The rumour mills are working overtime for the latest Brangelina pregnancy - everyone has been whispering twins - while French paparazzi will be intrigued to learn the Jolie-Pitts may be planning to deliver in France!! A tribute to Angelina’s mother Marcheline Bertrand, who passed away last year.

A friend forwarded me these details today! What fun!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A 8 TO 12 YEARS OLD BOY, BILINGUAL French and English
For an American movie « ELOISE IN PARIS»
(Based on the children book by Kay Thompson)
CASTING : Joule Studio Juliette MENAGER
Casting associate : Annette TRUMEL
Contact : eloiselefilm@joulestudio.com
Tél : 01 53 25 11 25
Send photos, Tel & Date of birth.

One of fashion’s most beloved super stars will be opening his show “Perfect Stranger” tonight at the Almine Rech Gallery. Hedi documents the scene at this years Festival de Rock at Benicassim; photographing bands, sets, and many, many, rocked out fans!

“Perfect Stranger” by Hedi Slimane, Nov. 29th, 2007 – Jan. 5th, 2008, Galerie Almine Rech, 19 rue Saintonge, 75003 Paris, 01 45 83 71 90, M° Arts et Métiers or Filles du Calvaire

www.galeriealminerech.com

Looking to brighten up a dull Monday evening? Ce soir at 18h00 join Vanessa Paradis and Bertrand Delanoë on the Champs-Elysées to inaugurate this year’s Christmas illuminations! 

www.paris.fr

I’m happy to report that being a good citizen of the world (from France) just got a whole lot easier! I, like many others I’m sure, am always wondering where the nearest bio market is, and would be happy to know where to buy fair trade goods in Paris!  Especially with Christmas approaching! Last year’s Opération Noël was a huge success, and thankfully this year’s edition has just launched, on Le Marché Citoyen. Log on to find bons plans and original gift ideas, whether they be bio, équitables or solidaires!

www.lemarchecitoyen.net

If I could pick any age to live in, the roaring 20’s would definitely be in my top 5. So last weeks opening of Les Années Folles at the Musée Galliera certainly gave me lots to dream about. Beautiful clothes, fast cars, furious lives!

Les Années Folles, 20th October 2007 – 29th February 2008, Musée Galliera, 10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116 Paris, 01 56 52 86 00, M° Iéna or Alma Marceau

www.galliera.paris.fr

Everyone’s favourite shop (or maybe just mine…!) Hermès, located at the famous 24, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, is getting ready to kick-off their new extended shopping space with a 24 hour party which starts at 8 pm on October 23rd. There will be dancing and musical performances throughout the night, which leads into breakfast and shopping the next day. While there’s no official stance, who’s to say that getting your favourite sales associates a little bit tipsy might not help with your advancement on the Birkin waiting-list (hey, it’s worth a try isn’t it? )

More artistically inclined clients will want an invite to the opening of H Box, the new itinerant art show by Hermès, which will open at the Centre Pompidou on November 28th. The show will run to January 5th, and features the work of artists like Alice Anderson, Yael Bartana, Sebastian Diaz Morales, and Dora Garcia; all exhibited within a massive space-pod-like structure designed by the artist-architect Didier Fiuza Faustino!

Hermès, 24 rue du Fbg St-Honoré, 75008 Paris, 01 40 17 47 17, M° Concorde or Madeleine

H Box from Nov. 28 2007 – Jan. 5 2008, Centre Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, 75004 Paris, 01 44 78 12 33, M° Rambuteau or Hôtel-de-Ville

www.hermes.com

www.centrepompidou.fr

Last Saturday night I thought I would do my part to support France in the Rugby World Cup! No, I didn’t buy some sketchy tickets on eBay and fly to Cardiff; and no, I didn’t go in search of official rugby paraphernalia and paint my face in blue, white, and red! Instead, I decided to wear a blue and white striped mini-dress (that looked très, très French) and don a beret! First of all, I was just meeting a crew of sports-mad French boys, who probably wouldn’t have batted an eye if I had shown up in just a big t-shirt, but I do think that dressing and “creating a mood” is seriously tied in general to a sort of collected consciousness, and going Gallic for the evening was my part in supporting France through the general consciousness! (let’s just liken it to the same spirit as boys screaming comments at a television screen!).

In the end, I have to admit that the beret did stay at home, because instead of being the pièce de résistance, it turned out to be way too over-the-top!

However, my plan was obviously successful, and I think we all know who to really thank for the magnificent victory of Les Blues over the Blacks!

And now the pressure is on!!! (what to wear next Saturday night….!)

