Paris Is Burning

Can I tell you about ...Paris? I was there last week to show and sell the collection during Paris fashion week. The exhibition was held at the chic Park Hyatt Vendome, a hop and a skip from the famous Ritz hotel and Place Vendome. It's the most important time of the season and everybody is in Paris. Buyers, designers, editors, photographers, models, stylists, celebrities, socialites and wannabees all converge in the City of Lights to get their share of the limelight, snag some press, do some business and drink more champagne than usual. There are parties every night.





Through my girlfriend, interior and fashion designer Roseanne de Pampelonne, I got to go to the most coveted party of the week. Giambattista Valli threw a lavish post-show party with the help of Nokia and East /West magazine at the palatial Maison France-Amerique. It was also a fundraiser ( mais oui, bien sur!). The party was insane! The music was so loud I could barely hear myself and the fashionistas ( 500 plus) showed up in full force. Anyone who's anybody was there. Take a look at Style.com's photos to see more. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera or I would have had better photos. We were whisked into the VIP room immediately and that's where the real action was happening. The Olsen twins were smoking and huddled in a corner, Roopal Patel from Bergdorf's sipping champagne with Roseanne (my friend, not the actress), Jim Shi furiously scribbling notes for The Daily, Daria Werbowy chatting with Jarvis Rocker, Loulou de la Falaise and her son Daniel sharing a Galoise (I think), Bruno Frisoni dancing the night away with Jessica Biel and then there was me trying my best to BREATHE. OMG, can the French smoke or what?! To make matters worse, the VIP room had absolutely no ventilation...I was suffocating. At one point I even said to Roseanne, "excuse me while I die of lung cancer tonight". It was unbearable. I had to get out of there. Fun as it was being in the midst of all that fabulousness, there's nothing more fabulous than fresh air. Phew, was I so glad to walk in the street and air everything out. Thank God for Febreeze!

The next day, Loulou ( de la Falaise) and I were exchanging stories about the party. She was a wreck and had a huge migraine but she managed to show up for the show. She was also exhibiting her collection in the same trade show. Just in case you're reading this and you're like...who's Loulou? Well, she's a fashion icon! She was Yves Saint Laurent's muse FOREVER until he sold the business and she set up shop for herself right on Rue Cambon. She was mainly in charge of accessories and was part of the inner sanctum of the legendary maison. Her sense of color and exuberance no doubt had a profound effect on the master couturier. It was great to meet her and realize how down to earth and warm she is. When I think of French chic, she's right up there along with Catherine Deneuve, Betty Catroux, Anouk Aimee, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ines de la Fressange, Carole Bouquet, Carine Rotfield, etc.



On my our last day, my sister and I met up with friends for tea in the Marais at Mariage Freres, my favorite tea salon in Paris. It was a great way to end a hectic week, sipping Marco Polo tea and munching on little sandwiches. C'est tres chic!