Archive | September, 2007

Maman-to-be Milla in Paris

30 Sep

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Milla Jovovich, 31, who is expecting a daughter in November, is in Paris this week for the premiere of Resident Evil III. She spent time shopping Rue St. Honore– stopping in at Miu Miu, Et Vous and Manoush. She’s staying at Hotel Costes.

We don’t like playing fashion police on pregnant women, but mon Dieu. Flip flops? In the rain? In Paris? Could she at least have stopped in at Tod’s? We didn’t expect much from the ex-model, considering her horrific capsule collection for MANGO, but this is tres mauvais.

Paul Anderson, 41, who directed all three of the her successful Resident Evil movies, is the soon-to-be father.

French denim comes out of the stone-age

26 Sep

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The denim industry has a new French player. After years of dominance by Americans and Italians with labels like Diesel and True Religion, newcomer Stone Aged debuted their first two collections last week at the Musée de l’Homme. Designer Laurent Bendele, who has returned to Paris after ten years of denim design in L.A. and Miami, is passionate about making his jeans distinctive in terms of quality and details.

“I am inspired by raw, almost medieval details, that are based on a warrior spirit that translates to everyday; from ancient Greek mythology to the Crusades,” says Bendele.

The two collections, Autumn/Winter 2007 and Spring/Summer 2008, offer around 40 styles, for men and women, with prices ranging from 85 to 120 euros (finally jeans at a reasonable price!). Each model comes in a choice of three cuts, with names such as Aphrodite, Achilles, and Ulysse. Details include bronze grommets, faux-ruby and onyx buttons, and golden embroidery.

The Stone-Aged show opened to the soundtrack of Le Mepris(1963). In the front rows were a few French celebs, including Danny Brilliant, who performs this week to a sold out audience at the Palais de Congres.

Stone Aged is available at Kiliwatch. 64 rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris..

Fashion weak?

26 Sep

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Are you already feeling on the fringe of the upcoming Paris fashion week? Can’t get the invite to your favorite show… don’t know where to spot your favorite designer…. it’s enough to make any fashion whore go to church for one hail Mary!

Don’t worry, mes petites, skip the trip to Notre Dame.

Aside from continuously checking back here, these are the keys to keeping up with fashion week:

- see the schedule and plan your day accordingly

- reserve now for dinner in any of the hip restaurants, make it for no earlier than 10pm (Costes, Mathis, Caviar Kaspia, Fontaine de Mars…)

- Café Beaubourg and Café Marly (though we are sick of their menus) are two of the best places for those looking to mingle with the uber-chic; just get a coffee and chill

- Don’t miss brunch (reserve!). Cheaper spots like Joe Allen’s (metro: Etienne Marcel) are favorites of designers like Marc Jacobs, as are Hotel Amour and Rose’s Bakery up near Pigalle. On the pricier side, the new brunch at the Ritz is going to be a big draw– it is served outside next to the new mini-golf course in one of the hotel’s interior courtyards.

- And for the best recap: Fashion queen and society lady Susan Tabak does an excellent review of all the hot shows and parties, at chicinparis.com

Photo courtesy nymag.com

 

Tom Ford disses Paris

24 Sep

He was once the eternal crush of Petite Brigitte. NO LONGER!

Tom Ford, former Gucci designer-turned-independant fashion tycoon, lashed out on the Paris fashion world during London’s fashion week. According to Susie Rushton of the British newspaper, The Independant, TF gave this statement:

“Quite honestly in terms of French culture, if you think about what the French are producing in terms of fashion or architects or painters or musicians, they are quite far behind what the British are producing, and yet when you think of fashion, you think of Paris,” said Ford, who was in the capital to judge the Fashion Fringe award held in Covent Garden, central London.

Ford described Paris fashion week, which is home to the likes of Christian Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton as “a global showcase – but it isn’t necessarily where talent is coming from. When you think of Paris you think of Karl Lagerfeld who is not French, and you think of Marc Jacobs who’s not French and Stefano Pilati who’s Italian.”

