Elements of Style Blog » Paris

Fashion Friday: Parisian Style

Erin Gates — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:52:48 +0000

Of course I spent most of my time outside looking at the beautiful sights of the city of Paris, but of course, I couldn’t help but take notes on it’s people as well. Right off the bat, I noticed that almost everyone was wearing copious amounts of black. I didn’t see a ton of color, and that’s probably because it’s cold and grey and BLAH. Secondly, I noticed layers. Lots and lots of layers. Tanks under shirts under sweaters under scarves under vests under jackets- and TONS and TONS of fur! Thirdly, skinny jeans are where it’s at- not many wide legs to be found this go-round. Which leads me to my fourth point- everyone in Paris is skinny! It’s crazy, because every third shop is some delicious cafe! Food is everywhere, more so than in the US, yet everyone seems to walk everywhere and really enjoy and savor every meal/snack/drink, which means they probably eat LESS. In fact, I saw almost no one carrying coffee to go while walking. Seriously, it was shocking! In Boston every other person has a Dunkin and Starbucks cup in their hands! But what was almost everyone carrying there? CIGARETTES! How is it that all these Parisian women looks so fresh-faced and gorgeous and smoke like fiends and drink at lunch AND dinner? My only guess can be stress. Everyone seems SO much less stressed out in Paris. My second guess is genetics. As I tried to take notes on how to obtain the elusive and edgy Parisian beauty I came to this conclusion: you need to be French. Their genes just kick ass.

But we can try…. here are some items that I saw over and over again on the street (and to the reader who told me I’d be laughed out of Paris for wearing a faux fur leopard coat- they were EVERYWHERE!!!) P.S. I would murder for that Celine bag. Straight up homicide, people.

Parisian Peices by elementsofstyleblog featuring slim fit jeans

Theory oversized sweater
$213 - theory.com

Ellen Tracy long coat
$130 - nordstrom.com

Dolce Vita faux fur leopard coat
$100 - urbanoutfitters.com

Pierre Balmain leather biker jacket
€1.675 - shopmrsh.com

Rebecca Taylor faux fur vest
$175 - theoutnet.com

AG Adriano Goldschmied slim fit jeans
$230 - stylebop.com

Dune over the knee leather boots
£169 - debenhams.com

It’s no secret that European men dress 1,000 times better than American men. It’s ridiculous. Then gents take their fashion seriously and all have a GOOD TAILOR! The secret to looking sleek, bad ass and Parisian for dudes is to make sure your garments fit you properly and wear good shoes. That’s all!

PArisian Picks- Him by elementsofstyleblog featuring Ray-Ban sunglasses

Ray-Ban sunglasses
$310 - parkandbond.com

PS BY PAUL SMITH Notch Lapel Blazer
£369 - harrods.com

DOLCE & GABBANA Classic shirt
£108 - farfetch.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Simple Leather Large Messenger Bag
$478 - couture.zappos.com

Gap Mens Selvage Skinny Fit Jeans (Rigid Rinse)
$40 - gap.com

Coat
$583 - costumenational.com

Classic Plaid Scarf
$29 - abercrombie.com

Men’s Laced shoe
$760 - dsquared2.com

Maison & Objet

Erin Gates — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:27:33 +0000

I had no idea what to expect from Maison & Objet other than having people tell me it would “blow my mind”. While I figured it would be cool, I was not expecting to be was wowed as I was! What an amazing display! There were some very obvious trends shown: distressed old wood, faded patchwork rugs, white lacquer, brass and chrome, tufting, nail heads, taxidermy, horn, lucite and lots of leather!

Grange was the company that held the contest I won that GOT me to Paris, so I went to their booth first of course! I am LOVING their custom casegoods, including bookshelves with library ladders! Swoon!

What amazed me about the show was the ornate booths themselves and the shockingly put together displays! Unreal!

That sofa with the diagonal pillows? Yes please.

I am totally obsessed with these pendants in every finish and can so see them above a kitchen island! And for outdoors, this brass flame lantern was incredible.

GORGEOUS leather and lucite trays and boxes.

This booth had everything leather- including a leather covered scooter, bike and dog house.

I spotted butterfly chairs in a few booths which made me feel better about my current butterfly chair in my living room as I wait for my sofa to arrive!

This kitchen was so great with it’s petite scale and bars along the countertops for towels!

There were tons of photo walls featuring American movie stars, which I loved of course!

Mixing glam and rustic was present EVERYWHERE.

Tons of chrome!

This rustic kitchen would be exceptional in a mountain home! I loved the rug to the right too.

This children’s line was so fantastic- the little animal cutouts had caning behind them….

and the matching daybed was to die for.

Just awesome.

This wall display was awesome.

I need those crystal obelisks in my life.

Spaced out nailheads were everywhere.

The chair to the right made me happy about my furry little stool purchase!

A fabulous DIY idea- old books hot glue gunned to a board and framed!

Wood suspended in lucite- little stools or side tables. So cool.

A poolside teepee? Yes please!

I would LOVE to wallpaper the interior of a closet int his faux tufting printed paper!

Not everything was amazing… :)

I also got to meet a longtime reader (and blogger/ designer/tv staaaaar in Portugal) Ana Atunes! Seriously, check out her home! Insane. (and please ignore this heinous picture of me)

Paris: Part 1

Erin Gates — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:58:30 +0000

Ahhh Paris. I never thought it would be possible to forget the magic that this city radiates, but I had. Even in January with clouds overhead and rain most days, it was amazing. You forget living in America how much beauty and history there is in the world sometimes….

Everything is gorgeous, from the metros to nearly every single door (has no one done a coffee table book about the doors of Paris- and the hardware? If not, I will)

Notre Dame…. even the CHURCH had amazing wallpaper!

Isle de Louis- unreal in it’s cuteness (and I ran into Roberto Cavalli on the street there and almost freaked out)

Bridges covered in lock with lovers names on them, representing their everlasting bond… totally exasperated Andrew’s business sense that no one was selling locks anywhere near there.

A quick snap at the Rodin Museum gardens. I was FREEZING.

Ahhh, The Ritz. Flower arrangements to die for as well as shoes. I really might need these stripe/leopard/yellow snakeskin heels.

And this is what a $45 drink looks like. We went to Bar Hemingway and amazingly, it was worth it. 2 rounds worth it.

The Ralph lauren store on Saint Germain is REDONKULOUS.

But the most indescribable shop was Deyrolle. And while taxidermy is polarizing and sad, this place too our breath away with it’s displays, color and layering.

And then as we were leaving we walked out onto the sidewalk and saw this….

…and after having to look thrice and getting a good laugh, we of course tried to come up with clever captions for this picture…

“What is the return policy on tigers?”

“Mom’s online shopping has really gone too far”

(insert your own here)

Check back tomorrow as I will be posting images from the UNBELIEVABLE Maison & objet furniture show! Au revoir!