Florae exhibition - Van Cleef & Arpels, Nina's Paris

 

On Friday PBer Carolyn and I went to see the just-opened Van Cleef and Arpels Florae exhibit (free, but you must reserve).

Its on at #19, Place Vendome, to the right of the Ritz.

Once inside, you’re invited to take a stroll through a labyrinth garden of mirrors and glass cases.

The jewelry from Van Cleef and Arpels are set off by tall video panels that fade in and out. 

Van Cleef has a long tradition of flower-patterned jewelry design.

The contrast of flowery jewels and closeups of brilliantly colored flower photography creates an immersive experience not unlike the Van Gogh exhibits. Only thematic music was missing.

Even the rugs are flower-patterned. Fortunately there are bi-linual guides to explain details and help you find the exit. Its dark inside. 

The photographic artwork is by the astonishing Japanese artist Mika Ninagawa. If you’re in the UK, she has a beautiful exhibit at the Oxford Ashmoleon museum. 

Walk across Place Vendome and you will see more of Ninagawa’s flowers.

In the Van Cleef and Arpels shop windows at #20-22, setting off their famous Alhambra jewelry. 

I was inspired to paint some ‘Alhambra’ necklaces in my shop if you are so inclined. 

Should you be, by now in the mood for a heist movie (no jewels involved) you can watch ‘How To Steal A Million’ with Audrey and Peter (lurking in the background).

Instead we went to nearby Nina’s Marie-Antoinette the for a cuppa to recover from seeing so much beauty in one afternoon. The exhibit is on till November 14. Remember to reserve ❤️

              🌸Bonne/bon Dimanche dear PBers🌸

“ Je suis folle de chaussures !”, Catherine Deneuve

 

Yesterday I saw French l’actrice, Catherine Deneuve’s shoe 👠  collection at Artcuriel at Rond Pointe before the auction starts today. 

I’m thinking I’ll have to get on line and wait. I was so excited and nervous. But when I got there and it was just me and another shoe 👠 fanatic. 

By the way Artcuriel is one of those places that aways has interesting exhibits (like NYC Christies) plus a terrific art book store. Well worth a visit.

“Je suis folle de chaussures,”/I’m crazy for shoes!” said Deneuve. Are you a shoe-aholic? I used to design shoes 👠in Italy and Spain for an American company eons ago, so that’s my excuse.

Deneuve’s shoes (125 pairs wow) are exquisite. Many have walked the tapis rouge/red carpet in Cannes. The    profits will go to charity, Restos du Coeur ♥️ 

There is a reason really beautiful shoes cost a bundle. Usually custom, hand-made from the absolute best materials, they are elegantly designed. Deneuve owned only the top marks: Louboutin, Manola Blahnik, YSL, Prada, Roger Vivier. 

All are quite sexy. They emphasize femininity, not practicality.

Works of art, more like sculpture than something you’d put on your foot. These object d’art have little to do with the shape of the human foot 🦶 She has smallish feet - size 37.5 - 39.

Audrey wore size 10.5/42 and simple designs.

Now I bet CD is wearing Dr. Scholl’s. These pointy toes are le pire/the worse thing you could do to your feet. Did your mother say to you when you were growing up,”Beauty hurts” Mine did. Still she made me wear corrective shoes (which achieved nothing). I have Flat Feet. I’m trying to fix them now. Joanie-come-lately. I go on tip toe around the house, roll balls under my desk when I remember. There’s a towel waiting for toes to curl and grab. Are you doing the same thing Catherine Deneuve? ☺️ 

Having a Deneuve stiletto on your mantle piece would be eye-catching. Much better there than on your feet. 

Serendipity turned up in Galeries Lafayette-a giant pair of blue legs and matching blue heels guard the entrance.

Do you dream of owning these stunning shoes👠 You can. They are in my Etsy shop! You can even order a customized pair in your fav color with your name in the instep. What are you waiting for?👠👠👠💋❤️🇫🇷

(Redoing) Audrey in Pink Paris Letter

 

Call me a perfectionist, but when you’re drawing ✏️Audrey Hepburn, perfectionism is essential.

I just wasn’t happy with her face/smile in the Sunday version. Can you spot the 5+ changes? Let me know in the comments.