Well Tom, looks like you missed the mark this time. Paris fashion week isn’t about the nationality, it is about the place and the aspiration. And in PetiteB’s opinion, the great talent is still here, even if Anna Wintour chose London fashion week over Paris this year! So stick to your overpowering perfume line and pornographic photo campaign (see tomford.com) and stop being bitter to the hand that fed you for so long. You might know how to create a perfume that smells like cocaine, but your philosophizing should stop there!

photo courtesy gatorrgirl.wordpress.com

It’s a Girl!

22 Sep

This just in:

Salma Hayek gave birth on Friday to a baby girl, Valentina Paloma Pinault. It is the first child for the 41 year old actress, and the third for fiance/billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, who has two children from a previous relationship.

“Mother and child are doing well,” Hayek’s publicist Cari Ross said in a statement.

No other details were released, not even where the baby was born! Sources say SH checked into Ceders-Sinai in LA Friday morning, and we are apt to believe it, considering that SH was the size of a whale when she gave her baby shower in California last month. Not sure if she’d have fit through the plane door to make it to Paris.

What PetiteB wants to know is where is F-H Pinault and when is he taking the Mexican momma down the aisle? Will the odd couple really wed at all, or was Salma just after a bebe?

And lastly: how long will it take for the once trim star to regain her long-lost figure?!

Photo courtesy buzznet.com

Guess who’s back in town

21 Sep

What recently rehabbed designer was looking fit and healthy today (and a lot younger than his 44 years) while pumping iron at the hottest gym in Paris? His personal trainer couldn’t stop flirting!
Check him out in the next issue of W magazine, which will feature an article on his unusual tattoos (featured above).

Divine Dita fetes Dior…. again

19 Sep

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Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese flaunted her 21-inch waist as she sashayed along Avenue Montaigne this afternoon while leaving the Plaza Athenee.

Let’s face it: the French haven’t been this infatuated by an American since Marilyn Monroe. Dita graced the runway at Galliano’s show earlier this year, attended the huge Dior gala at Versailles this summer, and is now back to celebrate a new Dior store opening/60th anniversary. From the runway to the Crazy Horse, everyone in Paris wants Dita in their establishment.

She also signed a lucrative 2 year contract with French liquor label Cointreau, which is rather fitting considering her trademark burlesque performance involving a large martini glass.

Photo courtesy Flynet

La Redoute burnt at stake

17 Sep

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Down with the heretics!

La Redoute, the reknowned retailer and largest mail-order catalog in France, has run into a bit of trouble…. with the pious few that still go to church here in France.

The company has stopped sales of a necklace featured in their catalog after receiving a dozen angry phone calls from customers who screamed “blasphemy!”. The necklace portrayed a small crowned skull with the name “Corpus Christi” engraved across it. According to a spokesman for La Redoute, the company also received SIX angry e-mails.

Hold up my little hellions. What is more amusing here? The fact that the skull/crown motif is so old it is now a faux-pas? Or the fact that La Redoute actually listened to less than 20 people (no doubt provincial grand-meres) and withdrew the product?!

Guess they didn’t want to end up like Jeanne d’Arc.

Elle est trop belle

17 Sep

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Camilla Belle is in Paris ahead of fashion week, as part of her involvement in a new Nespresso campaign… also starring George Clooney. Lucky girl.
The 19 year old actress will stay in town for fashion week, as invitations pour in from every designer. Her incredible looks have caught the attention of more than one Parisian house– from Gaultier to Chanel. This L.A. born beauty has no French relations… despite her last name (Belle is actually her middle name). Her mother is Brazillian.

Belle looked fresh-faced and chic as she strolled along Quai Voltaire last night with a group of friends. She is in between films, having recently completed 10,000 B.C. and in preparation for a film called Push, starring Djimon Hounsou and Dakota Fanning.

Denim according to Lou Doillon

15 Sep

 PetiteB cannot wait to see the debut of Lou Doillon’s capsule collection for Lee Cooper jeans during this month’s fashion week.

