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Isn’t this Hermès apple purse (and knife) adorable? Yes. It IS small and restricted in its use (ONE apple or keys or condoms or credit cards or change or an iPod Nano…some other stuff) but if it were bigger it wouldn’t be as CUTE.
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Leave it to outside-the-box thinking* French designer, Philippe Di Méo, to design tableware inspired by sex toys. The collection of erotic tableware called, Souper Fin (which is a play on words of “fine dining” and “super fine”), was designed in collaboration with renowned luxury companies Baccarat, Goyard, Cristofle and Orfèvrerie d’Anjou among others.
Souper Fin will be exhibited at L’Eclaireur (Paris) in July. Each item will be complemented with a specially created chef’s dish and recipe. (I guess so you know how to use some of the utensils!)
* Philippe Di Méo once designed perfumes based on sweat, tears and saliva.
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From wwd:
“Make no mistake — Louis Vuitton is well-equipped for combat against counterfeiters.
Tonight, Vuitton is celebrating Takashi Murakami’s “© Murakami” exhibition with a “Brooklyn Ball” at the Brooklyn Museum featuring a special performance by Kanye West, the unveiling of a new camouflage print developed by Murakami and Marc Jacobs called Monogramouflage and a special installation designed to bring attention to one of the industry’s biggest travails — counterfeits.
But rather than simply hand out leaflets to alert guests about the importance of protecting original designs, the French luxury goods house will be taking a novel, somewhat intriguing route. Outside the museum, Vuitton is setting up 10 New York-style street vendors — not to sell fakes, but rather authentic Louis Vuitton product and special Monogramouflage canvases that Murakami has created specifically for the exhibition.
While it may seem lighthearted on the surface, the presentation is meant to underscore just how serious Vuitton executives are taking the counterfeit trade, and how diligently they are working to stop copycats from getting their merchandise to consumers.
“We always thought that counterfeit requires zero tolerance for several reasons,” Yves Carcelle, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton, told WWD in an exclusive interview. “It’s a gray economy that escapes all rules of normal labor and normal economic rules and taxations, so it’s a bad thing for every state in the world. Secondly, it’s bad for any kind of creativity, research and development, because if you don’t protect intellectual property, why should people dedicate time and energy to create?”
Can you imagine the First Lady of another country posing nude? *shudders!*
Paris Prêt-á-Porter / Paris Fashion Week
Monday 25 February
10.00 Atsuro Tayama Salle Pleyel
252 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
11.00 Véronique Leroy Espace Pierre Cardin
1/3 Avenue Gabriel
12.00 Gaspard Yurkievich Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
13.00 Robert Normand Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
14.30 Christian Dior Espace Ephémère Tuileries
Jardin des Tuileries
15.30 Isabel Marant Espace Eiffel
Quai Branly
16.30 Sharon Wauchob Palais de Tokyo
13 Avenue du Président Wilson
17.30 Undercover La Cigale
120 Boulevard Rochechouart
18.30 Maison Martin Margiela Palais de Bercy
8 Boulevard de Bercy
19.30 Vivienne Westwood Hotel Westin
3 Rue de Castiglione
20.30 Yohji Yamamoto Palais de la Bourse
Place de la Bourse
Tuesday 26 February
09.30 Balenciaga (Invitation)
10.30 Junya Watanabe (Invitation)
11.30 Tsumori Chisato Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
12.30 M&F Girbaud Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
13.30 Lutz Espace Pierre Cardin
1/3 Avenue Gabriel
14.30 Viktor & Rolf (Invitation)
15.30 Issey Miyake Musée de l’Homme
17 Place du Trocadéro
16.30 Ann Demeulemeester Couvent des Cordeliers
15 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine
17.30 Comme des Garcons (Invitation)
19.00 Jean-Paul Gaultier 325 rue Saint-Martin
Paris 3e
20.00 Véronique Branquinho Maison des Métallos
94 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud
21.00 Loewe Opéra Comique
Place Boieldieu
Wednesday 27 February
10.00 Karl Lagerfeld Espace Eiffel
Quai Branly
11.00 Andrew Gn Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
12.00 Akris Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
13.00 Emanuel Ungaro Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
14.00 Costume National Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
15.00 Dries van Noten Manège du Grand Palais
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt
16.00 Christian Lacroix Espace Ephémère Tuileries
Jardin des Tuileries
17.00 Requiem Le Carrousel du Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli
18.00 Givenchy Carreau du Temple
3 Rue Dupetit Thouars
19.30 Hussein Chalayan (Invitation)
20.30 Bernhard Willhelm Maison des Métallos
94 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud
(more…)
From ENN:
It’s widely known that lead poisoning poses a threat to public health. The metal’s negative effect on the nervous system as well as its propensity to cause renal and cardiovascular diseases has promoted the FDA to continually lower the legal limit of lead content in paint, children’s toys, and playground substrate since the late 70’s.
