Paris has so many cool art galleries popping up in the north part of the Marais district, and this Kate Moss exhibition will certainly draw the fashionistas into the district.  Loving this photo above… very Bardotesque.

 (With all the fuss about drugs, rockstars and anorexia-inspiring catchphrases it’s sometimes difficult to remember that Kate Moss is famous for a reason – her jaw-dropping good looks.A new exhibition hopes to remind us with a collection of photographs which go on display today at La Gallerie de L’Instant in Paris.

via Kate Moss exhibition of famous photos of the model opens in Paris | Mail Online.

THE perfect Parisian woman is an illusion, bien sûr. But learning to pretend to be one is a serious business that dates back centuries.

It is an enterprise that continues to thrive with profitable how-to books like, “How to Become a Real Parisian,” “The Parisian Woman’s Guide to Style” and “All You Need to Be Impossibly French.” Now Inès de la Fressange, ex-runway model, former face of Chanel, Legion of Honor winner, designer, businesswoman and daughter of a marquis, offers yet another take on how to dress, shop, eat and act like a true “Parisienne.” This onetime muse of Karl Lagerfeld has spun her beauty and style tips into a confection of a best seller, “Parisian Chic: A Style Guide,” which has sold more than 100,000 copies in French and has just hit the American market.

The book might have withered and died on the shelves, except that Ms. de la Fressange combines a “je ne sais quoi” audacity with a sassy tone, and leaves readers believing that, by following her rules and experimenting with confidence, they, too, can be just like her.

via Inès de la Fressange, a Frenchwoman’s Parisienne – NYTimes.com.

While Brigitte Bardot may be given credit for launching tourism in Saint Tropez, she also helped light the fire under the Brazilien tourism industry in the 1960′s during her famous trip to the beachside resort of Buzios.

Now, brazillien top model Gisele Bundchen reincarnates BB for this month’s cover of Elle Brazil (in a photo originally shot for Muse magazine).

Who does 60′s sex kitten better, Bardot or Bundchen?

It seems a reasonable move, she has after all been working alongside Carine for the past 10 years at Vogue!

Emmanuelle Alt will officially become editor in chief of Paris Vogue effective Feb 1.

In July, Lively was one of the designer Karl Lagerfeld’s famous friends in the front row of the Chanel Hauté Couture show during Paris Hauté Couture Fashion Week. In September, she hit the reopening of the Chanel store in New York’s Soho neighborhood.

via Blake Lively’s the New Face of French Fashion – E! Online.

Napoleon’s dream of invading England will finally come true in 2011. With a handful of truly French fashion labels like Maje, Sandro, Vanessa Bruno, and the Kooples opening up shop, the frenchie fashion invasion is clearly underway in London. Vive la look française!

If you are an admirer of french women… here are your essential addresses for shopping the look in London. Check out article below:

Nailing that effortless elegance is a big part of the desire to buy into Parisian dressing. ‘The thing about a Frenchwoman is she never looks like she’s tried too hard,’ says Laura Fantacci, Red magazine’s fashion and shopping editor. ‘Chanel did the same thing half a century ago when she teamed a sailor’s stripy tee with men’s palazzo trousers.’

via Indulge in some French dressing | Metro.co.uk.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld models Tom Ford’s debut womenswear collection – Telegraph.

Maybe it’s thanks to the success of the BB exposition in Paris this past winter, but Bardot is back as a fashion influence this 2010 season in Paris!

This April, Lancel will produce the BB bag, in honor of the 60′s bombshell, and with her surprise approval and collaboration. Madame Bardot has signed off on this ecologically-sound handbag, which shall be produced using faux leather, organic coton, and natural coloring.

Leonello Borghi, artistic director of Lancel, explained the motivation behind the iconic hangbag’s debut: “Because every woman wants to possess something of Bardot, and because there is an aspect of Bardot in every woman.”

Rumors abound on the details of the bag, which will puportedly incorporate the  “Vichy” motif (i.e. gingham) that defined her wardrobe in the 50′s/60′s.  Prepare for it’s unveiling this month… Lancel debuts it from St. Tropez, bien sur!