The quirky Parisian, and daughter of Jane Birkin and director Jacques Doillon, has come up with a range for the jeans maker that is said to reflect her spontaneous style. Lord knows what they are in for!

According to FashionUnited:

Uniquely branded with a Lou / Lee Cooper logo, this capsule collection for women, themed around a ‘Globe Trotter’spirit will be based on her own unique dress style. Tiny t-shirts are teamed with high waisted, wide-leg pants. Large tops are worn over skinny pants. High-waist dresses are skinny on the legs. Erogenous zones are the waist, shoulders and, as the French would say, the derriere; the design details being on the back of pieces.

Karl Lagerfeld is eleGANT

15 Sep

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Karl Lagerfeld has been through countless style reinventions over the past five decades. He’s morphed from bodybuilder to 18th century nobleman, and been both admired and mocked along the way. Well, no one’s making fun of Karl anymore. Ever since his draconian diet nearly 5 year ago, the designer has embraced a new look– haute rock star. And rightfully so; the man has climbed the ranks of fashion royalty and marketed himself into the stratosphere.

Now part of Karl’s signature look is a mere stroll away on rue de Castiglione near Place Vendome.

Whether they are black or silver, python or lamb, KL is rarely seen without his fingerless gloves (he’s always had insecurity issues about his man hands). The designer orders them in bulk from esteemed ‘gantier,’the House of Causse. This season, the house had produced a luxurious collection for women… zebra and leopard prints, vernis, chocolate mink… all available to drool over at www.causse-gantier.com.

photo courtesy of theberlinpaper.com

Actress Marion Cotillard scores coveted role

14 Sep

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She has nearly 40 films under her belt, but French actress Marion Cotillard is barely known outside of France. The only two English-speaking films you might remember her from are Tim Burton’s “Big Fish,” and Ridley Scott’s “A Good Year.”

Now things are about to change for the 32 year old Parisian. She has just signed on to star in director Rob Marshall’s new musical masterpiece, “Nine,” alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem. Marshall, who directed “Chicago” and “Memoires of a Geisha” is keen to take on the big screen adaptation of this Tony award-winning Broadway musical, and it looks like Hollywood A-list is too.

The story centers around a film director who can’t concentrate on his work because he’s dealing with numerous women in his life including his lover, wife, and dead mother. Poor guy. It is based on the Fellini movie “8 1/2.” Cotillard will play the director’s wife, Louisa.

Balmain, the Princess, and a new twist on Paris Fashion Week

14 Sep

Merci Papa!
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It seems that money can buy just about anything… including your way into Paris fashion week.

For the first time ever in the history of Paris pret-a-porter, a non-member of the Federation Francaise will present a collection this fall. And who might be the odd entry… ? None other than Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

The 20-year-old Thai princess, who seems to have a panel of designers at her disposal, will show 39 semi-couture pieces on September 29 at the Opera Garnier. Titled “Presence of the Past” and sponsored by the House of Balmain, the collection is a modern interpretation of traditional Thai design.

”I hope that the collection will open the doors for other Thai designers, too. It’s an opportunity to reveal to the world the skills of our fashion personnel as well as high-quality and exquisite materials that may be rare to foreigners,” says the Princess.

Will the fashion world come out to support this new entry? Or are we in for yet another royal blunder…

photo courtesy of notesfromhollywood.com

Gwen Stefani: Queen of Ska

11 Sep

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Gwen Stefani plays at Bercy on September 17th.
Gwen will arrive from Germany as part of her Sweet Escape world tour. This hasn’t been the easiest tour for the successful queen of Ska– one of her sponsors, Verizon, pulled out its support during a spell of bad publicity for her collaborator, Akon.

The show is sure to be a crowd pleaser, however, as the energetic diva takes the stage with her usual professional tenacity.  The album has been a big hit, gaining recognition at the MTV Music Awards, and featuring a number of artists like Damian Marley and Akon.

Ever the renaissance woman, this album is the first for Gwen after the birth of her son, Kingston, in 2006. She still designs a successful pret-a-porter collection out of NYC, called L.A.M.B., which launched its first perfume this season.

