Shoes

I need a new pair of shoes for winter, and if you've followed this blog before you'll know that I'm not big on fashion or shopping for shoes. However, I just couldn't help stopping to check out the shoes in this shop on the Blvd Saint Germain in a trendy area of Paris.

With a hefty price tag of 750 Euros (~$1000!) and a bad knee, I'm not likely to buy a pair like this any time soon. ;-)  But you can find anything in Paris . . .

Soldes - part 2

If you know me very well, or if you've been following this blog closely - you'll know that I'm not big on fashion or shopping.

But I do need a new pair of shoes, and I finally poked my nose into a shoe store, three weeks after the official start of the winter sales. Even though I've been living in Paris for almost a year, it's hard for me to shake off old (Boulder) habits. And I really do go for comfort more than style . . .

But I figured that some of you (you know who you are ;-) would be proud of me for getting with the (Paris) program.

So here's a picture of my new shoes: Boulder on the left, Paris on the right. (duh)


And when the weather gets warmer and everyone starts wearing sandals, I'll be prepared. Guess which pair came from Boulder and which pair I bought in Paris . . .?


p.s. Of course, they're not exactly Gucci or Prada or Jimmy Choo - but hey, one step at a time . . . !

Soldes

Soldes is the French word for "sales" or clearance sales. I was surprised to see that there were no clearance sales starting the day after Christmas. I was even more surprised to learn that "Soldes" are regulated by a law that dictates that there can be only two clearance sales per year - once in the summer, starting on the third Wednesday of June, and the winter sale which starts on the second Wednesday of January. Not one day sooner! Soldes are also limited by law to last only five weeks - and not one day longer! This year that means January 12-February 15th. The law applies to every store in the country* - from the small neighborhood stores on my street


to the largest department stores.


Needless to say, the big department stores were packed - but I was amazed to see people standing in line in the Galeries Lafayette for hours for the privilege of buying Gucci shoes at a discount



Or nearby Prada shoes


More affluent shoppers hit the stores on the Avenue Montaigne where there were no garish posters, but sales nonetheless


No matter that today was gray and rainy - the shoppers were out en masse . . .


I could use a new pair of shoes. But I don't particularly like to shop and I hate fighting the crowds. So instead of trying on shoes, I just took a few more photos .


*Stores which are near France's borders can begin their Soldes a week sooner - in order to compete with neighboring countries. Can you imagine the U.S. government dictating sales dates to Macy's or Nordstrom??

p.s. These sales dates apply to online sales too!

Shopping with Tracy

The longer I'm away the more I am aware of the subtle shifts in my comfort zone. I can almost hear the squeaky, stretching noises as the seams of the envelope of my previous life start to come apart - sometimes with a gentle nudge from others.

Tracy and I were in Augsburg, window shopping. It was cold and I needed a new jacket. "No, not a fleece!" warned Tracy when she saw me heading towards a sporting goods shop. "Fleece is for Boulder. You live in Paris now. Let's find you something more appropriate, more stylish!"

A few minutes later a shop window caught our attention. Ah, this shows promise. Let's go in here. Half an hour later, and with a nudge from Tracy, I've found a jacket that I like.

Yves Saint Laurent

I've just returned from a stunning exhibit at the Petit Palais. It is a retrospective of the life and work of the designer Yves Saint Laurent.



You may have noticed from previous posts that I am self conscious about my "look" and really fairly ignorant of the whole world of fashion. It's just not something that I've ever paid attention to. I tend to be quite practical when it comes to clothing and much prefer comfort over style. That said, I do appreciate really well designed and well cut clothing and much prefer to invest in something that I know I will really wear and appreciate rather than something that happens to be fashionable this season.

Furthermore, my experience of clothing and fashion is inextricably linked with my childhood and (lack of) money. My nicest clothes were hand-me-downs from an older cousin.

