Beautiful People in Paris

I can't get enough of when fantastically well-dressed people step in front of my camera. Especially when you can see that they are already passing down their style to the next generation.

Beautiful People in Paris

Two posts in one day! (I know this never happens...)

But BEFORE I got my partypants on, Friday was also the day I got to do a little 'modeling' for a few of my classmates! I'm such a ham for the cam so obviously it was waaaay up my alley. Dressing up in gorgeous frocks and working on my poses?? AB.SO.LUTELY! Here are a few behind-the-scenes pics I stole from my friend K, hope you like them!

So THIS is how they party in Paris

Last Friday we did it up French style at the Diesel Fluo Party. The theme was neon - complete with glowstick bunny ears and sunglasses. The club was Bagatelle. The drinks were Goose. And the music was everybody's version of amazing. Sorry I didn't take many photos, but you can tell it was unreal, right?

 Dress: vintage. Shoes: Vince Camuto

Well la dee da who could that be??!

It's like, such a mystery right? 

ps, the photo looks a little elongated....not on purpose! I promise!

Vintage Delights ft. Berny Demore

 I am officially in adoration of Parisian vintage. The shopping is such an experience. You file through the clothing, meticulously examining each piece and ooohing and aaahing over how amazing it is that a YSL smoking could actually be available for 150 euro (no but seriously, HOW is it possible??!), but in the end find maybe ten items to try on. Of course, only five fit decently because the sizes are so different from what we have now and you feel totally foolish for daring to try on a 36. But there is simply no time to care about your foolishness because THEN you find that one piece that was somehow made for you, and it is the most exhilarating feeling. When it looks so good and you can't help but say something along the lines of, 'HOW could someone possibly sell this thing? And at THIS price?!!', well, you know it's a keeper. 

So on a lazy Sunday me and two of my girlfriends went to one of the only open vintage stores in Paris, Thanx God I'm a V.I.P. (I know, that name, but I SWEAR the stock makes up for it)....and it was just the kind of Parisian vintage experience you dream of. The best part by far was their shoe collection, because amongst the Louboutins and Diors was another brand that left us all head over heels (pun intended) in love. 

Berny Demore is a shoe company created by designers Nicolas Berny and Alain Demore that has recently come to an end due to a buyer making an exorbitant purchase and unexpectedly canceling it at the last minute (I got this story from the owner of T.G.I.A.V.I.P., who was a personal friend of one of the designers). The company was unable to cover the losses and their shoes have sadly become a part of fashion history. Formerly retailing at about 500 euros (for the record, we purchased them at a fraction of that) these shoes easily live up to the price and are absolutely DIVINE. Each pair is so unique and so gorgeous I purchased one and am already anxious to go back and buy another.

I can't wait to put together the perfect outfit for you all so I won't be showing off my new pair just yet, BUT here are some photos of another pair that I was also in L.O.V.E. with (but, as is often the way with vintage, they were just a touch too small). Enjoy and book your flights to Paris ASAP!!

 

Jardin du Luxembourg

Went to Jardin du Luxembourg today to practice my photography and I couldn't get enough. Hope you enjoy the tour! 

 This city is too stylish for me to not take photos of some of the people I see. I just loved her prints and all the colour she was wearing - how great is that blue?! Not to mention she fit in perfectly with the colourful surroundings.

How to celebrate Canada Day in Paris....

With a trip to Garance's fave - La Jolie Garde-Robe! This vintage beauty was in an amaaazing shopping district and the experience was improved tenfold by the fact that none of the clothes I tried on came with that funny, 'oh right this beautiful thing really IS used clothing' smell. Maybe it was their fabulous discernment when it comes to picking pieces, which meant the store wasn't packed with junk and everything was cleaned properly. Or maybe it was just another fashionable perfection that seems to be a part of these Parisians everyday lives....

The ladies who worked there were so wonderful and french I could hardly contain myself (one was wearing a leopard romper, another opted for an all-denim ensemble....I DREAM of pulling off looks like that). I came out of the visit with a blouse that I totally adore and I cannot wait to post photos of it sometime soon!

