Archive | November, 2007

Hedi Slimane & a lot of Perfect Strangers

28 Nov

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Former Dior Homme maestro Hedi Slimane unveiled his new artistic venture this evening at Galerie Almine Rech in the Marais. The exhibition is called Perfect Strangers and showcases black and white photographs and light design by the famed couturier. Inspiration for the works came from a summer vacation to Spain, where he visited a rock festival called Benicassim.  Most of the photos are giant-scale images that follow the rock&roll motif– and one wall is covered in part of the concert’s stage.

The fashion industry herd flocked in around 7pm, and flashbulbs popped faster that champagne corks (actually, where was the champagne?!) when Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, strolled in to view the work. Incredibly chic and clad in what looked like a golden brace/suspender belt, she cut the most elegant silhouette of the evening.

Hedi’s work is on display until January 5th.

Tue-Sat, 11am-7pm.

Galerie Almine Rech, 19 rue de Saintonge,

3rd. M°St-Sébastien-Froissart.

01.45.83.71.90.

www.hedislimane.com/

Palais Royal: prepare to shop

27 Nov

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Palais Royal (or to be specific, the Galeries de Montpensier) is known for its manicured trees, delightfully shaded cafes, and, ok– Marc Jacobs and Pierre Hardy stores. It is the perfect place to sit out by the fountain on a lazy Saturday morning and read the journal.

Enjoy that tranquility while it lasts, because the Palais Royal is fast on its way to rivaling other shopping districts like Avenue Montaigne and the Marais.

Now rumored to be joining Marc Jacobs on the arcade is Stella McCartney, who is looking to open her first Parisian store. Ralph Lauren is already committed to the location. And Acne Jeans will come in to provide something we can actually afford!

Salma, Valentina… sans French bebedaddy

27 Nov

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Here is a photo of Valentina Paloma Pinault, enfin!

Her father, Francois-Henri Pinault, is not featured. He is not in California. And no news on the ‘engagement’either. Could this have been a union of convenience? hmm$$$$$$$……

Lauren Conrad goes to the Bal

26 Nov

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Lauren Conrad, star of the LA-based ‘reality’show The Hills, was in Paris this weekend to attend the annual Bal des Debutantes at the Hotel Crillon. Wearing an elegant white gown with diamond accessories (we shall ignore the hideous Kabbalah bracelet), LC looked pretty in a safe, not-so-fashion-forward way… as if styled by Rachel Zoe.

LC also attended the Baccarat party, where she and another co-star (hey we don’t really watch the Hills over here), looked less than enthused.

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Sofia Coppola, Daryl Hannah, party in Paris

25 Nov

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Sofia Coppola and husband, musician Thomas Mars threw a party last night in the Marais in celebration of their first year of parenthood. Daughter, Romy Mars, turns 1 in a few days– and opted for a night of sleep instead of partying with her artsy parents.

The Paris-based couple invited around 40 close friends to join them at Le Scarron, a secluded, gay-friendly joint that has a sultry bar/club basement clad in baroque decor. The gathering was relaxed and low-key, and most party-goers wore jeans and flannel shirts; a few bore a striking resemblance to Jesus. Champagne was the drink of the night, and Sofia made the rounds showing a photo album full of baby photos.

Stopping in for a drink was actress Daryl Hannah, accompanied by two girlfriends. Daryl has had a busy year, with 5 films in production, including one based on the Song of Roland, starring John Malkovich, Peter O’Toole, and Saffron Burrows.  PetiteB sees a comeback in the works for the 46 year old beauty!

  • Le Scarron, 3 Rue Geoffroy l’Angevin, 75004  Paris

Louis Vuitton’s worst nightmare: Britney Spears

21 Nov


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Oddly enough it seems that the execs at Louis Vuitton DO care about their brand image! Despite years of gratuitously pumping the profits from their company, playing it up to the asian market, and moving production out of France, the company appears to have recognized its image is headed downhill faster than the Speedy bag.

So when Britney Spears drove a flaming pink Hummer and tapped her finger on a dashboard upholstered in the Louis Vuitton “Cherry Blossom” motif during her 2005 music video “Do Something,” executives at LVMH took notice. More accurately, they tossed their flutes of Moet champagne into the air and called up every lawyer in the house. And this was before Spears went off the deep end!

