TRAVEL // Paris, je t'aime

Paris is a love affair that will last a lifetime. I could never get bored of hopping on the Eurostar and then about 2 hours later, stepping off the train hearing that all familiar bah-bah-bah-bah sound announcing arrivals / departures at Gare du Nord. 

At silly o’clock in the morning, I boarded the Eurostar equipped with a French inspired breakfast and a very apt book

Arrived at the hotel in Paris expecting a bog standard room (which in Paris is usually tiny and like living in a broom cupboard) but was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected upgrade to an Executive room.

All excitable, I skipped down the (very pretty) corridors in search of the room.

Nothing could have prepared me for this. I was speechless.

Every last detail was beautiful.

Ever since losing my single bed at home and gaining a double, I can only sleep in doubles now – they’re just so comfy!

Bathroom was a little weird though. There was a blind so anyone in the bedroom could look in at you showering ~kinky~ … and oddly enough, the blind couldn’t be controlled by the person showering – full control went to whoever was in the room.

Thierry Mugler shower goodies!

The Executive key card also gave you exclusive access to the roof. Coming out of the lift, I could already see the Eiffel Tower

There were amazing views of Paris

Notre Dame - only a stones throw away!

Then time for a well deserved 3 course lunch. Warm goats cheese salad to start.

Followed by red wine (cheaper than soft drinks - no joke!) and one of the best beef bourguignons I’ve ever had in my entire life

With mousse au chocolat to finish

Feeling very full, it was then time to start finding some Christmas markets

One was even pumping out real ice / snow!

And you could hire shoes to go walking on it!

One stall was selling the cutest jewellery

I loved the patterns on their bracelets

Then moved on to the Champs-Elysees

Which had massive woks of food

And very pretty lights that I may have to track down and buy next year!

Back in the room, Thierry Mugler pampered me and I made full use of the freebies

The next morning, ventured on to admire Notre Dame’s architecture

Then went in search of a third Christmas market

Here, the cognac and liquors stall caught my eye. After some cheeking tastings, I bought two bottles of liquor - one biscuit and the other chocolate flavoured 

Feeling quite tipsy and in need of sobering up, had a lovely Corsican inspired hot sandwich with chicken and lots of peppers

The speciality Christmas decorations stores in Paris were amazing

I could have spent hours there

Time was running out, so I visited the Louvre

Alas, then it was time to head back to the Eurostar and check in. So that was my trip to Paris in a nutshell. I can’t wait to go back... à bientôt Paris!

All I want for Christmas is you

Happy Boxing Day! Hope you all had a blast yesterday!

I spent Christmas with my family and it was pretty standard – alcohol first thing in the morning, big lunch time feast, hours of presents after lunch and then eating some more (despite everyone moaning they’re still full from lunch and couldn’t possibly eat another bite - yet still managing to somehow!)

Later in the evening we all sat down and watched Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy Roadshow and sampled some liquors I'd brought back from Paris:

It's not milk, I swear!

I’m not a liquor drinker and I can’t stand Baileys – but these are amazing! I brought two bottles of the stuff – chocolate and biscuit. Lethal but majorly tasty!

I decided to wear my trusty French Connection dress (the gold not the silver - felt the gold was more festive) which has just the right amount of sparkle for Christmas

... with obligatory festive underwear 

Photographed from the worst of angles – 

knickers look ma-hoo-sive and they’re really not!!

... and my block heels which were first mentioned in this post here

Tonight I’m off to the pub for a mate’s birthday and

first thing tomorrow morning I’m braving the sales!

Hope you’re all enjoying the festive season! 

Shoes for Show: The Sculptural Art of High Heels

A couple of weeks ago I attended the “Shoes for Show” exhibition in London. It only ran in Brick Lane for a few days and being the shoe-a-holic that I am, I jumped at the chance.  