You’ve no doubt dreamed of acquiring a little of your own Alaïa! Hot after buying his company back from Prada Spa, Azzedine Alaïa has entered into a financial agreement with the Compagnie Financière Richemont. While it is considered a small investment, the cornerstone will be the creation of a new Alaïa Foundation in Paris, a plan which includes the construction of a 5-story building next to his current headquarters, in order to house more than three decades of the designers archives.

Far from the hoopla of Paris Fashion Week, Alaïa will be presenting his 2008 Spring/Summer collection today, to selected buyers and press.  

Yesterday I paid a visit to the newest exhibition at the Fondation Pierre Bergé / Yves Saint Laurent to view Yves Saint Laurent: Théâtre, cinéma, music-hall, ballet; a look at Saint Laurent’s contribution to the worlds of stage and cinema. I was incredibly pleased to be up close to so many classic pieces of haute couture, including the famous dress Catherine Deneuve wears in Belle de Jour. My guide Pascal lowered his voice to point out the one and only piece of mere ready-to-wear allowed in the exhibition: a strapless dress worn by Isabelle Adjani in Subway.

Complete with video interviews, sketches, film extracts, and photographs; this is a fascinating glimpse into the inspirations of a fashion genius.

Yves Saint Laurent: Théâtre, cinéma, music-hall, ballet   Oct 4th 2007-Jan 27th 2008

Fondation Pierre Bergé / Yves Saint Laurent, 5 avenue Marceau (entrance 3, rue Léonce Reynaud), 75116 Paris, 01 44 31 64 31, M° Alma-Marceau

www.fondation-pb-ysl.net

Not many people may have noticed Courtney Love’s attendance at the Rick Owens défilé on Sunday evening. That’s because it was already over by the time she arrived! And this on top of most shows starting notorious late! Let’s hope she can get it straight for the Rick Owens vernissage at Galerie Philippe Jousse ce soir. Owens tries his hand in furniture design, no doubt, to incredible results!

Jousse Entreprise, 18 rue de Seine, 75006 Paris, 01 53 82 13 60,  M° Mabillon or Odéon

www.jousse-entreprise.com

This is my new favourite book! I was recently looking for something to read in between meetings, and while on the métro, deciding in the end that an anthology of short stories was the way to go. While at WH Smith looking at cookbooks, I happen to glance upon “Remembrance of Things Paris: 60 Years of Writing from Gourmet”. I was charmed immediately! I love Gourmet magazine, and what better than to read a collection of their best reviews from Paris! What I wasn’t expecting was for the portraits to be so gloriously vivid, and still entirely relevant to today’s diner. I have since discovered where the word “bistrot” comes from (something I quizzed a French friend about recently, who actually had no idea!), seen the birth of many of my favourite restaurants, and drooled over some of most fantastic recipes (like Oeufs Reine Amélie… mmm) that are unlikely to be recreated in our lifetime, if ever!

www.amazon.fr

Above : murals by Valery Chtak; Below : collection of objects by Alexandre Brodsky © Louis Vuitton images

It’s not every day that Russia comes to the Champs-Elysées, so if last night’s “Moscopolis” vernissage was any indication, having received the royal Vuitton welcome, Moscow is here to stay (or at least until December 31st!). You don’t need to grab your furs for this exhibition, but the air is defintely fresh, as the Espace Louis Vuitton exhibits 11 Russian artists who will transport you through their unique vision of the capital.

Espace Louis Vuitton, 60 rue de Bassano, 75008 Paris, 01 53 57 52 03, M° Georges V

www.louisvuitton.com

Since the beginning of September Colette and Rendez-Vous Magazine have been hosting a themed cocktail every Wednesday at the water-bar. Tonight join their ciné-evening with special guests Olivier Panchot and Clémence Poésy!

Colette, 213 rue St. Honoré, 75001 Paris, 01 55 35 33 90, M° Tuileries

www.rendezvousmagazine.fr

CONCAVE, 2006 by Éric Baudart
Collection Ginette Moulin / Guillaume Houzé / Courtesy Galerie Chez Valentin

Keen to make your shopping experience a bit more cerebral? Starting tomorrow Galeries Lafayette launches Antidote 2007, an exhibition featuring the work of 10 contemporary artists-to-watch. This year’s galerie has been completely redesigned by competition-winner Pascal Grasso. A must-go!

