Four times per year – I still can’t believe it’s that many times actually – I’m in Paris for Fashion Week. Twice for ready-to-wear and twice for Haute Couture, which in fact, was just over week a week ago! I’m sure you’ve seen some of my instagram coverage of the adventures Couture brought, but it’s mostly focussed on the highlights, with the exception of some day-to-day activities on my stories. But, as you know, too, I like to make it “picture perfect” so even there it’s always “real, but with a beautiful filter”. However, what I didn’t really share are the moment in-between; a quick croissant run to the bakery next door, a fitting around the corner from my hotel, or the lunch meeting in my favorite restaurant… I am, quite obviously, not doing that in the outfits I wear to the Haute Couture shows! So here’s my guide to the ultimate day-to-night “Parisian” look, even though I’m not a Parisian by blood.
I start my look with the pair of shoes I want to wear, and I decide which pair of shoes I want to wear, based on the weather. Unfortunately we weren’t really blessed with a lot of sunshine this week, but in-between light showers, it was lovely out. A tiny bit of spring in the air, as the temperatures were so much more comfortable than in New York. So, my choice for shoes was this pair of patent kitten heels. Apart from the fact that I have a weak spot for kitten heels in general, I also love them because a. they are simple, and b. the patent is not too shiny. They are in fact – to me – the impeccable wardrobe staple. No woman should go without, for the simple reason that they make every casual look more sophisticated. Plus, they have the Parisian feel… sartorial, in the most approachable way. So, needless to say, when I got to try these Tamara Mellon Rebel 56 shoes to try – sharing a link to them below – I was very excited. Perfect for in-between the shows in Paris!
A little more on Tamara Mellon, for those who are not familiar with the brand, yet: Tamara co-founded Jimmy Choo in 1996 and launched her own brand in 2016 to be a female driven company. Her shoes are designed for women, by women, and made to break all boundaries when it comes to dressing for day and night. Her shoes are meant to be worn at any time, for any occasion; as they like to say “They are made for leaning in, climbing ladders, shattering ceilings, school drop-offs, making an entrance, and re-writ ing rules”. Which I kind of like, and love to go with, especially since I’m a wife, mother, and entrepreneur myself. Hence, I have no problem sending out the message of female empowerment, especially not if I can do this while wearing beautiful shoes!
So, for the occasion I had Jeff follow me around for the day, to capture me running around in Paris, between shows, meetings, and lunches. Those lunches often come at around 3pm, and they are my breakfast too. It’s horrible how my schedule messes up my eating habits, but by now I know how to come prepared, so on day 1 I harvest juices and granola bars from this vegan place I found in Le Marais.
We started off by leaving from on of the shows, going to my hotel, to change. My Chanel dress made way for a pair of jeans. And the sneakers I was wearing with that dress, got replaces by the Tamara Mellon patent kittens heels. Just perfect to make that jeans + knit look less casual, more presentable. Changes and bundled up we left from my hotel, which was close to Place Vendome, to my fitting the Valentino show. By foot. And that was OK because these heels are made for walking! Totally doable – got so many compliments about them on my way there.
Fitting done meant time to eat. While we were ordering lunch at on of my favorite spots: L’Avenue, we talked about our planning for the rest of the day and week. Under the table I kicked off my shoes slightly, as I usually die of blisters when I crack in a new pair. NONE! It was a miracle. I felt the Rebel’s and I were made for each other.
Tamara Mellon shoes | H&M jeans | Dior bag | Yves Salomon coat | Barrie knit | Roxanne Assoulin necklace.
Photography by Jeff Thibodeau
