48 Hours in Paris

People often ask me for great places to go in Paris. I'm never sure what to tell them because I love everything about this city. However, if I only had a weekend to spend in this perfectly beautiful place, this is probably what I'd do...

I'd reserve a room at La Belle Juliette hotel.

Or La Maison Favart...

Or one of my all-time favourites, the Hotel du Pantheon.

I might even request a bouquet of flowers.

And perhaps a Champagne bottle or two. (Depending on who's with me on this mini Parisian honeymoon.)

Although if I wanted to save money, I'd just wait until I went to the Flower Market at Place Louis-Lepine on the Île de la Cité (Marché aux Fleurs et aux Oiseaux), which is open every day of the week and filled with glorious blooms. Browsing, of course, is free, but there's nothing like a small posy to enhance a Parisian hotel room.

To really begin the weekend in the Parisian spirit, I'd wander around the Left Bank and get reacquainted with the charming streets, just to remember how pretty the city is. I'd also head for the gorgeous quartier tucked away behind the Rue de Furstenberg, where some of the best design stores are clustered, like macarons.

And then I'd wander around the corner to Rue du Buci, for a coffee in a sidewalk cafe, and some serious people watching, for some free lessons in fabulous Parisian style.

Then I might head to either Catherine B, for some vintage Chanel (a girl can only dream)...

Or head across to the Right Bank and Hermès, for some of the best browsing in Paris. (Tip: If you can't afford an entire outfit, their fragrances are just as lovely.)

And while I was over that side of the city, I might make my way up to Montmartre, to the fabulous fabric shops of Marché Saint-Pierre on Rue Charles Nodier. Most people head for the biggest one, which is nicknamed (confusingly) Marché Saint-Pierre, but I prefer Reine and Moline. The choice of French silk taffetas is extraordinary. And the French linens are always lovely, too.

Then I'd head back to the hotel, put on some fresh lipstick and a cute frock, and head out to dinner somewhere on the Île Saint-Louis, just so I/we could walk across the Seine at the magic hour, when the pink twilight makes you feel as though you're in a movie.

Then, if we had some energy left and there was a spare taxi nearby, I'd suggest a late-night drink at The Champagne Bar of Dokhan's Trocadero hotel, one of the most beautiful rooms in the entire city.

The next morning, I'd wake up before the rest of Paris and wander the streets, because dawn is always one of the best time to take photographs of Parisian streets. 

Then I'd grab a freshly baked croissant at a traditional French bakery. (Tip: If you're not sure which one to go to, look for the busiest places.)

Or, if we wanted to splurge, we'd head to the Hotel Vendome for breakfast, because while the suites are well out of my price range the fancy brunches are thankfully still within budget!

Then I'd head to one of the many fantastic flea markets, before the crowds descended upon the best antiques. 

With lunchtime approaching, I'd head back to the Left Bank, for a wander around the Luxembourg Gardens and the neighbouring Fifth Arrondissement; both of which are always charming on a sun-filled Sunday. (Many shops and tourist attractions are closed on Sunday mornings, so these places are also great to fill in the time until the city wakes up  and/or open its doors.)

I'd find a cute place to have some lunch. 

Or just a macaron to see me through the afternoon...

And perhaps finish off the day with some shopping, seeing as Le Bon Marche is right nearby.

Before heading back to the hotel for a sound night's sleep!

{All photos mine, except the lovely map, Belle Juliette, Maison Favart, the exquisite Chanel drawing, Hermes, the YSL lipstick and the beautiful Burberry coat – all the good ones were taken by others, of course!}

Sitting Pretty: The Agony of Finding The Perfect Sofa

Ever since we moved into our house, two months ago, we've been searching for some new sofas. We sold our old sofas to the buyers of our house, you see, and since then we've been using (in order of comfort) a bean bag, a chaise longue, a cheap two-seater sofa and a dining chair to watch TV at night. It gets rather awkward when more than two people come to visit. We've had to pull out the folding camp chair on occasion.

