A love letter to Paris (reciprocity not expected)
Where the grandmas are chicer than you and not all croissants are created equal. This is my loving letter to Paris, plus a list of Parisian finds (with links for you to find online).
It’s the 15th of March as I write this and after a week of filling up on foie gras and willing my photographic memory to kick in as I crane my neck up towards another cathedral (like the tourist I am), I’m not ready to leave this city of love. It’s too soon! I need more history, gardens, fashion, La Seine, cliched romanticism, and maybe one more bite of foie gras… s'il vous plaît!
Then again, while the rainy days are romantic, it’d be nice to see the sun again… just to quickly reconfirm its existence.
That’s the thing with Paris. You could be told “it’ll rain all March, don’t go”, or “watch out, the waiters will spit on your shoe” but you’ll still save every penny for that pilgrimage. The city is moody but also annoyingly good. And for the record, the locals (and restaurant staff) were more friendly than we deserved and gave not one bit of side eye as we stumbled through French and ate cheese before the meal. French was actually a mind flip as we kept accidentally speaking Spanish with an American accent. We’d switch mid-”si” to “oui” which came out as a bashful “si-oui”. Not the greatest look, but finished with a grateful smile, of course.
Everything from the croissants to the streetwear and cafes covered in mosaic tile… magnifique. Paris is my jam. It reminded me of New York City but with slightly more refinement - my scale being the number of cobblestone streets… and okay, a tendency to over romanticize. It may be the boulangeries, but something’s in the air!
We’re visual creatures, so here’s a little gallery of what caught my eye design wise because the French have mastered multiple domains. And if you know me in real life, you’ll understand why I’m including a steak tartare as it 100% counts as good design in my book. Whether you’re a chef, builder, baker, pianist, or someone who simply takes more than five minutes to lay out an outfit for the day (I applaud you) - there’s an art to everything we do. The art of the everyday that Parisians seem to appreciate.
Listening to Chopin in a cathedral is my version of doing mushrooms. I felt so French. So chic and full of myself, er, I mean enlightened. See here:
I think art is whatever speaks to you - moves you in an emotional way that hopefully lifts your spirits or inspires new ideas. The museums in Paris are cool and all, definitely go, but what really struck a cord was finding ourselves in a gem of a cathedral listening to a live piano concert. Candelabras lit dusty dark corners and we watched in awe as the pianist’s eyebrows furrowed and arms moved wildly in contrast to the elegant notes played. A tad disturbing but in the best way. Like… in a way that made you feel you were getting your money’s worth.
Most of the people inside seemed French but in that space we were all listening to a universal language. Enhanced by the medieval method of lighting, passion of the pianist, the old stone beneath our feet, mile-high stained glass windows, and dusty cobwebs in hard-to-reach corners. You’ll see the same formula in a well-designed living room or the perfect outfit. Not so much the cobwebs, but a curation of layers and attention to detail that pulls everything together and begins to feel like a master piece.
It was a little over two hours long (poor Bryan), but here’s a snippet below of the music and image of everyone walking out with a little skip in their step.
Window Shopping
La Maison Caravane Khadi cotton cushion cover for €55 (+€20 for feather insert) The colors are gorgeous and the linen oh so soft. Très bien!
Alix D. Reynis Mathilde earrings in vermeil for €220 For some odd reason I find myself being drawn to medieval looking things... what does it mean.
AXS French-made tea towel for €20 A classic. I wish I’d bought more !
Simrane Garden Party quilt for €860 It’s a romantic pattern that could layer well in both a contemporary and traditional space.
Sabre spreader for €28.40/each We have a Sabre flatware set that I LOVE, but be warned Bryan’s noted that the steak knives having a square handle may throw you off a bit.
Sophie d'Annunzia Les Mary Jane shoes for €110 While I didn’t purchase a pair, a friend recommended this shop so I stopped in and they’re so lovely. So is the shopkeeper.
Natalys Blueberry print long jumpsuit for €70 For the babyyy (I don’t have one but maybe you do?)
Flea Market Finds
A few colorful moments (yes, those are seashells in Paris. I too am frightened at my inability to escape Florida):
What I was able to stuff in my carry on:
An early 19th century (so I’m told) wood-backed vanity mirror. I love love love the little seashell motif on top and florals going around. It’s heavier than a brick, well-made, and I was able to get the price down 20 euros so a feel good purchase for sure.
Framed Phylliidae (leaf insects) with a black velvet background that I purchased from aforementioned seashell seller. I’m obsessed. We later went into a taxidermy shop called Deyrolle and I never thought purchasing a box of pinned beetles would be tempting till now.
I was heading back to our AirBnB but didn’t escape without the small purchase of two hand-carved black lions from Nigeria. I almost bought the hippo too but for the sake of frugality (giving myself a gold star).
Alright, I’m off to unpack my bags. And by that I mean put away one thing, get distracted, and carefully avoid walking by the open suitcase for a few days 😅. A favorite game of mine where it’s me against me.
If you liked this one or have a friend planning a trip to Paris, I’d love for you to share it! You’d receive my eternal thanks and make a big difference. xoxo
Wendie Power
