After a crazy weekend, we had two days to finish up our appointments, cram in a bit more shopping and see a few more friends for delicious dinners.  The collection from Mina Perhonen from Japan is shown in one of the most stately and elegant buildings in Paris.  Perfect for showcasing their exquisite fabrics and designs.  If I could live in their world I would. A stop afterwards into L’Eclaireur is a stark contrast and a lesson in dark goth cool.  I had to restrain myself from buying more Swedish bracelets from Maria Rudman. Instead we spend about two hours at Anatomica buying Birkenstocks.  The Tsumori Chisato collection was as outrageous and as fun as ever with a wintery focus on alpine skiing and yetis. Only from Tsumori!  On the more minimalist front, you can absolutely feel the influence from Hermés in the Christophe Lemaire collection.  The quality of the wool, cashmere and silk is total luxury! Then after a quick stop in Dries Van Noten for, what else, more shoes, we head over to see the Vanessa Seward capsule collection for A.P.C. Jean and Judith Touitou are gracious hosts as they explain to Wes Anderson and Olivier Zahm why the collection would be perfect for a trip to Cannes.  I couldn’t help but snap the pack of cigarettes and empty champagne glass in Olivier’s helmet.  An impromptu dinner at the tiny, organic and delicious Italian restaurant Cibus with photographer Taryn Simon is the charming end to our Paris trip.

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Saturday in Paris! We start the day with snacks and tea at Rose Bakery.  It is a little slice of heaven in there if you don’t mind the huge crowds. Then off to Tsumori Chisato who is feeling very aprés-ski chic for next season.  I loved the crazy knits and the ski slope printed dresses and the hiking boot/ice skate/crystal-heeled wedges.  After the show we window shop our way down Rue Saint-Honoré and stop in Colette to see the Kanye West $6000 beaded heels.  Needing to clear my head after that, we stroll through the farmers market and the beautiful flower market (someone should really open a flower market in Brooklyn).  Speaking of flowers, our next stop is Antipast to place our order for tons of beautiful socks and tights.  Themes for next season:  Peace Bird, Diamond Flower, Flower Window, Candy, Caribou & Mistletoe. Gotta love the Japanese! Next we spend a few hours in the Tranoi tradeshow looking for new designers.  We find some great Italian hiking boot/birkenstock hybrids and fun Italian cashmere sweaters. After all our walking we need a sweet, so we stop in Jacques Genin for fruit patés and caramels.   Next a quick glass of vino at my favorite bar/bookshop La Belle Hortense.  I love the tiled hopscotch floor.  But I can’t linger because I am meeting Brandon Holley (Lucky editor-in-chief) for a beyond fabulous dinner of Russian caviar and vodka at Caviar Kaspia.  Really the meal of a lifetime! Afterwards, we head up to La Maison Mére for a digestif only to head back down to the 10éme for a party at Pompon and then end up dancing until the wee hours at the newly opened L’Inconnu.  All I have to say is thank you Loeffler Randall for making such comfortable high heels.

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Started off the morning right with a double espresso and a citron “escargot” puff pastry from Du Pain et Des Idées the best traditional boulangerie in Paris.  Then we head down to the new Acne showroom in the 3éme.  They seem to have gotten my pink and orange memo for fall.  After a seemingly endless underground subway transfer, we surface at Odéon just in time for the Isabel Marant show. As the lights went down I grabbed a front-row seat  between my besties Kristina O. from Harper’s Bazaar and Amy L. from New York Magazine.  Perfect for checking out all the intricate western embroidery on everything from shirts to suede pants to sky high heels.  Loved the navy, burgundy, black and cream color palette.  After the show we walk over through le Jardin du Luxembourg to Le Bon Marché for  some power shopping.  I score my dream Céline tote in (what else?) bright pink and orange.  Also find a gorgeous Kenzo scarf, stocked up on Falke tights and grabbed a pair of beaded Gas earring for my mom.  Really the best accessories shopping in Paris.  I manage to escape without buying anything from Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga or Marni, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying! Exhausted we needed a bottle of rosé champagne and a serious cheese plate to refuel. There is nothing better than whiling away the evening sitting outside at a Parisian café.  When it’s time to move on, we have whiled away a little too much time and have to forgo the idea of biking up to Monmartre for our dinner at Le Coq Rico.  Not sure how our friend scored a kitchen-side table, but watching chef Thierry Lébé work his rotisserie magic was amazing.  And the fries weren’t too bad either!

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I can literally see the Isabel Marant flagship store on Rue Saintonge from the bedroom of the apartment I am renting in the Marais. So of course that was my first stop after I unpacked my bags.  Lord help me!  Then down to Rue Bretagne to stock up on delicious groceries for the week.  Even the bottles of peppercorns and mustard are beautiful in Paris!  We discovered the best little patisserie on our block.  It’s always a good sign when there is a line out the door of locals buying their daily baguette.  After a quick nap and some order writing, Nora and I stopped in at the beautiful and always inspiring concept shop Merci to celebrate Épice.  The floral scarf-printed notebooks in every shape and size will make perfect souvenirs! Next we headed off to the 6th for a raucous dinner at Fish with friends from Harper’s Bazaar and KCD.  After too many bottles of red wine, it seemed like a great idea to go over to the 2nd for the Carven after-party.  The crush at the bar for champagne was not for wimps.  We boogied down on the confetti-strewn dance floor to Azelea Banks and Olivia Newton John before grabbing a taxi home for some much needed sleep!

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