A few weekends ago, I became fed up with the lack of class in our house and trawled the stores in search of a stylish couch. Has anyone done this lately? It was agonising. All the sofas I love were either insanely expensive, or too exorbitant to contemplate. I don't know about you lovely library readers but we have a huge mortgage. We simply can't afford $3000 for a couch. Let alone $6000 for two.

There's an old saying that I love: desperation breeds determination. Or is it: When the going gets tough, the tough resort to creative measures? Anyway, I was so disillusioned by the over-priced sofas I decided to go on a sofa mission. Two sofas for under $1000.

I targeted the auction houses, the second-hand stores and even ye olde eBay looking for classic styles. Finally, I unearthed two beautiful old wingback sofas at a cute little second-hand store in the countryside. They were $100 each. I only wanted one. "You might as well take them both," said the lovely owner. Then I found two bolts of stunning cobalt-blue herringbone tweed marked down to $5/metre. I took 15 metres – $80. An hour later, I found a delightful 70-year-old-upholsterer willing to do the job for $400/sofa. He was also happy to collect the sofas up from the shop. But he said he couldn't do the job for another month because he was "going on a caravan holiday with his wife: their first in three years".  I told him we could certainly wait, and I hoped they had a romantic break. It took me two days of driving around the countryside, so the fuel was probably another $40. Total price for two gorgeous wingback sofas in navy herringbone? I don't care, because I'm just so THRILLED we finally have something to sit on! 

But the moral of this story is: Look before you leap, or you sit, because now that we've decided on cobalt herringbone I've discovered that everyone else in the world is choosing PINK! Yes, that's right, a pink sofa is still the seat du jour, apparently, even after all the saturation we've seen of this pretty shade. Orange, green and grey are also fairly fashionable, but pink is the top choice, it seems. This cute one, above, is Diane von Furstenberg's. 

Pink sofas. Who would have thought they were the height of sitting room chic?

The sitting room of Number Sixteen Hotel in London, designed by the always stylish Kit Kemp.

A room by one of my favourite designers, Mary McDonald. Too much pink, do you think? I like it. I think it looks very English.

Here's another beautiful English home, this time by Harriet Anstruther, in London.

And yet another space designed by an Englishwoman with an eye for a good design, India Hicks. Her mother, Pamela Hicks, also has a pink sofa, I noticed in one of her posts.

Even India's daughter, Domino, has her own version.

Lilly Pulitzer's also doing a few pink numbers. I love the ottoman. The flip side is actually a different colour. Aqua, from memory?

Anna Spiro's famous pink sofas, as featured in Vogue and Canadian House & Home. I always adored the hot pink cane couch. So whimsical and unexpected.

Here's another sofa that Anna recovered for her home. Slip covers. Don't you just love them?

Another English version of a pink sofa, this time by Ros Byam.

Which reminds me of this pretty number, from the lovely Chinoiserie Chic blog...

Even Miles Redd is taking to pink sofas now...

So is John Stefanidis...

But this little cutie was my favourite of all of them... 

(Source of this image and image at very top unknown. Please feel free to notify me if you know, so I can credit accordingly.)

Diana Vreeland: Pink, Red & Tangerine Dreams

"There's only one very good life, and that's the life you want, and you make it yourself". 

Diana Vreeland

Before Anna Wintour, before Grace Coddington, even before Anna Piaggi (who sadly passed away 2 days ago), there was another extraordinarily creative and ever-so-slightly eccentric talent who put her own exclamation mark on the fashion world. She died 23 years ago this month, but her name still invokes respect among the fashion cognoscenti. She was Diana Vreeland.

The great photographer Richard Avedon once said of DV: "She was and remains the only genius fashion editor". I would argue that Grace Coddington is up there as well, but yes, Diana Vreeland commands her own spot on the dais. She began her career as a columnist and a fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar, and rose through the sartorial ranks to eventually land the top job: editor-in-chief of US Vogue, which she ran from 1963 until 1971. Her influence was legendary. She even advised Jackie Kennedy on her wardrobe during the Presidential campaign. She was also close to Coco Chanel and perhaps fired off more witty bon mots than the latter did. When the Vreelands moved to a new apartment, which was decorated by Billy Baldwin in bold, blood red, their parties became legendary and included the likes of C.Z. Guest Cole Porter and of course Cecil Beaton, who would never miss a DV soiree. In 1957, Paramount decided to make a musical, Funny Face, featuring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, which has since become a cinema classic. They based the magazine editor character of Maggie Prescott on Diana Vreeland.