In October ‘07, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released an alarming report, “A Poison Kiss,” on the lead content of lipstick. They found that more than half of the name brand lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead. France’s Largest Cosmetic company’s L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” topped the list at .65 ppm lead. Even Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer Merlot contains lead (less than .1 ppm.) However, with a little bit of research and awareness, you can find safer (and environmentally friendly) lipsticks.
From Businessweek:
“During frenzied invitation-only clothing sales called ventes privées, chic Parisians strip down to their underwear to try on deeply-discounted designer clothes in bare rooms with cement floors and florescent lighting. After fighting over last season’s stilettos and then stuffing as many glamorous gowns as they can grab into extra-strength trash bags, they put back on their street clothes and haul their take to makeshift checkout counters.
Distasteful as such cut-rate shopping orgies might sound, top designers such as Givenchy—the fashion house that gained fame with clients like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, and is now owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH.PA)—find them a reliable and time-tested way to get rid of overstock.
But now luxury marques and even consumer products companies increasingly are turning to an online alternative that is shaking inventory-clearance to its foundations…”
From AFP:
Snail’s egg caviar anyone? It may sound like a challenge to the taste buds, but the salty, pink-white delicacy could be gracing hundreds of French tables this Christmas.
Caviar and champagne are a byword for the festive season in France, while a dozen “escargots” — or snails — cooked in garlic and parsley butter and served in or out of their grey-brown spiralled shells, are a much-loved staple.
But a couple of snail farmers from Soissons, in the Picardie region northeast of Paris, found a way to roll two delicacies into one: their snail caviar, called “De Jaeger”, hit the shelves in October.
Dominique and Sylvie Pierru ditched their old jobs in 2004 — he as a construction worker, she running a fine food market stall — to set up their snail farm, and start work on a recipe for caviar.
The next three years were spent perfecting a way to harvest the eggs of their 50,000 gasteropods, reared on an open-air diet of herbs and cereals, and to tenderize them without altering the taste.
The result: small, cream-coloured pearls that burst on the palate to reveal what the producers describe as “subtle autumn flavours with woody notes.”
The Pierrus recommend serving the caviar on a…”
From Luxist:
For Louis Vuitton lovers the ultimate gift might be the Ultimate Travel bag. The company has teamed up with fashion editor of the Times of London, Lisa Armstrong, to create the bag which is being auctioned in aid of CLIC Sargent, a London-based charity benefiting children with cancer. The bag is inspired by the silhouette of the Eole bag but has two separate compartments trimmed in purple leather. The bag also includes a passport cover, cashmere eyeshades and a blanket, a computer case, a transparent toiletries kit, a foldable jewelry kit, a laundry pouch and an evening leather clutch. Bidding ends December 18th.
Although the authorities in France aren’t fans of fakes, there’s a fine line between the real deal and the contrefaçons, the fakes. Take these, for example. They are so cute, Louis Vuitton may not want to admit they look like theirs…
I’m not into LV but I am into kawaii. Btw, I’ve heard our French friends say “kawaii!” adopting the adorable word for “cute” in Japanese.
