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

Routine Quotidienne

Bonjour Blogsphere!

Thanks to the Lancome blog, I have discovered a wonderful website called Polyvore which is awesome. It allows you to create your own fashion layouts like you would find in a magazine (such as Vogue) using real products from a plethora of different brands. Whether you're an aspiring Beauty Editor, fashionista, or just a creative person with lots of time on your hands; you will have loads of fun designing your own fashion layout! The finished version can be shared with friends and user groups, plus there are links on each of the products that give you product information and price as well as a links to buy the products! So without further adieu, I present my first Polyvore layout!

Here is the collection of products which make up my daily routine, inspired by a friend asking what I actually use on a daily basis. If you notice, they are all Lancome. As many of you may know, I spent four years working as a make-up artist for a plethora of different lines. I got addicted to Lancome while working as a counter manager, and am in love with their skincare for three reasons. First, Lancome dedicates a huge chunk of change towards research and development, leading the industry on product innovation. There's a lot of technology in their products, and you can see the results on your skin. Second, out of all the "lifers"- women who have spent their entire careers in cosmetics- the lovely ladies of Lancome have hands down the best skin. If that is not the best testiment to their products, I don't know what is. Third, I love how the products smell and feel on my skin. Skincare with Lancome is an experience, not just a necessity.

So, onto my day-to-day habits. Keep in mind that these products are geared toward my skin's needs- there may be products are a better fit for you.

1. CLEANSE: A cleanser is an important part of any girl's daily routine as it breaks up make-up, dead skin, and the dirt of the day to keep your skin looking fresher and acne-free. The Lancome cleanser I use has a rich foam texture and feels absolutely decadent when I'm using it. Plus, all you need is one pump, so the product really lasts for quite some time.

2. TONE: Toners provide light exfoliation and get your skin to return to a normal Ph balance after cleansing. They are particularly helpful with you have dull skin. In my case, I use Lancome's formulation for dry skin because my skin is often on the parched side. If you REALLY can't be bothered to use a toner, I recommend choosing a gentle exfoliator in place of a cleanser. This way you get the added exfoliation of the cleanser. My favorite is of course Lancome's Exfoliance Clarite, which has two sizes of beads for both purifying and deep cleansing. Plus, it has pineapple and papaya extracts, which makes it smell yummy.

3. TREAT: For the serious skincare person, serums are great targeted treatments which can help with a specific skincare need. They should be slipped on underneath your moisturizer, and can be used day and night. In my case, I have been using Genefique during the day (for fresher, younger, and more renewed skin) and Primordiale at night (which attacks the first signs of aging).

4. EYES: Eyes are the first place we see aging, and the eye area has different problems than the rest of the face (ie puffiness and dark circles). Most eye creams contain caffeine, which helps reduce puffiness. When applying eye creams, you should always use your ring finger and pat (not rub) the cream in on the orbital bone. Otherwise, you can tear the eye area and make the problems worse!

5. MOISTURIZE: I prefer a moisturizer which also acts as a treatment product so that you can have added benefits. Day creams tend to protect the skin from aging (especially those with an SPF), while night creams are more repairative in nature. While your skin is at rest (during the night), your body is able to do more restoration. If your budget only allows for a day cream or a night cream, I highly recommend going with a day cream for two reasons. One, night creams do not contain SPF, so you will need to add a sunscreen to your regime as the sun is what ages our skin the most. Two, the saying "A stitch in time saves nine" is true of our skin- preventive measures are much more effective than reparative.

6: LIPS: As a cosmetic junkie, I started using Primordiale lip cream a few years to soften my lips and prevent aging. For someone who has problems with their lipstick feathering into their lines, it is a great product.

7: BODY: Moisturizing the body is just as important as moisturizing the face! Remember that in 20 years, we won't just see your neck! My personal choice is Lancome's Glow Sensuale because it has a light self-tanner (which you can't screw up) and a very light scent which will not overpower your perfume.

