W2WW News Flash - Ines De La Fressange develops line for Uniqlo.

Image from luxuo.com.

The former French model and author, Ines De La Fressange, is partnering with Uniqlo for a capsule collection due out later this month.  We've admired the impossibly chic De La Fressange since she penned the Parisian Chic: A Style Guide and shared tips for looking effortlessly cool and put together.  Take the navy sweater, my personal favorite, paired with white jeans, flats, perhaps a scarf and voila! 

Image from hannekeverstegen.com.

New York magazine wrote: "She genuinely doesn't give a rat's ass about what she's supposed to look like, but always looks fabulous anyway.  She smokes, consumes bread and butter, has short hair, almost never wears heels, and always smiles in pictures, probably because she isn't dying for a foot rub and a sandwich."  If I had a closet of Roger Vivier, I would probably wear flats all the time too.  My kind of lady.

So, what to expect on November 20th (unveiled in Paris on 11/20, in stores early 2014)?  I'd bet we will see lots of her Parisian-inspired basics like slim pants, cardigan sweaters, striped tees, and cool jackets in the French uniform of white, tan, navy and black.  

Here are some of our favorite IDLF looks. And when-oh-when is Uniqlo coming to Boston?!?! ~ LB

Above images from nymag.com.

...you are obsessed with silver drop earrings.

With a birthday approaching, dear husband is bugging me for birthday gift ideas.  The only thing that I can think of, and has been frustrating me completely, is that I really want some longer, silver earrings.

I wear a lot of navy and white in the spring, and some of these outfits are SCREAMING for a pair of earrings in this category.  You see, I've been following the rule I learned from Ines de la Fressange in her book, 'Parisian Chic', that Parisian women wear either earrings or a necklace, but never both together.  A bigger, dare I say 'statement', earring is needed.  But nothing too sparkly or fancy.  Something chic, easy to wear, fun.

So, here's what I've found after a comprehensive web search.  This Oscar de la Renta pair I found at Bergdorf Goodman was the front-runner, but they are 5" long.  They are the exact style I want, just about 1 1/2" to 2" too long.  Why can't they be shorter?!

Image from polyvore.com.

Next up, from Stella & Dot, these silver drop earrings, but are they just too ordinary?  They just might be.

Image from stelladot.com.

I was hunting around Ippolita's stuff on the web.  They make lovely drop earrings, but most of them have semi-precious stones in the design.  What do you think of these?  No stones, but also might be too plain.

Image from nordstrom.com.

I found these on Net-a-porter, by Rosantica, and I LOVE them, but no silver.  Just gold with a variety of colored stones.  An intense google search of Rosantica gave no further information.  (sigh)

Image from net-a-porter.com.

I digress.  These are NOT AT ALL what I'm looking for, but I did fall in 'like' with these Isabel Marant earrings while surfing on Net-a-porter.com.  They are pretty fab.  Not what I need, but at $95, they might have to come home. One word: tassels.

Image from net-a-porter.com.

Ok, back on track now.  What about these Chan Luu silver feather earrings?  Are they too heavy for spring/summer?  They are the right length - about 2 3/4" long.

Image from chanluu.com.

I remembered that Calypso St. Barth carried a line of jewelry, Morra Designs, that was simple but fun.  Searching Morra Designs website, there were a couple that caught my eye.  First, these large disc drop earrings, in silver.  The disc is about an inch in diameter, and the chain looks about an 1 1/2" long, equalling the perfect length of 2 1/2 inches. Thoughts?

Image from morradesigns.com.

Or how about these?  3 discs, about 1/2" in diameter each - adding up to around 2 1/2" with chains included?

Image from morradesigns.com.

Finally, these...which might be the ones (other than those fabulous Isabel Marant ones!).  Me & Ro, jewelry designers to the stars (or at least Julia Roberts, who put their tiny little Soho outpost on the map), have some amazing pieces.  These silver, graduated disc earrings are lovely - approximately 2 5/8" long.  Kind of love, but are they enough of a 'statement'?

Image from meandrojewelry.com.

Decisions, decisions.  Which would you pick?  Would love feedback in the 'comments' section! ~ JH

Shopping around Paris - Random wrap-up.

I took a break from 're-entry' today, i.e. laundry, grocery, etc., and just had coffee with another francophile friend; it was like walking back through the streets of Paris.  As we went through the photos on my iPhone and talked about the great dinners and shopping streets, it made me want to wrap up my take-aways from what I saw in Paris, both in fashion and around town.

The colors:

• Blues, both navy and cobalt, are big.  There was an interesting saffron color that accompanied many of the blue looks. 
• Vibrant orange and red, and all shades in between, were everywhere as well.  
• A hint of jewel green was peeking out from some racks here and there.  
• Pastels were hard to find to be honest.  
• Black is ALWAYS in.