It all sounded good on paper so a couple of weekends back, I travelled into Central London to go and perve on the pretty shoes. Except the pretty shoes were nowhere to be found. My Google Maps led me to the wrong location – a charming, secluded area where I had visions of being knifed so got back onto the main road ASAP. I finally found the right number but when I got there, the Polish security guy sighed a loud sigh (I guess he had this a lot) and redirected me to another part of Brick Lane. Which I couldn’t find.

I was confused. I was lost. I was smelling amazing Brick Lane food and was damn hungry. I very nearly gave up. But thank goodness I didn't!

Finally found it. It was like a little abandoned warehouse, very simple and minimalist. One thing I’d worried about is that it’d be uber strict with lots of security personnel and photography prohibited. Not the case at all. There was one male “guard” who stayed out of the way and didn’t seem too bothered about anything. And people left, right and centre were snapping away. So I had no qualms about getting my camera out.

Manolo Blahniks. Oh my.

The charm wrapped around the heel, the lattice 

detail and the colour all make me melt a little inside.

These Vivienne Westwoods are not my cup o’ tea but 

they do remind me all of the Creepers all over 

the blogsphere at the moment.

Nikes! Can you imagine Nike Town selling these? I can’t.

Perhaps the weirdest shoes I’ve ever laid my eyes on. 

Not one, but two elevated heels so in theory, quite a 

sturdy pair of shoes. But then check out the weird shape 

of the heels…  And bath shoes? Really? I can’t imagine 

anyone wearing these by the poolside. 

Not even Lady GaGa. 

And that’s saying something.

No explanation needed here! 

Have already shared my thoughts of the Armadillo.

Don’t know about anyone else, but in these I see Litas. 

But really funky, velvety, glitzy / sparkly ones.

These are art. ‘Nuff said.

Simple, classic and yet, no less worthy of interest.

And these? I was lost for words then. And I still am now.

An artsy revamp of the gladiator sandal

A print like this would be amazing on a dress. 

And my favourites:

Alice in Wonderland shoes!

The delicate tea cup charms, 

the key, the fob watch, the 

foliage… all a bit OTT but at 

the same time fabulous 

for this very reason.

Get a load of these! Stunningly beautiful with 

the embellishment detail but just not practical. 

But even those who don't "get" shoes would 

have to admit that these are pure art. If 

Louboutin sell these as flats, I would 

snap these up in a heartbeat,

 no questions asked.

I actually liked these! A good mix of “hard” meets 

“soft” with the glitzy champagne-like colour 

combined with the spiky / studded exterior. 

These would get you noticed!

And now over to you! Do any of these fill you with horror? And which of these are love at first sight?

And for the latter, to wear or to have displayed in your home as expensive-but-totally-worth-it art?

Paws for thought

Animals are huge right now.

With animal print once being seen as "tacky" and a "bit Bet Lynch" (from the British soap Corrie back in the day... ), it is being smiled upon by fashionistas once again. 

The animal theme has since developed even further. Topshop Unique featured show-stopping dalmation inspired designs for its A/W collection. Last winter we saw an abundance of those cute little knitted animal hats where it become possible to have a panda / bear / cat / whatever sitting atop your head. Spirithoods takes it one step further and allows you to actually transition into one of many animals. Be it wolf, fox, owl, husky, leopard, skunk, panda or bear. 

Whatever could be next?

Well I'll tell you...

    

Yes, that's right. Animal paws in shoe form.

And Blake Lively is not alone. SJP has also been sighted with these gracing her feet:

Bit confused about this particular look. What look is she going for? A gender confused wolf that has eaten Little Red Riding Hood and stolen her attire?

You need not an explanation of the designer behind these shoes. The red soles say it all.

Five inches high with skinny heel and studded with crystals, these Louboutins are known as the "Lion Paw" and have apparently completely sold out.

What do you think of them?

I'm undecided. There's something cute about them but at the same time, they are a little weird... Would definitely choose these over McQueen's Armadillos though! 

All images + source: http://www.graziadaily.co.uk