Fire Up Your Little Black Dress

Bonjour Blogsphere!

Summer is winding down here in Paris. The days are getting shorter, and the Parisians are trickling back into town. The weather is still warm, but not quite as broiling as earlier in the month. Fall preview has hit the golden triangle, and fashion week is quickly approaching!

Lapin a la Mode Look du Jour: Fiery Little Black Dress

When Coco Chanel created the little black dress, she had a singular goal, to create a dress which could be worn at all times for all ocassions, while remaining timeless and elegant. American Vogue called it the Ford for women, such was its revolutionary impact. Today, the little black dress continues to flourish in myriads of designer collections as well as in the closets of women everywhere. What makes the little black dress so versatile is that there are the limitless accessorizing possibilities, each giving a totally new feel and style to the wearer.

For me, there is nothing classier than a LBD, stilettos, pearls, and red lipstick. With that in mind I created this lookbook collection. (Note: I was also inspired by my new cherry red Jimmy Choo pumps which I'm just aching to wear.) For deliciously decadent red lips, my favorite lipstick is Lancome's - Le Rouge Absolu in Red Light, topped with Yves Saint Laurent - Golden Gloss Shimmering Lip Gloss in #04 Gold Fuschia. The YSL lipgloss is always my failsafe for cocktail parties- it gives enough color by itself, never bleeds, and can be applied flawlessly without a mirror.When fiery lips are the focus of a look, I'm partial to a soft golden glow for the eyes . My favorite choice is Chanel's D'Eau Ombre Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Beach #82. Because it is a liquid eyeshadow, it gives more of a natural glow to the eyelids than powders alone, and has incredible staying power. To make the eyes pop, try Benefit's BADgal waterproof eyeliner (always best to be prepared- you never know when rain/allergies/emotions may strike). For the finishing flourish, liberally apply Lancome's latest mascara- Oscillation! I've fallen in love with this mascara and its vibrating wand- it's amazing how much mascara you can get onto your lashes without double dipping!

Click of French Culture:
One of my favorite places to grab lunch is in on Rue Saint Anne. This quarter which is located in the second arrondisement (near the Louvre) harbors a plethora of Japanese restaurants and is home to the yummiest sushi in Paris! The key to knowing which restaurant to choose is checking out the lines- because many of these restaurants are tiny and do not take reservations, if a restaurant is popular, you will probably have to wait a bit. The best part about the restaurants in this quarter is that the price is budget friendly- quite often you can get a full menu for 10-15 euros.

If you are up for trying something different, check out the bubble tea at Zenzoo. Bubble tea originated in Singapore in the 1980s and is a drink which contains large tapioca "bubbles" so you have the sensation of eating and drinking at the same time. There are plenty of beverage flavors, from mango and lychee, to almond and sesame. Plus the food there is fabulous, especially the Saturday special!

With that, I am starving! A bientot readers!

-Liz Anne