So that, dear readers, is what I currently use on a daily basis from the plethora of products which are in my vanity. If you are interested in any of the products, click on the image and it will take you directly to the Polyvore layout and individual product purchasing links.

Click of French Culture
If you are going to be shopping in Paris, something you may want to consider is vintage shopping. The French themselves do not frequent many of these stores, and you can find absolute steals. Les Puces is an amazing flea market (and potentially the original flea market as well!) and there are some true bargains to be found. With this economy, who DOESN'T want a bargain? There are also a lot of great vintage shops including Reciproque (the largest in Paris with an entire rack dedicated to Chanel suits) and Didier Ludot (focused on haute couture, with one of the stores focused entirely on little black dresses).

A bientot readers!
-Liz Anne

Prince Charming and the Cleaning Demons

Bonjour blogsphere!

Today, I want to start off by saying I really and truly have the perfect husband. Case in point, this weekend, I went to Printemps with a friend to cruise the very end of the sales. As my wardrobe is bursting through the seams with pretty little dresses (I have a collection which would be the envy of many a Stepford Wife), I resisted the temptation to browse the dregs of clothing, but fell prey to the temptress known as the shoe section. Jimmy Choo just happened to have TWO beautiful pairs of shoes (last pairs, in my size!)- a fabulous pair of stiletto bootie sandals in black with bronze gromits and a classic pair of deep red patent leather mary janes (with stiletto, of course!). How could a girl possibly choose between two such amazing pairs which were on SALE FOR HALF PRICE?! It was the classic conundrum- did I need the unique and slightly trendy booties (keep in mind that EVERYONE is showing booties this fall), or did I want the classic/never out of style perfect red shoes? As we are saving to purchase an apartment, I couldn't decide which pair of shoes I could live without. So, I called my husband. He laughed and told me to GET BOTH, if it makes me happy, and that we could more than afford it. How perfect of a man is he?

Meanwhile, I've been possessed by all kinds of cleaning demons, which I will use as an excuse for my lack of recent postings. As we live on the ground floor, and France windows have bars instead of screens, I had the unfortunate experience of watching a cockroach come in through the window. Somewhere between screaming profusely, attacking the miscreant with heavy duty hairspray (in lieu of bug spray) and watching the roach succumb to the fumes of the hairspray, I made the resolution to further clean our cozy apartment (as well as coat the window bars with roach spray on a regular basis so none of those horrible pest will try to come in). It's been good, as my mania has inspired my husband and I to clean out our drawers and closets...

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour
So. I've been lacking in the sleep department again, probably due to nightmares related to the roach sighting. One trick for getting tired, red eyes to look brighter is to use a blue eyeliner, especially inside the lower lashline. My personal favorite is Lancome's black lapis Le Crayon Khol as it is relatively waterproof and an amazing shade.


Click of French Culture
Most of France goes on vacation during the month of August, so like the world of fashion, the year pretty much begins in September. In France, workers legally get at least five weeks of vacation along with scads of holidays, so many people actually take the entire month of August off (or a massive portion of it). France also has a 35 hour work-week, with no overtime allowed for many positions (including mine). For those of us who work more than our 35 hours, we accrue some additional vacation in lieu of overtime pay. For an interesting article on the subject, click here.


A bientot!
-Liz Anne

It's 5 o'clock Somewhere (although, it's 1 am here and I'm still on a conference call)

Bonjour blogsphere,

Another day has come and gone, here in the city of lights. Unfortunately, I'm not able to enjoy this Friday night, as I'm on a conference call with the US until well past 1 am (ah the joys of having the rest of my team sit in Cupertino), but I'm looking forward to tomorrow night! We may head to Murano which is a beautiful vodka-focused bar which always has great music and gorgeous ambiance. It's possibly the hottest ticket with the Paris insiders right now- Hotel Costes, while it has great music, has gotten a bit too tourist filled. We may also try discovering a new arrondisement, or checking out the tail-end of the sales... (there are a pair of Jimmy Choo's which I'm salavating over but not sure if I can justify with our apartment-buying budget)... Oh the possibilities!

