Perfect Vintage: No Good Store - Paris

Last Saturday I went for a rather disappointing lunch to Rose Bakery on rue des Martyrs in the 9th arrondissement. Afterwards I took a stroll through the quartier and discovered a shop called "No Good Store" which looked quite promising from outside with its 60's mannequin's in the window decoration. They offer a wide collection of contemporary brands and accessoires such as Phamarcy Industry, Lou Doillon for Lee Cooper and they sell vintage pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, André Courrèges and Lanvin for really reasonable prices. I was amazed to see that you would only pay between 200 and 300 EUR for unique evening dress by YSL Rive Gauche. All of the vintage pieces are in perfect condition beautifully arranged and clean. If I need to dress up for a special night this would be first address to look for a one and only piece.

No Good Store
53, Rue des Matyrs
75009
Tel: 01 45 96 00 87
Metro: Notre Dame de Lorette, #12 line

Richard Avedon VS The Sartorialist

Richard Avedon: August 1957

"Homage to Munkácsi" Place Francois Premier Paris

The Sartorialist: September 2008

Ralph Lauren Fashion Show, New York

The End Of Trends...

Being pregnant is a bit the end of trends for at least 1-2 seasons. Right now it makes no sense for me to enquire anything which leads to a "semi-interest" in fashion. As I love fashion I am still following the current happenings (of course) but without passion (unfortunately). Naturally I still consume as many fashion magazines as time allows and I continue reading my favorite fashion blogs and sites on a regular basis. Nevertheless, right now, there is something bigger going on in my live so I am not as emotional as I would be about la mode en generale. This "semi-interest" also lead to a lack of posts over the last months. Having said that, I would like to come back to the beginning of this post where I mentioned the "end of trends".

Today I read an article on JC Report mentioning that the ecomomic situation lead to many mini trends in order to reach as many customers as possible. As a consequence, fashion seasons don't come up with a so called "leitmotiv" but many different ideas. I consider this as a very interesting theory and when I look at the collections for S/S 2009 recently being shown on the runways this thought is perfectly demonstrated. You can see a wide range of trends crossing different decades of fashion.

How should I evaluate the so called "end of trends"? Should I be happy because I can now be pleased having enaugh in my wardrobe which can be worn over and over again or does it also mean the end of creativity. It is no secret that fashion is recurrent, but at least there should be some innovation. If you have too many "mini trends" how can a designer still present a huge innovation? The answer is open.

August In Paris...And Versailles

There are very different opinions on spending August in Paris. Some people like it because Paris is empty, there is less polution and more freedom. I consider it as the sadest time being here because nearly everything apart from the big stores and chains is closed and there are no parisians but only tourists. I will gladly leave this Saturday for a two week vacation coming back at the end of August for la rentrée.

In case someone visits Paris shortly and reads this blog I would highly recommend to reserve a ticket for the Versailles Summer Events. I was seeing the "grand evening fountain display" last Saturday and it was stunning. Some of my photos reflect the magic atmosphere which lasted from sunset to midnight. An exprerience everyone who loves Paris should make.

Time For Lace

I was very pleased to see lace as one of my favorite fabrics back on the runway in Prada's Fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection. Today I was browsing though new photos on Garance Doré's streetstyle blog and I noticed the "lace look" has already made it on to the street. Lace as such is a very sensitive, elegant and aesthetic material that makes you look very very feminin with a wicked touch.

My favorite lace dresses are actually available in Peal Lowe's lace dress collection. All a bit pricy for me so I might go for some vintage shopping shortly.

1 Et 1 Font 3

Being pregnant in Germany can be difficult (fashion-wise). They don't have shops like "A Pea In The Pod" and all that fancy stuff being imported from the US. In France it is much better. So many babies are born here every year that they have to make an effort...and they do, especially in Paris. Fashion and food is very important to any parisian and nobody understands it better to dress as graceful like the French.

To cut a long story short, I discovered the perfect maternity shop yesterday, called 1 et 1 Font 3. The boutique at Solférino was decorated so lovely from the outside that it already caught my attention on Sunday. Yesterday I made my way to it and I discovered that their clothing is as cute and inventive as their name (emphasizing on how you got that way in the first place). The shop is a relief for anyone who suffers from being out of fashion for at least some months (like I stated in a former post). They sell very well tailored linen trousers and jeans with elasticated waists, romantic dresses and comfortable shoes. Prices are reasonable, you really don't need to spend a fortune. Especially their A/W 2008 collection is beautyful, consisting of the most exiting knitwear you can still wear after pregnancy.

