Christian Dior, couturier du reve, musee des Arts Decoratifs

Thursday I managed to sneak into the hottest show in town, the Christian Dior exhibit at musee des Arts Decoratifs. By the time I got out 2 hours later, extensive lines and anxious faces were waiting in the rain. I've heard of some taking 5 hours to see the Dior. I probably will go back for more.

If you're headed to Paris get your tickets online and go early. The show is on through 7 January 2018

A history wall in the first room. I'm sure there are still some French viewers reading every detail.

Dior's early sketches when he worked for designer lucien lelong.

Later with his own couture house on famous avenue Montaigne.

Dior said he wanted to make women feel like princesses. He dressed many including princesses Margaret, Soraya, and Grace.

In his 20s he was a gallerist. He adored art and collecting. Later many of the same artists collaborated on his collections.

Ball gowns inspired by elaborate antique wallpapers.

Details in classical French paintings by Elizabeth Vignee le Brun influenced Dior's styling

Dior's bouffant taffeta dresses will never go out of style in my opinion.

His taffeta bows, sashes, rosettes, roses...pink pink pink

Dior perfume bottles mirror the female figure. Shape and form was everything to him.

The designers who followed in the house of Dior are featured. Galliano drapping a muslin form.

Raf Simons, his seemstresses and fitting model.

One of his two-tiered pleated gowns in motion.

Audrey Hepburn in Dior shot by Avedon.

Yves saint Laurent worked first at Dior. His loose distinctive sketches with fabric swatches.

An entire room floor to ceiling of original muslin forms. I put a video on my Instagram. Link below.

A grand hall of Dior's classic tailored suits

The same suits dans le rue.

At last a huge ballroom with a dazzling light show and music, full of glorious gowns designed by Dior and other house designers. Do not miss this show please! Did you see a Dior gown you would like me to paint? Let me know. Thank you for reading parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and Dior watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. Visit my INSTAGRAM for more Dior pictures.

Bon Week-end PBers!

Step-by-step creating September's Paris Letter

The September letter always has a 'La Rentree' theme. I looked at old French lesson books: syllabaires, ABCdaires.

I've collected a few and even went looking in George's candy shop. He has tons of old French school stuff.

Paris windows have back-to-school themes.

I went looking for inspo.

Such beautiful Swiss colored pencils, though not a Crayola crayon in all of France.

Back to the drawing board to make some thumbnails. I don't do this enough.

Final drawing except for a big hole in the middle...

Still a hole in the middle 'cos I'd lost those little sketches...

Saved by the copyshop guy who found it. So many pieces of paper. Some always go missing

Ta Da. Fini. Terminee And in la Poste! Now on to the September map. And Chester, but that's another shaggy dog story..

All the Paris dads have been corralled to take the kiddies to school

And to bring them home.

To and from school the first week of La Rentree. It happens every year.

This one got away. There are handmade watercolor bookmarks in this months Paris letters by the way. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. And visit my INSTAGRAM for more pics. Bon mercredi!

Paris terrasses map, French apero letter

Have you visited le Colbert at the Louvre? I have to admit I hadn't till researching Paris terrasses. Please visit my INSTAGRAM for more pics.

The views are gorgeous, including the Pavillon Turgot just across the courtyard.

Not that there's anything wrong with the terrasse le Colbert?

Though a Parisian bird might decide to obstruct your view.

The latest Paris map is a collection of sky-high terrasses for knock-your-socks-off views.

For some unknown reason they all sport the exact same umbrellas?

Quite a few are on the top floors of Paris' museums.

Noura's Zyriad has top-of-the-world views of Ile Saint Louis and beyond in l'Institute Monde Arabe.

The musee Branly terrasse in the 7th has limited visiting hours and a small charge.

Between 2 - 6 pm. Or you can break the bank and book restaurant Les Ombres in the evening hours for a champagne celebration. Do not expect to waft in sans reservations. Tel:01.47.53.68.00

Anyone can go up to the 8th floor in Galeries Lafayette and get eye-level with the Opera Garnier and the Eiffel Tower. FYI Printemps' terrasse is closed for renovations for a few years.

The Club Cube may close early but you can still hang out and wander till the store closes.

Top of the French list of evening aperitifs is the orangey Aperol spritzer

Even le Figaro's informational apero map is orange-colored. Naturally drinks cost a tad more in Paris than in the sticks. Big surprise.

The latest Parisbreakfast letter will keep you up to date on what to order at those lovely top floor terrasses. Don't forget the big deal is the accompanying munchies; crackers, olives or round-the-world tidbits. If you can't make it to Paris for an apero, there are Louvre watercolor views in my Etsy shop. By the way order just a Perrier at the Louvre terrasse or zero. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop.

Bon Mardi!