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour
As I have a worldwide marketing role in the very large tech company, my conference call schedule gets a little crazy- I have 7 am calls with Asia and India and 10-11 pm calls with the US on a regular basis, with the very occasional middle of the night call. The one product that saves me from having massive dark circles on a regular basis is Touche Eclat from YSL. It's definitely the best concealor every created- it can help with lines, acne, dark circles, brow highlighting, cheek highlighting, etc. If I had one make-up item I was allowed on a desert island, that would be it! And I'm not alone- makeup artists and beauty editors worldwide consider this to be an essential must-have.

Click of French Culture
With the month of August coming up, many of the Parisians are starting to head to the beaches to beat the heat, and partake in the pleasures of coasts. For those of us who are stuck here in Paris, this weekend Paris Plage opens to give us an oasis of tropical relaxation in the middle of the busy metropolis. Every year, the city of Paris closes off some streets by the river Seine and brings in palm trees, sand, deck chairs, and floating pools. There are lots of great events which happens as well, like free concerts, dance lessons, and a climbing wall. I personally can't wait!

A bientot readers!
-Liz Anne

Boom Boom POW

Bonjour blogsphere,

Today's title is an homage to the fantastic fireworks display my husband and I enjoyed yesterday at the Eiffel Tower (and also a reference to the madness of trying to get a good viewing spot!). Watching a plethora of plumes shooting off of France's most recognizable structure with other fireworks glittering in the sky. We wrapped up the evening watching the crowds of people go by while sipping cocktails at the Deauville bar on the Champs Elysees.


Before the festivities, we also got to discover another arrondissement- the 16th. I LOVE this quarter. The buildings are beautiful, there is no graffiti to be seen anywhere, there are TONS of really nice cafes, and it is calm but full of life at the same time. It's also next to the second largest park in Paris, and bordered by the Seine. There are also a lot of sports venues in the 16th- such as the stadium where the city's soccer team plays as well as the complex where the French Open (tennis) takes place. The only question is, can we find something affordable there? Apparently, the 16th is the richest arrondisement of Paris and boasts some of the most extensive real estate. (The most expensive places have got amazing views of the Eiffel Tower.) Luckily the housing market is, as in the rest of the world, struggling a bit at the moment, so it may work out for us. At least a girl can dream!


Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour:
Have you ever wished that your eyeshadow would look as vibrant on your eyes as in the package and wished that it would stay on all day? One trick that is part of my daily routine is to wet my eyeshadow brush before application and then pat the eyeshadow on. Applying the wet eyeshadow makes the eyeshadow more vibrant (and more shimmery if you're using shadows with shimmer in them). Your eyeshadow will also stay on much longer. Not all eyeshadows can be used wet (especially the cheaper varieties)- my personal favorites are Chanel's and Lancome's Color Design.


Click of French Culture:
The trendiest treat in France currently is the Macaron, and it is DELICIOUS. It's a pastry that has flavored cream flanked by two cookies- the oreo's more sophisticated French cousin. La Duree is known to have the best, but for those of you stateside, you may be able to find them soon at Chez Paul (which has started infiltrating food courts in Florida).
Now I'm hungry! ;-) Maybe I'll jaunt off to the nearby bakery to grab a macaron for myself! A bientot readers!

-Liz Anne

Arrondissement Immersion

Good morning blogsphere!

It's yet another sunny day in Paris. I know the classic song is all about Paris in the springtime, but personally, I love Paris in the summer! Since we no longer have a wedding to plan (as we are now married), my husband and I have commenced with project "Acheter Appt" in order to fill the void. As I have spent the last 14 years renting (with the longest stay in one apartment being my nearly two years in Zurich), I look forward to actually owning a place and nesting.

