A VERY COLORFUL TRIP TO PARIS
With all the tense news these days, I thought that sharing a complete departure from that - beautiful Paris - could do us all good this week. I went there last weekend & was drawn to its energy and color and creativity more than ever. Allons-y!!
My first stop was the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the brainchild of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, designed by Frank Gehry. It’s been written about so much, I had to see if the hype was deserved….
Photo credit: LVMH (it was pouring rain when I was there!!)
I wanted to see the site for sure (a huge campus in the Bois de Bologne, in the NW part of the city near our hotel), but for me, the current exhibition - The Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art - stole the show!
A Matisse triptych that the Morozov brothers owned
An insane collection of almost 200 masterpieces, including Matisse + Bonnard (my two faves), plus Picasso, Gaugin, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, & more. Most of these pieces have remained in Russia since the Morozov brothers acquired them in the early 1900’s, so it was a huge treat to see them on display.
My 2+ hours there felt like being inside a kaleidescope - with the geometric shapes of the building reverberating into colorful patterns in the paintings themselves. (PS - how hilarious is Frank Gehry’s original sketch (top right) for the building!?) The show has been a huge hit and now extended until April 3rd - so come check it out! Or visit the exhibit online.
I was almost dizzy after seeing so much beautiful art, so I grabbed one of the few cabs (yes, there was a transportation strike when I was there) & headed to the Marais to see a shop called Merci (above & below) that I’d somehow missed on previous visits.
Beautiful, handcrafted pottery and linens in sun-drenched colors were just the jolt I needed after countless weeks in London fog and rain…
Apparently the store is known for its topical installations - this time on waste and upcycling your clothes. I didn’t totally “get” their exhibit to be honest, but I liked that they created these packets of sewing supplies to inspire people to patch/mend/embellish old clothes instead of discarding them. Great idea!
Also at Merci - great vintage books + cafe, tres Parisienne….
By this point it was pouring down rain & I couldn’t find a cab to save my life (Metro was apparently also affected by the strike), so I walked to my next destination - the neighborhood of St. Germain des Pres.
After wearing my kids’ “hand-me-up” T-shirts and ratty sweats all during Covid, I figured it was time for an upgrade….
Only the French could weave Sartre and philosophy books into the displays of a lingerie shop!:) The prices at Sabbia Rosa were super steep but the quality of their silks and satins was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Hey, if it’s good enough for their loyal customer Aerin Lauder (below), you know it has to top notch.
Sabbia Rosa doesn’t have a website unfortunately, but you can order over the phone & they will ship to the U.S. (or U.K.) Highly recommend a stop there if you are in Paris, and they will keep all your measurements and sizes on file for future virtual ordering.
My next stop was right nearby: Aurelie Bidermann - the pretty little jewel box of a store, filled with yes, jewelry. I’ve always loved her work, which is feminine but strong. And she does a number of costume jewelry pieces so the prices are not too crazy….
Do you feel a little better now for having seen all this beauty & creativity? I hope so. I find that in tough times, seeing something gorgeous & handmade is a real balm against whatever storm I’m facing. Please be well & keep in touch!
xo
Lee