If the thought of a fine bag, a decadent pair of heels, or the feel of the fabric of a finely crafted suit makes you swoon, then an afternoon on the Champs-Élysées in Paris may be your definition of heaven.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées is not only one of the most recognized street names in Paris, but in the entire world, and is lined with luxury and specialty shops, theaters, cafes and restaurants.  Its name translates to "Elysian Fields" a reference to the "place of the blessed" in Greek mythology.  With the prices you’ll see at most of these shops and cafes, you’ll need to be blessed, indeed, to make this your prime shopping district.

The street itself is a little over a mile and a quarter long (see photo at left), running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe in the 9th arrondissement.  While its easy to get caught up in its current incarnation as the ultimate shopping location, originally, in the de Medici era, the area was a field and garden market.  It was also the location of the famous marches to celebrate the 1944 liberation of France, one march by the French and the other by American troops.  Today, the Champs-Élysées is home to the annual Bastille Day parade and is the end of the Tour de France.

It seems like the Champs-Élysées is always full of people, day or night.  You’ll find people stopping off to shop at places like:  Drugstore Publicis (filled with so many upscale products that it seems a misnomer to refer to it as a "drug" store), Louis Vuitton (its largest store in the world), Virgin Megastore, Adidas (its largest store in the world), and Nike Paris, as exclusive stores co-exist with the growing presence of large chain stores.

Above the street level stores, you’ll find offices, attracting still more people.  And, of course, day or night, patrons are flocking to the restaurants, cafes, and theaters.

I enjoyed wandering the street, stopping of at a few shops now and again.  Although the strength of the dollar was not on my side, I did manage to justify a purchase at Louis Vuitton, followed by lunch at cafe right in the heart of everything.  While lunching on the Champs-Élysées is quite expensive (some might say over-priced), I considered it both a meal and an opportunity to do some people watching as I whiled away a beautiful fall afternoon in Paris.

Photo credit:  personal collection

_________________________________________

Post from: The Paris Traveler

Today, we are going to walk a few blocks towards Concord (the big ferris wheel should be straight ahead) and do something “free”.  Yes, one can find free things to do in Paris and feel as though they really should have paid for the experience because everything is done in such a big, beautiful way.  

This experience is the Louis Vuitton flagship store.  Opened in 2005, it is an adventure in both art and architecture.   The architectural element is evident in the space created by Eric Carlson and Peter Marino.  Upon entering, the visitor is literally lead through the space, spiraling upward with the use of an amazingly long escalator ride that feels a bit like something from Tomorrowland at Disneyworld and traffic flow that rufuses to let you miss one single thing.  The art element includes their signature bags, shoes, clothing, books, jewelry–it’s all there and it’s all exquisite. 

The only way this visit doesn’t remain “free” is if you decide to bring a little something home with you.  Who could blame you! 

Additional Information:

Louis Vuitton Champs Elysées 

Post from: The Paris Traveler

Fashion Week has just wrapped up in London and New York this past week and is continuing on in Milan until the 29th. Afterwards, all eyes will soon turn to Paris with as many as twenty shows a day! Here are some of the runway shows taking place by top designers. By the way, if the designer says, voir invitation (see invitation) for details….it means, unless you have an invitation, they couldn’t care less if you know, or you don’t know, where it’s being held!



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Saturday 29 September

15h30 : IMPASSE DE LA DÉFENSE, au Grand Hall de la Gare de Lyon, Terrasse de l’Express Bleu, Paris 12e
17h30 : FATIMA LOPES, au Studio Gabriel, 9 avenue Gabriel, Paris 8e
19h00 : SIRIVANNAVARI, à l’Opéra Garnier, 8 rue Scribe, Paris 9e
                                                                                                                                                              Sunday 30 September

10h30 : JEFEN, au Carrousel du Louvre,  Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
11h30 : LIE SANG BONG, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
12h30 : MINA PERHONEN, à l’Espace Commines, 17 rue Commines, à Paris 3e
13h30 : ROBERT NORMAND, à la Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, avenue du Président Wilson, à Paris 16e
14h30 : ESTRELLA ARCHS, à l’ Université Pierre et Marie Curie, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, à Paris 6e
15h30 : BALMAIN, à l’ Hôtel Westin, 3 rue de Castiglione, à Paris 1er
16h30 : BRUNO PIETERS, à la Galerie Nikki Diana Marquardt, 9 place des Vosges, à Paris 4e
17h30 : MANISH ARORA, au Grand Hôtel, 2 rue Scribe, à Paris 9e
18h30 : RICK OWENS, à l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Salle Melpomène 13 quai Malaquais, à Paris 6e
19h30 : BLESS, au 22 avenue Max Dormoy, à Paris 18e
20h30 : BERNHARD WILLHELM, Ex-Purple Institute, au 9 rue Pierre Dupond, à Paris 10e
21h30 : COSMIC WONDER LIGHT SOURCE, au Cosmic Galerie, 7 rue de l’Equerre, à Paris 19e
                                                                                                                                                             Monday 1 October

