0 Parler Comme un Politicien

 Today's post is a bit of a 'shaggy dog' story with much meandering. I was in the 16th arr./Passy dragging poor Peter's Paris around to patisseries

 And lunette shops - not at all his usual route since he's into history and architecture. I fell deeply in love with these red glasses(240€). Peter quickly reminded me I would look like...

 French presidential candidate, Eva Joly of the Green party if I got them.

 Which brings me round to how to improve your Fr.
I read somewhere listening to French politiciens can have language benefits. They must enunciate and speak slowly so everyone can understand them. If you're lucky, when tuning into Fr2 News, you'll hear a slew of candidates enunciating endlessly. They even provide subtitles!

 Elaine Scholino provides another source of French bla bla bla with her article on TV talk shows in the Times.

 Her link to 'In The Air'/Dans l'Air will provide you with an hours worth of election bla bla to keep your Fr brain stimulated

 Drawing from Dico des Betises
Or finally exhausted with all the bavarder/blab blab blab

 Time to return to the more interesting subject of glasses/lunettes and dogs.
Last October at Cote Vue, 97 rue du bac, on impulse I bought 2 pair of adorb round glasses in scarlette and tortoise for a mere 50€. I felt quite pleased with myself but I never wore the tortoise pair. I wondered if I might exchange them for another red pair. The reputation of the French regarding store returns and exchanges preceeds them and it's not good. Just read David Lebovitz and you'll get it.

  Cote Vue could not have be nicer about the exchange, even though I was 5 months late (!) Walking down rue du Bac I felt like I'd climbed Mount Everest. I happened to look in the latest issue of Elle, saw these round sunglasses and made a rdash back to the shop to have a copycat made. Yahoo

 Two major victories in one day surely deserves one madeleine from Patisserie des Reves just next door.

 The same little guard dog was out on rue du Bac comme d'habitude.

 Did you know you can get protective sunglasses (Doggles) for your pet at Chacabo 17 boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, 75003

 Back to the election - in today's Washington Post there's a fun story on the stylish changes the French candidates are putting themselves through with pointers from various Parisian fashion experts. A pair of red specs couldn't hurt M. Sarkozy IMHO.

 Getting back to immersing yourself in Fr, it seems the best route is to drink Alice's potion and get very small.

Here's a touching story by American mom in Paris, Paige Bradley Frost of how her bilingual tots speak better French than she does. Some clever enterpreneur should open a 'Maternelle'/nursery school for us grownups. Sign me up!

0 R U in France?

How do we know this woman is French?

Baguette - check

Scooter - check

Alice in wonderland long hair - check
+ Scarf bien sur...

The French start taking tests from day one.
Their whole lives are focused on taking their bac for college, so really it's no surprise you must take a test at Salon du Chocolat before tasting? Your skills of discernment will always be tested and sharpened if you are French.

We know this chef is French because his arms are folded across his chest.
True at times a French chef may stand with his hands on his hips. And on occasion with his hands behind his back. These are the 3 positions to look for when identifying a French chef.
No matter that the British probably created the 'Bed Head' several years ago. The French have embraced this sexy hair style whole-heartedly. You will pay good $$ to achieve this look...

I've mentioned before the French love a good silhouette. The straight-legged French Walk as well is illustrated on this tiny expresso cup...

Oh why is it when we name a street after bread it doesn't sound as romantic..?

The French can scribble a few words on a black board/ardoise in the street and get you drooling...

I love that the prices of French pastry are always clearly marked.

Maybe it's the law. There is none of the unspoken snobbery of the US, where 'if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it'. Prices are front row and center in France.

Yet you can go into a French shop, admire the items in the window/vitrine and find out they are not for sale nor does the vendeuse have a clue how you could buy them!?

How do I know this dog is French? You can tell from his look of discernment bien sur. His j'e ne sait quoi...

Well this is a give-away.

These are my stereotypes and I'm sticking with them.

C'est comme ca..

Bon Weekend PBers!

