DISCOVERING SHOE DESIGNER CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN'S NEW EXHIBIT

Today I had the privilege of meeting Christian Louboutin and previewing L'Exhibition[niste], a provocative presentation of his works over the last 30 years. Housed in the Palais de la Porte Dorée from February 26 to July 26, 2020, these are the tickets to buy to if you're in Paris for fashion week or, more simply, you just appreciate beautiful things. Here’s a highlight reel of my day...

EXHIBIT SHOWCASED PARISIAN DESIGNER’S KEY FASHION MOMENTS

Yesterday, one of the fashion world’s giants slipped away to the other side. After Balenciaga, his mentor, Alaïa and Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy’s passing whispers yet another farewell to a fading, glamorous era of haute couture. In the autumn of 2014, I was fortunate to catch a retrospective on Hubert de Givenchy at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid. Givenchy had a special place in my heart because for my very small and intimate wedding about one year earlier, I had chosen to wear a simple Givenchy cocktail dress - in black. (I was a rebel bride.) This LBD is one of my prized possessions and, conveniently, I wear it all the time.

FASHION WEEK IS EVERY WEEK IN THE CITY OF STYLE

Paris Fashion Week may be over, but Paris never quits her full-time role as Fashion Capital of the Universe. There are five museums that I highly recommend for those of you enchanted by the history of fashion. See fashion houses Yves Saint Laurent, Chloé and Louis Vuitton up close and personal, plus discover two more museums that regularly hold fashion exhibits. And as an added luxury, because fashion is all about treating yourself, I've included my favourite cafés and restaurants nearby. 

ON THE MENU: ROMANCE AND 3 MICHELIN STARS

Last fall, my husband and I dined at Guy Savoy's eponymous restaurant in Paris. We were celebrating our anniversary (plus a major achievement on my better half's part), and so had chosen this esteemed address to underscore our evening as extra special.