic in Paris can be terrible.

You really don't need to be looking for any specific object - in fact it is probably better you don't - because you'll either return empty handed or with all kinds of trinkets you didn't even knew you needed. However, it is a fantastic place to shoot photos... again and again and again...

The business of collecting (scrap metal, antique jewellery, furniture, old books) has been part of Paris life for ever. At night, rag-and-bone men biffins, or crocheteurs travelled through the capital in search of their loot. Driven out of the city at the end of the 19th century by the new authorities anxious to clean up the capital, these rag-and bone men set up camp and hovel between the fortifications and the first houses built in the village of Saint-Ouen. Little by little, it wasn't long before open-air cafés and dance halls appeared, along with numerous stalls where the people of Paris would come by on a Sunday to stroll and perhaps stop for a small glass of white wine.

In 2001, the entire marketplace was classified as Zone de Protection du Patrimoine Architectural Urbain et Paysager (urban architectural landscape heritage protection zone ) for its very unusual atmosphere. There are more than 2000 boutiques spread out into 16 markets and spilling over into several surrounding streets.

Les Puces is known as one of the largest Flea Market in the world.

So, let's start with a real Neapolitan coffee!

I have always had my eye on these kind of 1970s champagne glasses.

My husband informs me his Mamma has plenty of these in the cellar in Napoli

An eclectic mix

Expat hubby does not believe I started skiing with these bindings.

Caught my eye

Thinking of my knitting Mexican friend

Seems like a scene out of a French movie

Made me smile big time

Thanks to little brothers and car-mad sons you recognise the models

Loved the colour composition

Blast from the past!

We could do with a big miroir louis xv in our entrance, couldn't we?!?

It's all in the presentation

This painting hit home... literally!

If ever we acquire a chambre de bonne... this could become its direct access!

Impressive "stand"

I'll have the pair to take home please.

Funky dining room chairs... to bad that don't come in pink!

Please can we have a rest?

These round mirrors might fit our entrance better?

Someone got lost!

Aperitivo time!

My absolute favourite fairy tale when I was a little girl.

I love kitch!

One day... when we live in the country?!?

Paris or Las Vegas?

Gotta love those old-fashion globes

Caught my husband's eye!

Wondering what's behind those walls?

A touch of pink and an amazing smell

Clutter that someone will be interested in buying

No one home?

Someone emptied their attic

Where to start?

Feeling artistic!