Sissi's Corner

After 3 years, it only made sense that my first stop in Paris was shopping in Le Marais. 

I did some research on the best consignment shops to check out and found Sissi's Corner on a list in Time Out Paris. Located around the corner from Place des Vosges and a short walk from Bastille, it's a quintessential dépôt-vente tucked in Le Marais.

It may be a small space, but take the time to look at every coat rack and shelf at least twice to make sure you don't miss anything that you would regret not buying. In some ways, Sissi's Corner reminded me of consignment shops in southern Rhode Island, except the inventory at Sissi's Corner is filled with a mini arsenal of French designer brands and mid-priced labels in remarkable near-perfect condition. 

It's easy to lose your excitement over shopping when you work in retail. I typically avoid going into a corporate store without the intention of buying, because if I purchase nothing or waste a salesperson's time, it negatively impacts the store's foot traffic-conversion and (possible) sales commission.  I enjoyed speaking with Sissi and learning the history and details about the store, like how the vintage Yves Saint Laurent framed piece in the dressing room is quite rare. 

I bought a vintage Joseph Tricot knit sweater and an Isabel Marant military jacket. I almost walked away from the jacket and wanted to think about it in case I found something else, but I'm glad Sissi convinced me to buy it. The jacket itself is a dream with its infinite number of pockets and removable shearling lining—it also turns out the jacket was a best-seller and is hard to find. 

...

The next time I come to Paris, I'm definitely bringing a bigger suitcase. 

Find of the Week | 46

When I arrived in Rhode Island, I realized I forgot to pack socks.

It was late, so I stopped by the Marshalls in Narragansett. I decided to quickly walk through the clearance section before reaching undergarments.

The universe must know that I'm going to Europe—how else would I have been able to find an Yves Saint Laurent scarf on sale for $64? The Marshalls tag claimed that the original price was $100, but after some research, the MSRP is actually $295.

Three more weeks until I leave for Vienna and Paris!

Planning for a Week in Vienna & Paris

Kicking off 2017 with a European adventure

The last time I went was in January 2014 when I studied in Paris, France before my final semester at Salve Regina University. I had every intention of planning a trip in 2016, but work obligations and job searching postponed transatlantic travel plans.

The past few years have been spent whetting my wanderlust by trying new restaurants, reading novels and catching the occasional flight. It is always a comfort finding the Parisian connection

This year, I'll be heading overseas for six days to spend time in Vienna, Austria with Steph and Paris with Baptiste!

I checked out several books from the library* and will continue to pore over every travel blog for different things to do and places to see in each city:

Frommer's Easy Guide to Paris 2017
Fodor's Travel Vienna & the Best of Austria with Salzburg & Skiing in the Alps
DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Vienna 
DK Eyewitness Travel Vienna
The Authentic Bistros of Paris by Francois Thomazeau and Sylvain Ageorges
Saint-Germain-des-Pres Paris's Rebel Quarter by John Baxter

*As resourceful and infinite as the Internet may be, flipping through guide books can be quicker and more efficient to gather quick and accurate information

Although the magic of travel has a way of presenting spontaneous moments and (mostly) pleasant surprises, planning a short bucket list in advance helps shape and maximize the limited time visiting.

The fact that this trip is going to happen in a few weeks still surprises me, but I'm ready for days filled with espressos, champagne, gilded art, Austrian countryside and PARIS. Over the next few weeks, my attention will be focused on prioritizing the bucket list and preparing an easy capsule wardrobe...

Fashion's Holiday 2016 Short Films & Campaigns

Christmas is a great time for family, friends and festive holiday ad campaigns

It's time to celebrate the holiday season with fashion-forward film shorts! I am in love with H&M's collaboration with Wes Anderson, but there are also a few other campaigns that are worth watching for a spoonful of Christmas cheer.

Il Neige Rive Gauche, Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche

It is only fitting that the Parisian department store has a commercial that is absolutely and unabashedly exudes the artistic, playful French spirit.

The Tale of Thomas Burberry, Burberry

The British fashion house always delights their followers with beautiful film content and this year's holiday short is no exception. The film is directed by Academy Award winning director Asif Kapadia and features a star-studded cast.