Look, even Richard Avedon shot a ‘sad’ Audrey. He said that she was not an easy capture. Such a mobile,  expressive face.

As for the very 1st version - way too busy, and somehow Isabella Rosellini snuck in there!

Some practice sketches. Am I nutz? Are you getting tired of AH? I hope not🙏💋 Somehow this woman is timeless. Supposedly tweens are crazy for her!

Did you know you can still order 50s Revlon ‘Pink in the Afternoon’, the lipstick worn by Holly in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’? Revlon tried discontinuing it but the demand was too strong. By the way I just ordered a dual language (Eng/Fr) version of the book(BAT). Some ppl will go to any lengths not to take actual French lessons :(

Serendipitously..is that a word..while I was sketching Holly’s hot pink dress,

 Henry Wilkinson was getting ready to make it on YouTube. It will be an ongoing process and you can ask him questions or even make your own. You’ll need some Bubblegum pink silk and a few other luxe items.

Back to 2021 being the year of Sakura pink

Like I said the guys are wearing pink too

And of course little French girls will always wear it. The refreshed Audrey in Pink letter is my Etsy shop. Do you believe in pink? Take a look 👀 You can write✏️ me back again 🤸🏾‍♀️ 💋💕☺️ * Bonne Monday PBers.

Think Pink, a new Audrey Letter

On Friday I went into BHV depart. store for ribbons and perfume cards. I was confronted with a ton of pink. 

Even Mariage Frères has gone pink with their packaging and teapots!

Passing through the women’s clothing floor…more pink for Fall! What’s going on? 

Naturally I don't own anything in pink but I better get on it.

Givenchy has a special collection of mood perfumes & they are all pink. Titles: trouble-Fête · Sans Artifice · Peur de Rien · Oiseau Rare · Indompté · Sans Merci · Garçon Manqué. 

Pink is no longer just for little girls. 

Guys are wearing plenty of pink.

In the metro station - pink ads. 

I was on my way to the art store. I bought some Opera pink of course.

Not just Funny Face is mad for pink. Why pink? Pink is a calming color associated with love, kindness, and femininity. People immediately associate the color with all things feminine and girly. Some shades of pale pink are described as relaxing, while very bright, vibrant shades can be stimulating or even aggravating.

Audrey Hepburn said she ‘believed in pink’. I think she was on to something. 

I got inspired to paint a new pink Audrey single letter, 

Dolce & Gabbana just showed this OTT pink gown in Venice. I’m going to order shortly 

☺️💕🐻💋 Stay in the pink dear PBers🙏❤️ 

Pain Swiss and Audrey

PBer Suki asked me what was the flat thing with the chocolate bits next to the pain au raisin?

My inner Sherlock sent me running back to Boulanger de la Tour for further research. So where does ‘Pain Swiss’ come from. What is Swiss about it? This I am still pursuing.

If you’re wondering about the chopsticks on the plate…

Watch Bright Side on how to use them to get your tired brain buzzing at #5 and perhaps lose some weight.

A pain Swiss is made with the same light, buttery pâte feuilletté as a croissant🥐 Which takes us to Vienna and entrepreneur August Zang, who is believed to have invented the croissant🥐!

He moved his boulangerie to Paris (92, rue de Richelieu) in 1837 and gave us Viennoisseries (chausson au pomme, pain au chocolat, pain au raisin, etc.) How did the croissant become so ‘French’ ? Because French bakers in the late 19th century, reinvented it by replacing the brioche dough with puff pastry.

Don’t you love the old pictures of bakers proudly lined up outside the shop?

You can investigate further into the origins of le croissant 🥐 if you like. 

We can’t discuss croissants in depth without Audrey Hepburn and BAT (Breakfast at Tiffanys) coming into the picture.

Evidently she told director Blake Edwards she’d rather eat an ice cream cone 🍦  Imagine what havoc that would have caused for world-wide boulangeries! Would we be eating ice cream year-round instead of 🥐 It does not bare thinking about.

*Do not miss hot-off-the presses in-depth analysis of BAT from Be kind-Rewind on Youtube, even if the croissant issue is left on the counter.

Me, I’m still doing daily drawings ✏️ of Audrey’s inimitable face for possible future AH letters (shout Yes Please! if you’re interested in more Audrey) and all my huckleberry friends

❤️🥐🐻