Travel & Hotspots
LIVE AND KICKIN’ IN PARIS
Day 1
Even if it's raining, there's a snowstorm, or it's scorching hot on the streets of Paris: I'm in. Give me Paris and I'm the happiest. Add Fashion Week into the mix and a few éclairs and you can lock me up for the rest of the year. I swear. As long as I'm not locked in the bathroom of my hotel just like Kim. But Paris. This is a home court advantage for me, because this city has been ‘home’ for me for seven years.
Sunday morning we start backstage at Peet Dullaert together with Keune. Slightly chaotic because they had the fun challenge of getting 20 models runway-ready in a tiny space. Under the guidance of Ilham Mestour the models’ hair was styled into five tightly braided braids and shaped with the fixing spray and volume powders from the Blend line to create the ultimate 80s small curl.
After the show, I have a few hours free in the afternoon and that means: back to my usual Paris schedule. Sundays are for Le Marais. But not before I make a detour via Rue Saint-Honoré where I lost track of the number of Gucci Brixtons and Princetons and leather Chanel pumps (a.k.a. the paradise for Renske). Once you're in Le Marais, you encounter one long line after another, because on Sundays the Parisians want only one thing and that is falafel. It may not sound very chic, but you want this. Whether it's entirely fitgirl-proof, no idea (Jet? Simone?), but falafel it is.
As impatient as I am, I'm not standing in line waiting, but decided to walk towards another favorite spot. I walked from Rue des Rosiers towards Rue du Bac. For those who don't know Paris very well: this is over three quarters of an hour walking and I probably could have ordered and eaten a falafel sandwich in that time (maybe even two), but walking through Paris also satisfies the hunger.
Many can't miss Café de Flore, La Favorite, or Café Charlot during Paris Fashion Week, you can find me at Le Saint Germain, around the corner where I used to live with my family for a while. And by the way, the son of Clint Eastwood is often found there too. And no, unfortunately, I don't mean Scott (sigh), but Kyle.
Around seven o'clock, taxis are ready for us at the hotel and we drive towards the Seine to dine très chic on a boat, together with the whole team from Keune. Together with my fellow Amsterdammers Rosanna (a.k.a. Billie Rose) and her boyfriend and photographer Milan, we manage to get the best spot on the boat and after a few glasses of wine with a view of a sparkling Eiffel Tower, it's time for bed. On the schedule for today? A look behind the scenes at Esteban Cortazar. And oh yes, Kiek is finally in town! Bienvenue, mademoiselle.
