0 Ines de la Fressange on rue du Bac

For her December shopping diary Ines de la Fressange of Parisian Chic walks down rue du Bac 75007... I too walked down rue du Bac my last evening in Paris...
It's full of wonderful Frenchie facades...

Loaded with potential leche-vitrine/window gazing...

This tiny print shop, Olivier de Sercey has extremement fine stamps at 220 euros(!)..

Ines adores the handmade Italian home goodies at La Paresse en Douce at 97 rue du Bac...

Moi aussi, especialment these made-to-order cashmere slippers...

You'll never go hungry browsing on rue du Bac. Why not grab an 'animal cracker' style box of macarons at Dalloyau - 63, rue du Grenelle round the corner?

Chocolat Chapon is well worth immersing yourself in chocolate at 69, rue du Bac...

Plus their adorable crockery can serve up your tea or chocolat chaud...

Mais la creme de la creme on 93, rue du Bac is Patisserie des Reves bien sur!

It's a child's playland of pastry for grownups...

I bought this irresitable tarte douce a l'orange...

Plus the 'Limonada', a creamy, lemony ball. The pastries are perfectly packed to withstand the Metro crush. Not that they made it further than 10 steps away...miam miam

Exactly nextdoor this little dog kept watch on the comings and goings on rue du Bac...

Ines can't resist saying bonjour.

Don't miss Ines' video here!

0 Parisian Chic 2

Just before I traipsed off to Paris I told you about Ines de la Fressange's new book, Parisian Chic. How thrilling to see Galeries Lafayette do an homage to Ines and her book (called LA PARISIENNE in the French version). No surprise either. Ines is quite the icon for the French. They even awarded her the presigious Legion d'honneur. All the vitrines/windows were filled with Ines-like mannikins set in classic iconic Parisian spots like Cafe du Flore in St.-Germain du Pres...

Including the perfect classic afternoon tea from Cafe du Flore...

The iconic Parisian street lamps were filled with miniature Eiffel Towers and L'Arc de Triomphes..

The iconic street bench painted pink...

Chaise from the jardin du Luxumborg also pink and laden with l'aire du Temps perfume (is that Ines' favorite?)

In the video Ines was nattering on about Parisian chicness:

'On her hair:

'Without product, I am like Olive Oyl.'

The Asian press call: "What is Inès's favourite restaurant?"

I never go to the restaurant!

Who goes to the restaurant?'

On being recognised:

'People imagine I am always in a Bentley with pearls and diamonds and black glasses and Karl Lagerfeld next to me. And usually people say, "It is incredible how you look like Inès de la Fressange." And then usually I say, "She is much older, isn't she?" And they say, "Maybe." ' BIG MERCI PBers for being so patient and buying Ines' book when it finally came out. I'm still struggling with the French version and must get a copy in English a toute a suite!

As I was grabbing a pile of black clothes to throw in my suitcase, I had a Parisian Chic epiphany when I noticed I had one of FRENCH GIRL's cardigans in the pile. I took a good long look and it hit me. Such amusing details! Faux leather patches at the elbows! Little brass buttons down the front! Why the heck was my black cardi so plain vanilla blah?

It made perfect sense. This flat bow is adorable on the back of French Girl's Paul Ka jacket non?

And could the details on this skirt be more charmant? Are you getting it too?

A last word from BEAR (who is working like mad on his own Le Bearsian Chic book).

Think CHIC ET PRATIQUE PBers!

And while you're tossing these thoughts around have a petit bouche/little bite of religieuse chocolat why not?

BONJOUR PARISIAN CHIC2!

0 Parisian Chic

I spotted Ines de la Fressange's new book, La Parisienne in La Hune's vitrine on blvd Saint-Germain in October. It was their last copy so I grabbed it and clutched it to my bosom obsessively... Now I see Parisian Chic will be out April 5 on Amazon in English! La Hune had a sell-out book signing for de la Fressange - her favorite stuff in the window including a Cafe de Flore table - it is right next door.. Ines has become The icon for Paris - she has that certain something no one can put their finger on - that je ne c'est quoi. Plus she is Queen of Older French Girls(OFGs) at 53 non? As if all that weren't enough, de la Fressange has just signed a contract to be the French face of L'Oreal. "If I can be the ambassador for older women, I'm quite happy."Her beauty routine is pared down: protective day cream, Dior's Crème Abricot nail cream, no sun and lots of sleep. As for Botox and plastic surgery: "I would be too afraid I wouldn't recognise myself any more." I'm giving you un petit gout/a little bite from the Fr. version to tide you over till April, since Ines leaves no stone unturned when it comes to insider info.

Bien sur I'll visit her Le Top 5 des Fleuristes:
Arome Paris - 196, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine 75012
Lachaume - 10 rue Royale 75008
Moulie Fleurs - 8 Place du Palais-Bourbon 75007
Odorantes - 9 rue Madame 75006
Dani Costes Dani Roses - 239 rue Saint-Honore 75001 Ines' Shopping Pauses - where to grab a quick delicious bite...

Little details to change your style to become more Parisienne...

Le Jardin du Luxembourg blablabla...

Ines' take on Le French Trench.

And le French Sac.

If you want to see Ines in action, watch her little diaries around Paris for Roger Vivier - the next chapter will be out in April, but there are plenty of back months to watch...

BONJOUR PARISIAN CHIC!