City girls

How cute are these city t-shirts by Schumacher?

These oversized pieces come with sketches of Paris, Berlin, New York, Venice, London and Moscow and are a perfect companion for a comfy/glam trip to one of our favorite cities!

www.dorothee-schumacher.com
one of the loveliest designer homepages I have ever seen!

Pretty Ballerina

How about these endlessly darling pretty ballerinas from www.prettyballerinas.com ?!

Truffaut and Hitchcock

If you are into Hitchcock's cinema, just as I am - my all-time favorites include Rear Window and Birds - then you will most certainly love the Definitive Study of Alfred Hitchcock by a french fellow filmmaker, actor and critic Francois Truffaut. Truffaut has conducted a series of extensive interviews with the genius of suspence, the result of which is a masterpiece of journalistic work providing truly interesting insights into Hitchcock's art, interests and personality.

I would love to have witnessed some of the dialogues - I can only imagine how enthralling they must have been!

www.amazon.com

Quote of the day

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast."

Ernest Hemingway

Sound of Paris

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain is another favorite of mine. Okay, okay, I won't elaborate on how this is an absolute must-see /-watch/-adore movie for any lady. I won't elucidate how this film lead to the discovery of one of the most adorable, enchanting french actresses - the personification of french femininity, fragility and elegance - Audrey Tautou.

Let me just mention, that my firm belief is that one of the most significant success factors of this movie is most certainly its musical accompaniment.

When I studied French in Nice, I remember waking up to my "host brother's" piano performances of Comptine d'un autre été (Track Number 4) across the wall - which rendered any morning marvellous. Till now, I think these are some of my most memorable experiences of the french culture - the reason I fell head over heels for it.

The impeccable Yann Tiersen - a composer from Bretagne - has accomplished a soundtrack so very divine; at times dominant, at times subtle yet always carrying the mood of each and every scene in the most enriching manner.

It's a mixture of folk music, chanson, musette and pop and is the perfect setting to contemplate Paris. If Paris had its own sound, this is what I would hear.

www.amazon.com

Great cinema

One of my favorite film directors is most certainly the famous spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. I had watched a couple of his films a very long time ago but only came to appreciate his art after having discovered Volver 4-5 years ago.

Ever since, I have watched a large number of his films and even possess a rather significant collection of DVDs. 

His films are melodramatic and expressive narrations of human nature and the nature of human relationships. His characters are highly complex; the protagonists nearly always vulnerable yet strong at the same time. The moods, the settings, the contents, the emotions of his works are very forceful. To me, Almodóvar challenges the boundaries of social tolerance and outlines extraordinary stories in extraordinary ways.

What I love about his works is that each one of them is striking; provoking; shocking; moving in a consistent way. I love how he salutes to female strength and admits male shortcomings. Finally, I love how the red color accompanies the viewer across his films, symbolizing "humanity"  - as he comments himself.

Some of my favorites are Tacones lejanos, Volver, La mala educación as well as Los ambrasos rotos.

all available on www.amazon.com

Yummy & stripy

Les recettes de victoire is a gorgeous collection of yummy-looking striped (oh là là) cooking books I found on the beloved www.colette.fr. There is a great selection ranging  from légumes et crudités to tartes et gourmandis - I think I must have them all!
They're only 5,90 Eur each and are a perfect gift for any elegant francophile lady. Bon appétit!