As we have all heard by now, king of pop and style icon Michael Jackson passed away this on Thursday. His influence on the global music scene has been tremendous, as can be seen by the numerous memorials and celebrations of his life that have taken place these past few days. I went to two of the popularized Paris events (okay really, it was just noted in the New York Times article), one of which was just a fan gathering at Notre Dame on the Friday (New York Times said ceremony), and the other was another gathering (the event read in the New York Times as a huge moon walk, but really, it was just another fan gathering) at the Eiffel Tower today.

Michael Jackson Fans at Notre Dame (June 26, 2009)

Clay Sculpture of Michael Jackson at the Eiffel Tower (June 28, 2009)

Michael Jackson Fans Listening to His Music and Dancing at the Eiffel Tower (June 28, 2009)

Barb :: Jun.28.2009 :: Culture :: No Comments »

My goal, before school starts for the summer session, was to go out and see at least one park or museum, or just to have a stroll in a neighborhood. Given that many things are closed on Sundays in Paris, I decided to visit one of the arrondisements, which I knew would be open – the Marais. On a side note (i.e. explanation), the Marais is a district with not only a huge Jewish community, but also a yuppie population. It’s incredibly lively, as well as full of history. Definitely worth checking out.

So as I was wandering the streets, I came across this building, which I have seldom seen open, or perhaps I had never noticed it. It took me a minute to figure out what it was, since it wasn’t well advertised any where. Called “Le salon des créateurs de monde,” and with its doors wide open, I saw a multitude of booths that were displaying various fashion items – jewelry, clothing, and other accessories. Really, it was reminiscent of the booths at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). Plenty of brands that had just started up, some with low price points, which made their time at the expo profitable, and some with price points that were quite high, saw some sales, but not as many as their competitively priced peers.

Did I end up getting anything? Nope. Was it worth going? Sure! There were some gorgeous items, but I had much preferred to save the money to splurge for the big sales that just started.

Le Salon des Créateurs de Mode, the official poster

Barb :: Jun.26.2009 :: Culture, Fashion :: No Comments »

Boxers, get your gloves up! Or rather, ladies, get your credit cards out! After the government issued mid-season sale, I was not only left with feelings of disappointment of the sales, but also with feelings of anxiousness, waiting for the July sale (which is similar to the January sale as seen in my previous posts).

While the sale begins at Galaries Lafayette this Wednesday, it’s apparent that they are just as into it as I am. Shopping for cooking equipment today (which if you know me is quite a funny idea, as I don’t cook often or well), I saw the famed red sale bins in Lafayette Maison containing items. Above the bin was a notice stating that they were in preparation of the sale – pricing and organizing stock. Walking around in Lafayette’s clothing departments, though, the sale is far more apparent and far more obvious that it is going to be a big one.

The Famed Sales Bins: Stocking and Checking Them Out

Barb :: Jun.22.2009 :: Culture, Trendy Finds :: No Comments »