What people were wearing:  

• Skinny pants (jeans, black pants) tucked into flat booties.  
• Shorter skirts and dresses paired with stockings and heeled booties (not a look that I will be daring to wear, but all the young Parisians were sporting this, when not in pants).  
• One word, booties.  
• Cute spring jackets in leathers of many colors.  
• Tribal accents.  
• Scarves, scarves, scarves.  
• People were definitely NOT wearing the outfit on the left below, even though a boutique opted to highlight it in their window. Tulle skirt over colored jeans?  Better for a 6 year old?  Non?  Had to take a pic!

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Textiles:

• Lace, in tops, dresses, skirts.  Read our earlier post to see what lace items look good here in the US.  
• Leather/suede - those cute leather jackets.  Leather in jewelry.  Suede shoes everywhere.  
• Suede in colors, in neutrals, in purses.  
• In fact, on our last day in the City of Light, we walked around our favorite neighborhood, taking in the sites and sounds.  And one final boutique, with a clutch, that had to come home.  From ba&sh, I couldn't leave it in the store.

Image from ba-sh.com.

And while my trip is over, I'm already thinking ahead to the next.  Let us know if you are headed to Paris, New York, or anywhere for that matter, and share YOUR finds.  We always like a good lead here at W2WW.  ~ JH

...Paris is a little chilly.

Day 4, and Paris has been unseasonably cool.  Like high-of-50 degrees cool.  Not the spring-like weather I expected or packed for.  So, while on route to Luxembourg Gardens from the Vavin metro stop, what better excuse to take a moment and stop at Eric Bompard?  Send dear husband ahead with dear children to the Luxembourg Gardens playground, and take a moment in the land of all things cashmere.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Lisa and I first read about Eric Bompard in Parisian Chic, by Ines de la Fressange, and Lisa was in-the-know last year when she visited Paris, picking up this navy v-neck sweater that I've coveted ever since.  

Image from eric-bompard.com.

I went into Eric Bompard with an open mind, trying on several different styles of sweaters.  I'm guessing they had about 30+ styles of cashmere sweaters, both 100% cashmere, and part cashmere/part silk sweaters.  Good news, they have every color under the sun.  Bad news, no retail post in the United States yet.  Definitely a 'purchase while in Paris' item.

This batwing pullover looked chic, but was a bit short in the body length.

Image from eric-bompard.com.

This one I LOVED, the zip-back crew neck, but the fit was tough on me.  I was thinking of it with leather leggings or skinny, cropped black pants with a pendant necklace or scarf accessory. (This is the view of the back.)

Image from eric-bompard.com.

When all was said and done, I settled on 2 of the classic v-neck pullovers, wearing the "liege" colored one tonight to dinner, with leather leggings, black scarf, Hermes bangle, and Jimmy Choo snake-skin pumps.  Tres classique!

Image from eric-bompard.com (Liege colored, classic v-neck.)

And, all apologies to Lisa, but it seems I'll have to employ our rules for when friends have the same piece of clothing.  I couldn't leave the navy one behind.  Lisa, you have dibs!  ~ JH

Paris on foot.

Bonjour readers!  Paris is heaven and I'm resting my feet after 2 straight days of walking.  So while my feet are up, I thought I'd share what I've seen on Parisian women's feet.  Outside of ballet flats and riding boots, there are a couple of distinct trends happening.

First, the wedge.  Closed toe, preferably in a suede...since I'd been obsessed with a neutral wedge, these caught my eye immediately!  I am NO Sartorialist, but I tried my best with my iPhone 4S, to capture what I have seen.  These were spotted in Luxembourg Gardens.

And  these were spotted on the street...

I'm still kicking myself for not being fast enough to photograph a pair of salmon-colored, suede wedges that were paired with jeans.  They were divine!  Suede is huge right now, in all colors!

Next trend in footwear is the flat bootie.  They are everywhere.  In the stores, on feet, on teenagers and older ladies alike.  With skinny jeans, skirts, leggings.  Everywhere.  Here is a pair spotted while waiting in the Odeon metro stop...

And these were spotted in Bon Marche - the most amazing department store.  I loved the tassel in the back.  The wearer had skinny jeans on with them and was just elegant.

And these were in Bon Marche's shoe department.  While I didn't try them on, I might have to go back and check them out again.  Love the stone colored ones on the right.

These too were in Bon Marche...there were too many to see!

What do you think?   Should I take the plunge and invest in a low bootie?  Will they be popular in the US in a year or 2?   Quite frankly, I think they will be around for a while; Lisa has a pair from last year, and they are another great option for your skinny jeans.  Perfect option for moms running about town.  Another shoe in between boots and ballet flats.  I think I'm on the hunt...

That's all for now.  Back to vacation, and contemplating the steak frites that I'll be having for dinner. À bientôt! ~ JH

Images from Jennifer Houston.

...you are traveling to Paris - evening wear.

