I started browsing the web for fall shopping as I’m yet freezing out in Paris. September is hardly there and it’s 70°F out there. Can you believe it? Paris sucks.

I’ve been into hats a lot lately. I’m fairly classic and hats lifts up my look. But, before being a fashion accessory it protects my ears and hairscalp from the biting cold. I love beanies’ shapes. It keeps my hair done better than hats do. And I like hats with large crowns. 

You remember this Dior ad of Delon, the French actor. Lancel did the same with younger Brigitte Bardot.

I’m in love with those boots’ collection ever since Balenciaga introduced them at SS RTW 2010 runway.

I can’t afford them unfortunately. And even if I could, I’ve not the appropriate runway … hem  … job to show them off. White collar …  ”we work here … no place for fashion … we do not throw our money into expensive useless shoes”.

Yeah, I agree it’s the weapon of people that do not want to understand fashion. It’s stupid. But that’s my life…

Anyway. November I’m off to Rome to buy some serious shoes and boots. Not those. But Rome get such gorgeous shoes at a ridiculously low price compared to Paris.

pics from shoeblog, WWD, elle.com, French Elle the magazine

This Cartier’s ad caught my eyes in that it’s not spectacular an ad. For a synonymous of luxury, I’d expect more sparkling jewels than mere engagement and wedding bands and their boxes. I mean it’s as if H&M would display a pouch rather than Daria in a sexy swimwear or Apple advertising the box of the iPad rather than the device itself.

Though, Cartier is such a house’s label, that I can picture wonders in those boxes.

No need to show bling bling off. Simple and classy. How powerful is that?

I just bought this hat at Doria Salambo at Bastille in Paris.

I came thru the making of of Kate Moss and Gaspard Ulliel advertising for Longchamp back in 2008 at Cafe de Flore, Paris.
I missed this campaign as I were living in the US that year. The campaign renders the whole Paris cliché picture with the intimate and vintage interior of Café de Flore. Look at this cup of tea. Today, you find that out only at your grandmother countryside home. Yet, it’s not the campaign itself that’s stunning. It’s more the characters.

Now, Louis Vuitton lets you get your very own customized bag.

You choose your double stripes, their location, colors and may even add your initials.

Chanel has chosen Vanessa Paradis as the face of its upcoming long lasting moisturizing lipstick line. Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Color collection will launch in March 2010.

What’s funny is that I used to not like Louis Vuitton a lot. The reasons are plenty.

I was talking about Christian Louboutin fascination for movie making. Seems he really enjoys the experience. You don’t know how to use properly Louboutin crystal stiletto and enjoy your Rituel box Piper Heidsieck champagne? Well, follow the guide! So sexxy

Piper Heidsieck – Le Rituel box set

My very first pair of luxury shoes has been camel Rodolphe Menudier mules. It was seven years ago in July 02. I was in Paris for some days between my finals and coming back home. It was the middle of summer sales and Zara and my usual stores has been devastated. Hence I decided to make some luxury stores. I got into Rodolphe Menudier store (14, rue de Castiglione, Paris) at walking distance from Place Vendôme. While I looked like a student (i.e. poor), the shoe advisor was truely friendly.

I first heard about Christian Louboutin shoes 4 years ago by one my male acquaintances. He used to be a pharmacist (!) into fashion. We were talking about rising brands while sipping a (bad) coffee at the office. I was saying that fashion was streamlined in Paris, and that when I was searching for an everyday special outfit, I prefered going to London around Angel or Seven Sisters. Maybe, British found those neighborhood’s frocks streamlined, but for me it was fresh air. He introduced me to Louboutin. The first time I tried one pair on was in the US. Actually, I really feel that Louboutin ” is renowned in the US rather than in France. I never saw Louboutin shoes in Galeries Lafayette or Au Printemps in Paris while it’s widely distributed at Saks or Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and likes. I get any doubt that it should be his choice to not be in Paris grands magasins right now. But I don’t know why he wasn’t before being a recognizable brand. It’s been sometime that Louboutin is pampering his image and building a complete brand personality venturing wider around shoes. He pictures a complete sophisticated, luxurious lifestyle with his shoes being the central piece of happiness. His creations make me guess that he likes all sort of creation, from stories to filming to photography.

In 2007, he partnered with David Lynch to release incredible images in an exhibition called Fetish

I found out those paintings while I was trolling along Annecy, a lovely city in the French Alps. The artist is Jo Manno www.jmanno.com. His atelier sets in the Alps. I’ve fallen in love with the first painting. I really feel I can walk the corridor and join the light there. I like the different textures he created. The contour looks like rusted iron, while the middle is stone-alike. Any shoot wasn’t good enough to show how the blue script enlightens the whole canvas.

How surprised I was to discover Brussels airport. What a gigantic hub for such a small country.

AND

How excited I was to find out Uterqüe