No matter how many times you’ve made the trip, it’s always exciting to return to the City of Light. And no matter how well you know its streets and quartiers, it’s a big job to keep up with all the new places to visit and things to do. Even readers who are seasoned travelers call or write us when planning vacations, asking what’s new, what’s hot, where to stay, where to dine, how to entertain the kids…. On the following pages, we answer your questions and guide you to the best of Paris in 2007. Bon voyage!


Now that most established fashion labels have been gobbled up by a handful of major groups, it’s increasingly difficult for independent brands to survive. And yet the allure of this art, especially in Paris, means that a surprising number of young designers are still willing to give it a shot. The lucky ones might get picked up by one of the city’s multi-brand stores, from heavy hitters (L’Eclaireur, Maria Luisa, Le Bon Marché) to small cutting-edge boutiques (Olga and Shimji in the Marais, Omiz in Montmartre). Others manage to open their own storefronts. Here are some of the up-and-coming designers on the French fashion scene who are gaining a following, despite the odds.

Marion Mille
“My clothing is not for fashion victims looking for the latest thing,” says Marion Mille. “It’s about comfort and wearability; being well-dressed, not overdressed.” Mille, 29, worked with Vanessa Bruno for four years and officially launched her own line in 2002. Her signature fabrics are knitwear and jersey, which allow her to play with volume. “I give a lot of thought to shape,” she says. “I don’t do the classic pants-shirt-blazer.” This spring, for example, she presents a pair of shiny black lamé bubble shorts with a close-fitting matching jacket. North African-style sarouel pants in off-white jersey are draped generously over the thighs and cinched at the calves. Mille’s dresses are either form-hugging or flowing, layered with leggings, a camisole or a sweater for a “changing silhouette.” She prefers “non-couleurs” (white, beige, black, gray) that often shimmer with lamé or lurex. Accessories, such as her hand-knitted scarves with dangling baubles, add a touch of irreverence. Available at Olga, 103 rue Vieille du Temple, 3^e, Tel. 33/1-42-71-16-93; and Pearl, 30 rue Gustave Courbet, 16^e, Tel. 33/1-47-27-76-60.

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From Thomas Jefferson, who brought back 86 crates of furniture, to Audrey Hepburn, who had her perfume personalized by Guerlain, American travelers to France have always looked for something memorable to take home. These days it’s not easy to come across that one-of-a-kind find. Luxury brands are ubiquitous, and even T.J. Maxx carries typically Gallic souvenirs such as Provençal soaps and Laguiole knives. But if you know where to look, you can still find that French treasure worth crossing the ocean to buy.

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   Uma Thurman is among the clients who have developed an addiction for the headturning creations at MinaPoe, an exclusive little boutique owned by a countess near the rue Saint-Honoré. Every accessory and item of clothing here is knitted, crocheted or otherwise handcrafted from exquisite materials. This season’s handbags feature the same supple and surprisingly weightless Taurillon leather used by Hermès. The house employs one artist who specializes in painting silk and leather, and another who embroiders pearls and Swarovski crystals. But this is luxury that doesn’t take itself too seriously, as evidenced by the silk head scarves with toothily grinning skulls. 19 rue Duphot, 1^er; Tel. 33/1-42-61-06-41.

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During the past decade, Patrick Jouin, the Bouroullec brothers, Christian Biecher and Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance have moved French design into the international spotlight. But they’re just the crest of a wave of young créateurs, many of whom switch happily back and forth between interiors, furniture, lighting, tableware, graphics and corporate identity. Paris is a great place to see and buy their work—the revamped Musée des Arts Décoratifs has galleries devoted to French designs of the past decade, and some of the best interior design is lavished on Parisian shops, hotels and restaurants. The capital is also host to several major trade shows, all of which spawn “off” events in galleries and showrooms throughout the city.

Objets on the Edge
Never before have designers had so many exciting materials to work with. Along with LEDs and Corian®, other new products are moving from the world of architecture to furniture design. Chabaud & Lévêque used Lafarge’s high-performance, lightweight Ductal® concrete, which can be poured into even the most intricate molds, to create their “Banc Dentelle,” a bench that conjures up lace. Computer stereolithography, which translates computer drawings into 3D polyamide resin, is behind Patrick Jouin’s clever “One Shot” stool. And Stéphane Bureaux has been exploring the possibilities of electricity-conducting ink, coming up with ingenious wallpaper that works as a radiator (you can see it at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs).

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When they finally hang up their aprons and take a day off, Paris chefs love to sample the work of their colleagues. As one chef confided, it’s important to know what’s going on elsewhere, and eating for pleasure keeps his palate in shape. Here’s where some of Paris’s greatest culinary talents can be found when they’re not running their own kitchens.

Alain Ducasse
Globe-trotting gastronaut Alain Ducasse, an avowed bistro-lover, is often seen at Le Chateaubriand (129 av Parmentier, 11^e; Tel. 33/1-43-57-45-95), the hip bistro where chef Inaki Aizpitartre wows with dishes like mackerel ceviche and orange-perfumed blanquette de veau. Other Ducasse hangouts are L’Ami Jean (27 rue Malar, 7^e; Tel. 33/1-47-05-86-89), where Stéphane Jégo serves excellent Basque cooking, and Café Constant (139 rue Saint Dominique, 7^e; Tel. 33/1-47-53-73-34). You’ll also find him at Pierre Gagnaire’s fashionable Left Bank fish house, Gaya (44 rue du Bac, 7^e; Tel. 33/1-45-44-73-73).

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