Mamie Gateaux Brocante

 

Have you had tea at adorable Mamie Gateaux on 66 rue du Cherche-Midi?

It’s been around 20 years.

Alice Je T'aime

 Arriving in Paris I couldn't help notice the current French obsession with Alice.

Vitrine/windows are full of  Alice figures (pronounced A-leece here).

At Printemps - 9 designers create special Alice dresses including the late Alexander McQueen. I ask Fr Girl, "What's up with all the Alice stuff?"
Fr Girl says, "The French are obsessed with Aleece."
"Ah ha" I say. The wheels turn. I put 2 + 2 together.

Everywhere I see signs of Alice like this adorable pinney. My theory falls into place. Alice is the epitome of the naughty yet innocent little French school girl in her pinafore, long hair, hair ribbon and mary jane flats/ballerinas. 

Tim Burton's Alice is not so innocent looking. She looks like she's been round the block a few times.The dress is a disaster. Sorry Tim. Plus she has bazooms. Something many French girls are missing. I watch Fr Girl dress for work, fascinated by the layers she throws together. One day I say,
"You look exactly like a French school girl in that outfit"

Sonia adores the little girl sailor shirt - I would kill for one of these.

The ageless French obsession with the child's ballerina fits perfectly into my Alice theory. So innocent.

Headband with a big bow, worn with a decollete top reveals a black bra - naughty but nice. A grown French woman shopping with her beau, her ballerinas, headband and long goldie locks.  
Printemps has created the perfect chez Alice salon de thé

From the escalator, you look down and watch the tea party. Colette stirred the pot with her naughty/nice school girl novels - Claudine à l'école, Claudine a Paris etc.

This schoolgirl caught me snapping in Luxemburg jardin.

Lewis Carroll, inspired the French even more than the Brits in my opinion.

The Mad Hatters tea party continues...

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in the mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

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 Petite pastel macarons are the perfect accompaniment to the French school girl look.This is my theory and I'm sticking to it.

What do you think?

BONJOUR ALICE!

Madame de la Lafayette

Madame de la Lafayette,watercolor on Etsy,watercolor

Parisienne Anne Corrons of MesVitrinesNYC (now Mes VitrinesParis/London) gave me a detailed tour of the first Xmas vitrines in Paris...i.e. Galeries Lafayette!

MIAM-MIAM

A fantasie tea party for two...
Dreamy Nicole Kidman-like femmes...

One of them very much turned...

Upside down!
What was in the tea?

Anne tells me this means BIG Xmas!

Anne about to take a shot, and I'm about to go off to Philadelphia for the Holiday. Here's hoping I don't get turned upside down and you either!!!
See you next week...
BON HOLIDAY!