Day 2 - Day 5 - The long post ...

My Frida Kahlo day with the beautiful flower that Frollein von Sofa made for me. Alas I wont wear the red & gold dress for the wedding ... So, I decided to wear this as much as I can now. I hope you ll enjoy this post. With an old french computer, poor Internet, running back and forth with an external hard drive and some major iPhoto problems it only took 4-5 hours ... ;)

My first stop in Paris had to be Les Halles. When I was an aupair girl we always came here.

And this is were we sat and drank coffee ( that was all we could afford ... ) Au Pere Tranquille.

Or here - Le Bon Pecheur. That's were we would meet our friends before we went out. We went to this really cool place called Les Bain Douches. To get in was free, then you had to buy a drink. We of course spent all night avoiding the waiters...

You wouldn't get in a car without fuel and one shouldn't go shopping on an empty stomach ...

French crepes ... aaaaaaaah !

Some turkey, a few slices of tomatoes and ...

... voila ! Soooooooooooo good !!!

The amazing Notre Dame. Did you know it was almost torn down in the 1800s ? But this upset Victor Hugo so much that he decided to write a novel about the church to remind the authorities about its glorious past. The book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, went on to become a huge success all over Europe. Tourists came from far and near to see the cathedral. The authorities were forced to restore it. And the rest is, as they say, history ...

One of the main doors to the church with its exquisite carvings.

The line to get in ... After this, I went a-window-shopping ...

Great fun ! Especially when there is delightfully and whimsical shoes to be seen!

I rest my case ...

Then it was time for a snack ... Who can resist a warm Pain au chocolate ? Not me, I'm afraid ... My cousin gave me this great book on vintage shops in Paris. First I went to Son et Image 85_86 Rue Saint-Dennis, M° Les Halles and bought a yellow 1950S-1960s dress. ( Ill post pictures of what I bought later)

Then after having looked at one or two more vintage shops I ended up in this really sweet place - Mamz `Elle Swing on Rue du Roi-de-Sicile, M° Hôtel-de-Ville.


The owner was ever so helpful and I bought a scarf, a bracelet and a red dotted shirts 1950s shirt. The store has a website that will be open for online shopping in September. www.mamzelleswing.fr

An adorable 1930s dress.

Look at the pattern !

Another lovely 1930s dress.

Dress from the 1950s I think.

Once again, look at the pattern !

So many dresses, so little money ... ;)

And this dear ladies is an authentic underskirt for Christian Diors New Look ! As La Baronessa would say - SWOON !

Paris is such a beautiful and ...

... hectic city - always full of life ! The owner of Mamz `Elle Swing said that I HAD to see Falbalas, another vintage shop. So since it was late in the day and Falbals was all the way over at M° Porte de Clignancourt off I went with only 45 minutes to go before they closed...

I arrived at Falbalas soaked in sweat, but it was soooooo worth it !!! Situated in Marchè Dauphine, stall 284-285, 140 Rue des Rosiers, M° Porte-de-Clignancourt it was a vintage dream conme true... Once again there was this amazingly sweet owner (the woman in the New Look outfit on your left) who relaxed and drank coffee with her friend for another 30 minutes, so that I would get the chance to look around.

There was so much to see ! I have to try and come back before I go home !

Everywhere there was pieces to die for ...

... and items that many museums would be proud to own ...

And look at these shoes - they are... reproductions ! Can you believe it !!

Look at the craftmanship !

These shoes are handmade in Belgrade, Serbia and available for order. But in Falbalas you will also find ...

Almost NEW vintage shoes (sounds like an oxymoron, no ? ;) Look at these amazing 1920s - 1930s shoes in mint condition !

This almost made me want to be a flapper girl ! ;)

Another gorgeous 1930s piece !

Great colours !

It was a very tired, yet immensly satisfied woman who, once home, happily sat down with a cup of tea, a Lu ( the greatest "simple"biscuite ever to be invented) and some of my aunties best homemade cookies ever - Les Panellets ! ( And when there is more time and quicker internet I promise to post how to bake them. Tomorrow Im off to Paris again !