What's Happening this Weekend?

What's Going On This Weekend?
29 March, 2013
As always there are the brochantes. A brochante is a flea market, not to be confused with the more appreciated Vide Greniere, which seem to be more popular in rural areas. A brochante features mostly professional traders, selling anything from handmade jewelry, vintage clothing, antiques, furniture and trinkets. While I appreciate the brochante, I like to discover real treasures, the things from the attic, so to speak. Previously privately held personal items and treasures.

My favorite brochante in Paris, however, is the one held at Porte Vavnes, down in the 14th and easily accessible by M13. Once arriving at the corner, just following the people with their little rolly carts! It goes on every weekend of the year, rain or shine.

This is an enchanting Marche au Puce, or brochante, as the traders are still professional, but their overheads are lower, hence the prices are much more negotiable. Don't be afraid to bargain and haggle, it's tradition! Offer a fair price and be firm, confident and polite! Keep a look out for the sellers with crates and boxes lined up filled with glorious junk. For a euro you can get a sweet dish or teapot, or random bit of housewares or kitchen gear.

This weekend there is a professional Brochante at Pont Alexandre along the Siene. It will have the professional market traders with fine, more upscale goodies, but since it's been a long, cold winter (with no end in sight, oh my!!) the traders should have plenty of fresh stock, so it's a great opportunity.

I suggest a little walk along the Seine over to La Dauphine at 237 Boulevard Saint Germain - 75007 afterwards for a lovely cheeseburger or pasta. While not an imaginative menu, the service is great, it's very relaxing and offers a respite from the usual tourists. Get a cold beer and a burger & frites and relax!

The Art of Living Well

Coats. Sometimes, it's all about coats. I like coats, I have far, far too many, yet, oddly, never enough. I leave the house several times a day for various work and errands. And it seems like I can never wear the same coat twice in a row. It may be a habit from childhood, obsessed as I was with never wearing the same outfit twice in a week. Or maybe I just like looking good.

Coats, jackets, blazers, sweaters, denim, silk, raincoats, wool coats, fur coats, it's never enough. A coat can make you elegant when you are wearing stretch pants, they cover up the sins underneath! Add a good quality scarf and it's a complete ensemble, no one is any the wiser!

If one lives in a city with seasons, you just can't have too many coats, and they don't have to be expensive. The point is to buy well, buy good quality, the very best possible in fact, and to buy classic or avante garde. The best 50 euros I ever spent was on an H & M black trench coat. I've had it just over a year, got it pre-season, and barely a week outside of summer has gone by when I haven't worn it. I've had it drycleaned several times, but it really stands the test of weather, time and functionality. My second favorite cold weather coat is one that I got at Harrods on a serious splash out. It's black of course and meant to be a rain coat, I suppose, but it's very, very long. I've had it for about 9 years now, at least, and it cost about 300 euros, I think. Lined in satin, it's down to the ankle and very full, so I tend to cinch it in with a nice wide belt. It's been all over the world in all sorts of weather. It was my life saver on a trip in winter to Beijing, I layered up underneath and was warm as could be. It's very elegant flapping around the knees and ankles, quite dramatic.

Since I've been in Paris I have discovered Guarrisol, a killer 2nd hand clothing shop. There is a real art to buying in the 2nd hand shops. I've bought and sold hundreds and hundreds of pieces for over 30 years, from all over the world. From a collection of brightly colored 40's wool coats that I found in Chicago for 2 bucks each, that I later sold for between 25 & 30 bucks, to a really cool London Opera Costume coat I found in Brussels for 5 euros, I make a killing in coats, it seems. This summer I found an exquisite Italian silver, down filled puffy coat, perfect for Christmas! It's brand new, never worn, still had the tags on. I quickly found that similar models from the mark sell new for over 1200 euros, I got it for 15 bucks. I also scored several gorgeous fake fur coats this Fall as well. The secret is first the quality, then wear and tear. If it's a cheap label, Primark, H & M, just don't even bother. Why pay for 2nd hand garbage that's only meant to last a single season when it's already been worn? Ew! Buy the best labels you can find, in classic styles, contemporary colors, and they can last you for years. This past summer I also found Hugo Boss & Prada & Antonelle trousers, all for 3 bucks.

Jeans just plain piss me off. What is it with people buying jeans that look like crap? And why on earth are girls still going around with muffin top and ankle cut jeans? It makes me crazy. It's not that hard to dress well, even in you're on a super tight budget. Never ever buy jeans without trying them on, and look for jeans that don't flatten out your ass and avoid those nasty things that have those tacky bleached out spots. For that matter, try to avoid jeans if at all possible unless it's the weekend and you're not still in school. At least now the trends are to jeans in colored denims, finally, thank goodness.

As far as buying second hand clothes, yes, the coats in particular will often have the Eu du 2eme, but a good airing out, a trip to the dry cleaner and/or a good dousing with Febreeze will take care of that. Look for top condition, or in the very least minimal damage that can be quickly and easily repaired if you're good with a needle.Check the pockets, the lining, the armpits, the collars and the edges, and frankly, if it's not perfect, take a pass, it's just not worth it. You would be rather shocked at the top quality stuff that is out there, if you have the patience.

I never leave the house without a scarf. Rather like a pedicure, don't leave home without it.