We're currently searching for a "3 Piece" (ie 3 room) apartment. My main criteria is that the area must be cute, there must be a metro within a 5-10 minute walk, and there must be lots of little cafes nearby (with at least one open on Sundays). We would potentially prefer to have a park nearby, but can live without it. The area must also be safe and secure. We know that we like the Marais (4th), Rue Moufftard, and Levallois (which is right on the edge of Paris); however as neither one of us are from Paris (my husband grew up near Versailles), we are not 100% familiar with all the unique neighborhoods Paris has to offer.

So this weekend, we decided to discover two arrondisements- the 7th and the 15th. We have definitely ruled the 7th out as a potential place to live- there's not really much life other than the governmental offices. The area seemed devoid of the little cafes I love about Paris as well, so that was definitely a downside. In the 15th, however, we were pleasantly surprised. There's more grit in this neighborhood than in our current one (the 8th), and it just feels more urban and real. I also love the fact that the metro is a train on an elevated platform in this area. It adds movement and charm. The streets are also more narrow and less planned, which I prefer to the wide avenues. And, in good news, the 15th is both safe and more affordable than some of the other neighborhoods in Paris! So, it's now on our list (particularly near rue Commerce, quartier Grenelle and Vaugirard).

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour:

Every woman wants lush, long eyelashes. In fact, when forced to choose only one make-up item, the majority of women choose mascara. In an effort to make lashes even longer and fuller, many cosmetic lines offer a mascara primer. My opinion- eyelash primers do make a huge difference. I experimented recently and did one eye with Lancome's Oscillation Powerbooster under my regular mascara (which is Lancome's Virtuose currently) and the other eye with just the mascara. Not only did my lashes look longer and fuller with the primer, but I found it much easier to apply the actual mascara- much less clumping. For those of you in Europe, Oscillation Powerbooster is currently only available in the Lancome boutique in Paris or in the USA; however, I have always liked Lancome's Cils Booster XL (which is also less pricey). I also prefer the usage of mascara primers plus mascara to the mascara layering techniques some of my former make-up artist collegues employed- anytime I layer mascaras, they have the tendency to flake on me!

Click of French Culture:

Paris is split into 20 different neighborhoods called arrondissements. They spiral out from the center of Paris in a snail-like formation and are flanked on either side by two huge parks- Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne. Each one has its own color and flavor. If you want a taste of each of the arrondisements without traveling to Paris, check out the movie Paris, je t'aime, which hosts a series of 18 short films, each about a different arrondissement!

Well readers, I'm off to get ready for my day and potentially go explore another arrondissement! A bientot!

-Liz Anne

The sun is shining, the weather is sweet... yeah.

Bonjour Blogsphere,

Another Thursday drags on here in Paris. The sales are winding down and Parisians are starting to relocate to their summer homes. My mother in law has relocated herself to her house in the lovely La Tranche sur Mer, on the French atlantic coast and is basking in the sun's rays. I, meanwhile, continued to beg, plead, cajole with my work laptop which is still on strike. (I also tried the swearing profusely and violence threatening methods). Ah well, c'est la vie...

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour
Many of my friends are fans of the traditional French manicure, but are not graced with the hand coordination to successfully pull off flawless nails. And then there are those people, like me, who are prone to chipping/ruining any and all nail polish within a day of application. Sephora has invented the coolest nail product yet- the French Manicure Nail Patch! Took me 5 minutes to put on, looked better than many of my manicure efforts, and looked perfect and fresh for over a week! As an added bonus- there's NO drying time!

Click of French Culture
Last week, my American friends gloated about their long weekend courtesy of the US independence. Now, it is my turn to gloat- Tuesday, July 14 is Bastille Day, the French national holiday. Like the US, France celebrates with picnics, fireworks, and a day free from work. In Paris, there is a giant costumed ball in at the Bastille area with free music and a different theme each year. The firemen also open their doors to the public offering live demonstrations and dancing. I can't wait to put on my dancing shoes to celebrate!

A bientot readers!
-Liz Anne