With less than 2 weeks to a trip to Paris, serious outfit planning has commenced.  After tackling daywear a few days back, I'm onto thinking about evening wear.  At the end of a day of walking, there's nothing better than hanging out in your hotel room or apartment (or napping), refreshing with a shower, and putting on a crisp outfit for dinner.  

With 8 nights (but who is counting?!) in the City of Lights, I'll want to have great looks for each night, but not pack 8 separate outfits.  To minimize packing and maximize look, I'm planning to use 2 pairs of cropped black pants with a variety of tops and jackets.  I have one pair of pants from Reiss that I love and will take; they have a cute zipper at the bottom of the crop which makes for a neat detail.  Ironically, they are called the 'Paris' pant, so how can I leave them here?!

Image from reissonline.com.

The other pair I'll be taking is a black, cropped leather pant.  They are the MOST comfortable pants, and can accommodate those extra croissants and baguettes I'll be devouring.  I got these Vince leggings on S-A-L-E, one of the best purchases I've ever made!

Image from revolveclothing.com.

Now, what to put on top?!  I'll be taking some blazer-type jackets (maybe 2) to layer over silk blouses (maybe 2 or 3).  The Theory white blouse in the photo set below is a great travel blouse to stick under a blazer with a scarf tied around your neck.  A couple of colored blouses to either layer under a jacket or wear alone should round out tops.

As for shoes, I'm bringing my heels baby!  One pair of neutral pumps, just like the Stuart Weitzman ones below, and one colored, to rock out an otherwise neutral outfit.  The Stuart Weitzman ones are patent too, which as I said in an earlier post, I love to include for inclement weather.  My Stuart Weitzman pumps have been wiped clean from the heels sinking into lawns, spilled drinks at a nightclub, etc., and have stood the test of time and abuse.  

Finally, the accessories.  A silk scarf or 2 for the more neutral look.  A couple of bracelets and pendant necklaces.  And, as I learned from Ines de la Fressange in her book, 'Parisian Chic', Parisian women wear either earrings or a necklace, but never both together.  Neutral makeup with lipstick is best.  For handbag, I prefer a clutch in the US, but in Paris, a shoulder bag makes me feel more secure with my Euros and passport.  And yes, when you are there, you and your attire are being examined.  People-watch back and enjoy the show! ~ JH

Dinner in Paris by jenhma featuring gold plated jewelry

Batwing shirt
$120 - reissonline.com

Theory sleeveless top
£63 - farfetch.com

Silk screen t shirt
$75 - reissonline.com

Rag bone blazer
$450 - barneys.com

Flat front pants
$180 - reissonline.com

Stuart Weitzman patent high heels
$195 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Manolo Blahnik high heel shoes
$595 - barneys.com

Rebecca minkoff handbag
$330 - stefanibags.com

Jigsaw cuff bangle
£39 - jigsaw-online.com

Gorjana gold plated jewelry
$120 - endless.com

Dolce Gabbana satin shawl
$445 - net-a-porter.com

Default to Parisian Chic

It's no secret in our close circle of friends, that Jen and I are Francophiles.  We would hop on a plane at a moment's notice, if that was at all possible with 5 kids between the two of us, and jet off to Paris.  I love everything about Paris and could happily share all my favorite foods (croissants from Poilane), bistros (Fish La Boissonnerie), walks (anywhere in 6e) and museums (Jacquemart-André Museum).   

But all that for another day.  Today, I share with you our favorite book about dressing like a Parisian that attempts to answer the eternal question:

How is it that Parisian woman always look so put together and effortlessly chic all the time?   

Ines de la Fressange penned one take on the answer earlier this year.   Parisian Chic, a riveting little red book brimming with secrets of shopping and dressing like a mademoiselle, or in my case, a madam.   

Photo from Amazon.com

One dog-eared section in my book epitomizes what is classic, fashionable and easy to wear.  "The Navy Sweater" has become my default wardrobe of choice.   With my own twist, of course :-) 

Photo from thesimplyluxuriouslife.com

Here is my work horse outfit for this fall/winter season:  Ines was right about Eric Bompard. His perfectly cut navy cashmere v-neck + anything = heaven.  This I will wear for years and years.

Photo from http://www.eric-bompard.com/

I got this Design History sweater coat for fall.

Photo from stylefind.com

AG Adriano Goldschmied Stevie cords (as comfortable as sweatpant, I kid you not ) + Navy v neck + Design History jacket = a look I love and wear day in and out.

Photo from anthropologie.com

It's a simple formula.  CLASSIC + TWIST = DONE!

Madames and madamoiselles go for a few staple pieces each season and pair them with classics already in the closet.  She might "jujus" it up the look with a scarf or jewelry to keep it fresh.  And out the door she goes, looking put together and feeling good.  Before Parisian Chic, I could be found staring open mouthed at the plethora of choices in my closet.  Now I can be out the door in 15 minutes if I have to, including quick shower and makeup, and looking good and feeling even better.

Jen & I highly recommend the book and its practically chic approach to style.  Available online and in Wellesley at Hudson. ~ LB