Kate Moss hits Colette again!

11 Sep

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Ah, there is a God.
No sooner had I lazily strolled into Colette this morning did the sales clerk start unpacking the boxes of new Kate Moss for TopShop Autumn/Winter 07!

Stunned by this fateful encounter, I was all over the collection before it hit the rack (no time for the usual decorum reserved for Collette). The sales clerk shot me evil eyes as I tossed my bags to the ground and proceeded to try on a sexy biker jacket– hey, I was IN Topshop London for the first collection debut, and I knew full well the frenzy that was about to break out in Colette!

The collection bears many marks of the first one; tank tops, skinny jeans, and the one-shoulder dress (this time in green). It also keeps the flower motif, but this time in a more flowy chiffon peasant top. The edgy studded biker jackets are going to be the first to go; for 178 euros you can’t beat their flattering cropped shape, 3/4 length sleeves, and pyramid grommets.

Get there fast, the best of this collection will be gone by tomorrow!

Starring Brigitte

8 Sep

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Francophiles and BB fans have a little purchase to make this fall: the new Brigitte Bardot 5 film collection!

The five films showcase some of BB’s most sexy scenes, and make a fabulous montage of 20 years of French cinema. OK, so they aren’t Oscar winners, and they might not sit in your DVD player as long as Pride&Prejudice did, but this is a collector’s piece! Very few BB films have been released in DVD format.

To seal the deal, Hugh Heffner narrates a segment on BB’s life and career in the third disc of extras.

The collection includes:

Cette sacre gamine (Naughty Girl)

Voulez-vous danser avec moi? (Come dance with me)

Le repos du guerrier (Love on a Pillow)

A coeur joie (2 weeks in September)

Les Femmes (Vixen)

For more info on this fabulous new release, click here.

photo courtesy amazon.com

Charlotte Gainsbourg hospitalized, ‘out of danger’

8 Sep

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Following an emergency operation on Wednesday night, Charlotte Gainsbourg remains hospitalized following what doctors called a “massive cerebral hemorrhage.”

The 36 year old actress was not released yesterday, as her agent at first projected. Instead, she will remain hospitalized for several more days as doctors monitor her condition. The hemorrhage is thought to have developed from a waterski accident several months ago.

Charlotte was out and about with her children in Saint Germain-des-Pres earlier this week. Thankfully, she is expected to make a full recovery!

Bumping into Rodders at Le 66

7 Sep

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I knew that rugby fever had hit Paris. I just didn’t know how hard!

Speaking of hard, Rodney So’oialo (aka Rodders) is 110 kg of pure muscle. I know because I bumped into him yesterday while covering the new opening of Le 66. He was buying one of those new edition Puma wooden belts, I was looking at shoes, and the massive New Zealander was hard to miss. His calves are larger than my waist.

Rodders was there with another New Zealand teammate, and they both autographed the shoe display at Le 66 and promised to bring the rest of the team back. Le 66 is a fabulous new clothing/concept store located at 66 Champs-Elysees.

As one of the most recognizable rugby players in the world,  you are sure to hear more about Rodders in the next few weeks. The All Blacks play Italy tomorrow in Marseille.

photo courtesy of allblacks.com

George Clooney’s new girl

4 Sep

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Sarah Larson accompanied George Clooney throughout his recent appearances in Venice and Deauville.

But is she taking this most eligible bachelor off the market anytime soon? Petite Brigitte sees no immediate cause for panic.

The pretty brunette is 28 years old and a self-proclaimed actress/model. Unfortunately, we can find no record of her past work, neither an agency or on iMBD. The only info available appears to be her appearance on Fear Factor, where her profession is listed as a “go-go dancer.” Hmm…

Her body language in recent photos also suggests she is no threat. See the way she keeps her eyes open when being kissed? Obvious fame whore. Nope, she’s just arm candy for his summer promotions.

So go-go George but don’t forget to make a Petite stop in Paris before you leave the country! Je t’attends!

