Ai Weiwei at Le Bon Marche and Cha Ling

Tuesday night I reluctantly ventured out into the chill night to attend a cosmetics launch of Cha Ling l'esprit du thè at Bon Marche.

A few weeks earlier I noticed excitement going on in Bon Marche's windows - The biggest installation ever in Paris of Chinese artist, Ai WeiWei is on from 20 Janvier - 20 Fevrier.

I managed to catch a shot of Ai Weiwei's diagrammatic sketch.

Look at the wildly energetic results seen Tuesday night.

Ten windows with different poetic, mythical themes.

Inside Bon Marche, a new other worldly sérum infusion called Cha Ling l'esprit du thé is designed to hydrate your dry skin in the chill air.

Made with rare organic forest tea leaves plus red algae. The scent is wonderful, exotic yet not heavily perfumy.

Samples were expertly smoothed on hands

Chinese artifacts in exquisite still lifes

I suppose part of the Chinese promotion throughout Bon Marche.

On hand artisans

A calligrapher to paint your fortune

Taste tea made from the same leaves in Cha Ling skin care.

And of course gelato served by Il Gelato del Marchese

The guests of honor, Olivier Echaudemaison, Guerlain creative director

On his arm, Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova

Hovering over the head of the president of Cha Ling and Guerlain, Laurent Boillot, swirling and dipping

Ai Weiwei's terrific mythical creature-kites Bet they'd love to swoop down for a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

Bon Marche's atrium is the perfect environment for these floating creatures.

At eye-level silvery fish swim in big tanks in the cosmetics department.

I have absolutely nothing to wear to these events. I went back yesterday for more shots. Wish I had mythical, floaty pink hair, perfect for tea cosmetic launches.This swath of Chinese red cloth worn on the wrist is so chic for French soirées (only for employees of Bon Marche and Cha Ling).
Don't miss the Ai Weiwei installation at Bon Marche if you're in Paris!