Parler Paris Nouvellettre®, Paris Newsletter

Parler Paris Nouvellettre^®
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 • Paris, France

Practice Your French...or English!
Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group

Practice speaking French and English. Make friends, discuss interesting topics, learn about other cultures, progress in understanding and speaking, naturally and easily. Meets three times a week -- come as often as you like!

For further details, visit Parler Parlor

You can tell it's Fashion Week (January 20th - 27th) just by the number of very tall, very thin, very waifish looking women on the sidewalks of Le Marais. Considering that I spent all of my early years on the planet dreaming of being a famous fashion designer, and having attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York studying Women's Tailored Wear with such illustrious visiting professors such as Calvin Klein and Betsy Johnson, it's amazing how it all escapes me now...especially when one considers I'm living in the fashion capital of the world. Or is it still?

According to wiki.answers.com/, Milan is number one, followed by Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and Rome. And I can assure you, this can be debated and will be by fashionistas everywhere. Parisians would never want to admit that Milan has taken over the position held by Paris for many years, but alas, the Italian designers such as Armani, Capucci and Ferrè revolutionized the fashion industry. In the '70s and '80s Milan gained acceptance as the fashion landmark with others such as Missoni, Pucci, Gucci, Dolce and Gabanna, Prada, Versace and Benetton.

But, we cannot forget the French who rival them all, such as Lacroix, Gaultier, Rykiel, Cardin, Chanel, Dior, Givenchy Saint-Laurent and dozens of others. What would be wearing without them?

Calvin and Betsy are surely rolling their eyes at such a list of fashion items, but take it from someone who went from having a walk-in closet lined with matching shoes and purses for every outrageous outfit to a wardrobe of the simplest and most classic of garments, it's a heavenly way to live I hadn't realized in my youth when I was dreaming of watching my own runway models excite the crowds with my latest creations.

Monday night Etam Lingerie held a huge catwalk show with skimpy creations in black dotted by a few other bright and femmy colors (watch it on Youtube.com), and of course, as anyone knows, among the black in my closet you might find a splash of red or purple and even in the summer, a hint of white, but basic black is about as "Parisienne" as it gets.

Essortment.com says that one can "keep your black clothes looking more chic and less like a uniform with a few cheerful accessories and spectacular shoes." Who said black isn't chic? Of course, when in Miami wearing black, everyone asks if I'm from New York and when I say "Paris," that seems to explain it all! Of course, New Yorkers can follow the same black fashion trend and breathe easier with a smaller wardrobe and less closet space, just like us Parisians.

Next time you visit the City of Light, lighten your load when you pack your bag and fill it with the list provided above and see how you can live a lifetime on the streets of Paris very happily dressed "en noir."

P.S. Surprise your lover for Valentine's Day (February 14th) with a stay in a luxurious apartment in the most romantic city in the world -- Paris! Visit parlerparisapartments.com for a "bouquet" of the city's finest "pied-à-terres" fit for your favorite person and book now!

NEXT MEETING: February 8th, 2010 AND EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The second Tuesday of every month, Parler Paris and French Property Insider readers gather at La Pierre du Marais for a drink and a "schmooze" --It's an opportunity to meet and chat with other like-minded people and a great way to make friends! Costs nothing except whatever you drink. Don't miss the next gathering, Tues, February 8th, 2010 from 3 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit Parler Paris Après Mid

Travel in Luxury, Stay in Style with Paris Palais Apartments

At Paris Palais Apartments you will find our most luxurious and palatial vacation rental apartments. Large and spacious, beautifully and professionally decorated, completely equipped and functional, these apartments can accommodate up to eight in your party -- all in the center of Paris just steps away from the city's main attractions and neighborhood amenities.

Book now at www.parispalais.com or email: apartments@adrianleeds.com for more information.

For Les Petits Palais, visit Parler Paris Apartments.

Virtual office for only $14.99 per month

Would you like to have a virtual office by having a U.S. phone number (or other country number) that reaches you anywhere in the world -- on your phone or with messages you receive in your email inbox, and that you can use to make unlimited calls to more than 60 countries, all for as little as $14.99 per month?

This is no joke. It's a smart way to run your U.S. business anywhere in the world. Just click here: vonage.com/ and then enter this phone number: 3104277589 and you'll be on the way to your virtual office.

Welcome to Writing from the Heart...
a journey into the heart of France, and into your own heart...

April 5-11, 2011, Essoyes, Champagne

Find the time, the courage, and the inspiration to write about what's most important TO YOU!

"Go. Write. Feel safe. Be brave. Take the risk! Janet is there to catch you. And she is there to set you free." Writing from the Heart participant

REGISTRATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15!
Cost: 1250 Euros (payable in dollars at current rate of exchange)
Applications now being accepted. Enrollment limited to 10.

For more information, visit www.essoyesschool.com or contact Janet Hulstrand at janet.hulstrand@gmail.com