I Prefer Paris

Joyce Gallery: Chantal Thomass and Paco Rabanne

SAVE THE DATE! Please join me for my live, Facebook Fabulous Food Tour on the Rue des Martyrs on Wednesday, May 19 10am EST (east coast time), 9am Midwest time, 7am, West coast time, and 4pm Paris time.

CLICK HERE to reserve your spot. 

The Joyce Gallery in the Palais Royal always has great windows with the work of fashion designers. A few weeks ago, I spotted an exhibition celebrating the 40 plus years of the designs of French designer Chantal Thomass. An auction of Thomass’s clothes and accessories was held at Drouot on May 6. Thomass is known mostly for her sexy lingerie designs which include garters and corsets and has a lingerie boutique on rue Saint Honore. 

I returned the following week to the Palais Royal and there was a new fashion display at the Joyce Gallery, a sampling of designer Paco Rabanne’s work. The pieces are from Rabanne’s collections designed for the runway, which were collected by pianist Jorge Zulueta and the late Jacobo Romano, who founded the Argentine theater and music company Grupo Acción Instrumenta. The pair used them as costumes for their operas and shows. They originally had a collection of 400 pieces of clothing and 200 accessories and some were sold at auction in 2012 and 2014. The remainder of 182 outfits from the collection will be sold by the auction house Millon on May 31. Rabanne used a mélange of  unconventional materials including silver reflectors, molded plastic, crumpled paper, and hammered metal. 

Joyce Gallery 

168 Galerie de Valois, 75001

https://www.joyce.com/gallery/

L/Uniform Canvas Bags and Accessories

I was walking home from a Saint Germain tour on the Quai Voltaire last week and discovered a wonderful shop. Peering through the window at L/Uniform boutique, I saw a selection of handsome canvas bags and totes trimmed with colored leather. Once inside L/Uniform, I methodically took in all the merchandise lining the shelves and on the display counters. Wallets and change purses in canvas were uniformly stacked in a draw, with appealing multi-color trim, one wall had tote fanny packs with fun-colored straps, and another display had roomy, square bottom totes with thick straps, and long ones with thinner and longer shoulder straps. L/Uniform also had a new collection of back-to-school bags for kids.

The merchandise is produced in Portugal with the quadrille canvas coming from Italy. There are two grades of canvas, cotton and cotton mixed with linen. L/Uniform can apply initials or symbols on any piece to customize it, and it takes about 15 minutes. They make great gifts, especially with the initials.

1 Quai Voltaire, 75007

https://luniform.com/en?_gl=1*1aya9qm*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9rS-6_2tiAMVKmdBAh2MfAyjEAAYASAAEgKXXfD_BwE

 

Mary Jane Shoes are Back!

Every five to seven years a certain style of shoe is worn by almost every Parisian woman.

Just before I moved here in 2004, the rage was flat, white, boxing boots with laces half-way up the leg. In 2009 to 2010 it was the chic, wedge, high top sneaker from Isabel Marrant. Just before Covid in 2018-2019 it was the Stan Smith white square toed sneaker from the 1970s, which men and women wore.

For 2024, it’s the Mary Jane, the square-toed classic with a strap going across the instep. Of course, Parisians have chicly updated the Mary Jane, now with double straps, silver, canvas, rhinestones, and square and round toed fronts.

When was the last time you wore a pair of Mary Jane’s ?

Slingback version

Repetto

Deeya Paris Boutique

A few weeks ago, Vincent my partner raved about a new, super cool clothing and accessory boutique in the Marais and he said I must check it out for Eye Prefer Paris.

Vincent is pretty much always on the money when he suggests things for me to do, and he was absolutely right this time

Deeya Paris is a fantastic boutique celebrating the craftsman and artisans of India, featuring clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home design. The shop bursts with alive colors, great designs, and a cool vibe. Racks and shelves are chock full of winning, eye popping, and appealing items which make you want to buy everything in the shop.

I spoke with one of the owners, Matthieu Foss, who co-owns the boutique with his wife Marielou, and he shared with me that the boutique stocks only merchandise produced in India, with about 15 Indian designers. Many of the clothing and accessories have hand embroidery or hand sewing on them.

In the rear of the boutique is a gallery specializing photos of Indian photographers and the current show has black and white photos of an Art Deco movie theater.

Matthieu and Marielou have pooled their talents from their former careers to open Deeya.

Marielou, originally from Bombay, worked closely with Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel for 15 years and in 2017 she started working with environmentally conscious labels and promoting Indian craftsmen.

Matthieu was one of the founders of Paris Photo and moved to Mumbai in 2005 to open the first photo gallery in the city. Now back in Paris, Matthieu continues promote Indian culture involving photographs, fashion, and design.

