What Bag to Wear in Paris

 American celebrities like to carry whatever Parisian IT $$$$$ bag is IN.

According to Vogue, ‘There’s a certain cool girl look’ Parisians have down pat. From perfect Breton stripe shirt to classic cigarette pants, Fr girls claim some of the chicest staples in a working wardrobe. 

International Cat Day, Leopard letter

 

I missed International Cat day by a month on August 8.

Celebrating cats should be an everyday event.

The Surreal World of Elsa Schiaparelli/ Musee des Arts Decoratifs

 

Another late night at the museum. MAD/musee des arts decoratifs is open Thursdays till 9. And another spectacular don’t-miss exhibition is on in Paris till January 22.

The first room you enter is covered, including the floor you’re standing on with her fashion sketches. The ceiling is mirrored, so you’re inside a box 📦 of drawings ✏️ Designer Elsa Schiaparelli made a donation in 1973 of over 6000 drawings in bound albums.

Sixième Sens par Cartier, Cartier et les Arts d’Islam, MAD

 

Poster by George Barbier

Almost every year jewelers Cartier comes out with a new lush book. This year’s luscious book; 📕 Sixième Sens par Cartier: High Jewelry and Precious Objects by François Chaille has kept me distracted drawing 🐆 panthères, Jeanne Toussant, and multi-colored gem stones.

Jeanne came to Paris at 15 from a family of Belgian lacemakers. Already stylish, chic and charismatic, she met the right people including soon-to-be close friend Coco Chanel and Louis Cartier, who was instantly enthralled. He affectionately called her "Ma petite panthère". Her apartment was filled with animal skins, collected and gifted to her from around the world. She was famously known for wearing a full-length coat made of panther fur 🐆. 

Toussaint was hired by Louis Cartier in 1913 at age 26, the same year he met her, to be in charge of designing accessories (though she could not draw a line). In 1933, Louis made her full artistic director of all Cartier design, a unique position for a woman at that time. She retired in 1970 at age 80.

Cartier’s iconic panther logo evolved from her unique animal obsession and designs. “At the beginning of twentieth century, big cats were en vogue for expressing femininity – in fact, the beast was seen as the ultimate expression of femininity,” Says Geo Cramer.

Her large cat-themed brooches, bracelets, rings were exquisitely made of the finest, most decadent materials. Cartier’s eminent clients (Duchess of Windsor, Marjorie Merriwether Post, Daisy Fellows, Grace Kelly to name a few) adored her panther 🐆 designs.

 

Another of Toussaint’s specialities was art deco geometric jewelry inspired by the Mughuls and the Maharajas designs of India.

Original pieces were brought back, taken apart and put back together with added layers, mixing up many colored stones; rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts.

Cut in the form of flowers and berries, the style was called “Tutti Frutti” and is still an integral part of the Cartier Collection.

Cartier as well was creating opulent pieces for Indian maharajas. Brother Jacques Cartier, who ran the London store, was traveling in the East finding trends and gem sources.

Recently MAD(musee des Arts Decoratifs had an exhibition of Cartier et les Arts d’Islam.

An opportunity to see original Islamic designs side by side 

With many Cartier bracelets, rings, necklaces, tiaras. 

The influence of Persian and Indian opulent geometric patterns 

Is immediately self-evident. 

Colors and patterns of Islamic ornamentation taken from rugs, pottery, decorative tiles, miniatures 

Show up in the design of cabochon emerald necklaces 

And an emerald and diamond belt buckle no less.

Truly an inspiring Aladdin’s treasure trove of splendors, both in the new book, Sixième Sens par Cartier: High Jewelry and Precious Objects and the past MAD exhibit. I could not stop sketching these beauties. Mille merci Cartier 👏 On my bridge looks like jewels 💎 on the Seine non?

Paris Scarf in le Metro

 I shoot shoes in the Metro but this trip I went for scarves/l'esharpes.

 Purple is IN in case you were wondering...

 The variety of scarf knots and folds seems endless...

 Animal prints will always be IN.

 No animal print scarf on this doggie. Pourquoi pas?

 Was pastry chef Delmontel influenced by scarves in the Metro when he designed this towering chou/cream puff?

 Much like this towering blue scarf - this woman has quite a long neck it would seem...

 Just a sliver of green scarf compliments the red knit hat.

 Hair, scarf and sweater are totally color co-ordinated here on the train.

 You can get good tips how to tie your scarf by browsing the Paris vitrines

 These are at Marie Brunon on rue Vavin.

This example in Bonpoint might be a tough act to follow. You'd need assistance with this one for sure!

Bon Week-End!

Bonjour Cat Patterns!

THEY are wearing CAT!

Well OK 'wild' cat patterns

Really any animal pattern will do

But mostly catty patterns are preferred

Tell me the name of this famous high end stocking brand?

It begins with a 'W'. They have cat patterns galore.

Combine the trend for faux furs with cat patterns plus a shorty jacket and you're set.

These are all very neutral, but then Paris does go in for grey/gris in a big way. You'll find animal prints at all price points and for the kids too.

Here's what I can't figure out

With all the perfectly nice flat surfaces.

On these Paris pastries I find it deeply troubling

That the tres au courant and very fashionable Parisien pastry chefs

...Have not added a touch of cat patterns on top of these tartes. All that's required - a stencil + a sprinkling of cocoa powdre et voila! You have a tarte to match your scarf or leggings etc.

Me, I'm dressed in layers, none of them catty.

But ever prepared for Paris' changing weather 

Meanwhile BEAR is busy browsing Paris bears and anything stripey.       BONJOUR PARIS CHATS!