Gingerbread men and lobster sushi

Long time no blog.

I'll admit I've been a bit busy actually 'living'. My English work experience was a dream, I published at least an article a day and even got to write a piece about fashion. 'The Differences between French and English Fashion', nonetheless. I went to court, reviewed an art exhibition, interviewed a film director, covered a murder and did a vox pop.

Incidentally, the vox pop was on 'how Bradford women are the worst dressed in the UK'. They actually came last in a survey done by Facebook. How embarrassing. So the newspaper was more than pleased to publish my own article, titled 'I live in Paris but I buy all my clothes in Bradford'.

In between discovering Gregg's gingerbread men on my lunch break, I managed to get a lot of shopping done. I just love English shops, they are so superior to the French thing. I went crazy in New Look and Primark, and also had brilliant time charity shopping. English retailing is sans égale, Paris should take note.

Although I have discovered a brilliant shop in Paris, called Hema. I literally dévalised the store for my lovely lovely flat. I am having such fun living in Paris, it's like a dream come true. I went to my aunt's last week, and we ordered sushi. I just had to have the 'Flower Power' one, made with real flowers and stuffed with fresh lobster! It was delicious and ever so civilized.

I am thinking of starting a personal blog, as I cannot really give this out as a professionnal website if I am warbling about shopping and sushi. But with school looming closer (er, tomorrow) and other activities to plan (various housewarming parties, salsa and yoga classes, learning to cook with Jamie O's books), I might be a bit short for time. Like all of us at the beginning of September..

Oh and I also got verbally attacked by a tramp when I was out celebrating my friend's 20th birthday. But I was very well-dressed so I think I managed to pull it off.. with an ear-piercing scream as he lunged at me followed by serious hair-tossing. To be pissed off in style, that's what you learn to do in France!

Bonne rentrée!

Breton tops and the Retail Queen

I do not want to write anything along the lines of 'how French style is superior to all others'. I have read countless articles on how 'French girls do it better', and loads of 'how-to's that I do not particularly agree on. French girls do not all follow the 'breton top-skinny jeans-messy bun' trend, just as Brit girls do not all wear minis with orange legs. Even if there are still many who do, it is a gross generalization to say that all French girls have style.

French style is celebrated as being effortless and elegant. At least it was before the opening of the Abercrombie store on the Champs-Elysées. But what people seem to forget is that UGG boots are considered 'cool' here, because they are English. How many times have I heard 'I'm going to London for the day, just for Topshop'. It is a fact, Cool Britannia is the retail queen. Even I think Primark is heaven, because I go there twice a year, stock up on fast-fashion and impress all my French friends. But then I come back to England and we are all carrying the same bag.. I was discussing it with a collegue recently : French style is certainly not affordable. Parisiennes believe in quality articles, but I cannot afford to blow all my money on one bag and wait till next year for a pair of jeans. I do more shopping than my French friends, not because I have more money, but because I keep searching for bargains. I have a friend who has just spent 150euros on a jacket - from a well-known marque du Marais, but it will probably be out of season before you can even say its name - whereas I have bought three pairs of ballets pumps in a month, at 10e each, that I coordinate with my 'workwear' (get me! words I am not used to writing!). But then I have a shoe fetish.. and I have a bought a reasonable, easy-to-wear pair of black ones, a gorgeous pair of gold ones, and a pair of.. mustard-coloured ones. Mustard! But they are too cute! With little bows on! And they are certainly eye-catching. Not that I would know, as I have not managed to wear them yet. But I call them mes petites moutardes (as I call another -red- pair of shoes mes petites cerises) and I am in LOVE.

Despite these recent acquisitions, I cannot WAIT to come back to England in August to get some serious shopping done, and I am already writing a list of what I 'need'. Including more ballet pumps.