I kind of like those shoes. But French authorities don’t!
Un faux pas qui vous coûtera cher. En France la loi prévoit jusqu’a 300,000 euros d’amende et 3 ans d’emprisonnement. La contrefaçon est un vrai fléau.
Translation: Stepping out of line will cost you a lot. In France by law, you risk paying up to 300,000 euros ($438,780) and 3 years in prison. Counterfeiting is a real plague.
Spotted at the airport today: a purse with a hand-held type showerhead with piping as a handle. The purse was round and black with white polka dots. Thought it was fun.
In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Colette teamed up with veteran designer Lacoste and launched these cute limited edition sneakers costing 120 euros ($155), and a series of 14 polo shirts. The new editions sport each of the label’s mascots (dogs and crocodiles). The shirts cost more than the shoes! 140 euros ($182)
Salon du Mariage - January 12, 13, 14
Rub shoulders with celebs Eva Longoria (marrying Tony Parker) and Jeri Ryan who are planning their summer weddings in France. Actually I have no idea if they’ll be at this salon; I think they might have already planned everything. Who knows. Anyway, Maybe you’re planning your day to tie the knot in France? This salon helps you plan your perfect Parisian style big day even if you do decide to wear that black wedding gown.
Wedding Salon
Carrousel du Louvre
99, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris France
admission: 10 €
Tel: 33 (0) 1.43.16.47.47
Website: Le Salon du mariage au carrousel du Louvre
Puces de la Cité (Antiques Market) - January 14
You’ll definitely find the famed porcelain of Limoges, the capital of Limousin here but on the 2nd Sunday of every month, you’ll also find their huge antiques market. It is one that rivals some of the very famous antiques markets in France, and is worth a peek if you’re into antiques.
Puces de la Cité (Antiques Market) at the la Cathédrale Saint-Étienne
Place de la Cathédrale (the the town center)
Limoges France
Tel: 33 (0) 5.55.34.46.87 (Limoges Tourist Office)
Hours: 8am to 6pm
The 12th Annual Megève Polo Masters - January 18 - 21
Called “ski joëring,” this is the equestrian sport on a snowy playing field. Some of the world’s best polo players show up in Megève for this exceptional event. There is a total of six teams. Since we’re having such a mild winter, I’m not sure if there’s snow in Megève (in the French Alps) right now. If all goes well, try to attend this unusual sport in a few weeks. Check their website regularly or contact the tourist office.
The 12th Annual Megève Polo Masters
La Plaine d’Arly
Megève France
Website: Megeve Tourist Office
70, rue Monseigneur Conseil BP 24
74120 Megève France (Tourist Office)
Tel: 33 (0)4.50.21.27.28
e-mail: megeve@megeve.com
Le Salon Du Meuble / Furniture Fair - January 20 - 25
Tired of the same ole furniture from Ikea or the ugly expensive furniture everywhere? Do you have a Clic Clac? Pressed board white shelves? Plastic anything? Yuck. Get rid of it!!! Go find something nice at this furniture fair. Please remember to consider the materials that your furniture is made of. Some materials can be toxic to you in your home and then for the environment. Choose wisely. The show usually attracts about 40,000 visitors and the exhibitors come from all over the world, representing 50 countries. (60% French, 40% International)
Le Salon Du Meuble / Furniture Fair
Porte de Versailles
Paris France
Admission: 10 € (for the day) (to visit extra days see the website)
Tel.: 33 (0)1.40.76.45.00
Email: salondumeuble@cosp.fr
Website: Le Salon du Meuble
More information: Download the brochure (pdf)
This is not the first time I’ve pointed out funny shirts I’ve seen in France and I have a feeling it won’t be the last either. I absolutely had to take a photo of this French guy’s t-shirt. It would’ve been hysterical without an apostrophe and S (though would not have been true in this case). Also notice the “4U 69.”