LVMH won their case in Paris civil court this week, ordering Sony BMG and MTV to stop broadcasting the portion of the video that features the Vuitton upholstered car. The music companies will also pay 80,000 euros in fines for breaking counterfeit laws.

The ruling said that the video was an “attack” on Louis Vuitton’s brands and its luxury image. Check it out for yourself while it is still on the internet (not for long)— but beware, it’s an attack on your ears more than anything else.

Kanye West cries his eyes out in Paris

19 Nov

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Kanye West kicked off his European tour in Paris this weekend, and it was an emotional return to the stage after the sudden death of his mother. Dr. Donda West died last week at the age of 58 following complications from cosmetic surgery performed by an uncertified Los Angeles doctor.

At the end of the concert, Kanye began to dedicate the final song to his mother, but broke down in tears before completing the dedication. According to one concert-goer, “he just lost it.” Members of the band came out to help him off stage, where he took a 15 minute break and came back to finish with a rousing performance of “Stronger.”

The hip-hop artist canceled performances scheduled for today, and returned to the US where his mother will be buried on Tuesday. He then returns to Europe on Thursday to continue with the tour.

21st century Ritz

16 Nov

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A photo of the new Ritz Bar (with the lights on).

It’s the most exciting thing to happen at the Ritz in a long time. The new Ritz Bar (formerly the Cambon Bar) opened its doors this month to a surprisingly hip clientele, and Petite Brigitte is becoming a fast fan.

Extremely dim lighting (it takes a few minutes to adjust it’s so dark– perfect for an illicit rendezvous) and some innovative lounge music give this bar a modern vibe, but the decor keeps in tune with the luxurious comfort synonymous with the famed hotel. Decadent red velvet and black lacquered tables are set against oil paintings and ornate glass trees. The feel is a bit 1920′s gentleman’s club, with antlers adorning some walls, but if it brings in George Clooney then PB is all for it! Cocktails by world-class bartender Colin Field round out the chic spot.

Not just another book on Paris

15 Nov

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American soldiers take photos of Eiffel Tower, August 1945.

Bestselling historian David McCullough is set to write a book on the history of Americans in Paris.

This is exciting news because McCullough is a brilliant writer– a master of historical non-fiction (his last book on John Adams triggered a flood of new writing on the Revolutionary War).

Set for publication in 2010 (the author will be 77 years old!), the untitled publication will begin in the 18th century with francophiles like Jefferson and Franklin, include Edith Wharton and Langston Hughes, and touch on Hem and Fitz. He also plans to discuss the strain in franco-US relations in relation to the Iraq war.

So be patient and keep your eyes out for this cute old man (see below), who will be making frequent trips to the city as part of his research. Check back here from now until 2010 for updates. :)

In the meantime, read another fascinating history of Paris, called Paris: The Biography of a City, by Colin Jones.

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All I want for Christmas…

13 Nov

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PetiteBrigitte is making a list and checking it twice— and it’s getting sent to the North Pole as soon as this massive transport strike is over!

This photo speaks for itself.

Nope, it is not your average bubbly. Karl Lagerfeld, the master of luxe, has put together this hand-made coffret of exclusive Dom Perignon champagne, comprised of three bottles from 1996, two from 1986, and one very rare 1966. As if this isn’t exciting enough, the box also contains 3 champagne flutes (suggestive, eh?).

For the reasonable price-tag of 100,000 euros, you can give your champagne wishes to that special someone this holiday season!

Sommelier included.  

Sofia’s Sunday in St. Germain

11 Nov

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Sofia Coppola, director and fashion muse, spent a relaxed afternoon in Saint Germain in the company of her babydaddy, French chanteur Thomas Mars. The two strolled by Cafe Flore and stopped in at the press kiosk in front of La Hune bookstore before continuing their excursion on the bustling Left Bank.

The stylish/scruffy couple met on the set of Lost in Translation, and now have a daughter, Romy, who turns 1 on November 28th.

Sofia has a longtime affiliation with Paris. Her father, Francis Ford Coppola, has kept an apartment here for many decades, and Sofia interned at Chanel in the 1980′s. During the filming of Marie Antoinette, Sofia stayed in a apartment two doors down from Cafe Flore, which became her adopted headquarters.