Go Inside Barneys' 2016 Holiday Windows, Barneys

Putting together the holiday window displays in New York City is a fascinating process that is as remarkable and complex as the fashion supply chain. A glimpse at Barneys' creative direction for this year's displays—love, peace and joy—reflects the expression and sentiment felt by many New Yorkers hoping for a better world.

Come Together, H&M

This is it. This is the reason why I am excited about the holiday season. Wonderful film short by Wes Anderson, I hope there's another one next year!

A Very Private Affair, Victoria's Secret

The lingerie brand is all about Paris this year—not only is Victoria's Secret holding their annual fashion show in the City of Light, but they also filmed at their extended holiday commercial at the famous Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte located outside Paris. 

F is for France, a Curious Cabinet of French Wonders by Piu Eatwell

For Francophiles and travel lovers looking for new icebreakers

As much as I love reading historical fiction and biographies, it's always nice to switch to lighter novels every once in a while. F is for France was sitting pretty on the "Featured Books" shelf at my local library—I took it as a sign to check out right away. 

Each chapter dissects France's culture in perfect bite-size facts that are made more memorable with the author's fun, quirky descriptions. Eatwell looks beyond the traditional guidebooks and focuses on more local lore to offer readers a fresh take on Paris—her British-born sensibilities reveal themselves in several instances where she artfully illustrates some cultural differences between France and England

A few of my favorite passages are Coffee, Champagne, Oysters, Paris, Restaurants... 

If you're starting holiday gift shopping, F is for France is a great gift for yourself or for the Francophile in your life.

A Chic Reading List for Francophiles

A few weeks back, I spotted a fellow Francophile at the local coffee shop reading Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes. 

I gently interrupted her to ask how she liked the book so far—she smiled and said that she enjoyed it very much since she was missing Paris after a recent visit. I asked her if she had pursued any other parisienne reading. When she shook her head, I quickly jotted down a few suggestions for further reading.

To say that I've read a decent number of books about Paris or France is an understatement. There can never be enough books on Hausmannian design, sparkling champagne and French fashion houses.

I have yet to pursue the more traditional literature on Paris in depth—Baudelaire, Hemingway and McCullough, of course—but here's my recommended reading list so far for those in love with the Paris dream.

Paris My Sweet, A Year in the City of Light by Amy Thomas. A playful read that's part dessert, part map—Thomas maps out the best patisseries in both Paris and New York—it's a cute, quick novel to help you unwind from the ordinary hustle...

Love Life Style by Garance Dore. I had the pleasure of meeting Garance at a Fashionista meetup in the city before reading the book. A huge superfan of her illustrations and successful blog, I look to Garance as a true model for the modern woman. 

My Paris Dream by Kate Betts. Another inspirational read for the fashion lover seeking a way to live in the City of Light—Betts shares her story of landing a position Fairchild Publishing and navigating her life between Paris and New York.

How to be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas. A fun read to pass along to your girlfriends, then keep in plain sight in your apartment at all times. 

Paris, The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd. One of the longer novels on this list, Rutherfurd artfully curates a beautiful historical fiction for the reader to experience Paris in different time periods. 

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (translated by Lydia Davis). I read this specific edition while I was at university and it is my favorite book for classic French literature. I kept my course notes on the novel, I love it so much. 

A Moment of Prayer for Nice

My heart is stricken with deep love and sympathy for France.

Whether inflicted by nature or by man, each nation has experienced its episodes of destitution, cruelty and absolute savageries.

But a deliberate attack on a country founded on liberté, égalité and fraternité—a trinity of unalienable rights for all human beings—is a rabid attempt to darken the future for those who want to build a more beautiful world.

For France to experience such tragedy on Bastille Day—their national day of pride for all French people—exacerbates the calamity.

Whether by hand of nature or man, an attack on any nation is deplorable.

Because an attack on the seaside promenade in the South of France stretches beyond French borders.

This is not just about Nice, France.

This is about the series of hurtful and oppressive atrocities committed by humans, inflicted on other humans.

After the waves draw back into the sea
After the final brick falls from the concrete wall
After the last bullet casing drops to the ground
After every stolen breath surrenders to an unknown silence

I hope to always find the strength to work towards a better world

And never it give up.

Wilton Library Hosts "Judgment of Paris" Lecture, Wine Tasting

I love white wine... Aside from that fact, I don't know much else about wine.

As a way to spark a more serious interest in wine, I signed up for the Wilton Library's event with author George Taber and his book, The Judgment of Paris. The premise centers on a 1976 wine tasting which sought to discern fine California wine from its French counterpart. 

