Postcards from Paris – Fashion Week
The family was off again on another cookbook adventure, this time to City of Lights, but we unexpectedly began our journey with fashion, not food. So…if you only read food blogs, please stop back…I’ll be sending French-inspired recipes your way in the coming weeks, but if you’d like a peak into our trip to Paris, please join me!
We arrived early in the morning and wanted to crawl into bed…but we knew from past experience that’s not what you need to do…you need to keeping moving. So we head out, scurrying down the street and around the corner…wait, there’s a Starbucks (how un-Parisian is that!). We sneak inside like cats getting out of the rain to find a whole litter of people in line…how do I order my “usual” in French? Dana helps out, and soon we’re sipping and walking toward an unassuming building…what have we meandered into…a costume designer’s dream?
I’m utterly fascinated! Waiting for the Isabel Marant show to begin are cavalier men and tall, lanky ladies in impossibly high heels, looking… well, like colorful cranes, posing and having their pictures taken, or taking pictures. The invited guests march purposefully toward the roped off entrance, so I know these folks aren’t the buyers, or press…who are they?
I call them the fashion butterflies. I think that they are trying to begin a metamorphosis into a role in the fashion world, maybe they are emerging photographers, designers, models or bloggers.
Actually, the celebrity bloggers are in the fashion inner circle…Garance Doré (who’s blog of the same name showcases her photography and illustration) strolled into the show with the editor of French Vogue and later we saw her beau (well-known fashion photographer, Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist ) with the fashion elite.
Of course, not all that are outside are butterflies, some of them are part of fashion’s core. Do you recognize anyone?
Later, we stumbled upon the John Galliano show while we were splashing around in the rain at the Tuileries.
There, we find none other than an icon of fashion photography, Bill Cunningham. At 82, he’s still on the hunt for the best shot of the day. We followed him around taking pictures of him taking pictures!
Once again, I’m enthralled by the style of those racing into the show and those that are patiently waiting outside in the drizzle. If you enjoy people watching as I do, this was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.
OK, I’m soaked and feel about as fashionable as a drowned rat, it’s time to trundle back to the hotel in my soggy coat and (thankfully) flat boots encrusted with jewels of gravel from the Tuileries.
That night, I kept thinking of how good it must feel for all of the gals in those stupendous heels to take them off and get into their comfy slippers…at least that’s what I did before we set off to one of the best bistros in Paris, which (thankfully) was right downstairs…more about that in a future post!
In our hectic world, most of us can't commit to having dinner with our family/friends every night, but maybe we can start to put aside Sunday to be together and share our lives and good food. Let's join together to inspire others to celebrate our old traditions and create new ones. 
Kate — Sunday, March 18, 2012 @ 4:01 pm
Thank you for the glimpse of Paris this week–I loved it!
Susie replied: — March 18th, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!! Thanks for your comment!
Sandy — Monday, March 19, 2012 @ 11:01 am
You are are the new Garance Doré, Susie! How awesome your pics are! I’m fascinated. Did you enjoy the Isabel Marant Défilé? And…I take the blue wedges above. They’ll fit my spring-outfits, I guess ;)
warmly, Sandy
Susie replied: — March 19th, 2012 @ 11:23 am
Thank you so much Sandy! I don’t think that Garance has to worry about me…it’s back to food next week…but I just had to share because I found it all fascinating! We were on the outside looking in, so didn’t see the show, but from what we saw of the models racing to the runway from the hair and makeup area, looks like an interesting year!