Famke hot at Costes

11 Nov

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Dutch-born actress and former model Famke Janssen enjoyed dinner at Hotel Costes this evening in the company of her longtime boyfriend, Cole. Lets hope we all look like her at 42 years of age!

Looking casually chic and absolutely stunning, the Bond girl visited the famed eatery/bar while in between filming schedules— she just wrapped production on The Wackness, starring Ben Kingsley and Mary Kate Olsen.

Earlier this week she took her  Boston terrier, “Licorice,” for a walk in the Jardin des Tuileries, and managed time to get frisky with her boyfriend in the boxwood maze.

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Karl & Claude shoot Chanel

10 Nov

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What, you thought Karl Lagerfeld might dress down for a photo shoot on the beach?! Au contraire, the photographer and his muse were dressed in extreme elegance worthy of a Fitzgeraldian evening party.

KL was out in full flair in St. Tropez this week to shoot a chilly looking Claudia Schiffer. The eccentric designer, who recently starred in an approved documentary called Lagerfeld Confidential, has shot many of his own campaigns during his tenure at Chanel.

Claudia, now out of retirement, has worked extensively with Karl this year– shooting the Dom Perignon campaign back in the Spring. As we can see, the girl’s still got some assets…

Cavalli roars through H&M

8 Nov

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The Roberto Cavalli capsule collection for H&M hit stores this morning, and flocks of ostentatious fur-wearing ho’s set their alarm clocks early to make it to the store before stocks ran out.  As if women don’t look trashy enough in Cavalli’s normal collection, they now have the opportunity to look TRES trashy.

The collection is small and in limited quantities, which is a blessing because we all might become sick if we saw 20 girls in one day wearing the same leopard corset. Yes, if you bought everything in the collection (and a lot of women were loaded up), your closet would look like you returned from a big game hunt— complete with the crocodile Dundee black leather fringed vest (possibly the most hideous thing, and in the arms of nearly every woman there.) Your wardrobe would include: the leopard corset, leopard and zebra chiffon dresses, leopard tights, a gold flapper dress,  leopard jeans, leopard scarves, leopard bras/panties, leopard lined blazers…. you get the point.

So for those readers looking for a lucrative night on the Bois de Boulogne, swing by H&M today for your chance to make all your colleagues jealous.

Note: Reports from two saleswomen say the collection will be gone after the lunch hour. Ho la la, la la…………

Monaco parties for World Music Awards

5 Nov

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Monaco was the epicenter of celeb spottings this weekend as the tiny principality hosted their annual World Music Awards.

The two most legendary stars in attendance were Patti LaBelle and Celine Dion, who both took home top honors. Other performers who took the stage included Avril Lavigne, Akon, Rihanna, and Mika– who won 4 awards including Male Entertainer of the Year — though he was too sick to sing the most appropriate song of the evening, “Grace Kelly.”

Julian McMahon of Nip/Tuck was the host of the evening, although Prince Albert snapped out of his narcoleptic daze and spoke to the audience as well.

Stars were dancing til dawn at Jimmy’z, the notoriously swank nightclub where a flute of champagne on New Year’s Eve will set you back 120 euros!

Blonde like Brigitte

5 Nov

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She was a suicide blonde– dyed by her own hand.

- Saul Bellow

In a city where everyone has perfect hair– be it messy or dutifully coiffed– there’s no taking chances with your colorist, especially as a blonde. Walking out of a salon with a Kentucky Fried Coif is ample cause for a sabbatical in the wine region for a few months; drink it off and let it grow… (and pick up a hot sommelier while you’re at it).

Thankfully, there is a blonde-obsessed Parisian coiffeur who is doing a booming business for those of the blonde persuasion. His name is Franck Vidoff, and his salon is aptly named “Blonde.” The spot looks more like an art gallery or architectural office, with its white curtains and minimalist angles, but its understated exterior harbors some serious attention-grabbing blondes within. Franck takes care of many A-listers in Parisian society/fashion/music scene, including Eugenie Niarchos and Erin Fetherston. He caters to all shades, including as Franck describes: “sun-bleached blondes… honey blondes… Hollywood blondes, Warhol blondes…” – and uses techniques that nourish hair for a silky smooth finish.

www.franckvidoff.com /12 rue Pres-aux-clercs / 75006 Paris / tel: 01 42 22 66 33

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