Karl, what is your advice on becoming a supermodel? He responds:

It’s not being perfect. What one needs is a face that people can identify in a second. That’s why the girls who were famous in the ‘90s can still work for advertising. People know their faces. The little blonde Russian, Sasha (Pivovarava), , has a face people can remember instantly, but for other models today, people think, Is she this one or that one? It’s very difficult, but, you see, in fact there is no advice, because all circumstances are very different. It depends on what you are ready to give, the kind of life you bring, what may be exciting or disappointing … You can’t accuse anyone of not doing enough to help you, because, besides yourself, there’s nothing anyone can do. You have to be given what’s needed by nature, and what’s needed is to bring something new. But it’s the most … (hits hand on table) unjust … (hits hand on table) thing in the world.

In a glamourous end to elegant Haute Couture week, designers and models united for one night of partying and fundraising for the fight against AIDS.

Diner de la Môde is the annual bash that brings out the finest talent in fashion, and this year took place at the Pavilion d’Armenonville at the Bois de Boulogne. In attendance were such fashion doyens as Yohji Yamamoto, Ricardo Tisci (both featured above), Chrisian Lacroix, and Giambattista Valli. Supermodels and stars included Devon Aoki, Natalia Vodianova, Eva Herizigova, Dita von Teese, Diane Kruger, and French actress/Playboy centerfold Vahina Giocante. Oh, and Madame Catherine Deneuve.

The night was magical, and the dresses might have had something to do with it: Dita Von Teese looked ravishing in Lacroix haute, Eva Herizogova looked more like Helen of Troy than Diane Kruger in her Sophia Kokosalaki dress, and the eternal muse of the city, Carine Roitfeld, looked sultry in Christopher Kane.

The charity event raised nearly 1 million euros, and the auction included a black and white photo of Dita von Teese, and personally designed chairs by some of fashion’s biggest designers.

Haute couture fashion week ended on Friday, and dedicated fashionistas flew back to their L.A. mansions and Park Ave penthouses this weekend. The week went smoothly and the parties were elegant affairs, such as the bash at Chaumet’s HQ at Place Vendome– a far cry from the men’s fashion week!

Highlights of the week included Roland Mouret’s continued comeback into the world of fashion, where his show found celebrities like Victoria Beckham lined up to buy his smartly cut and masterfully detailed silhouettes.

The city was full of the nouveau establishment, like Victoria and Dita von Teese, who once again sat together at Chanel and forced comparisons between their albino/orange skin complexion.

We saw a lot of the old establishment in town to bid Arrivederci to Valentino, including former muses Eva Herizgova, Claudia Schiffer, and Nadja Auermann.

Valentino’s show was dramatic and poignant, especially at the final bow. Now Karl Lagerfeld is the only big maestro left in the old designer clan! Val plans to focus his retirement on designing for the ballet and opera.

Men’s fashion week was the buzz of the town this past weekend, as the industry flocked to Paris to snap up the hot creations from designers like Kris von Assche, Hedi Slimane, and dozens of up-and-coming createurs. Two major men’s expositions– Tranoi and Rendez-vous, took place to showcase new collections from edgy designers like Surface to Air, Gaspard Yurkievich, and Xavier Brisoux.

Parties of mention around the city include last nights wild bash at the opulent Hotel Paiva (above) for Tranoi, where the night started with a presentation by Bernard Wilhelm, and was followed by entertainment by the Broken Hearts Club. What began as classy red carpet event ended like a frat party, and by 3am, the champagne needed restocking and bouncers were busy hauling out roudy partiers. “Literally an hour after the Veuve was brought out, the wheels fell off and everyone went crazy. I saw someone get rugby tackled on the dance floor. At that point the level was set for the night,” said Mic Eaton of up-and-coming label, Material Boy. “I’m rather tired today,” he added.

Other parties were held over the weekend at La Scala and Experimental Cocktail Club (which was THE private venue of the week, hosting everyone from Details magazine to the Rendez-Vous group).

Bond girl Eva Green caught the fashion fury of Mr. Blackwell this year, as she landed  number 6 on the infamous 48th Annual Worst Dressed List. The fashion forward Parisian, who has made some daring choices in wardrobe selection (though always leaning towards haute couture), was not available for comment after the release of the list.

But is she really that bad? Is she dressing badly or just making some non-commercial fashion statements? Here she is in Alexander McQueen:

Eva was the only Frenchie to be caught up in the fashion attack, which had L.A. buzzing yesterday as Posh Spice listed at number 1, followed by other less surprising names like Amy Winehouse, Kelly Clarkson, and Mary Kate Olsen.