Her biography, D.V. which she wrote in her later years, remains one of the wittiest, funniest, most interesting memoirs I've ever read – although I'm not sure how much is embellished and how much is truth? I suspect more of it is truth than creativity. Diana Vreeland always did lead an extraordinary life.

Next month, the life of Miss Diana will be again highlighted in a new documentary, Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel. It's the first feature-length documentary on her life and work. The documentary features taped recordings of Diana Vreeland, as well as interviews with Ali McGraw, Anjelica Huston, Manolo Blahnik, David Bailey, Diana von Furstenberg and various Vreeland family members. It's released in cinemas on September 21, although check for Australian dates. The official trailer is here: here. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3wsNdANhM)

And here, in tribute to DV, is a little post on her favourite shades: red, hot pink and tangerine. (Even her nurse as a child was called 'Pink'.) DV, we still miss you.

Fashion journalist Anna Piaggi, who sadly passed away 2 days ago. One of the greats.

A glimpse of Blair Waldorf in an Oscar de la Renta frock, who, like Diana, has never been shy of colour.

The uplifting interior of Ann Lewis, recently featured in Australian Vogue Living online's files.

Two photographs by architectural photographer Robert Polidori. I've just discovered Mr Polidori. His images of Versailles are astonishing. And his Cuba photographs are even more beautiful. Diana would have loved him too, I think. She liked photographers who think outside the lines.

The now-famous red-and-pink room by designer Miles Redd, whose name is as memorable as his interiors.

Not sure of the source of this stunning library, but I just adore it. The citrus sofa, orange cushions and pink print are all unexpected, and utterly gorgeous.

A wall of my study. Not quite as glamorous as the tangerine and citrus room above! But hopefully mine will look as well stocked as the above space one day.

Memories from Angelina in Paris, 2011. (I bought this just so I could photograph it. I loved the colours so much I couldn't bare to take a bite.)

A pink door, photographed on the same trip to Paris. Only in Paris!

Not sure of the source of this moodboard. {Please contact me if you know and I'll credit immediately.} Look at the polka-dot pink and tangerine parcels. What a great little gift to give to guests when they leave.

Manuel Canovas' beautiful 'Bengale' fabric, via Faux Fuchsia. Doesn't this remind you of India? Diana would have loved this print. She was a fan of India's bold shades.

A favourite cover from Conde Nast Traveller magazine. The dress is by Bottega Veneta.

A gorgeous frock from Tigi New York. I may be heading to the Bahamas this New Year's Eve for work. This would be the perfect thing for the Junkanoo parade and fireworks over the beach. Look at the pink underslip. So lovely. (I'd never heard of Tigi until I saw this dress. Must get out more!)

A clip from Sambag's SS12 Collection. Love the quirky hat as much as the dress. It reminds me of a lovely old vintage bathing cap.

A corner of our cluttered spare room: hot pink-and-tangerine taffeta curtains, pink beach umbrella, tangerine ottoman and pink fabric leftovers. I love the reflections of the trims here on a sunny day.

One of my favourite stores in the Canal St Martin part of Paris. The colours in this store are so bold, it's as if a couple of paint tins exploded. But it's so fabulous, you can't help but smile when you walk in.

And at the other end of the aesthetic spectrum (less funky; more sophisticated) is the Hotel Pantheon in Paris, one of my favourite places to stay. (Tip: Ask for the pink-and-red rooms that overlook the Pantheon. They're quintessentially Parisian, and some of the prettiest in Paris.)

And lastly, some peonies from the streetmarket in the Bastille part of Paris. You can't go to Paris without buying a tiny bouquet of hot pink flowers...