0 Alice's Tea Cup

Yesterday I went for afternoon tea at Alice's Tea Cup on the upper west side at 102 West 73rd street.
It's the perfect place to take out-of-town guests for a lovely surprise...
The front shop of the tea salon is filled with a vast array of teas...
And tempting cakes to get you salivating...
And of course all things 'Alice' ...
You say you have nothing to wear to Alice's Tea cup? You can pick up a gown in the front shop...

Plus a pair of pink wings...

And the ever-so-essential TIARA bien sur!

No reservations accepted unless you're a party of 6+, so bring lots of children along. Your eyes will pop when you see 'The Mad Hatter' tea trays being served...

I went with PBer Frances of City Views, Country Views. *Do note her fabulously tied Frenchie scarf please - the secret how-to video is HERE!

There was no leaving the house without Monsieur BEAR, who insists he needs tea salon practice before we hit Paris...

We were both quite taken with the new Alice's Tea Cup cookbook.

The authors, Haley and Lauren Fox have THREE tea salons in New York so no wonder they needed a cookbook - very clever indeed...

And those delectably stacked tea trays - you can do them at home!

Or plan a kid's tea party just as if it was at Alice's...

Do you think they should rename New York City 'The Big Cupcake'?

We were drooling over the goodies in the cookbook...

But Frances and I settled rather sanely on the scones + pot o' tea($10). Granted the scones were insanely huge and you got a choice of TWO!

I had Mixed Berry + Pumpkin Spice and Frances went off the deepend with Caramel Banana + Mixed Berry and gobs of jam and butter.

My tea was a wonderous mix of apricot + ginger + orange + + +?!
Our neighbor (British) asked politely if she might take a closer look at M.BEAR. As an owner of four bears at home, she was instantly smitten. In fact she popped BEAR into her purse just to see if he would fit...ahem. She is returning to London shortly and BEAR mentioned he liked London a lot.

Some bears have a lot of nerve!

The idea of going home with the first person who asks?
HMPH

We did not have any Mar-Tea-Nis...

BONJOUR ALICE'S TEA CUP!

0 Lolita Tea Party @ FIT

Yesterday I went to the JAPAN FASHION NOW show at the Fashion Institute of Technology(FIT). Comme de Garcons pink gingham skirt
This is one fabulous, huge exhibit of Japanese clothing design from the '70s till now on through January 8, 2011.
I was in Tokyo for 6 weeks in the '80's on a Parsons' graphic design program led by CBS Art Director, John Berg and the memories came flooding back. The dollar was good in those days. Comme De Garcons had navy blue trucks daily delivering new merch to the department stores and I was there (instead of in class) to grab it - I bought a ton of stuff, most I gave away. It was impossible to figure out how to put it on. We got invited to an Issey Myaki sale and given garbage bags! to fill up - I bought a red bus conductor's belt with attached purse - I wonder whose wearing it now..?Current fashion trends called 'Cosplay' include "a kind of role play involving dressing up as characters from popular manga (comic books), anime (animated films), computer/video games" or as The New York Times mentioned,"a bizarre pastiche of Central European folkloric costume pieces." The WSJ has a video on the 'Hime' or princess style. Thanks TamiElegant & Gothic Lolita styles are represented in depth. With lifelike Volk dolls in matching outfits... Later there was a Lolita Tea party. Oh why did I leave my Sonia hairbow at home?
Hints of Alice

And Marie-Antoinette are part of the Lolita look.

Wear your cupcakes.

Or eat them.

Cat cookies for the cat fanciers.

And macarons bien sur!

Please wear pink shoes with your macaron skirt...

Bags with bows=essential

There's a dark side to this sweet Lolita subculture - like the Simpson's 'Itchy and Scratchy' - it's not all sugar and pink marshmallows. Character cats, Hangry & Angry creator, Gashicon, was there for a discussion with the show's fashion historian and curator, Valerie Steele pre-tea party to tell all.

A tea party attendee decked out in all the accoutrements - these outfits are elaborate and expensive...

If you're in New York, do NOT MISS the Japan Fashion Now show and there are lots more related events to attend.

BONJOUR LOLITAS!