10h00 : ATSURO TAYAMA, à L’Académie, 14 rue Royale, à Paris 8e
11h00 : DICE KAYEK, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli,à Paris 1er
12h00 : VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
13h00 : GASPARD YURKIEVICH, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
14h30 : CHRISTIAN DIOR, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, à Paris 1er
15h30 : ISABEL MARANT, Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, à Paris 1er
16h30 : SHARON WAUCHOB, à l’ Université Pierre et Marie Curie, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, à Paris 6e
17h30 : UNDERCOVER, à l’Hôtel Westin, 3 rue de Castiglione, à Paris 1er
18h30 : MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, au Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, Salle Marcel Cerdan, 8, boulevard de Bercy, à Paris 12e
19h30 : AF VANDEVORST, au Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, La Grande Salle, 8, boulevard de Bercy, à Paris 12e
20h30 : YOHJI YAMAMOTO, au Carreau du Temple, 3 rue Dupetit Thouars, à Paris 3e
                                                                                                                                                            Tuesday 2 October

09h30 : BALENCIAGA, Voir invitation
10h30 : JUNYA WATANABE, Voir invitation
11h30 : TSUMORI CHISATO, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
12h30 : MARITHÉ & FRANCOIS GIRBAUD, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Le Nôtre  99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
13h30 : LUTZ Hôtel Ritz, 17 place Vendôme, à Paris 1er
14h30 : VIKTOR & ROLF, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, à Paris 1er
15h30 : ISSEY MIYAKE, à l’Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, à Paris 1er
16h30 : ANN DEMEULEMEESTER, au Couvent des Cordeliers, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, à Paris 6e
17h30 : COMME DES GARCONS, Voir invitation
19h00 : JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, 325 rue Saint-Martin, à Paris 3e
20h00 : VÉRONIQUE BRANQUINHO, au Garage Turenne, 66 rue de Turenne, à Paris 3e
21h00 : JEREMY SCOTT, à l’Elysée Montmartre, 72 boulevard de Rochechouart, à Paris 18e
                                                                                                                                                      Wednesday 3 October

09h30 : KARL LAGERFELD, à l’Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, à Paris 1er
10h30 : ANDREW GN, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
11h30 : AKRIS, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
12h30 : VALENTINO, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Le Nôtre 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
13h30 : COSTUME NATIONAL, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
14h30 : DRIES VAN NOTEN, au Manège du Grand Palais, avenue Franklin Roosevelt, à Paris 8e
15h30 : CHRISTIAN LACROIX, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, à Paris 1er
16h30 : LOEWE, au Couvent des Cordeliers, 15 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, à Paris 6e
17h30 : REQUIEM, au Petit Palais, avenue Winston Churchill, à Paris 8e
18h30 : GIVENCHY Carreau du Temple, 3 rue Dupetit Thouars, à Paris 3e
20h00 : HUSSEIN CHALAYAN, Voir invitation
                                                                                                                                                         Thursday 4 October

10h00 : STELLA MCCARTNEY, au Palais de Chaillot, 1 place du Trocadéro, à Paris 16e
11h00 : LÉONARD, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
12h00 : BARBARA BUI, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Le Nôtre 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
13h00 : ANNE-VALERIE HASH, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
14h00 : GIAMBATTISTA VALLI, à l’Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, à Paris 1er
15h30 : ZUCCA, à l’ École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Salle Melpomène, 13 quai Malaquais, à Paris 6e
16h30 : CELINE, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, à Paris 1er
17h30 : HAIDER ACKERMANN, Voir invitation
18h30 : VERONIQUE LEROY, Voir invitation
20h00 : YVES SAINT LAURENT, au Grand Palais, avenue Winston Churchill, à Paris 8e
                                                                                                                                                                Friday 5 October

