Interview with Vicki Archer of French Essence

Vicki Archer is the face and voice behind the popular lifestyle blog French Essence. I am delighted to have the personal scoop from the French style guru.

How did your blog French Essence come about?

I started blogging about three and a half years ago after my first book, MY FRENCH LIFE, was published. It was a way to be in touch with my readers and to connect with people who have a love of all things French like me.

You have published two successful lifestyle/travel books. Where and how did you come up with the idea for the books?

MY FRENCH LIFE is a celebration of my love for France… in a way it was a thank you to a country that had so graciously opened her doors and welcomed me in. FRENCH ESSENCE is a more intimate look at life in Provence where the focus is on ambience, style and beauty, the qualities that I feel distinguish life in France. I worked closely with photographer, Carla Coulson, on both books and she has an incredible ability to translate my heartfelt thoughts about Provence and France in general, into photographs. Her images reflect so beautifully the joy I feel about living in Provence… I think that they say in pictures what I could never express in words.

Please tell us about your home in Provence.

I live on an olive farm about five minutes from the village of St Rémy de Provence, which is about one hour from Marseille. This rural area is called the Alpilles, because a mountain range of the same name dominates the landscape. Our property was an abandoned fruit farm and over the last twelve years we have established an olive grove, resuscitated many of the fruit orchards and completely renovated the farmhouse. Our home is simple, made of limestone walls and with a traditional terracotta roof; shutters protect the windows from the heat in summer and the cold of winter. The interior of the farmhouse is quiet and I have leaned towards the soft taupes, creams and whites… these neutral shades seem to work well in southern France.

Which French women today do you think exemplify French style?

I think it is the women that you see everyday on the streets of Paris that exemplify French style. There are many famous female French icons of all ages… who are utterly gorgeous and superbly stylish… but for me… I have always found that the greatest inspiration is to be found people watching from the cafés of Paris. A wander around Le Bon Marché in the 7^th arrondissement, a browse through Colette on the Rue du Faubourg St Honoré or a little lunch at Merci in the 3^rd will have your style barometer through the roof…

What are the essential things a Parisian apartment must have?

If I had one… (How I would love one… is there anyone who wouldn’t?...) I think my wish list would include a parquetry floor and paneled ‘boiserie’ walls in that heavenly French pale grey color… with a faded patina that really only works with time… contemporary furniture from Christian Liagre … and… as this is dreamtime talk… a view of the Eiffel Tower … That would all be pretty fabulous…

Are you working on a new book?

Not at the moment… I have decided to concentrate all my efforts into my blog French Essence. I love the day-to-day involvement with my readers and I enjoy that it is written in real time… almost like a diary. I find that blogging is a way to share ideas, to be creative and to make connections with like-minded Francophiles. My readers inspire me every day… to write more, to take photographs, to make a record of my year and to observe French life as it happens….

You have collaborated with photographer Carla Coulson on both books. Please tell us what that experience was like and how you worked together in fulfilling your vision.

Carla and I are very in tune when it comes to working together. I am not sure how it works or why it works but it just does. We understand each other, we are both perfectionists and we don’t stop working until we have found what we want. Although we are very different personalities and we have our own individual styles I think we really resonate together. She has not only a wonderful eye as a photographer but also she is technically superb… She has been able to capture my dream of living in Provence and her images show the emotion I feel for my home. This year we will be working together once more, creating images for a photo library… I style the set ups and Carla takes the photographs. It always surprises me how many different images we can produce together… it’s as if our ideas never run dry… I hope they never do. The most important element about working together is that we laugh and we have great fun…    

If you could invite one person, living or dead for dinner at your house in Provence, who would it be?

I know that I should be inviting someone hugely famous or gorgeous or sexy or naughty or even infamous… and that this is my opportunity to dine with the good and the great… but I am going to tell you the first person that came into my mind when I read this question…my daughter… Why? Because she has moved to Kenya for her work indefinitely and I miss her more than I could ever would have imagined… So if I could click my fingers, clap my hands or rub a magic bottle and conjure her up for just a second I would… and plus… she is the funniest dinner companion I kno w...

You also live in London. What are some key lifestyle differences between London and Paris?

Five words… The English and the French…
Seriously though, it is a little hard for me to comment because I have never lived in Paris… I have spent a great deal of time there but it’s not the same and it is certainly not the same as living in St Remy de Provence… Think ‘country mouse’ versus ‘town mouse’…
As for London… I love it. It has taken some time because I have always been much more of a Francophile than an Anglophile but London has crept up on me and I have become very fond of her funny old-fashioned ways. Actually that’s what I like most about London… the old world nature of the city, the way that politeness and manners still count. As green and glorious as London is nothing can compare to Paris in terms of architectural beauty. Paris is a city of grandeur and glamour… and that is not a view I would ever tire of…

Please describe a perfect day in Paris from morning till dinner.

There are many ways to spend a perfect day in Paris and the one thing I know about my visits to Paris is that I can’t do everything I would like to do in one day. I usually take the train from London or Avignon, depending on where I am and I decide before I arrive what area of Paris I will spend my day. If I am working with Carla I will head straight to Le Marais and parts of the 3rd… shop, have lunch, take a few snaps… enjoy the people watching… If I am in Paris on a weekend I will head to the marché aux puces at Cligancort… spend the day and see what fabulous finds I can come home with…On a Sunday if I want to take it easy I might spend the morning in the Jardin du Luxembourg… and the afternoon in a museum… My favourites are Musée Rodin and Musée Jacquemart- André…
There is no one perfect day in Paris…

All photos by Vicki Archer

http://frenchessence.blogspot.com

Vicki's Amazon shop and link to buy her books:  http://astore.amazon.com/wwwvickiarche-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[dustjacket]

I really enjoyed your interview with Vicki, so great to find out more about her.
dj

[Sweet Freak]

I love Vicki & her blog - I agree with dustjacket - a treat to learn a little more about her. Thanks for featuring a woman who exemplifies... French Essence!

[lisa]

Thanks for this week's Interview. I am Australian too, so am very inspired by Vick Archer's magical life in London and France . I actually got her French Essence book for Xmas and her first book is even more beautiful, and will get that as well soon.

Very interesting interview