Paris Stores:
Paris 4th district : 16 rue de Turenne - 75004 Paris - Tel.: 01 42 71 12 20
6th district : Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche - 22, rue de Sèvres 75006 Paris - Tel.: 01 44 39 80 00
7th district : 3, rue de Solférino - 75007 Paris - Tel.: 01 40 62 92 15
9th district : Galeries Lafayette - 40, bd Haussmann 75009 Paris - Tel.: 01 42 82 34 56
16th district <* fin de serie *> : 1, rue de Sontay - 75016 Paris - Tel.: 01 45 01 74

Europe:
Portugal: Rua Nova de São Mamede, n° 30 1250-270 - Lisboa
Germany : Francfort, Freiburg
Belgium : Antwerpen
Denmark : Copenhagen
Spain : Manresa (Catalogna), Barcelone
France : Albi, Agen Bordeaux, Cannes, La Rochelle, Rouen, Toulouse, Limoges, Toulon
Norway : Bergen, Oslo

USA:
New York

My Window Wants...Lace Curtains

As we recently moved I read a lot about houses and decoration. This led me to a home report on Pearl Lowe's house in the Somerset countryside. The use fabrics in black lace curtains caught my attention. Despite it looks a bit gothic, the black lace creates a cosy atmosphere in a room and I have never seen it before. When I came across her homepage, I found out that she designs the curtains herself.

The House:

The curtains can be ordered on her website pearllowe.co.uk in different colours and fabrics.

The Outfit

I will start my week-end in a couple of hours, actually not before posting this stunning outfit worn by Julia Restoin-Roitfeld. It is amazing that she can pull off shorts and cleavage in one without looking trashy. She has not lost a single bit of elegance and french reticence. This is what I call real style.

Fashion And Pregnancy

Fashion and Pregnancy does not really work together, does it? Some female friends of mine say that the "typical french fashion" like Chloé dresses and wide blouses would match perfectly with pregnancy. This is correct, but what about the "taille haute" which luckily just came back? No way. Once you are pregnant, you are out of fashion. It is hard to say but honest and it is difficult to stay motivated creating cute outfits because there are tons of things just cannot wear (especially pants and skirts). The only part of your wardrobe which is left over for extension are shoes and dresses.

During the last months I collected some inspirational photos of pregnant women looking stylish all the way through the 40 weeks. I dedicate this post to all future mothers and hope they enjoy pregnancy, stay in fashion looking forward to something which is much greater.


Natalie Vodianova with her second child. Age 26 she has three kids.

Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg with two of their kids and the most stylish family I have ever seen.

I was never interested in Nicole Richie's wardrobe but what she wore during her pregnancy was flawless and beautiful.

And who said that pregnancy is not seductive? It can be as well, as soon as you feel and go for it. Eva Herzigova did that provocative shoot for Vanity Fair Italy shortly before giving birth.

Exhibition: Fashion In The Mirror

UK's first independent gallery devotet to photography, the Photographers' Gallery, currently hosts the amazing exhibition "Fashion In The Mirror". It is curated by Michel Mallard and Raphaëlle Stopin (organizers of the annual International Fashion and Photography Festival in Hyères ).

The exhibition features works by 21 world-class photographers such as Nick Knight, Ines van Lamsweerde & Vidoodh Matadin, Steven Meisel, Juergen Teller, Mario Testino and many more. It deals with self reflection in fashion photography and provides a rare look behind the scenes.

In the pictures photographers observe themselves during work, which means they are mainly included in the photo itself. The shoot becomes a kind of self-portrait revealing the secrets of glamour and seduction.

"Fashion In The Mirror": Self-Reflection in Fashion Photography

July 18 - September 8
The Photographers’ Gallery
5 & 8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7HY
Tube Station: Leicester Square

Vogue Paris Team...Défilés Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2008 2009

It's always inspiring to see new photos of the Vogue Paris Team being photographed all together. Their style is effortless, timeless and always a great source of inspiration.

From Left to right: Mélanie Huynh, Benjamin Bruno, Carine Roitfeld, Géraldine Saglio

A Parisian Ad...Longchamp Autumn/Winter 2008/09

The french brand Longchamp offering handbags, travel bags, luggage, wallets, briefcases, small leather goods and fashion accessories named Kate Moss face of the brand in 2005. In 2008 they publish the most stunning campaign shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott.

Kate Moss appears as a young and beautiful Brigitte Bardot look-alike and you can hardly notice the age difference between her and french actor Gaspard Ulliel. They make the perfect matching parisien couple spending a lazy afternoon in Café Flore.

Brigitte Bardot, herself, at Café Flore

Absent And Back Again Next Week

Due to a lack of time for private reasons I had no chance to follow my favorite hobby during May and June. I will be back next week with a review on Josep Font's fashion show I will attend during Paris Fashion Week Haute-Couture F/W 08/09. Looking forward to be back...

I Want To Buy These Shoes

In times where we designers invent everything, something was still missing. Comfortable but seductive shoes. The most comfortable and still aestheticly appealing shoes I can imagine are ballett flats. But are they secucive? I don't think so. What a relief that american footwear and footcare manufacturer Scholl asked the italian multi talent designer Diego Dolcini, which you might know from other collaborations (Dolce&Gabbana, Tom Ford, Pucci and Bulgari)) to reinterpret orthopedic shoes.

