New York Girls

I always wonder how Bill Cunningham does it?

Capture the New York Girl with such dash and ease..? Yesterday as I was slogging through the 90 degree heat, the New York Girl was everywhere! New York tourists are always looking up, so they completely miss her... Or they're looking and shooting each other at New York 'monuments' like Rock Center...The way to find the TRUE New York Girl (or NYG) is to look at the ground... Fab sandals everywhere. Does this NYG have a twisted ankle? Divinely simple Gucci sandals - how could I miss the logos all over... The Gucci's owner - quite soigne and all in neutrals.

Bill Cunningham NYC, Paris

Bill Cunningham-man-on-the street for the NYTimes has a new movie out on his shenanigans shooting fashionistas of the world. "I eat with my eyes," says Bill.
Anna Wintour says 'the fashion world gets dressed in the morning for Bill'.
I was thrilled to catch Bill in action at the Paris shows

Inside I got to stand with the BIG BOYS - the Pros on the podium. It's crowded and a lot of messy hair that gets in your viewfinder, but there's a great comraderie making it tremendous fun.

The Big Boys run to shoot a blond celeb - no way I can get in there. *Note celeb's old-fashioned Chanel bag with chain -it's back in fashion PB readers - dust yours off svp. ELLE says so.

Trying desperately to grab a shot.

But much better standing with the pros than grabbing a numbered seat in the bleachers.The Wall Street Journal has the whole scoop.

You Are Where You Sit at the Shows

 Parisienne Anne of MesVitrinesNYC covers Paris fashion windows meticulously with wit.

Peter'sParis captures perfectly Paris monuments of all kinds.

D'arcy of Chicsetera shoots tea - not a problem.

Me, I shoot backs - also not a problem, like a Printemps escalator rider.

Or dans la rue

A short cobalt blue skirt on rue Saint Honore.

Colette's dog shot inside with matching blue chairs - I was given permission.

In Colette's stunning blue loo Bear gets away with murder
Bear has decided he's an eater, not a fashion shooter.

He'll let Bill C. be man-in-the-street and stick to what he does best - shooting macarons and pastry shops etc.

BONJOUR BILL CUNNINGHAM!

Galignani

Do you stop at Librairie Galignani when you're in Paris?

It's the place to find the latest books on art and fashion.

Right now the windows are full of YSL.

Yves Saint Laurent's first major retrospective opens tomorrow at the Petit Palais. I got my ticket at FNAC for Friday morning. Yay

Inside Galignani the fashionistas are browsing, since the shows are still on.

I spot Bill Cunningham from the NYTimes again.

They always have a slew of books on Coco. Remember when I wrote about The Gospel According to Chanel? Wouldn't it be swell to have your book in a chic shop in Paris?

More YSL mostly in French.

A plethora of fashion books.

No wonder Bill is here.

This book caught my eye, My Mother's Clothes by photographer Jeanette Montgomery Barron.

A lovely memoir/scrapbook of her late mother's various stylish outfits and the stories they recall. Poignant.

A key thing to remember about Librairie Galignani is.

It's next door to Angelina at 224 rue de Rivoli.

So easy to pop in for a chocolat chaud post-browsing non?

BON APPETITE!

Sonia Rykiel Fall/Winter10

Dessert first!

I made it to Sonia Rykiel's show!

But to get there - a lot of waiting in the frigid cold. Paris cold is like no other. It says 21 degrees/feels like 18. It should say feels like minus 18. The Seine wind chill blows right through you.

The fashionistas couldn't give a %$#@

BonjourBonjour

Style reporter man-on-the street and all-in-blue, Bill Cunningham from the Sunday Times is dressed appropriately.

We both scurry to grab a pic of barely dressed all-in-blue Lilly Allen it’s Roxane Mesquida

Inside I squeeze onto the Photog's podium. I have no actual ticket or seat # but I'd rather stand here than sit in the gigantic stadium of the Halle Freyssinet.

The first model prances down the catwalk.

A giant pompom on her head.

I love this intarsia sweater with swallows flying

Fab flaming red long trench

Sonia's stripes - a must!
Sky-high shoes with fur - a must!

Fluid, drapie..what can you say?
Tres feminine as always is Sonia.

The grand finale of high-fiving smiling girls - so Sonia

I follow these Sonia lovers into the mist at the end of the catwalk, thinking they are headed for the exit

Party time back stage

And another chance to admire while drinking champers

The model's look sheets

Makeup look photos for at least 60 girls.

Back to realite and the next show

What it takes to get "the Look"
What it takes to get back to feeling warm again - a cup of chocolat chaud at the cafe Deux Magots. Hope you had fun!

BONJOUR SONIA!