09h30 : HIROMICHI NAKANO, au Carré des Champs-Elysées, Pavillon Ledoyen, 1 avenue Dutuit, à Paris 8e
10h30 : CHANEL, au Grand Palais, avenue du Général Eisenhower, à Paris 8e
11h30 : AGNÈS B. , au Palais de Tokyo, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, à Paris 16e
12h30 : JEAN-CHARLES DE CASTELBAJAC, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
13h30 : ALENA AKHMADULLINA, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli, à Paris 1er
14h30 : SONIA RYKIEL , à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, au Jardin des Tuileries, à Paris 1er
15h30 : JUNKO SHIMADA, Hôtel Westin, 3 rue de Castiglione, à Paris 1er
16h30 : RUE DU MAIL (by Martine Sitbon), Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Salle Melpomène, 13 quai Malaquais, Paris 6e
18h00 : ES ORCHESTRES, au Petit Palais, avenue Winston Churchill, à Paris 8e
20h00 : ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, au Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, Salle Marcel Cerdan, 8 boulevard de Bercy, Paris 12e
                                                                                                                                                               Saturday 6 October

10h30 : KENZO, au Carreau du Temple, 3 rue Dupetit Thouars, à Paris 3e
11h30 : ELIE SAAB, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
12h30 : CHAPURIN, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
13h30 : PAUL & JOE, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Le Nôtre 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
14h30 : JOSE CASTRO, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
15h30 : CHLOE, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1er
16h30 : MARTIN GRANT, à l’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Salle Melpomène, 13  quai Malaquais, Paris 6e
17h30 : HERMÈS, à l’Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, à Paris 1er
18h30 : LIMI FEU, au Garage Turenne, 66 rue de Turenne, Paris 3e
20h30 : JOHN GALLIANO, au Stade Français, 22 avenue de la porte de Saint-Cloud, Paris 16e
                                                                                                                                                                 Sunday 7 October

10h00 : VANESSA BRUNO, 8 rue de la Pierre Levée, à Paris 11e
11h00 : NINA RICCI, à l’Espace Ephémère Tuileries, au Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1er
12h00 : ANA MIKA, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
13h00 : YUKI TORII, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
14h00 : COLLETTE DINNIGAN, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
15h00 : MIU MIU, Voir invitation
16h30 : SAKINA M’SA, au Petit Palais, avenue Winston Churchill, à Paris 8e
17h30 : LANVIN, à l’Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, Paris 1er
18h30 : MOON YOUNG HEE, au Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabriel 99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er
19h30 : LOUIS VUITTON, Voir invitation
20h30 : CHADO RALPH RUCCI, Palais de Tokyo, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16e

Photo Credits: Flickr

Post from: The Paris Traveler

If you’ve seen Sarah Jessica Parker’s commercial for her new fragrance “Covet” you know what I’m talking about. How could Jean-Paul Goude get this one so wrong when he got so many other commercials so right?! The dress by Christian Lacroix is stunningly beautiful, and the Place Vendôme is exquisite! Even the Louis Vuitton shoes with the red soles are gorgeous! So why does SJP look like she belongs in some horror movie?!

Who did her makeup!? When she looks into the window at the bottle of perfume, her eye makeup is so dark, she looks like a racoon! Now, all SJP fans don’t get your feathers ruffled when I say that she is not a beautiful woman. I am referring to the classical sense of what beauty is, which usually refers to a face being symetrical. Her face is just a little too long, and her nose a tad too masculine which gives her a harsh look, unless she smiles. That said, she’s the perfect example of a woman who we find beautiful because she has confidence in herself as being attractive, that we no longer notice the imperfections. Instead, we get caught up in her concept of who she is, which therefore becomes our reality as well.

Unfortunately, this commercial destroys that illusion! Don’t get me wrong, I understand the nuance of this advertisement where she’s suppose to have lost her mind for this bottle of perfume. And Sarah Jessica Parker, the pro that she is, plays her part perfectly at the end where she really does look crazy behind bars!!! But why make her look so unattractive? I could understand if this were a spoof on SNL, but it’s not!

Personally I prefer her Lovely campaign which was, well…. lovely! My big question is how could she have accepted the release of the final cut of this ad, not to mention Coty, or anyone else involved in the making of this commercial?! Bottom line, advertisements are meant to entice us to buy something. This one does just the opposite! Who wants to buy a perfume that not only doesn’t bewitch us (!) …..according to the ad, this fragrance could very likely turn us into a crazy witch instead?!

