hope you didn't forget about me! and my attempt at being a fashion blogger...

i can't believe it's been almost two weeks since i've written; remember at the beginning when i was so good about blogging and wrote everyday?  sorry!  the reason why i haven't written is because i've been very busy with schoolwork.  that's right... schoolwork.  i had two papers due wednesday, a book to finish, and i have another paper due next wednesday which i probably should be writing right now.  but enough about schoolwork.  since i haven't really done much sightseeing, except for a walk on rue st. honoré (the crème de la crème of paris shopping) with my childhood friend, carly lehman, i've decided to dedicate this blog to my observations about parisian fashion.

PARISIAN FASHION MUST-HAVES

1. longchamp bags: they are as ubiquitous as red wine.  I have to say that more women than not have them, and I've seen many men carrying their laptops in Longchamp cases (Dad, maybe this could be for you?)  Mine has been my everyday school bag, and the wear of three years of Hallie is showing. But, in my opinion, like red wine, Longchamps get better with age.  Except when the zipper won't work as you're getting on the Metro.  Not that that happened to me.  Don't worry, that CAN be fixed.
2. tote bags in general: whether it's a Goyard tote (LOVE) or the canvas bag you carry your groceries in, every woman carries two bags, her purse and her tote bag.  Being your average tote bag addict, I feel very at home with this Parisian style. 
3. Nice shoes for men: gentlemen (i have like three male readers, but oh well.  ladies, tell your friends!), leave your sneakers and timberland boots at home.  shiny dress shoes are for everyday wear here on the city on the seine, but loafers are good too.  anything athletic, ditch it!
4. SCARVES: whether you're four or fourty (or almost twenty-one, yay!), you must wear scarves.  this has nothing to do with body temperature maintenance.  scarves are a statement.  solids are your go-to scarves, but don't forget some patterns (flower for women and sometimes men, stripes for men-very popular, burberry for all people, and the huge knitted scarves also for all genders.
5. black is the new... EVERY COLOR.  self-explanatory.
6. oxford shoes: only hipsters in the US can pull them off, but in paris, everyone can dress like a hipster.  even someone who has half a dozen ribbon belts in her closet (though i haven't tried it yet).  
7. shorts+tights: wasn't sure about this combo before i left the US, but i've gathered that you must wear something under your shorts to be in fashion in paris.  also haven't tried this one.
8. MAN PURSES: all shapes, styles, prices, patterns....

hope you found this post informative, or at least amusing!  tomorrow i'm off to lille and then bourgogne for the weekend with my program, and then it's one week until spring break!  bisous!

my first weekend in paris in a month!

can you believe it?  for the last month, i have been a negligent friend to my beloved city.  but, this weekend, i was here!  thursday after class i spent some time in the first arrondisement, the highlight of which was my trip to goyard, home of the most beautiful tote bags in the world!  then, i was off to sacre coeur, the last of paris's major monuments i had yet to visit.  it was spectacular.  i've reached the point where i feel that i could see a million churches and still love all of them.  there is something about religious art that is inherently special; perhaps, it is the attention and love that goes into it that makes it just so beautiful.  friday, i was off to the musée de cluny (middle ages) which is housed in the most amazing building.  then i wandered up across the seine past notre dame to berthillon, home of the most famous ice cream in paris.  it was so creamy, more like the gelato of italy.  i had praline and salted caramel flavor... yum!  i've been a bit of a homebody for the rest of the weekend, except for a venture to my local wine bar with my friend danielle last night.  à bientôt!  bisous!

so much to tell! milanese adventures and little bit of paris

ciao!  bonjour!  sorry to have been a negligent blogger... i've been busy!  last week was a really good week!  after classes tuesday, wednesday, and thursday, i devoted friday to sightseeing.  first, i walked up rue royale, home of some of the spiffiest shops. current windowshopping favorites include: massimo dutti, HERMES, and longchamp.  i nearly fainted out of love for the scarves at hermes.  then i was off to see the beautiful madeleine church for a little architecture amidst my visits to the haute couture boutiques.  then i took a lovely walk to the opera garnier, a spectacular building inside and out.  then, as has often happened during my almost two months in paris, i nearly tripped over something wonderful... galeries lafayette (paris's premier department store).  no, i did not go in, because the place is a complex, and i just wasn't ready yet.  but soon, i will be ready!  i walked some of the way home, passing palais royal as well.  saturday morning i was off to visit  my roommate brittany in milan.  upon arriving i was whisked away to the magnificent duomo and luini's for panzerotta (fried calzones).  after a stroll through the galleria (ciao, prada!), we went to the castle (similar to the ones in fairy tales).  then we went the the national cemetary, which was a spectacular sight to behold.  rows upons rows of sarcophagi and monuments to the wealthy milanese family awaited us with some truly spectacular architecture.  definitely a must see that could easily be overlooked!  thenm we were off to aperitivo for cocktails and snacks at the local cafe before making dinner (pasta, of course) and gong to a concert.  sunday, we woke up early to tour brittany's school, a wonderful cathedral and the couture shops of milan. thenm we found ourselves back at the duomo with some delicious sandwiches taking in the sight of children dressed up for carnevale and tourists photographing the magnificent building.  what an amazing trip!!  back in paris, i started off my day at place des vosges, looking at all the neat art shops and then was off the a macaron-making class.  the macarons were delicious, and i can't wait to make them again!  now until spriung break, i'm staying in paris, so there is much sightseeing to come!  check out my mobileme for milan pictures!  bisoux!