Step one fly to Paris, step two fall in love – Paris Travel Story
Photography: Louis Villers – Reporter and Photographer
As evidenced by many a ‘How to be Parisian’ hardcover on every coffee table, there is a ubiquitous fantasy among the non-French about the timelessly stylish, unconventionally beautiful, and luxuriantly intellectual Parisian woman and her chic lifestyle, that has made Paris the place of pilgrimage for all women who aspire to be her. Yours truly being no exception, this last week, I flew off to Paris on a whim, fulfilling a long held dream under the auspices of a very business-like visit to attend Paris Fashion Week.I went, I saw, and yes, I fell in love. It’s a complicated love to say the least, but one that, like all romances, changes one’s life forever. It’s a love of a place and time that can never be relived (and to try would utterly disappoint); of thoughts and feelings, perhaps forever unrequited; of serendipitous meetings that may only have meaning in the dreamlike state of travel.
The French invented the word cliché, and Paris is a city full of delightful clichés. Dark and handsome men walk down the streets with baguettes under arm; family-run boulangeries are found on every corner. Women, effortlessly dressed in leather jackets and smart black pumps, hasten along purposefully as if perpetually heading to the most important meeting of their life. Brightly awned cafés and their tightly collected tables spill out onto the cobbled pavement. Their chairs, set facing out into the street, seat throngs of people partaking in the favoured Parisian hobby of people-watching. And love: it is a cliché everywhere to be seen. Lovers lounge in each other’s arms on every park bench, embrace along the bridges of the Seine and share passionate kisses on metro platforms – completely unheeded by passers-by.
But what I did not expect was to be courted so expertly by the very soul of the city. I fell in love with the delight of daily routines – waking up to morning light washing through my balconied double windows onto herringbone floors, and then the walk to the nearest café for my morning coffee and croissant. As the day rolled on, one felt a profound freedom to hop on the metro and escape to any part of the city on a fancy. And the necessity to walk when budgets for Uber were tight, gave prospect to enjoying the idiosyncrasies in sight, sound and scent of each elective neighbourhood. In the evening, as the city came alive again with lights and people, lively dinners with friends always lingered to the small hours. Then, finally, the collapse into the most satisfying of sleeps, under the delicious exhaustion of a day filled to the brim. There is nothing here of the mundanity of sprawling suburbia, glass walled fortresses or purposeless hustle and bustle. Parisians love to live life, and Paris is made to be lived in.
Somehow, I felt so much ‘at home’.
Look 1:
Leather Jacket – Maje; Shirt – Anna Quan; Jeans – All Saints (now on sale); Fur Slippers – Gucci; Bag – X Nihilo
Look 2:
Shirts (worn together) – Anna Quan; Pants – Pinko (Similar here, here & here); Fur Slippers – Gucci;
Location: Paris, France | Photography: Louis Villers on Leica C & Canon 5D (35mm f/1.4 & 85mm f/1.2)
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This city feels more like ‘home’ to me than any other (with only Prague or Vienna coming in close behind). All of these things that you describe make up the gritty, glamorous, conflicting and very real elements of Parisian life that I miss so much. Home is where the heart is? Well, my heart beats for Paris too.
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
Love your style! Great post!
http://curlyjosephine.blogspot.ba/
Haven’t been to Paris, Yet I look forward to traveling there soon. Such great post babe!
xoxo, shaine
Bad Habits
This is such a great diary – definitely need to go back to Paris soon! And btw: I’m totally in love with your hair!!!
xx Mirjam // http://www.miiju.ch
One of my dreams is to visit Paris! Love the photos of course! And your outfits! Very chic!
http://www.somethingvogue.com
You are my favorite blogger. Beautiful post!! I just bought tickets to Paris after reading this ????
What a beautiful piece of writing for this beautiful city! I just left a comment on your IG but just in case you don’t see it… It’s Jessica Val 🙂 I’ve been researching Paris apartments for months now, still yet to take the plunge for a revisit. Would you please send me the Airbnb # for the apartment? I’d really appreciate it! ❤️
It’s so bizarre, I’ve never really had any interest in Paris until this year with the onslaught of Instagram Stories emerging from Paris Fashion Week and it just made me fall in love. P.s. don’t worry, yours was one of the few Instagram Stories I’d keep my eye out for 😉
I think I was like you! I always thought that people say how amazing Paris is the way they say they love wine – just a cool thing to say that you’ve been there and it’s this magical place. But when you’ve actually been there (and also seen it on stories), you realise that it really is just such a beautiful city. I just feel it’s such a pity that it’s turned into such a cliche haha. Aw thanks so much for the exclusivity babe ;)! Any feedback on my stories from Paris? I have no idea really how to make them interesting!
So in love with all your gorgeous photos! Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, so lucky you’re there right now!
xx Sarah-Allegra
http://www.fashionequalsscience.com