Passing out in Hermes

  

I was supposed to meet Solli at Entrance 8 at Place de la Concorde

For the Olympics Parc Urbain . 

Saut Hermes 2013

Samdi 13 Avril Saut Hermés 2013

This past weekend I hung out with the horsey set in Paris at Saut Hermés. I'd noticed the tents last year along the Champs-Élysées and when I saw them again this past week I vowed I was going inside. Ha

The annual horse jumping competition takes place inside the Grand Palais. The competing horses are paddocked in the white tents.

I marched inside with as much aplomb as I could gather and asked for the presse desk. Hmmm...it turns out one must apply at two months in advance for accreditation. OK.

Here is a plan of the action inside the Palais from the catalog by French artist Mathieu de Muizon. 

It turns out a lot of action takes place behind the Grand Palais at the back entrance. 

You can see the horses being led into the ring.

And being lead out back to the paddocks.

Sometimes, though rarely, a competing rider comes out on his horse...

What does one wear to an event like this?

NO Hermés scarves or Birkin bags please.

Skinny legs help

No Hermés orange in fact at all. 

If you're a competing rider you can get away with a touch of Hermés orange.

If you're participating in the event, a horse owner or associated in any way you wear an orange ribbon with the appropriate identification tag so the guard lets you in.
If you're 'somebody' you only show a mere smidge of the orange ribbon. Ordinary workers from the paddock show the whole ribbon bien sur. Little subtleties like this reveal who is upper crust and who isn't. And you only pick it up at the back door in my opinion.

Of course the winning horses are decked out in full Hermés orange blankets they wear proudly as they prance out the back door.
If you want to see more of what went on look here and here.
Champion Ludger Beerbaum came in 1st and American 19 year old Reed Kessel took second place.

Only this Parisian dog was wearing orange on the outside looking in.
A l'annee prochain j'espere.

BEAR'S Last Day in Paris

BEAR is safely home in New York YAY!

Our last day in Paris was drizzly, overcast. Sunday, so no one was out which is always nice :) BEAR decided we must do a last quick run to Champs-Elysees. L'Arc de Triomphe. Crazy Parisian runners in the rain.
Last Parisien dog and a big one!

 Easter bears in a window.

Inside a not so dreamy 30-minute wait

For gooey pastries.

We waited 30 min only so BEAR could take a last Metro ride in a pastry bag.

BEAR suggested we take AirFrance Bus to Charles de Gaulle Airport since it's faster then the RoisseyBus especially if you go on Sunday morning.

We got there in 20 minutes with loads of time to browse duty-free.

BEAR badly wants a 'I was in Moulin Rouge' T-shirt.

I wanted a 'I was in Hermes' something or other.

We both wanted Hediards macarons.

In red boxes.

And Dalloyau's macarons.

Oh well you can't always get what you want  

BONJOUR HOME!

Paris Renovations & Restaurations

Today's post is not about Parisien perfectly messy hair.
Nor is it about the joys of attending a Paris fashion show. But it is about beauty with a capitol B.
I love the way Paris beautifies its buildings when they are in a state of la restauration/repair or under construction. Like this witty wall poster covering Prada's new store-to-be that makes walkers on rue Saint-Honore appear to be on a catwalk!

Shot upside-down yet then turned right-side up.

It makes you think a bit.

Hermés is the master of the street face-lift with this Punch and Judy window

Take a closer look and you see delightfully casual sketches with a dash of watercolor on a corner on rue Saint-Honore.

The Paris Opera has gone for something much grander-almost an abstract artwork in their coverup while under construction.

It's true you'll see plain old construction signs now and then in Paris...

Hasn't this happened to you?
You tell a friend,

"You have GOT to see this gorgeous old bistro/cafe/or whatever."

You get there and the %$#@ thing is completely covered in scaffolding!

Why is that?

Because Paris preserves it's beauty.
It does not (well only rarely- Cojean how could you do that to Cador Patisserie?) throw them away.

It takes care of it's treasures, unlike some cities. And does it with wit and charm to boot. I took Barry Lewis' brilliant course on New York architectural history at Cooper Union this Spring. I've taken it before and will again. Barry is a NYC monument himself of endless, fascinating information on the city. One thing I heard Barry say over and over again,"In America, we throw things away. We get tired of them after 10 years and into the ashcan they go."

I would walk up 5th avenue after Barry's class with my head in the sky like a visiting tourist.

Passing the New York Public Library, I was sad to see no terrific Parisien-style witty scrim or faux wall while the library is under construction.

Back in Paris, along the Seine, this building shows all the workers of Paris while being repaired.

There is a guide to all the figures and their travaille/work placed on the bridge.

Hermés again has a big mural of sketches of shoppers on rue de Sevres.Reflecting the actual shoppers rushing by...

Here's an Older French Girl or OFG wearing a bit of red walzing by a lovely big under-construction sign.

Time for a bite of Paris beauty with your coffee from Hugo and Victor.

I'm trying to post earlier.

BONJOUR PARIS RESTAURATIONS!