     Photo courtesy of clooneystudio.com

Salma Hayek– it’s about time

4 Sep

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Salma, aka Salami, has looked 9 months pregnant since she first announced she was expecting a baby!

The voluptuous Salma Hayek, 41, is expected to give birth any day now to a baby girl. Following her baby shower this month at her home in the Hollywood Hills, sources report the baby’s name will be Valentina.

While Salma divided the summer between Europe and the US, it remains unclear where she will have the baby. She went for tests at the Laboratoire de Parc Monceau several months ago.

Salma turned down her latest role offer– that of Parisian housewife. She plans to stay in the US following the birth, where she will continue to run her production company. Apparently her future-husband, Francois Henri Pinault, is supportive of her work endeavors, even though it means a long distance relationship. He will remain in France to run PPR.

She has also reported that the two will marry before the end of the year.

Saving up for Ciocco: The ultimate Paris facial

3 Sep

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She has touched the faces of Madonna, Deneuve, Cindy Crawford, and countless French beauties over the past 30 years.

Joelle Ciocco (above right) is one of the most reknowned facialists in Europe, though she prefers the term “epidermologue.” Parisian women swear on her product line and 2 hour facials, claiming that they literally halt the aging process. For many clients, Joelle’s services have led them to cancel impending appointments with the plastic surgeon.

While her famous facials are usually reserved for women aged 40-60 years, Petite B figures its never too late to stop aging, or clear up the effects of stress-induced breakouts!

Only problem: How to foot the 600 euro price tag for a first appointment?

Products available exclusively at Barney’s New York.

Joëlle Ciocco
8, Place de la Madeleine
75008 Paris – France
Tel : +33 (0) 1 42 60 58 80
Fax : +33 (0) 1 39 74 97 51

Cheering for the home team

3 Sep

The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris on Friday, and while it might be too late to teach you the rules of the game, you can at least learn the hottest players on the French National Team!

Petite Brigitte brings you the Fabuleux Four of the French team:

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Vincent Clerc plays wing for the Toulousian team. At 26 years old, he’s single and a reputed charmer. He is a fan of New York City, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and tennis. And watch out ladies, he doesn’t like to wear underwear!

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Let’s just say there were more revealing photos I could have posted of Christophe Dominici. This man loves his body (and for good reason). Dominici markets himself as the ultimate “Dieux du Stade,” sitting down for all the interviews and photoshoots. Sure, he’s past his prime and clinically depressed, but we can think of more than one way to cheer him up. Let’s just hope his ego isn’t as big as his . . .

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Oh la la la la. Frederic Michalak is a sexy beast. Aside from his position as fly-half on the national team, Freddy models for Levi’s and Armani campaigns, and signed an endorsement deal with Manix condoms. He’s not just a pretty face though; this “Zidane of rugby” has the biggest fan base of all the players. Even though he was on the cover of Tetu magazine, he’s straight ladies. Just got to get past his fiancée.

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Aurélian Rougerie could be cast at Greek god Apollo with his blond locks, but this guy is 100% French. Brought up in an athletic family (his dad was a pro rugby player, mom a basketball star), Aurelian stays close to his family in Clermont-Ferrand, and has a reputation as a fun and humble player. Go number 14!

The World Cup will be in Paris for the next 7 weeks, so get your patriotic gear together and head over to the sure to be packed streets around rue Princesse!

Click here for official site and the entire schedule.

Ghetto Chic @ Plaza Athenée

2 Sep

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On a velib’outing this afternoon along Avenue Montaigne, PetiteBrigitte’s fragile Parisian sensibilities were shattered by what looked like the Dubai version of Pimp My Ride outside the Plaza Athenée.

Front and center was the elusive Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (above). Currently the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive street-legal car in the world, it is currently in the hands of a rather large Arab man, who paid no less than 1.2 million USD for this ostentatious ride.

While the hotel seemed to welcome the Bugatti, it parked the electric blue Maybach and the magenta Mercedes S-Class as far to the side as possible. Hideous!!

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