Fauchon

Surprisingly bad coffee. The vanilla layered cake was good. I really love their almond croissant and milk chocolate. My mom just got me four boxes of those today!!

My new favorite drink

Strength...

It really take a lot more effort than I thought to keep up with this blog. I really want to just jog down what I feel and encounter everyday, but since I am not always alone now (mom is here) so its harder to have alone time and reflects on things quietly (maybe I do that during my sleep).

Work is still exciting and really fulfilling. I have a feeling this is going to be a great help to prep for my future goal. I am so glad to be surrounded by people that cares so much about every process, and have such a high standard and attention to details. Its funny how I am improving my japanese instead of my french due to the fact that the head designer (whom I report to) and most of the other people I work with are japanese. A lot them can only speak japanese and french. Turns out quite interesting.

I quite like the selections at the supermakets here. I don't find them to be especially fancy and big, but the selection for cheese, cold cuts and wine are pretty amazing. There are also alot of specialty stores nearby my place, which is good because they are open on sunday whereas the other chain supermarkets are all closed. Yes, most of the stores in paris close on sunday. I don't mind it at all, the street feels peaceful and quiet, there are also flea markets on sunday which i will be checking out soon!

Showroom week

This week has been quite tiring and stressful. Well, since the fashion show has finished, we have diligently progressed to the reality - seeing the buyers! selling the clothes!

So everyday is dramatic, buyers are bizarre in their own way, I have probably memorized all the 100+ items for this seasons already as we constantly changing and matching the clothes like 10+ times everyday. Selling is definitely hard work. Really getting the clothes out of the door is something that can't be done only by the designer, no matter how great a review he/she got from style.com, wwd...etc. But I think one thing that is important which the designer must do is BE NICE TO THE EMPLOYEES. That's one thing I really discovered. It sounds like something that is so simple and easy but for some reason it is a rare case. But in here I can see how effective it is, the designer is really caring even to interns, models, everyone - and I see how the model is really trying her best to present the clothes because she feels like she owes it to the designer. That's the way it should be. I never believe in yelling, mean and narcissistic behavior in the industry, maybe some people get away with that but I don't see the point.

So tomorrow is the last day of showroom...I will be out and about again soon so hopefully more pictures later!! Ciao Ciao~

L'Atelier

I know I will always miss this scene. All the young, talented, quiet individuals with different background, all holding a dream and little naive spirit in one room. The pure sound of steam from the iron, the sewing machines and the french radio station on low volume...all of this will be something I would want to hold on to forever.

Everyday I was presented with challenges, and everyday I realized how little I know and how much more I need to learn from here. 3 months is really not a long time but I hope to take in as much as possible.

Paris Fashion Week!

Yesterday was our big day. The designer presented the Fall 2009 Collection at her beautiful space inside her studio. Well, I was too tired to blog it all yesterday and is still trying to absorb it all. Sometimes it feels surreal, sometimes it feels like its too hard to feel the magic when you are in the midst of it all. But the fact that I am in Paris and working at the perfect design house (in terms of aesthetics, size, learning experience...etc.) just adds so much flare to it. Running through the schedule with the designer, checking garments, models came...then all the sudden the show started. Boom! Viola! What was still pieces of lace and trims last night is now transformed into a beautiful gown that meets the scrutiny of press, editors, buyers, and so and so. What was trivial and conceptual is now relevant, wearable, and tangible . It again inspires me tremendously.

Je suis fatigue

Tonight had been a memorable night. I learned how to do something I thought will take me 3 days to do in 3 hours. I learned you have to have immence patience, impacable tastes, incredible team of designers, craftsmans and interns to start an admirable fashion company.

Anyways, tonight was a long night and tomorrow will be the big night. I am so grateful I got to be in the midst of it all. I can't wait to see how all of tonight become something so magical tomorrw.

Oui...plus de vin blanc, s'il vous plaît!

Café de la Paix

Some pictures from my visit at the famous Café de la Paix. I am sure I will have a special category for cafe visit very soon.

First day at work

Comment ça va?

Today I finally started work. This is my forth day here in Paris but it seems like it has been a long time already. Done quite a lot of walking, settling down at the new apt, unpacking, cleaning, getting groceries, checking out the surrounding area. There are so many supermarché, boulangerie, fruits and légume and other specialty stores. Tonsss of café on the Bonne Nouvelle main street, and my work place is right at the turn of my street! It's only about 3 mins walk, I can actually go back to eat lunch everyday if I want to!

The studio is a beautiful old french style decor building which is so subtle from the outside. I can immediate feel the atmosphere and design philosophy, the spirit and the energy. There is nothing so frentic and the feeling of stress and urgency is somehow non-existence. And in a few days their show is coming up. So this is the French way. I was able to meet with the designer immediately, and I was really surprise at how at ease I feel when I met her. She is kind, elegant and always with a very warm smile. My previous nervousness was gone. Work is quite hands-on, especially towards the last few days of the show. It feels quite surreal to see all the gowns and delicate pieces that is undergoing construction in the workshop, its is definitely extremely inspiring! So many couture details, and I have already learned to do some...

It was around 8:30 when I started walking home. I was quite exhausted so I decided to get myself a bottle of white wine. I started to prefer white wine in France, its so refreshing and especially flavorful.

So therefore I am about to fall asleep with my computer...Bonsoir, à demain.