FALL IN LOVE WITH PARIS ALL OVER AGAIN

Theadora braided her hair into pigtails and tied them with tricolour ribbon.  Coloured her lips with the boldest of red lipstick.  Scented herself with a drift of perfume fragrant with memories.   Then set down to fiercely write about and fall in love with Paris all over again.  Read her words.  Follow her Voyages Extraordinaires PEOPLE PLACES AND BLING and seize the day.

 

Across time and space another read her words.

” It’s time to return.” she thought. “Time to return to the city of lights. Time to linger over café au lait and watch the world go by.  Time to wander familiar streets.  Visit ancient book stores.  Treasure hunt in the flea markets.   Time to simply glory in all that is Paris.”

Theadora’s shopping list promised irresistible bargains for unnecessary but oh so exquisite objects of desire. The Galeries Lafayete, an Aladdin’s cave,  called her name floor after floor after glittering floor.  The perfect red soled shoe.  The silky softness of an elegant sweater. A clutch of rainbow coloured scarves.  For this is Paris and elegance on sale is hard to ignore.

 

 

She reached deep into the immense armoire cupboard and began to pull our her Longchamp bags. Elegant brown leather trimmed cases. Each bag a little larger than the one before. Like babushka dolls they fitted one into the other. The smallest held the necessities – a silver compact, Chanel lipstick, eye make-up and Theadora’ shopping itinerary. The rest would travel to her destination empty.

 

She was returning to Paris. To walk proudly, fearlessly the silver streets. Fill her eyes with the golden light of Paris. Fill her soul with the courage and strength that is Paris. And lastly she would fill her Longchamp bags with the plunders of Paris. Slipping into her ruby red travel slippers she tucked the key to her “little house in Paris” into her purse. CARPE DIEM – Et Bonne Annee! And she was gone

PARISIAN CHIC … a style guide

Ooh La La.  This is the little red book that is a guide ” to looking cool, chic, stylish and above all nonchalant, as only Parisians can” – Vogue.

I’ve spent delicious morning with Ines de la Fressange and this book that is the ultimate guide to Parisian chic.

I’m making notes.

Building a wardrobe around only seven affordable basics.

Secret Paris hotels and restaurants.

Secret Paris for  unusual places.

My cafe au lait sat untouched as I explored the wonderful world that is Paris.

Parisian Chic  is more that a book.  It is about a state of mind.   Read it and you’ll know why Parisian woman are the most elegant woman in the world.   It could just change your life.

MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID ….

My Mother was an amazing woman.  She taught me some outrageous things.  Most of her one-liners were common sense but she had a wicked wit and everything really had a point.

Things my Mother said:

Believe in fairies.  Goblins she wasn’t sure about.

Never buy a house that doesn’t have a fireplace.

Only drink champagne.  You’ll never have a hang-over

Have many picnics and always use a tablecloth.  The best picnics are moonlight picnics with plenty of champagne.

Always make your tea in a proper tea-pot.  A good cup of tea solves a lot of problems.  If that doesn’t work use your Visa.

Don’t wear your outdoor shoes in the house.  Dirty old men spit in the street.

Younger men appreciate older woman.   Older woman really appreciate  younger men.

Never wear pastel lingerie only black, red  or white.

Never ever think of wearing nude stockings.

It’s better to conceal than reveal.

If you got it flaunt it.

The Legs are the last to go.

Every woman looks better by candlelight.  Buy lots of candles.

Black is so forgiving (advice given me on my Mother’s 90th Birthday.  She wore elegant black silk suit.)

Don’t keep wire hangers in the house.  They breed in closets and you’ll NEVER get rid of them.

You can never have too many pairs of red shoes.  The higher the heels the better.  You don’t really plan to walk in them, do you?

Never let your hair go gray.

Never ever even think of getting a tattoo.

Never refuse something someone offers to give to you.   You can always find someone who needs what you don’t want.

Use only butter when making shortbread.

If you only know one dance let it be the tango.

Play the Gypsy Kings for background music.  Fado music for a romantic evening.

Frogs seldom turn into princes no matter how often you kiss them.

Never buy cheap.   Cheap is alway cheap.  It never gets better.  Good is always good even when it starts to wear.

Always have a touch of black in your room; black high heels, black stockings and so on.

Never put a hat on a table. It’s unlucky.

Have at least two unread books waiting in the wings.

Keep beer in the fridge and vodka in the freezer and champagne in a bucket of ice.

It’s difficult to make just a single pie crust recipe.  Make a double and freeze the other.

Shop high but buy low.

You can never have too much art on your walls, or books in your bookcases.

Auction sales are the best places to buy furniture, jewelery, art, and meet men.

Never wear mauve.  It makes your skin look yellow.

When you are stressed don’t take a pill – bake, but don’t eat it.

Old tarnished silver is better than no silver.

Sing your children to sleep.

Read your children to sleep.

Let your children have adventures.

Don’t tell your children what to do, especially as they grow older.

If you don’t say it you don’t have to take it back.

Don’t cry poor – ever.

If you spill salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder.

If you drop a knife a man is coming to the door.  You may have to drop a lot of knives.

Never open an umbrella inside.

Marry for love.  If you don’t and he loses his money you’ll be sorry.

If  I’ve told you  once I’ve told you a million times – don’t exaggerate

Be loyal to your family.

Be kind to yourself.

Believe in fairy tales.