Step by step

It's been crazytimes since I arrived and I am definitely still adjusting to the Parisian lifestyle, but instead of burdening you guys with the downs, let's just focus on the ups, which happen to include an amazing exhibit on Yves Saint Laurent at the Petit Palais (the highlight for me was a full wall of every version of the 'Smoking'....UNREAL) I could not get enough of this, I seriously wish they had let me take photos because the presentation of this exhibit was so beyond. But at the same time, I sincerely feel that you all should just jet over to Paris and see the thing for yourself. Luckily though, photos were allowed of the outside and cause this place is a PALACE it made for some fab shots!

 

The view of the gardens as I ate lunch. Aaaaaahmazing.

The countdown begins

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Dress: DVF
LIKE ZOOOMIIIGAWWWD YOU GUYS I leave for Paris in (almost precisely) one week!! And my facial expression right now is basically a perfect replica of what you are seeing in this photo. But there is a never ending list between me and my arrival. I have a camera. I have a phone. I have a 50% black wardrobe. I have an enormous shoe collection....now all I need to figure out is like, oh y'knoooow, what to pack, my budget, places to visit, places to SHOP (dammit. my budget just doubled). So I'm doing some serious searching above and beyond what my Lonely  Planet guide has to offer. First stop? The first lady blogger of Paris...Garance Doré.

The vintage store she talks about already has me drooling. CAN.NOT.WAIT.

Ondine #3

PS anyone out there have any tips or places to go? I would love to hear it!

Crazy for Calla

Have you heard of Calla Haynes? Well allow me to make the introduction. Born in Toronto and now working out of Paris, Calla makes clothes that look like lingerie meets museum-worthy art (she cites the Group of Seven as one of her inspirations) and a dash of pin-up girl. Her clothing is wearable and her prints are exceptionally beautiful, which means each piece achieves the feel of "relaxed luxury", which is the base concept for brand. You can count on me visiting her store this summer during my fashion-filled adventure in Paris...here's hoping we become besties. 

Aaand here are some of the prints!

Photo credit: http://calla.fr

Everything's Better in French

Alright, so in between finishing final essays and beginning my biannual exam stressmonstering I had something really really cool happen to me this week. The following has been confirmed: I will be in PARIS this summer. Being French, Fabulous and probably Flamboyantly Fashionable (coincidence that all these words begin with 'F' and therefore create a really cool moment of style alliteration? I LAUGH at the suggestion). 

Anyways, I have basically been daydreaming Parisian daydreams for a week straight (for example, there is this scenario where Garance Dore and Scott Schuman both want to shoot me and my TOTALLY AUTHENTIC Parisian style for their blogs and I'm all 'I love you guys! I write a blog too!' and then we become blogging BFFs......it could happen.....) and it appears as though everything around me is REMARKABLY French right now.

For example, I go to school in a small-ish city without much of a french population and consequently there are very few french fashion mags made available at the local Chapters. BUT this week of ALL POSSIBLE WEEKS....a Paris Vogue was on the shelf. Alone, a little battered up from its long trip, but CLEARLY calling my name. 

So obviously what needs to happen in my life is some SERIOUS PARISIAN WARDROBE PREPARATION. I need to go to vintage shops and I need to buy an it-bag that no one else knows is 'it' except for the REALLY fashionable of Paris and I need to take up a diet of only wine and cheese and baguettes so that I fit into all the beautiful Paris fashions I find! This is a major undertaking......

Well, the most I can do right now is make some Parisian-inspired purchases. So here is a photo of some new shoes and a new vintage dress I recently picked up. I feel very http://lookbook.nu/#more right now (and in doing this I can no longer make fun of these sorts of photos....I'm on the bandwagon and it's kinda fun so I don't totally think I will get off). Unfortunately I still don't like the idea of revealing my face just yet (such a big secret!) and I am definitely aware that the background isn't exactly super artsy or anything...but here you go anyways!!