I lied to him to get him to pose for me just to make things quick and uncomplicated. I told him I collected photos of t-shirts and post them on my blog. I like to consider this a “partial truth.”
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I love window displays in France because no matter where you see them, whether you’re in a tiny, remote and unknown village or a large cosmopolitan fashion conscious city, they usually have one thing in common: they tend to have lots of personality.
Some are absolutely David Lynch-esque (and you just go, “ooooh but whaaa?” head tilted, others will be perfectly arranged like an art exhibit and you want to stand there and look at it forever; many are playful and some are fun and silly. This particular display caught my eye because of the retro detergent boxes and very cool old clothes pins. I barely noticed the funky fun vintage purses and when they (and the prices!) finally caught my eye I went back to looking at the Tide, Coop, Sunil, Paic, Spic and Persil detergents.I believe most of these brands still exist. It was weird to see the Tide box, because I don’t think I’ve seen Tide here in France (maybe I missed it). I wondered if they were actually real, old boxes from back in the day, or were they made last week in the style of the 50s and meant to look weathered?Click on the photos to enlarge. |
I have a feeling this photo has been around since the last presidential elections in the U.S. but I just saw it yesterday and seriously, had to post it.
It’s a clothing label from a jacket that was manufactured by an American company that exports their products to France, so the label is in English and in French, but some of the French wasn’t translated into English - and is necessary here! The translation:
Wash with warm water.
Use mild soap.
Dry flat.
Do not use bleach.
Do not dry in the dryer.
Do not iron.
We are sorry that our president is an idiot.
We did not vote for him.
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A few months ago, I remarked on how it is nearly impossible to find tee-shirts in France with French on them. Remember? There was (and is) no shortage of shirts with bad English on them, however. I still think there’s a definite unexplored market here but to lessen my pain, I stumbled upon this Parisian T-shirt Gallery. Though you may see some popular celebs on T-shirts here, Liberty Shirts is not your typical T-shirt shop. Their selection of T’s stand out because most of them have a biting political statement oftentimes extremely politically incorrect but there are a few in there that are priceless and some that are simply hilarious. (Note: People who are easily offended, should not visit Liberty Shirts.) Most shirts are 19 euros ($23) plus 6 euros ($7) if you order online from an EU country. They also offer les tee shirts lumineux, shirts for 39 euros ($46.50) that light up and animate in the dark with the help of a small box you put in your pocket that powers the lights. To save on the shipping fee, go directly to their gallery in Paris: Liberty Shirt Tel: (33) (0) 1 46 28 72 66 |
it had to happen. monsieur louis vuitton jumped on the ipod band wagon, and why shouldn’t he?
LV is not really my cup of tea but i thought it would be fun to post about these for the LV people out there, particularly those ipod users who also collect the multicolored monogramed series of LV merchandise. this particular ipod series was designed by takashi murakami.
here are the specs and prices from the LV website: there are three new LV ipod cases: “etui ipod classic” is for larger ipods: ipod photo and the larger 1G through 5G ipods. the case costs 170 euros ($208); the “etui ipod mini” goes for 160 euros ($196) this case might also be ok with the nano (i’m not sure). the third ipod case is the “etui ipod shuffle” which goes for 90 euros ($110).
the canvas multicolored monogram case is lined with natural peach colored calf leather and has gold brass pieces. the case has a flap and snap closure and comes with a shoulder strap. there is easy access to the screen, controls, jacks and dock.
LV can obviously get away with selling a case that is nearly as expensive as an ipod. never mind that he designed a case for the ipod mini and they don’t make those anymore (i wonder if he knows!?) [via shiny shiny]
the temporary schedules for fashion shows in paris from january 23 to 25, 2006 are up. collections from: giorgio armani, christian dior, felipe oliveira baptista, anne valerie hash, adeline andre, maurizio galante, valentino, chanel, dominique sirop, christian lacroix, christophe josse, givenchy, franck sorbier, jean-paul gaultier, elie saab. [via modeaparis]