                                                                                                       Photo Credits: Flickr and Coty

Post from: The Paris Traveler

                                                                                     THIS IS PARIS TO ME

Cobble stone streets; and chic cafés.
Strolling down the Champs Elysées.
Going into the Madeleine,
or riding the Bateaux Mouches on the Seine.
That is what you must do and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

Les musiciens qui jouent dans le Métro,
le bonjour de la patronne du bistro.
Le marché aux fleurs du dimanche matin,
et un pot au tabac du coin.
Mon joli appartement,
dans une petite rue du Quartier Latin.
That is what you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Climbing the stairs up to Montmartre,
to buy pictures that are not really art.
Taking photographs in front of the Eiffel Tower,
the Louvre, Notre-Dame, or on the Pont des Arts.
These are the things that you must do and see.
but this is not Paris to me.

Les diners avec de bons amis,
le cinéma l’après-midi.
Les graces matinées avec mon amant au lit,
en ecoutant la pluie.
C’est ça Paris, c’est ça la vie.
These are the things that you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Guided tours of the museums,
a visit to the Bastille, the Invalides,
the Conciergerie.
On top of the Arc of Triumph,
or on the tower at Montparnasse;
sooner or later your feet will get tired
and you will run out of gas.
Still all of this you must do and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

La rentrée de septembre après les vacances.
Les feuilles qui tombent
et donnent l’ambiance.
La baguette chaude qui sort du four,
les cries des enfants qui jouent dans la cour.
Still all of this you do not hear or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Galeries Lafayette, the Bon Marché,
all the shops on the Avenue Montaigne.
Dior, Chanel, Lacroix, and Guerlain,
are sold to you like “petit pain”.
Your arms are full at the duty free,
it’s the start of your shopping spree.
Louis Vuitton, Fauchon, Hermès,
you only want the very best.
This is what you buy and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

La bonne bouffe, les bon vins,
les rendez-vous avec les copains,
Les concerts et les spectacles,
passer des heures à là Fnac.
Flâner dans les rues ou de lire au jardin,
c’est ça la joie, la joie sans fin.
This is what you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Drinking champagne at the Moulin Rouge,
the Lido, or the Crazy Horse Saloon.
At those prices you think,
you could have gone to the moon.
And your trip to Paris,
will end too soon.
It may not be the money, but the time you lack,
and of course you say,
you will definitely come back.
This is the beauty you think you see,
but this is not Paris to me.

Paris change de robes
selon les saison.
La couleur des feuilles en automne,
la lumière si grise l’hiver.
Les bourgeons des arbres au printemps,
et le ciel bleu d’été.
Les grands couturiers, donneraient tout
pour ce beau défilé.
Tout ça est gravé dans mes yeux,
est gravé dans mon âme
Paris! Je t’aime, Paname!
This is the beauty that you don‘t see,
but this is Paris to me.

Lynn Rodriguez © 2006

All rights reserved.  Lynn Rodriguez 2007

Photo Credits: Flickr

Post from: The Paris Traveler

Lancel began in 1876, but it wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the company began to cater to women’s handbags and accessories, and not until 1976, one hundred years later, that the company changed hands and a new modernism of the ‘chic’ woman was born.

Last year Lancel launched its new store with its largest display window on the Champs-Elysées, and yes, if you think I went into that store and got myself another handbag, you’re right!  You can visit their website, or better yet stop in at one of their more than twenty locations in Paris!

Photo Credit: Flickr

Post from: The Paris Traveler

The Avenue Montaigne is just the place. It is filled from one end of the street to the other with some of the most famous and top brand names. Think haute couture like Chanel, Dior, Lacroix, accessories like Louis Vuitton, or world renowned jewelers like Harry Winston and Bulgari and you get the picture.

The street itself exudes sophistication, elegance, and style; and why not, with Rolls Royces, Bentleys or Aston Martins parked here or there in front of the boutiques, or the luxurious Hôtel Plaza Athénée. It’s a smorgasbord for European royalty, Middle-Eastern oil magnets, heads of state, and movie stars, so don’t be surprised if you see someone famous that you recognize.

The avenue has metamorphosized throughout the years, however, and you have a whole new group of celebrated names in the fashion world that have made their mark here as well. Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Prada, and even Calvin Klein to name a few. So enjoy a stroll down this beautiful tree lined avenue and stop licking! Go on in and get yourself something nice, you deserve it!

Photo Credits: Flickr

Post from: The Paris Traveler