Merci Boutique Paris

When I was recently in Paris for New Year, I visited this boutique called Merci, and ended up wondering how I had never discovered this trendy hang-out and concept store before. Housed in the cool Oberkampf neighbourhood, the store is laid out on three floors in a former sun-lit warehouse loft- very New York. The store has only been open two years and has a philanthropic message behind all the designer gladrags- profits made by the store are donated to organisations fighting child poverty, particularly in Madagascar. It's more open, cosy and welcoming that the usual designer store- the staff are friendly and the wares are laid out akin to a vintage or second-hand shop. There is also a cafe with a lending library of books and comfy chairs to lounge in with a fresh mint tea and nibbles of lemon and orange cake. 

Images: IT Hunter

Paris in colour in 1914

Ok, so perhaps my blog has focused alot lately on all things French and Parisian, but aren't these photographs beautiful?

 

Via: http://www.retronaut.com/2012/11/paris-in-colour/

Source: Musée Albert-Kahn

Flying Houses by Laurent Chehere

French photographer Laurent Chéhère has created this magical and surreal series of photographs using traditional photography and digital manipulation. Flying Houses takes a variety of Parisian houses out of the claustrophobic street scene, allowing them to float in the sky like kites. Inspired by the short-length film The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse, Chéhère explored the Belleville and Menilmontant arrondissements of Paris for traditional but tired looking buildings that looked in need of release.

Laurent Chéhère exposed the series Flying Houses at Dock en Seine City of Fashion and Design in June 2012, where he won the Prix Special. The series is being shown in China at the 2012 Pingyao International Photography Festival.

The images are also being shown at an exhibition at La Galerie Paris-Beijing on Rue Vertbois, Paris, until December 8.
See more: www.laurentchehere.com

Images: www.laurentchehere.com

La Petite Bretagne designed by Paul Crofts Studio

You could be forgiven for thinking that this petite cafe is in the midst of Brittany, with its gingham covered tabletops, Bonne Maman jam pots and chintzy details. But this super cute creperie is actually in the heart of Hammersmith. Imbued with the ambience of a traditional French bistro, London based Paul Crofts Studio have designed the interior, complete with an acid-etched concrete counter from which crêpes are made to order.

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Raf Simons' Dior Debut

Set to a floral backdrop, not to mention the fashion world waiting with baited breath, Raf Simons debuted his first collection for Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week on Monday. It was the snakes and ladders of fashion, with Raf Simons rising from Jil Sander to Dior, and John Galliano falling down from favour after an anti-semitic rant in 2011. The haute couture collection showed references to Simons' last show for Jil Sander (see here), with cashmere pink, blood red and navy blue bodiced dresses and 1950's shaped coats. A welcome simplicity and return to form. 

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