Wednesday, September 19, 2012

All the Girls are crazy.......for Paris


I already miss this lovely view. I arrived home last night from my 18 days in France, went directly to bed and I will just give over to whatever my body tells me today. I am hoping it tells me to ignore those 3 unpacked suitcases and just lay about and blog, hopefully staying awake. As many of you already know, it was a three-part trip this go around. A 2 week Paris apartment rental with my husband and some family the first week, Vicki Archer of French Essence joining me the second week, and then I was whisked away by Vicki to her home and haven in Provence where we settled in to a relaxed and restful mood. After the wonderful crazy of Paris, it was a most magical ending.



Parisian blogger Garance Dore Idiom bangle for Kate Spade
Toutes les filles sont folles  (All the girls are crazy)


I got to thinking about how women are so crazy for Paris on the flight home. I know men seem to enjoy it too but to the same degree as women do? I wonder because it appears that women just adore it............and I think this is what really makes men enjoy it for the most part. That women just respond in a more feminine way to the charm of visiting Paris. We add another bracelet, a brighter shade of lipstick, suddenly start adding a dab of gloss, fuss a bit more with our hair, wear something with more sparkle or softness, shoes with more height, we are feeling the Paris effect and truthfully I think men will travel anywhere to see it.



Besides, or in addition to the fact we seem to gain confidence to turn on our own charm in Paris, it becomes crazy fun to meet up with other women in Paris (I will tell you about some of these most creative women over the next few weeks). The drinks, the dinners, the chats, yes, even the walking introduces a healthy dose of girl time to balance my male-dominated home. But what really made us girl-silly is our shopping, the finds we find together that I bring home, the chic styling that reminds me of Paris. Above, our best shopping find, the stylish man's Oxford. I bought brown, Vicki the black, then she talked me into going back and buying the black as well. Both will go with the brown leather jacket from a few year's past.


My fantastic Zara buy, the most lovely ivory silk blouse to wear over skinny black pants. If I follow the stylist advice of the fabulously chic Vicki Archer (and who wouldn't?) the pants will be just short enough to show a bit of ankle and then a beautiful pair of solid black booties that I already have in my closet. I am still working out how to tie the long tails but you get the idea and that will be the fun of changing it's look. One pair of fabulous, sparkly big earrings and I am go to go anywhere.





While I played around one afternoon in the apartment setting with my Paris buys, I added my favorite faux-fur shrug which never seemed to fit with anything else even though I was dying to wear it............and it finally works because I just needed the correct silhouette. Vicki and I talked quite a bit about one's ability to mix high-low fashion so easily in today's market. My Zara blouse which cost 39 Euros will be perfect for adding easy style to many idle things already in my closet.


We also found a few simple ways to alter or enhance this year's stylish Oxford. We noticed that those crazy, young Parisian girls remove the laces altogether but we have a more mature, but chic way of having stylish fun with this masculine trend. I have to find them in those ridiculously over-packed suitcases of mine and will post soon.


Crazy is good...........sometimes.




iphone photos by Sande Chase

34 comments:

  1. Sounds like your experience was amazing. I bet you didnt want it all to end! Can't wait to see what else you have to share about the trip.

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  2. sounds fantastique! And Sandee? All the girls are crazy for you! xoxo

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  3. All I will say is that I miss you... Girls on the town... girls in Provence... it was the best... xv

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  4. Ahhh girls..........I am all jet lagged and weepy. You are so sweet you will make me cry. XO

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  5. Oh to have been a fly on the wall + all those gabfest. adored reading about your trip. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  6. Hanging on every photo and your wonderful weepy jet-lagged commentary. When and if I ever get the chance to go I'm taking you with me!
    XO

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  7. Hi Sande, it sounds as if you had a wonderful time in Paris. We are still here enjoying our Paris apartment and the sparkling lights of the Eiffel tower outside our window. I am like you, I know I will be missing this view when we come home. xo from Paris,
    Kathysue

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  8. Yum, yum, yum - I love everything that you've shown. The oxfords are the bomb! Happy snoozing Missus Sande. I look forward to the next installment......B:) x

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  9. O Sandikins, wow...it all sounds so magical. I'm so happy that you had the best time...and don't you worry about those suitcases. lots of love D ps loving those shoes and top xoxoxox

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  10. Ah Paris..... If you listen carefully you will hear her whispering in your ear - 'stay, you really must stay'. She grabs at your heart and doesn't let go.

    Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.

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  11. Sounds like you had a wonderful time - who wouldn't in Paris ;-) The blouse is beautiful and that cuff is just fabulous, great finds. I hope you manage to chill now and reset your inner clock. Lovely post. Bisous xo

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  12. Sande, absolutely love your blog! Adore Vicki's blog and books! What a wonderful time you must have had. I immediately ordered the cuff for my daughter and think the rest, très chic! Merci! Merci!

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  13. What a marvelous trip you had!! Love your purchases and I can only imagine the times that you and Vicki must have had!!

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  14. Sande,
    How magnificent to have girl time in Paris -
    Thank-you for sharing snippets of such stylish souvenirs.
    cheers to friends....
    pve

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  15. Bonjour Sande. Delighted to meet you, thanks to Vicki Archer, I must add. I came straight over from her wonderful blog, and am so glad I found yours. Just started "following" you as I know I will enjoy my future visits here. Love, love, these beautiful Oxford shoes. I might have gone for them as well had I been there! :-) Greetings from Veronique, a French Girl in Seattle

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  16. Bonjour! I also came here from Vicki's blog, am now a follower. Looks like you had a wonderful girly time look forward to reading more - love the blouse too! Elle x

    www.mstylepicturebook.blogspot.co.uk

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  17. Hi Sande - What a gorgeous blog! I am so happy I found you through French Essence. I can't wait to go back and read old posts. It sounds like you had a lovely trip to France - I am looking forward to hearing more!

