Paris: La Vie en Rose or La Vie Morose?

Gertrude Stein said: "America is my country and Paris is my home town." Well this is exactly how I feel (except that Switzerland is my country, not America.) I love Paris, I feel at home here. It's a big enough city so that you don't feel claustrophobic, yet it's still cozy. You live in your little neighborhood called an 'arrondissement', where you have the local butcher, a fish market, a bakery... Everything is there and stays there. That's the beauty of Paris, it hasn't been sucked into globalization - it keeps its identity.

That could be a problem however, as not being a big player on the international economic scene won't make the country grow. And current French President François Hollande certainly isn't helping. He is maintaining the country under a static socialist deadlock. Personally, I didn't care much up to now, as I was a student enjoying the beauty and cultural wonders of the City of Lights. But now that I am actually looking for a job, I'm not so sure I want to stay here anymore, as I don't see myself slaving away for no more than € 1,430.22 a month (Smic 2013).

But there are other aspects that make Paris an 'unattractive' city to live in. Here are the top 5:

1. The Smells

Any normal human being living in Paris will agree that the city stinks. It's beautiful, but it stinks. Be it the dog poops lying around on every street corner or the smell of urine in the métro, the city is full of icky smells.

2. The Social Demonstrations

Every week something new surfaces. The RATP workers aren't happy because they aren't getting paid enough, so they close down half of the métro lines in protest. Gay people want to get married so they block half of St. Germain to protest in favor of gay rights. The teachers at the Sorbonne are unhappy with their working hours, so they refuse to teach for a couple of days, forcing the university to close. Don't get me wrong, all of these causes are noble, but do they really have to make such a mess?

3. The Parisians

This is perhaps the most popular topic when you ask someone why they don't like Paris. The Parisians can indeed be obnoxious. They love to complain. This falls into point number 2, but it goes further than social demonstrations. It's in the everyday life. The weather is bad, they complain. The weather is good, they complain. Their job, their relationships, the traffic, the tourists, Parisians love to complain. They won't do anything about it, like leave their job or move to another city. They simply enjoy complaining.

4. No Elevators

Okay so we're not talking about New York or Shanghai, where there are about a gazillion floors. But still, an elevator here and there wouldn't hurt. I live on the 6th floor so I know what I'm talking about! But on the bright side, walking up and down these stairs is my daily cardio!

5. The Lack of Taxis

Last but nor least, there are no taxis in this city. If you go out clubbing on the weekend and hope to catch a taxi around 3-4 am, then you're optimistic! Better have a back-up plan.

Vico Magistretti: Architecture's Titan

If you're into design and architecture, then you'll have heard of Vico Magistretti. He was my great uncle and a creative genius. I'm guessing even Architectural Digest could not digest him!

Born in Milan, Vico brought a refreshing simplicity to the complex world of design, creating such iconic pieces as the Atollo lamp, the Selene chair and the Maralunga couch.

Founded in 2010, the Fondazione Vico Magistretti keeps the architect's world alive by organizing events like the one in Mantova that will take place between May 23-26. 

Vico's pieces are exposed in museums like The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Triennale in Milan, proving that furniture can be a real work of art. 

  

www.vicomagistretti.it 

Babydoll Shades

We're all into sunglasses, whether it's a Hollywood actor shying away from paparazzis, a jetting loser in a nightclub, or someone like me who actually needs retinal protection from damaging UV rays. But the question is, what style to adopt? There's the classic Ray Ban model (which I have), the more bling bling shades with the Chanel logo, or the sporty kind that's not very sexy but definitely practical (think Oakley). But why not try something a little more daring this summer? Why not try a new kind of model? I like to think of it as the 'Babydoll' shades.

Born from a second collaboration between Illeseteva and Dasha Zhukova, this model comes in two colors: cotton-candy pink and baby blue. Handmade in France, each pair costs $300.

But beware, there are only 200 pairs in each color, so hurry!

Summer Jewels

Seeing that I live in Paris, I tend to succumb to the "Je ne sais quoi" effortlessly chic Parisian style. In one of my previous posts, I wrote about Delphine Delafon's bucket bag. Here, I turn to Aurélie Bidermann, the jewel whisperer. She founded her eponymous brand in 2003, creating rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings influenced by ethnic styles from around the world.

Brazil, Peru and even The Wild West !

 

Here is a selection of four items from her Spring/Summer 2013 collection:

Wild West necklace,  1 125 €

Cuzco earrings, 518 €

Tao rings, 510 €

Surfing Mimosa bracelet, 650 €

www.aureliebidermann.com  

Finding Nemo

I was visiting the magnificent aquarium in Jeddah and spotted this little guy... I shall name it "The Pineapple Fish" !

The Dream Bag

I was reading an article in Harper's Bazaar (US Edition, May 2013) and fell in love with a bag I spotted. It's the fruit of a collaboration between the Muzungu Sisters and Delphine Delafon. These names may sound foreign to some of you. That's because they are. 

The Muzungu Sisters is a hip brand that was created in 2009 by a dynamic duo: Dana Alikhani and Tatiana Santo Domingo (yes, the future Mrs. Casiraghi). Dana, a human rights advocate, wanted to combine fashion with fair labor. Tatiana, the jet setting Colombian beauty, curates the site with her sassy and trendy ideas. 

On the other side of the Atlantic is Delphine Delafon, a Paris-based genius. Her invention? The bucket bag. One model in three different sizes with a choice of three different chains. But each bag is unique, signed and numbered. So combine ethnic materials with French craftsmanship and you have the dream bag.

The only downside? It's $1,250.  

www.muzungusisters.com   

www.delphinedelafon.com 

24 hours in Jeddah

Okay so Jeddah isn't the number one go-to place for tourists, granted. But there are plenty of things to do there. Located on the coast of the Red Sea, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia hosts a number of activities. But put these distasteful travel guides away, you won't find anything there. The key to having an enriching experience? Socialize with the locals.

I got embarked on a trip to the fish market, which might sound trivial, but believe me, it's not. Imagine a typical stand with a variety of dead fish. Now multiply this by 100 and you're almost there. A myriad of differently colored species, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, barracudas, sea shells, and even sharks fill an enormous space by the port. So not your typical fish market...

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Well it is, but not for the 'sensitive' ones like me. I started feeling queazy as soon as I entered the market. And as I marched through, the stench got worse. The smell of dead fish in a 40 degree environment is not very appetizing, especially at 9 am.

After a nice little chamomile at the Hyatt to reset my stomach, I headed to the Athr Gallery, a great venue which hosts annual exhibitions to present the works of young Saudi artists. From a picture made of used sweet wraps to Mickey Mouse heads slapped on various men and women, the variety is exhilarating. Paris, London and New York should tap into that market.