Galeries Lafayette, 40 blvd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, M° Chaussée d’Antin or Havre-Caumartin

www.galerieslafayette.com

www.antidote-2007.com

Do you know who Olivier Theyskens is? Can you name and define important art movements or prix littéraires? Feeling unloved and desperate to join the ranks of the acknowledged know-it-alls? Two books released this Fall have the cheat-sheet status to painlessly update your cultural lexicon. Leave the ranks of the dinner-party pariahs to join those of the witty-repartee superstars!

www.amazon.fr

God knows we need to ease back into this whole “rentrée” business, so here are some fun Fall news bites that are going to be hot stuff this season!

Designers: Marc Jacobs is rumoured to be unveiling a collaboration with artist Richard Prince during his Paris Fashion Week collection for Vuitton. Veronique Branquinho will also be unveiling a new project during PFW. She’s also celebrating her house’s 10th anniversary this Fall. Hedi Slimane will be exhibiting in a solo show this November at the Almine Rech gallery. He will also be curating their stand at the upcoming Frieze Art Fair.

Collaborations: Tommy Hilfiger and Thierry Henry have created a line of rain-coats for their anti-racism foundation, One 4 All. They will be throwing a party at the end of the month to celebrate, the Plasticines have already been signed to perform. 

Shopping: Savannah and Sienna Miller’s Twenty8Twelve is now available at Montaigne Market and Le Bon Marché. H & M have finally been granted permission to open on the Champs-Elysées. Jean Nouvel is rumoured to have been tapped to create the mega-boutique, which open in late 2008 at 82-90 avenue des Champs-Elysées. 

Politics: Nicolas Sarkozy has earned a spot on Vanity Fair’s 68th Annual International Best-Dressed List, featured in this month’s issue.

Et voilà! A demain!

I adore Christian Lacroix! Despite his many years in the industry he is still a creative genius: inspiring others, and open to be inspired himself. This year he celebrated his 20th year creating haute couture, no mean feat, and certainly cause for celebration! M. Lacroix seems ever the artist: totally in love with colour, form, volume; his clothing is so French, and so wonderfully full of life and character!

With no sign of slowing down, the Centre National du Costume de Scène in Moulins currently celebrates Lacroix’s devotion to the arts, and to the world of theatre and dance, by staging “Christian Lacroix, costumier”. Closer to the end of the year we can also look forward to “Christian Lacroix, Histoires de Mode” held at the Musée de la Mode et du Textile, an intimate examination of Lacroix’s view of the history of fashion. Also supporting Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Lacroix has designed a limited-edition yellow jersey for the Tour de France (available in Tour outfitters and Galeries Lafayette during the month of July). And re-opening tomorrow (Saturday the 21st), is the Hotel Le Bellechasse, the newest Lacroix venture into the world of luxury hotels. Perfect for the man who has yet to stop dreaming!

Christian Lacroix, costumier (3rd June 07 - 11th Nov 07) – Centre National du Costume de Scène, 03000 Moulins - www.cncs.fr

Christian Lacroix, Histoires de Mode (8th Nov 07 – 6th April 08) – Musée de la Mode et du Textile, 75001 Paris - www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr

Christian Lacroix  – Limited Edition Tour de France T-shirt for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque – www.mecenat-cardiaque.org - www.galerieslafayette.com

Hôtel Le Bellechasse, 8 rue de Bellechasse, 75007 Paris, 01 45 50 22 31, M° Solférino – www.lebellechasse.com

www.christian-lacroix.fr

If fighter planes practising formations in the sky aren’t an indication that something’s up – let me be the first to remind you – Bastille Day is on Saturday! You might not be certain why you’re celebrating it, but as they say, when in Rome.. well, when in France, it definitely would be a shame to miss what is certain to be the street party of the year!

Les bals des pompiers are without a doubt the most well known; the 11th arrondisement is organising their fourth scavenger hunt, known as the Incroyable Rallye, produced by Cédric Klapisch and Madame Renée; and Nicolas Sarkozy has even promised a large concert at the base of the Eiffel Tower (rumoured to include artists like Michel Polnareff). However, the party at the top of my list will be the Grand Bal Rock or the Grand Hop, held by the Fondation Cartier as apart of their Nomadic Nights series. The Jean Nouvel building will be transformed into a 1950’s dancehall, swinging to the tunes of Elvis and Big Joe Turner, poodle skirts and bobby socks strongly encouraged! Definitely a fun way to rock the night away!

www.14-juillet.cityvox.com

www.incroyablerallye.com

www.fondation.cartier.com

Starting tomorrow celebrate the 60th anniversary of Magnum Photos, the legendary photographic cooperative founded in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger, and David “Chim” Seymour.

www.votrepointdevue.fr

www.magnumphotos.com