At the rate she’s going, Suri Cruise will have her fashion vocabulary on par with Anna Wintour by the time she’s 5.

The 19-month-old daughter of Tom & Katie Cruise has just been fitted for custom shoes by Christian Louboutin.

Sources say “They made a mould of Suri’s feet and hand-made a pair of bespoke shoes for her. She is their youngest client.” Looks like moderation isn’t part of the Scientology book!

The jet-set toddler’s wardrobe costs thousands of dollars a month to maintain. She wore Armani for her parents wedding last year, sported Cavalli booties out in NYC, and can’t be caught without some piece from Dior Baby. We hope the Cruise family gives enough charitable donations to justify these designer threads!

Joyeuses Fetes! xx, PB

1. Exquisitely posh candles from new Parisian label MEMO. These fragrant boujies smell a lot more expensive than 36 euros, and come in svelte packaging with names that will remind you to plan that next vacation. Favorites are “Marrakesh Kiss” (white tea & jasmin rain), “Take me to Saint Barth” (sweet caramel milkshake), and “Mad About Gstaad” (Christmas tree & snowflake). Actually, we’ll take a set of all 3. Available exclusively at Bon Marché, and Harvey Nichols (for UK readers).

2. Absolute Disco. Giving should be practical. So if you have party people on your list, this one will be greatly appreciated. Absolut Vodka has issued a Limited Edition vodka, covered in mirrored mosaic (hence, disco). It is a sparkling gift that requires no wrapping and probably won’t last past New Year’s! (Then it becomes a vase). 19 euros at La Grande Epicerie.

3. No one likes flimsy cocktail glasses, so seek out a sturdy set of creative highballers at Luka Luna, where for a mere 32 euros you can give 4 “citi” tumblers– heavy blown glass with a cool cityscape of either Paris, London, NYC, or Sydney. Bottom’s up! (Luna Luka: 77 rue de la Verrerie, metro: Hotel de Ville).

4. Whimsical, handmade, and shockingly affordable homewares from Le Petit Atelier de Paris. This adorable boutique, located in the Marais, also has a collection of one-of-a-kind jewelry. If you appreciate the chicness of white porcelain, some with handpainted French phrases, you will tomber amoureux with this gem of a store. 31 rue de Montmorency, 75003.

5. This one is for your best amie, (or metro-ami). The SmartBox Bien-Etre is a CD that allows your friend to choose from over 100 spas, salons, and institutes around France— she can pick from a huge selection of discounted treatments, from make-overs to lasers! An ideal gift, at a very reasonable 75 euros (you get a lot of treatments). Available at FNAC and here.

6. Habitat has some cute gifts, but nothing quite as flashy as the set of 4 flashing ice-cubes. Plop one into your next cocktail for a real attention grabber. At 9 euros, you can probably go for 2 boxes, so that no fights break out at the next housewarming party!

7. Giving professional gifts can be tricky, but for the ultimate coworker bonding gift, opt for the Executive Practical Joke set available at the Conran Shop on Rue du Bac. This is a hysterical assortiment of fake gunshot stickers, zapping pens, invisible ink, prank memos, and bloody finger bandages. 25 euros.

8. If you run into difficulties on what to give your guy friend, opt for a subscription to the new Playboy France. He won’t think you are a perv: it’s an artfully done publication with interesting Paris-centric articles. And OK, he’ll appreciate the photo layout with stunning model Julie Ordon sporting Agent Provocateur lingerie… and less.

9. Mariage Freres comes to the rescue with gift sets this holiday. Yes, the famed tea-makers might be a Parisian cliché, but this gift is NOT. The Kama Sutra tea set comes in a music box that plays to the tune of Clair de Lune, and contains 4 new creations: Kama Sutra white, green, black, and red tea. (Silver tea spoon included). Tea-time never looked so seductive. All for 50 euros.

10. For a special someone, the most personalized and practical gift on this list is as follows: Go to moo.com and order your friend personalized calling cards (14 euros for 100 cards!). You can customize as much as you want, add any graphic, and they get delivered straight to your door. You can create special stationary or stickers too. Go the extra mile and splurge on a 50 euros Montblanc card holder available in the basement of Bon Marché. An unforgettably thoughtful gift! (PS: calling cards are mandatory in Paris, especially for the single, chic woman).