J'adore: Paris edition

A visit to France would not be complete without some shopping, or in certain cases, a lot of shopping.  Every store is on top of the trends months before they hit the states, and the Parisians shop, lunch, pick up groceries, walk the dog, etc. in Chanel.

Below are some items and trends I fell in love with during my visit to Paris.

Concept store Colette, displays the city’s most promising young talent in fashion, accessories and writing.  Street wear designer La Fumisterie released their first line which is comprised of seven themed t-shirts, which feature the photos of seventy cult actors, directors, rappers, tennis personalities, or basketball personalities.  

 

Designer Miss Bibi creates fine jewelry inspired by miniature objects and toys that evoke a sense of nostalgia.  My favorite pieces were the doll eye ring, and telephone ring complete with detachable handset.  Though she is based in Monaco, Miss Bibi just opened a store in the Jardins du Palais Royale, sandwiched between the likes of Pierre Hardy and Stella McCartney.

Gone are the days of handbags large enough to fit a midget inside.  Small handbags are the hottest new accessory; providing just enough room for the essentials they give off an air of effortlessness.  Handbag designer Jerome Dreyfuss known for his meticulous attention to detail creates each bag with a mirror inside the flap, internal card compartments and a mini flashlight.  The Twee Mini in metallic woven leather fits a phone, keys and credit cards and would look great this spring with black cropped pants and a grey silk t-shirt.

Jerome Dreyfuss is only one-half of fashion’s hottest designing couple.  His wife, Isabel Marant is a favorite of Parisian women.  In the Autumn/Winter 2010 line, Marant debuted the Perkins sneaker which sold out in her stores almost instantly.  The sneaker has a concealed two-inch heel, and is a sport-luxe statement piece, to be paired with a simple, streamlined outfit.   For the spring and summer Marant has created a more lightweight version of the shoe, substituting chunky Velcro for laces, and bringing the heel down a half-inch.  Though the trend has not yet hit the US, it won’t be long before you see similar style gracing the heels of fashion forward celebrities.

At cafes and restaurants across the city, women can be seen wearing cropped jackets or oversized draped coats.  For a relaxed, chic look that creates a dramatic silhouette try Diane von Furstenberg’s Athena cotton twill coat.  The coat comes with a hood for unpredictable spring weather, and the size can be adjusted somewhat by the concealed drawstrings.