My mother has spent a lifetime shopping in second hand stores for herself and for us. At best, fashion has always seemed an unimaginable luxury and at worst, a narcissistic waste of money. Also, as with anything we don't really understand, there is a simple ignorance of the appreciation or value that others place in a particular area.

It was with my natural curiosity and willingness to open myself to new experiences; whether as "anthropologist" or ignorant beginner that I decided to go see the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit. It was a little bit like my decision to go see CSN. Who ARE these guys after all, and what is all the fuss?

Wow. I was completely blown away by the genius of his creation. The exhibit features about 300 haute couture models with a selection of pictures, drawings and films that illuminate 40 years of creation. I had no idea that YSL was one who imagined how "to give women more self-confidence". He broke with tradition and was the first to design pants for women. He also said "Fashions pass, style remains". Now those are concepts that I can relate to! It was fascinating to watch him work - he described drawing his designs as though the pencil was moving of its own volition and that he had no foreknowledge of what wanted he wanted to draw. It reminded me a little bit of Mozart or other artists who have been said to transcribe what comes through them. Gave me shivers.

He also had a lot of insight into the duality of the female experience - on the one hand wanting to be taken seriously as a professional (and looking the part), while having another 'fairy tale' or playful side and wanting to manifest that as well. He designed "costumes" for both sides. I had no idea I would relate to these concepts. And I was entranced by the clothes. You can see more here.

I continue to learn about myself. Now I understand why I love my collection of St. John knits, on the one hand, and why I still shop at second hand stores on the other hand. Now if I could just find exquisite shoes that are still comfortable (and that I can afford ;-0) ! And if I could just learn how to put in those darn pierced earrings!

You can take Elaine out of Boulder . . .

But you can't take Boulder out of Elaine . . .

I felt a little self conscious going into fnac (a huge book and record store) in my biking gear, but I had errands to run and the bike is the best way to get around. And bike shorts and Keenes are more practical than the outfit below . . .

I think I have a ways to go in becoming bolder in my choice of clothes ;-)

Tilley Hat

I lost my favorite hat yesterday. Aargh. I was riding the metro, engrossed in a book (Tales of a Female Nomad, by Rita Goldman Gelman) I got to my station and jumped up, not realizing until I exited the car that I didn't have my hat. I immediately jumped back on the train and started searching for my hat but I couldn't find it. I rode for three more stations, searching, but never found it. I am desolate. I LOVED that hat. I bought it in Camden, Maine over ten years ago and have worn it to protect me from rain and sun everywhere from Colorado to New Zealand, from Peru to Glastonbury.





I have felt somewhat self conscious wearing my hat in fashionable Paris. I think I've always been intimidated by the French notions of style. I've felt that my shoes were never pointy enough, my blouses never tight enough, my skirts never short enough. So as I walk around Paris in my jeans, Merrell lightweight hiking shoes and Patagonia layers (it's been cold here), I fear that my appearance shouts "American" - even though the clothes I've brought have been perfectly comfortable and perfectly appropriate for the weather conditions. I felt equally self conscious about my hat, in spite being complimented twice on the street. One French woman asked where she could find one like it in Paris, and another said it looked Brazilian and sexy. No one seemed to find it as dorky as I felt. And it has served me well, providing light weight sun protection as well as keeping me and my glasses dry in the rain.

Anyway, I'd become quite attached to the hat; but I have taken its loss as a message from the universe that it is time to let go of some old stories, and to develop a new look as I write a new story for myself. My first purchase? Some silly socks.


What did you expect? Dior?

Sunday afternoon

Sundays are family days in Paris. The markets are very busy before 1:00PM when everyone goes home for a big lunch. In the afternoons, people take to the streets for walks, bike rides and roller blading. Last Sunday was no exception, even though the weather was gray and quite cold. Here are a few shots taken on Sunday:


Nice boots! Parisian women really do dress differently than Boulderites.


No need to cook, just pick up a roast chicken to take home . .


Roller blades anyone?


Ah, j'aime Paris!