The wine connoisseurs selected to participate in the legendary tasting were beyond qualified for the task—think chefs and sommeliers at Michelin star restaurants and editors of wine publications well-versed in chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and the rest. 

Taber—the only journalist present at the wine tasting since the outcome was assumed by all else—highlights Napa Valley's pivotal turning point as a global player in the industry and how its precedent paves the way for other nations to make wine. 

The Judgement of Paris explores the game-changing event for the wine industry that not only validated the efforts of American winemakers in Napa Valley, but proved that a wine didn't have to be French to be superior.

To say that Taber offered interesting insight on the 1976 wine tasting is an understatement. One attendee asked if France publicized the results of the event—Taber gave a resounding no, which was quickly followed by a good laugh. Meanwhile, the news appeared all over Napa Valley headlines and expats looked for the wines used in the tasting. Taber continued to give the audience fun tidbits on personalities involved and illustrate the full scope of the event's impact on the wine industry today.

If you're interested on listening to Taber's take, check out this article on NPR.

I actually tried reading The Judgement of Paris over the winter, but I got caught up in my job search and reluctantly set it aside for another day. I couldn't have asked for a more engaging event hosted by the library and the author himself to renew my interest in exploring wine (and picking up the book!).

And unless I am carried away with prosecco cocktails, I will never pass up an opportunity to get a signed copy of a good book.

Interested? Buy your copy here or at your local bookstore.

My Paris Dream by Kate Betts

If you're a Francophile and you keep a mini-collection of contemporary books on Parisian journeys, add My Paris Dream to the shelf.

Betts, an award-winning magazine editor and author, shares her coming-of-age story of living and working in Paris, France shortly after graduating from college. Her anecdotes finding her own way through the city and industry are absolutely fascinating—one story about Christian Louboutin is a favorite. 

While reading Betts's story, I can't help but be slightly envious of her background (Princeton) and ability to pursue such an illustrious career in the City of Light (Fairchild Publications). 

With that being said, it's clear that she worked hard for it and getting there wasn't a piece of cake—building her professional credibility, navigating cultural differences and dealing with the loneliness of living abroad takes an extraordinary level of concerted effort. 

My Paris Dream is the perfect inspirational story to move and motivate its readers.

Weekend Reads | 15

Michelle Obama's SOTU Dress Sells Out (Business Insider)

FLOTUS wore another stunning number during the State of the Union address and *surprise* it sells out of stores. The subdued tangerine sheath dress by Narciso Rodriguez, one of FLOTUS's favorite designers, sold for $2,095.

Transforming Paris 'Ghost Stations' Into Public Pools, Nightclubs and More (First to Know)

Restoring The High Line in New York City proved to be a major success—imagine how great it would be if Paris repurposed their abandoned metro stations into beautiful spaces for the. On the surface, the proposals would provide great economic opportunities for the city.

Burberry, Richemont Sales Cool in Hong Kong, Paris (The Wall Street Journal)

In recent years, luxury retailers have looked to grow and expand their reach to Chinese shoppers who take a significant 40% share of luxury consumer spending. Difficulties traveling from mainland China to Hong Kong, as well as the impact of the terrorism attacks in Paris, are some of the challenges currently facing Richemont and Burberry.

The Complete List of 2016 Oscar Nominees (Elite Daily)

The list has finally been released! Mad Max and The Revenant seem to dominate in the list of categories, but the most important question for this year's Oscar ceremony—could be this the year that Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins?!

Paris Fashion Week Street Style Round-Up

Because who doesn't want to re-live the best week of Fashion Month?

As much as I would love to cut/paste/credit a ton of blogger photos from Paris Fashion Week, I don't feel like getting sued for copyright infringement—a friend of mine recently had a small run-in with it and I'm going to be as cautious as I can. 

Here's a good round-up of where to get PFW street style photos...

• Harper's Bazaar
• POPSugar
• Stylecaster
• Vogue

Global Fashion Capitals at the Museum at FIT

The current exhibit at The Museum at FIT showcases the fashion and style of cities with burgeoning creativity from all over the world.

The exhibit was beautifully curated to illustrate how designers bring their culture to their craft—diversification of the industry is paramount in the digital age when people can travel through social media, blogs and digital publications. 