21 rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004 https://deeyaparis.com/collections/all

Matthieu Foss

Alaia/Kuramata- Lightness in Creation

The Fondation Alaia always has exceptional exhibitions and the newest show Alaia/Kuramata- Lightness in Creation, is a fascinating study of two master creators.

Azzedine Alaia was one of the greatest couturiers of the 20^th century, creating stunning, form fitting garments worn by top models and celebrities. Shiro Kuramata, from Japan, designed innovative furniture that referenced ancient Japanese decorative arts but modernized it with his personal vision of furniture in the future. He passed away in 1991.

Alaia was an avid collector of furniture from many periods, and he attained many of Kuramata pieces and organized an exhibition of Kuramata’s furniture in 2005. Fast forward to 2024, twenty years later, the Fondation Alaia has decided to combine the talents of Alaia and Kuramata together. Curated by Carla Sozzani, an editor, book designer, and the owner of the world-famous store 10 Corso Como in Milan, and Olivier Saillard, a top curator of fashion exhibition, the sleek and flowing silhouettes of Alaia’s dresses alongside the futuristic look of Kuramata’s pieces terrifically complement each other.

Upstairs, is a moving tribute to the greatness of Alaia’s designs. In 1989, the year of the bicentennial of the French Revolution, Paris went all out to celebrate the momentous occasion. Alaia was commissioned to design a gown for Jessye Norman, the greatest opera singer of the time, who was going to sing La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. He designed a stunning gown of red, white, and blue with a dramatic hood, using the fabric the French flags are made of. Make sure you see the amazing video of Norman singing La Marseillaise at the opening celebration on Place de la Concorde.  

One last, special treat was a literal window inside of Alaia’s atelier. He never allowed anybody into his private studio except his staff until he died in 2017. For the first time, the public can see his atelier just as he left it when he died.

18 rue de la Verrerie, 75004

https://fondationazzedinealaia.org/en/

Alaia Atelier 

Paolo Roversi at Dover Street Market

Photographer Paolo Roversi is having quite a year in Paris. 

On March 26, the Palais Galliera opened a major retrospective of Roversi, focusing on his incredible career of 40+ years with 140 astonishing images of his fashion and beauty photos. Now there’s a second tribute to Roversi in Paris. 

Last week the Dover Street Market opened in the former, 17^th century palace of Madame Sevigne. The new space is much more than another fashion shop in the Marais; it not only houses fashion and accessory collections of upcoming, young creators, it’s also a cultural center with live events and a gallery space. 

Walking through the cobblestone courtyard other day, I was stunned by the striking, columns adorned with Roversi’s photos. The light wood columns were designed by Rei Kawakubo, the founder of the iconic Comme des Garcons label and she also designed the minimalist interiors of the building. 

Another wonderful surprise was a beautifully curated exhibit of Roversi’s work on the lower level of the cultural center. The photographs are displayed on a cylinder-shaped wall in a dark room with just the photos illuminated. 

Dover Street Market

35-37 rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75003

https://www.doverstreetmarketparis.com/

Photographer Paolo Roversi at Palais Galliera

The Italian-born photographer Paolo Roversi moved to Paris in 1973 and over the next 50 years, he became one of the top fashion photographers in Europe. He’s worked for some of the most prestigious magazines and fashion brands including Vogue France, Vogue Italia, Egoïste, Yohji Yamamoto, Romeo Gigli, and Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons.

His style is more like romantic, Renaissance portraits, with blurry, sepia-toned images in black and white and color. There’s a mystery and depth to the photos that are usually missing in most fashion photography, which tends to be slick and more commercial-driven.
The exhibition displays 140 magnificent and unique photos.

Until July 14, 2024
Palais Galliera 10, Avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie 75116
https://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/paolo-roversi

Experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens, and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Shopping Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, Emily in Paris tours, and Chocolate and pastry tours.

Tours start at 275 euros for up to 3 people, and 85 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 

Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses

The first great exhibition for 2024 has already started.

Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses is an incredible visual voyage into the world of designer and couturier Iris Van Herpen. Her creations are mostly 3-D extravaganzas using new technologies and fabrics, bringing fashion design into the future today. Over 100 of her designs are stunningly curated in the exhibit, which brings forth Van Herpen’s vision of a mix of fashion, art, design, and technology. The show Is presented in 11 intriguing themes on two floors: Sensory Sea Life, Water and Dreams, Forces Behind the Forms, Skeletal Embodiment, Growth Systems, Synesthesia, Alchemic Atelier, Cabinet of Curiosities, The Mythology of Fear. New Nature, and Cosmic Bloom. Hepern has collaborated with contemporary artists such as Philip Beesley, the Collectif Mé, Wim Delvoye, Kate MccGwire, and Damien Jalet.