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  18. Sande your time in Paris just lends me to give out a big, "le sigh! " It's what magic is made of..truly. Such a god point about women gushing over Paris much more than men. Don't we women all want to be French; to be that chic and stylish? My husband loves France put for one thing..cycling! It's be such fun to read yours and Vicki's experiences. Stuff that dreams are made of. BTW, you'll look terrific in that great blouse!

    x Deb

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  19. Thank you ladies for your most wonderful comments and welcome, welcome to new followers. I know Vicki's post about friendship today reasonated with many of you...........the blogging friendships we make are a wonderful addition to our lives. xx

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  20. I hopped over from French Essence but do also subscribe to your blog. I am so envious you went to Paris, I have travelled the world and lived abroad but never been to Paris. To try to get over this failing, I visit a French Market in Auckland, New Zealand, called La Cigale...how sad is that!

    I love your buys, the oxfords excited me as my mum passed away in August and I am only now going through her things and finding vintage shoes and bags from years ago. Once such item is a pair of shoes just like yours (oxfords), I had no idea they were back in fashion (NZ tends to be a year behind due to seasons being different). My husband is just off to pick up some things from her house and I said, grab those oxford shoes please...I've decided to give them a polish and keep them for next winter (fingers crossed they fit as she had tiny feet).

    Thank you for sharing such a nice post. I will hop back to finish reading French Essence now. Love the photos you took. Happy you had such a wonderful trip but who couldn't being with a girlfriend in Paris!

    Lee :)

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  21. I read Vicki's post about your time together as girlfriends. I am so encouraged, Sande, to get up some courage and in the near future maybe meet some fellow bloggers in my area. I love to see how people finally end up together--especially friends. I think you're right about the appeal of Paris to women. I'm an artist, but the thing that struck me about the city was its beauty. You can build a building or a city, but each time you do, you make a choice as to how it will look. Will you make it beautiful or not care enough to do so? Thanks to the planners and builders of Paris who believed in making it beautiful wherever they could. Beauty is a choice!

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  22. I adore those Oxfords. And your photos, too. You have such a great eye.

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  23. Sande,

    I'm glad to hear that you and your husband have arrived home safely.
    Two weeks in Paris and a week in Provence (chez Vicki Archer) sounds like a dream.
    I know you had been looking forward to this trip since your last trip a couple of years ago, and I imagine that you will miss all of your girl friends you visited with on this trip even more than the last time as your bonds have become more inter-woven, tighter, more precious.

    I can't think of a more delightful place to cultivate a friendship--Paris.

    Your new fashion finds look fabulous, and I have always loved anything I purchase from Zara.
    The white blouse is my favorite.

    And, yes, I will always be crazy for Paris!
    Mandy

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  24. Thank you so much for taking the time to read all these comments, including my own earlier comment and leaving a response on my page. I was just so thrilled by what you wrote, it made my day...and yes I will wear some of the lovely things I have found of my mums to Paris when I "most definitely" vist there.

    Lee ☺

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  25. Between this post and Vicki's post about your friendship, we are painted the most beautiful picture of your adventures together. Plus, just as with your wrapping posts, you give us wonderful ideas for combining colors and textures and shapes. So inspiring! Thank you, Sande! xo Gigi

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  26. Sande I am so thrilled you had a fabulous trip and so much special "girl time" with Vicki!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  27. sande, beautiful memories. I just read vicki's post and am so touched. you both are so lucky. welcome home. donna

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  28. So fab! I love the perfect ivory shirt you have there, so chic. Got my eye on your next posts.

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  29. Oh yes, that blouse is fabulous. So happy you guys had a great time. I've been sending emails to you and they keep bouncing back. Are you with us for "By Invitation Only" next Tuesday? Let me know, please. Sending love....

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  30. Dear dear dear dear Sande!!
    Oh my gosh I feel SO OUT of it! I didn't even know you were going back to our beloved:) Well, it brings sunshine to my soul and a huge smile on my face that you were in Paris with your husband and got to spend such beautiful quality time with Vicki! You must still be in the clouds~~~ I don't think I could ever come down after that trip. LOVE this post and so happy about your oxfords (both colors) you amazing freedom to dress and sparkle:)) I know Mr. RR is happy too!
    Love you and miss you teribly... I am enjoying being "unpluged" trying hard to balance, walking more, listening to nature and trying to stay offline as much as possible. BUT I BLESS it when I can visit you:) My hubby and I will be going soon, I think I will buy some oxfords, what color should I get?
    XOOX

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  31. Hi , I found you through Carole's blog Mademoiselle Poirot , which I love to read. I love (am crazy for) Paris too, I have some wonderful blogger friends (Now real friends, I have met them) :-) How wonderful that you got to spend a fantastic two weeks there and a week in Provence with Vicki... A area I have never been to , but read so much about.

    BTW , I love the Perfect Black Dress :-)

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  32. We all miss you greatly here in blogland Janet.........but sometimes it is good to take a break or step away. I do hope you are heading to Paris soon, I thought of you whenever we saw a Laudree! Go to Andres to buy your oxfords, I like the brown the best so far but think I will probably wear the black the most (as usual). Mind you, some funky bright colours would be fab too. Lots of love........and again, you are missed Janet. xx

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  33. So happy to hear that you have met some of your blogger friends Anne........such a lovely surprise isn't it? xx

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  34. What brand of shoes are those? Am I missing the part where you tell us?

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