Tokyo, Japan and Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp, Belgium

London, England

New York City, New York

Paris, France

Of course, the four major fashion capitals had a strong presence in the exhibit, but it was more interesting to see how other cities outside of the West represented their countries. 

Mexico City, Mexico and Sao Paolo, Brazil

New Delhi, India and Mumbai, India

Johannesburg, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria 

Lagos, Nigeria

It's evident that nations are seeking to position themselves as influencers in the global marketplace. A flourishing arts sector typically signifies stability in other aspects of a country. Investing in the arts, more specifically fashion, shows how countries have broken with the past to move forward and project a new image to the outside world. 

It could be argued that the countries who had suffered sociopolitical, economic strife had some of the most radical and experimental designs. Kiev and Moscow in particular.

Global Fashion Capitals is running through November 14, 2015. For more information and hours at The Museum at FIT, visit their website. 

How to Bring Inspiration to Life

Designers create mood boards for their collections, so it makes sense that people have created vision boards for the lives they want to live. 

If you have ever watched The Secret or know about The Law of Attraction, vision boards play a major part of the process. Keep in mind that vision boards aren't so much about the material things you want, but it's about creating the whole feeling and person you want to be.

I have four small cork boards—three of them are filled with the things I have already done and seen, but would like to do again. My favorite cork board so far is predominantly Parisian themed—I could be in Paris and eat macarons for the rest of my life...

But it's no secret that getting back to Paris will require some hard work on my end to make it happen.

I will admit a small part of me thinks that this is weird. Maybe vision boards are for people who should just get over themselves, read a self-help book and find their feels at the bottom of a glass. 

Even if that is true, I don't really care what other people think, I already love reading and drinking, so why not add more inspiration?

... Also, I just realized that the title of this post was a bit misleading. Certainly vision boards can help you visualize the life you want to live, but the thing that makes a simple difference between "the want" and "the get" is action.

Do things that will lead you closer to your goals. 

Surround yourself with people who are just as driven about their own goals. 

Become the person who you want to be. Be awesome. 

What is Bastille Day?

Bastille Day, put simply, is the French equivalent of the America's Fourth of July.  

On July 14, 1789, the mob of the revolution stormed the Bastille fortress, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Although there were only seven prisoners held at the Bastille during that time, the raid symbolized the attack on the monarchy in France.

The Bastille was torn down by the Revolutionary government in the 18th century, but there are still traces of the fortress in museums and on the streets of Paris.

The 100th anniversary of the Revolution in 1889 was the same year the Eiffel Tower was completed for the World's Fair in Paris.

Bastille Day is commemorated with a parade on the Champs Elysee, an air show with fighter jets, and of course, a fireworks display at night over the Eiffel Tower.

Photo Credits: Pierre-Yves Boudouin, GLOZINE 

Contest Alert: DESLEY Paris x Women in Travel Summit 2016 Contest

Looking for a way to attend next year's Women in Travel Summit in Irvine, CA for free? DELSEY wants to help you out!

DELSEY is hosting a Pinterest contest for 2015 WITS attendees to win registration, hotel stay and even a bonus for next year's WITS! Here are the details:

DELSEY is inviting bloggers from the WITS to share their DELSEY inspiration. Whether your five senses are awakened by the classic DELSEY HONORÉ, or your inner French style maven is touched by DELSEY CHATELET, DELSEY wants to hear from you! 

Choose your favorite collection and create a Pinterest board titled #MYDELSEYSTORY that tells us why you love this collection. Boards will be judged on creativity (50%), your enthusiasm for travel (25%), and your enthusiasm for the collection you selected (25%).
The winner will be awarded registration and hotel stay for WITS 2016 as well as a 2-piece set of the DELSEY luggage that inspired them! The winner will also have the chance to have their blog featured in one of DELSEY’s newsletters.

Submit the link to your board to contact@delseyluggage.net by 4/10/15 to enter with your name, your contact information and an introduction to your DELSEY story!
Be inspired. Travel beautifully. À bientôt! DELSEY

About DELSEY


Born in Paris in 1946, DELSEY creates luggage that makes connections seamless. Recognized for timeless quality and audacious design, DELSEY has that unmistakably French savoir faire! With one DELSEY sold every ten minutes, DELSEY is the top travel companion and reliable friend of travelers all over the world.