Her designs have been worn by the crème de la crème including Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, Lady Gaga, Fan Bingbing, and Naomi Campbell.

Born in 1984 in a village in the Netherlands, Van Herpen quickly rose in the fashion world, first working for Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra, then opening her own couture house, Maison Iris van Herpen in 2007, at the age of 23. She was admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris in 2011, and in 2010 she launched her first 3D-printed dress.

Put this exhibition on the top of your must-do list in Paris.

Iris Van Hepen: Sculpting the Senses

Until April 28, 2024

Musee des Arts Decoratifs

107 rue de Rivoli, 75001

Note: The front entrance is closed for renovation, so you must enter through the Tuileries

The museum is open until 9 pm on Saturday and 8 pm on Sunday.

https://madparis.fr/Iris-van-Herpen-Sculpting-the-Senses

Eye Prefer Paris 18th Anniversary
In 2024, I will celebrate 18 years of bringing you Eye Prefer Paris. I want to thank and acknowledge everyone who has read Eye Prefer Paris, and especially want to thank my loyal subscribers who have received my posts by email over the years. 

Many blogs these days, are using platforms such as Patron or Substack, where you have partial access to their content, and to view the full content, you must pay a monthly or yearly fee.

I would like to continue posting on Eye Prefer Paris free of charge but there are costs involved in maintaining the blog, including a monthly fee to send my posts to my subscribers, and the platform I use to distribute the blog, Typepad.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could support me with a donation so I can cover my costs and continue to bring you Eye Prefer Paris free of charge.

CLICK HERE  to make a PayPal donation (You don’t need a PayPal account to donate; you can just enter your credit card info **and be sure to opt for paying friends or family so a fee is not deducted.) I can also receive donations by Zelle and you can use my email address [email protected]

Or if you prefer to send a check, please email me at [email protected] and I will advise on mailing instructions.

SPECIAL INCENTIVE:

Anyone who donates $75 or more will receive a gift of a packet of 9 Eye Prefer Paris Door Photos.

 

Christmas in Paris 2023

This is the last of my Christmas in Paris 2023 series. Today the focus is on street lights and displays, Place Vendome, and the beautiful trees and decorations from five-star hotels throughout Paris.

Did you enjoy my Christmas in Paris postings this year?

Please check out my article about the fabulous new Raffles Hotel London for Luxury Travel Advisor

https://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/hotels/just-back-raffles-london-owo?fbclid=IwAR2BuAoQQjqGfH-xlw0OrxFnW2lhslBxKD9oZOSEWl8H2BkxU4wVPGl_0Lc

 

Place Vendome

Place Vendome

Ritz Paris

Place Vendome

Four Seasons George V

 Four Seasons George V

Four Seasons George V

Hotel Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg

Ritz Paris

Hotel Crillon

Louis Vuitton Place Vendome

Chanel rue Saint Honore

Dior rue Saint Honore

Bulgari Hotel

Four Seasons George V

Four Seasons George V

Fouquet's Hotel

Place Vendome

Ritz Paris
Place Vendome

Place Vendome

Dior Saint Honore

 

 

 

 

Christmas in Paris 2023: Printemps

The eternally glamorous and legendary Catherine Deneuve kicked off the inauguration of the holiday windows at Printemps for 2023. It’s a Paper Holiday, Let Your Wishes Come True, is the theme this year with messenger birds taking the helm. The windows are comprised of 170,000 paper decorations designed by Mathilde Nivet, 11,000 feet of fairy lights, and 95 puppets. Below are the four different themes.

• “THE CALL FOR WISHES” with birds flocking together to collect wishes,
• “PROCESSING THE WISHES”, true letter-making machinery with busy night owls processing the wishes,
• “WAITING FOR WISHES”, where Christmas messengers are gathered on wires above the Printemps Haussmann domes alongside FERRERO ROCHER© magic pyramids,
• and finally,” THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WISHES”, under the majestic Printemps Haussmann dome, where colorful birds are hard at work, preparing the gifts asked for by the visitors.
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Christmas in Paris 2023: Galeries Lafayette

Today I start my annual edition of the Christmas time in Paris with the windows of Galeries Lafayette.

For 2023, the theme at Galeries Lafayette is the Little Girl and the Paintbrush, inspired by "Noël de mes Rêves"/My Dream Christmas. Fashion couturier Charles de Vilmorin, born on Christmas, designed the windows and decorations for the iconic, humongous Christmas tree.

Other festive happenings at the store include a puppet workshop, a Santa photo op, and a Santa Claus mailbox.

Until December 31, 2023

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER IN TIME FOR XMAS

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order your cards before December 10, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive in the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand-wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French-blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Blue Doors

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers