Covering up from the Cold

[Jacket: vintage, brand unknown] [Dress worn as Shirt: Zara] [Skirt: vintage] [Heels: Calvin Klein] [Clutch & Belt: vintage]

With this freezing weather, there is just no way getting around wearing a jacket that is more like a down blanket than a jacket.  We stayed in Honfleur, a little fishing village nestled on the coast, where the Seine River begins.  We woke up to the fog, which reminded me so much of dear old San Francisco.  But as soon as I left the B&B, a French couple yelling at one another reminded me of where I was.  Oh the feisty French.

Weekend Getaways

[Sweater: Manoush] [Jeans: True Religion] [Shirt: Old Navy] [Belt: vintage] [Rainboots: Trenton] [Purse: Celine]

We rented a car early Saturday morning and hit the open French road.  After navigating down the Champs Elysees, and around the Arc de Triomphe (probably the most dangerous place to drive on Earth), and another hour of less stressful driving, we finally got to stretches of uninterrupted greenery.  We wanted to escape the noise of Paris in exchange for meandering country roads, cows and a delicious breakfast served in our room.  Besides our B&B reservation, we had no set route, agenda, reservations or needs, besides finding some open and quite space.

On a similar but separate note, weekends in Paris normally include high heels, some item of uncomfortable clothing, jewelry, makeup and a good amount of sartorial pondering.  But for our weekend in the country, I wanted nothing besides my favorite sweater.  It is by a French brand that I hadn't heard of until moving here, called Manoush.  The brand is wacky, classy, funky, very girlie but also gypsy-ish and all around indescribable in a good way.  You can check the collection out here.

More pictures from the wonderful weekend to come...

Le Vent Francias

[Jacket: vintage] [Blouse: Forever 21] [Tank: Ann Taylor] [Jeans: Gap] [Purse: Celine] [Belts: J.Crew] [Jewelry: Omega, vintage] [Lipstick: Dior Addict 578]

Home Soil

 

[Jacket: Balenciaga] [Sweater: J.Crew] [Skirt: vintage] [Blouse: Old Navy] [Gloves and tights: unknown] [New Favorite Shoes: Apropos] [Purse: Celine] [Jewelry: vintage]

We had to go to the US Embassy yesterday, and for some strange reason, I was really excited. Maybe I was having a touch of homesickness, so I dressed up for the occasion, the occasion being running an errand, silly, I know.

Always a Classic

 [Dress: St. John's Knit] [Heels: UO] [everything else: vintage]

Now I know there is something about a St. John's knit.  I had never tried one on until my mom pulled her's out - it just hung dully from the hanger, and then I tried it on and fell in love.   It felt like an instant classic.

Wearing the Closet

 

[Jacket: Chloe] [Shirt: JCrew] [Jeans: ON] [Belt & Scarf: vintage, unknown] [Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell] [Gloves: Zara] [Purse: Marc Jacobs]

I returned to Paris to freezing temperatures: hat, gloves, fur scarf, big jacket, socks in my flats!  As a California girl, I don't know how to dress for this weather without wearing ski gear and heading towards the snow.  Any tips - what does Europe wear, or a better question, how does everyone walk around without looking like they are frozen?  Parisians are still so chic and they don't seem to show the cold on their face, while I walk around, teeth chattering and a permanent frozen grimace on mine.

Silky Layers

 

[Skirt: vintage, grandma's] [Tshirt: Old Navy] [Heels: UO] [Sunnies: Zara] [Jewelry: Omega, Tiffanys, vintage, Max & Chloe]

This skirt has some serious weight to it, it feels substantial and serious while making me feel girly, whimsical and playful - kind of everything perfect you need for a night out.  I love taking ultra-fancy pieces and mixing them with good old basics, like this t-shirt.  It acts as a nice balance when you aren't actually going to a gala, where such a skirt might fit in better than my plans for it, but I love it nevertheless.

Never-Ending Flea Markets

Paris is known for many things, one of which being, the phenomenal flea markets.  You can find almost anything you think you want or need, and then things you didn't know you wanted or needed, and I found my favorite market yet this weekend.

I have gone to the flea markets in the North, near Porte de Clignancourt, a number of times, and I have never left with anything other than some spices (that I have yet to use).  Part of this is because everything seemed was either over priced, or a knock off of some sort.  But problems solved, I went to the Marche aux Puces in the South, near Porte de Vanves, and finally felt like I found the market for me.  From vintage furs, to rhinestone necklaces, to funky art, tools, Scandinavian furniture, dishes from the 18th century.  The list goes on.  I picked up one of those aforementioned rhinestone necklaces for 10 euros, quite a steal, along with some silk scarves and gorgeous gold tea cups.  All in all a successful trip for me, who otherwise has rarely brought out the money purse in other Parisian flea markets

Caped Polka Dots

[Jeans: Old Navy] [Blouse: BR] [Cape: vintage] [Belt: JCrew] [Heels: Gucci] [Purse: Reed Krakoff]

Who Will Comfort Me?

[Skirt: American Apparel] [Cape/Scarf: unknown] [Sweater Tank: JCrew] [Heels: Bandolino] [Cap: vintage, grandpa's] [Belt: JCrew] [Purse: Reed Krakoff]

When this goes up, I will be high above the clouds, headed back to Paris and our puppy.

As we were packing the night before our flight, we kept saying, "we need just one more day, at least."  Wish granted. We were supposed to leave on Saturday, but when we got to the airport, our flight was cancelled.  My pop turned the car right around, and pulled up to the curb with a big grin on his face.  We had a lovely, relaxing, movie and wine-filled day and night with my family.  So much more wonderful than a stress-filled evening of packing last minute.  Funny how somethings just work out perfectly.

The Hunt

[Jacket, sweater and skirt: vintage, grandma's closet] [Heels: Gucci] [Purse: Reed Krakoff] [Sunnies: Tom Ford] [Gloves: unknown]

I wore this combination of my grandma's pieces to bring me good luck in finding a wedding dress.  Two weeks before my fiance and I moved to Paris, he proposed.  So I have been casually and slowly (to my mother's chagrin) planning our wedding from abroad.  But for the few weeks I was home in California, I knew I had to find a wedding dress (they can take up to 6 months to ship!).  The hunt was on, but in this outfit, a little bit of my grandma was with me.