Bonjour mes chƩries!
Itās Saturday, the sun is shining, and Iām writing to you from my gorgeous Parisian apartment - pink of course! My Eurostar journey was utterly delightful; I love those high-speed trains. You whizz through the countryside at such speed and before you know it youāre stepping onto the platform at Gare du Nord, Paris.
It's always a special feeling when you arrive in Paris. It feels like walking into a fairytale. Even after a million trips, I still get that "wow" feeling. My apartment overlooks the Seine and this morning I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the beautiful light reflecting off the water. Oh, la la!
This weekend, Paris is my oyster.
Today, I'm heading to the Opera Garnier for a matinee performance of āLa Bayadereā. Oh, the magic! I love going to the ballet - especially here in Paris - and thereās something really special about going to a matinee. Everyone seems to be just a bit more glamorous, a bit more elegant, and thereās an air of anticipation for the day ahead. The theatre lights up like a dream come true! It is sheer indulgence and every bit as much fun as going to a ball.
After the show, I'm going to explore the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. Thereās some gorgeous vintage stores and a shop on this street called āLa Ballerinaā, owned by the loveliest Parisian woman, Colette, who always has an amazing collection of handmade tutus. Iām always looking for new ones to add to my ever-expanding tutu collection, so itās always a highlight of my Parisian trips!
And speaking of my collection, today Iām wearing a pink tulle tutu with a delicate silver trim that I picked up last summer on my travels around Italy. I love how it dances in the air, especially in Paris - it makes you feel like you're gliding through the streets on air. It just screams fashionista doesnāt it? And donāt forget - every girl, even every boy, needs to feel the confidence and magic of a pink tutu! It just takes a single twirl and you're whisked away into a world of magic. And that, ladies, is the real essence of Parisian style!
Later todayā¦.
Iām exhausted, but it's the best kind of tired, after a day filled with art, music, and, of course, beautiful clothes! āLa Bayadereā was breathtaking, full of breathtaking dance sequences and a touch of Parisian magic, as the final scene played out under the glittering chandelier of the Garnier. Iām convinced they had sprinkled fairy dust in the air because there was a magical, fairytale quality to the whole experience.
Colette was delightful, as always. And as I walked out with a magnificent pink and pearl tutu that was simply screaming for me to wear, Colette said, "Now, Emma, I know you, you are not afraid of colour! Remember, with a tutu, itās all about attitude! The bigger the better. It's like wearing your dreams, your love of dance, out in the open for everyone to see. Be fearless, embrace the fabulous!"
Youāre going to have to wait and see what Colette has been working on. I'll show it off in my next post!
The "Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoreā is just divine - a mix of beautiful buildings with chic boutiques and cafes that spill onto the cobbled streets. Paris, I love you. The scent of flowers and freshly baked pastries fills the air and the sounds of laughter and the gentle tinkling of bells coming from horse-drawn carriages are so relaxing. I love to soak up the atmosphere and people-watch for hours. Itās so full of life.
Of course, I couldn't leave Paris without popping into a few antique shops - you never know what hidden gems you might stumble upon! And in a little back street behind the Champs Elysees, I found a tiny antique store packed with fascinating vintage pieces and a rather unique collection of vintage pink tutus. Who says you canāt wear your history on your body, right? The shop owner was quite a character. Her name was Isabelle, a stylish woman in her late 60s with brightly colored hair and even brighter lipstick. And her shop was a visual feast. She gave me a charming, "I've seen it all, and I love all of itā look that made me feel right at home. She told me she still keeps some of her very first tutus - ones she made as a young girl back in the sixties, - under the counter as they remind her of how life has a tendency to come full circle and why āParis, always, always looks amazing, even with just a dash of a tutu."
We were both in the mood to paint the town red ā or in my case, a soft shade of pink. She'd taken me under her wing as soon as she'd seen me in my tutu ā we had a common bond there, that's for sure. After our delightful time shopping at her place she suggested we visit a bar, which she referred to as a ācabaret". We sat at a small round table with a glass of champagne ā mine had a little sugar because I don't like things to be too tart, I do enjoy things just a little bit sweet! The show, it was fun! The cabaret singers and dancers were flamboyant. All I needed was a good song, the music was quite rousing, and we were all swept up in the joyous chaos of a proper French night out. There was singing, there was laughing, there was a bit of a little boogying on the tables. Just wonderful!
The city lights sparkle in the dark, and the streets are alive with people enjoying the night. I love those quiet moments where the whole city feels like one big stage, the twinkling lights in the Eiffel Tower as the highlight of a grand, romantic set! It's no wonder so many people are drawn to Paris!
After that delightful little interlude and a lot of chatter about what a pink tutu does for a woman, we went back to her little shop and she gave me some great tips on Parisian vintage shops and places that sell fabulous clothes, she even handed over a small vintage notebook which, apparently was one of her daughterās that she never bothered with anymore! āYou might find some little gems that can inspire youā, she'd said to me with a wink as she closed the front door on a very happy Emma in Paris!
Tonight, after my decadent and indulgent Parisian day out, I am sitting here thinking about my new pink tutu as I look out onto the illuminated Seine. I am feeling so, so grateful to be here in this magnificent city. As you read this, Iāll be winding down my Parisian adventures, writing notes to myself in Isabelle's little vintage book.
A bientƓt! And I cannot wait to tell you all about my next Parisian adventure - Paris, you always have my heart.
Emma.