With this collaboration Scholl managed to add a new flavor to their shoes. Healthy shoes gain an additional value, being hip, sexy and fashionable at the same time. Comfort meets glamour is the idea of the concept. I would be happy to become one of their customers but as for now it seems that the perfect summer shoes are only available in Italy.

Distributers of Scholl Shoes in France:
http://www.schollfootwear.com/fr-fr/stores.asp

Favorites:

Advertising:

It's Spring Now In Paris

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/francois_lafite/

Summer Of 1959...Yearly Recurring Fashion?

As I am collecting all Paris Vogue editorials of the last years as a source of inspiration, I noticed a totally similar collage combined with this April's Vogue. "Hippie" fashion seems to be a hype which is being presented as très tendance year by year. Let's celebrate summer in stylish mode and leave the rainy days behind.
Right now there are so many things going on in my life that I have no time to post frequently. I am really sad about this but I will return to a daily routine as soon as time and inspiration is back.

Is Marc Jacobs The New Tom Ford?

I just came over this really controversial article in GQ Magazine about Mr. Marc Jacobs. Excluding the fact that he is one of the most talented, most successful and most popular fashion designers, I ask myself if that's all he has to say...I have been left clueless.

The Triangle Of Happiness

Photographer James Gooding's latest photography project deals with the Triangulation of happiness which points represent where someone lives, works and shops. James Gooding himself wrote about the idea for the project the following "I began painting a series of visual images in my mind about my own life. Soon I found myself completely preoccupied thinking about where others found happiness in their day, different careers, different lifestyles, and geographical circumstances that define this state of human existence in a modern society." This made him document the life of eight expatriates living in different corners of the United States.

Triangles vary with each person which leads to the conclusion that happiness varies for each of us. "In this collection of images, I have tried to understand my subjects through conversations that took place and observations made over the course of days I spent with them. I am presenting them ‘in their now’ and as ‘my direct experience of them. With this in mind, I invite the viewer to reflect on the central image of their triptychs as to what I have seen to be the most significant point of their triangle", Gooding writes.

I personally appreciate the self-concerning aspect of this theory. By reflecting the triangles of others I started to think about mine. Happiness is the most important goal to reach in life. Every human searches for it and only few of them find it. To visualize the comlexity of this matter was an exceptional idea and an enrichment for everyone who is interested.

edward - live - lockwood, NV

edward - work - reno, Nv

edward - shop - patrick, Nv

View:
www.jamesgooding.com
www.galeriedujour.com

The Individual Meaning Of Fashion

This morning on my way to work I became clear about the fact how much I love Paris. Not only my private Paris but also my daily live. It's just so much more anonymous and indifferent in Paris and I thank my destiny every day.

I remembered a chat with a former colleague I never forgot because the consequences of my statement of mind were so disappointing. The discussion originally not about fashion but at the end it let to it and the judgements involved with this subject.

SHE told me that her vacation in South Africa was incredibly nice the only problem was that her trunk with all clothes was stolen.

I said that this must be horrible because no one can replace the value of them.

SHE affirmed that this was no problem because insurance pays.

I replied that this would be an issue for me loving every single piece of my closet and each having its own history.

SHE laughed and said that she doesn't understand me. It's easy she countered "you just take the money from the insurance company, go to a shop, buy three different pants, two pullovers, some shirts, 2 pair of comfortable shoes and you will be alright. You will survive, believe me."

No answer from my side.

Afterwards she never got rid of the picture of me being a superficial doll who is only interested in the "easy" things in life. (I learned later from a reliable third party)

When I remember this chat today I come to the conclusion that for one a pullover is anything and for the other it's something special. I am glad to say that now that I am older, I would have the self-confidence to explain who is why superficial.

The Model Vamp

The 25-year old dutch model, Lara Stone, has been busy. It was a lucky year for her model career. Being the first girl of the Givenchy show and walking the runway of any big name such as Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs and many more, the lack of her appearance is just unimaginable. Apart from the runway, she did the Givenchy Campaign and appeared in Paris Vogue several times even gracing the cover of the March 2008 issue - which was major. "Sometimes a girl just touches you," Carine Roitfeld, the magazine’s editor in chief, said. And indeed, Lara is lucky that Carine favors her (especially because she recently stated that she misses diversity in the bunch of today's models). The editorials La Stone did are beyond doubt outstanding. Lara Stone represents high class sex-appeal and brings back the glamour of a 90’s top model ideal. She has a exceptional body combined with a face of female perfection. With regards to photo shoots she is able to represent high-class and low-class, feminity and masculinity, never boring but quite controversial. I recently told my boyfriend that I would definitely fancy her if I was a man. With her 90-60-90 body and her striking face, she reminded me of an excerpt from Frédéric Beidberger's "L'amour dure trois ans" where he wrote that he appreciates if women have "a body of a bitch and a face of an angel". Slashers could counter that Lara has a bit too much of everything but I assume that fashion people agree that she is a one-of-a-kind addition to the fashion world.