Paris 1 |ˈparɪs ,French paʀi| the capital of France, on the River Seine; pop. 2,203,817 (2006).
Field gave me the greatest gift for my 36th birthday when he gave me the experience of going to Paris Fashion Week! This is not a trip he would have wanted to go on (Field is either all about relaxing while being away, or he is all about adventure), so my friends, Kristin Smith with The Clad Life, and my photographer friend, Frank Del Corral, joined me instead!
We stayed together at the beautiful Le Meurice Hotel. We could see so much of the Parisian skyline right from our hotel window. I would look outside and see the famous Notre Dame and at night, a jazz band would play until late into the evening. It truly is the city of lights and romance!
We attended different fashion shows around the city and ate at the most incredible places. One of my favorites being inside the Eiffel Tower! The service was surprisingly fast for it being a European city, and I assume it is because of all the tourists who frequent there. We watched the sunset from inside the Eiffel Tower the first evening in Paris and later that night we took a tour around Paris from a bike where we saw various spots showcasing the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is absolutely beautiful, quiet and serene. There is a similar sense of excitement that you feel in a place like New York City, but in a more peaceful way. We would walk down the busy streets, but the people wouldn’t make any noise. It was so calm and quite different from what I am used to with two toddlers at home! *grin*
We went vintage shopping and visited the Christian Dior Exhibit, which showcased the life and style of the infamous Fashion Designer. We saw all of his amazing designs as well as designs from when Raf Simons became the Creative Director for the brand. What an incredible display of the evolution of fashion! I was so inspired by the shapes and textiles and started planning out new designs for new office spaces and outfits in my mind.
The show of the week for me was Off-White! I am such a fan of this brand. They take street style and elevate it in such a creative and modern way. Everyone was talking about this show. Virgil Abloh was Kanye West’s creative director–which comes as no surprise after seeing the show. His designs are relevant and a staple in today’s culture. I was so honored to be there. The street style in Paris was fun because it is so clear how much people enjoy creating great outfits and looks to showcase.
When you think about it, a great outfit is not necessarily a couture ballgown or a cocktail dress, but rather a deliberate combination of patterns, colors, textures and tailoring that translates into something beautiful on a person’s body. That’s the thing about visible effort, artfully executed: When mixed together in a thoughtful way, even something simple can become “wearable art.”
Getting dressed up is a fun way to tell the world who you are. I enjoy the creative and inspiring process, and get a little charge of energy from putting pieces together and knowing what I like and don’t like. The most important aspect of fashion to me is choosing an outfit that I feel confident in and that is authentic to my style.
My week in Paris allowed me to reflect on God, His beauty, and the world He created. I enjoy the world God created and all it offers through art, books, meals, people, conversations, architecture, buildings, shows… It makes me feel small sometimes… But I feel a part of it. I feel thankful, and more than ever–I’m thankful for another day to share the inspiration that fueled me over my week in Paris. The memories and experiences made in Paris ignited my heart with more energy and love for people, dreams and creativity. It is often said that most important things in life aren’t things. We can find ourselves overwhelmed by all the stuff we have to manage–let’s focus on what we are most passionate about and connecting with people instead.
I want to go back to Paris with my kids and husband someday to simply explore and enjoy the peaceful, beautiful city. I know they will absolutely love it as much as I do. Until next time, I will just have to enjoy the photos of memories made!
Au Revoir!
XO-
Sabrina
