Describe Paris in 3 words . . .

Elegant, old world, chic

What did you pack?

A cozy, warm shearling jacket that had been my grandmothers. Our Clementine Velvet Loafers and our Frances Velvet Boots.  Our Kilim Baby Duffle, so I could carry my essentials hands-free (perfect for browsing Parisian flea markets). Long johns (seriously, we were outside all day and it was very cold!).  An embellished little evening bag, from Lizzie Fortunato.  My warmest STIK hat. Watercolor and sketching supplies, my current needlepoint project, and a new journal to jot down our favorite places.  Packed it all in our Travel Duffle, which we are so excited to re-release this spring!

Describe a perfect Parisian day from start to finish . . .

The perfect day always starts with a delicious croissant or quiche, cafe, and a freshly squeezed orange juice or citron presse chaud (hot, freshly squeezed lemon juice with sugar or honey if you like). Followed by lots of walking and window shopping – preferably on our way to a museum.  Musée de l'Orangerie and Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature were our favorites.  A decadently rich pitcher of hot chocolate with a side of Chantilly Whipped Cream, as a mid-morning pick me up. More walking, and shopping in Saint Germain - our favorite neighborhood.  I always love to stop at Charvin - a French paint store ( to pick up one of their little travel watercolor tins), Buly - an ancient French soap and cosmetics store, and Deyrolle, a 2-story taxidermy store with the most incredible collection of animals (all of which died of natural causes).  A 2-hour late lunch at a traditional Parisian Brasserie (Brasserie Lipp was our favorite) complete with a rich dessert, digestifs, and cafe.  More walking, shopping, and finding one last museum before it gets dark and it's time to think about dinner. If it’s summer, then gathering with friends to enjoy wine and cheese at Champ de Mars - the park that sits below the Eiffel Tower. If it’s winter, then a cozy dinner with foie gras, steak au poivre, and Berthillon ice cream at a good French brasserie or comptoir. I always love to finish an evening in Paris with a Nutella-filled crepe from a street vendor. 

Describe a favorite meal . . .

Brasserie Lipp - We stumbled upon this wonderful and famous Parisian Brasserie during one of our days exploring St. Germain. The decor and ambiance is classically Parisian - waiters in tuxedos conducting the orchestra of the lunch hour rush, mirrored walls and fabulous tilework, and of course incredible French brasserie cuisine. The friendly Parisian couple next to us recommended a carafe of Cotes du Rhone and we ordered escargot, a salad, and the seasonal boudin blanc with mashed potatoes to share. Everything was so delicious, we decided to finish with profiteroles, cafes, and calvados. We learned to not overlook a simple green salad at any French restaurant - there’s something about the dressing (I think it is the dijon) that is addictive and the simplicity of fresh crisp greens without much else is so refreshing. The profiteroles arrived with the chocolate sauce on the side in a lovely silver pitcher, and were as delicious as they were beautiful. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a very delicious, elegant, and memorable Parisian lunch experience.

Describe a favorite hotel . . .

Hotel Bourg Tibourg - a little gem box of a hotel in the Marais neighborhood.  Incredible, incredible location - walking distance to everything.  We stayed here on our most recent trip and loved it. The decor is very jewel-box, oriental, and romantic-feeling, which I loved.  No detail is overlooked, and there is even a specific scent branded for the hotel. The service/concierge was very professional and helpful. The rooms are very small so we fully unpacked upon arrival and had the hotel store our luggage. The amenities are beautiful, and I loved ending each day with a soak in the deep bathtub that is built into the wall of the bathroom.  We would stay here next time – and every time we come to Paris.  It was perfect. 

Local shopping specialty . . .

We brought so much great food home - lots of good French moutarde, foie gras, macarons, and handmade chocolate. The quality of clothing is just so beautiful…you can’t go wrong with shopping in Paris - especially if you are there for the twice yearly Soldes (sales!). 

Favorite treasure found in Paris . . .

Antique Henriot Quimper fish plates from the Marche aux Puces Saint Ouen.  We went first thing in the morning when they opened. Even though many vendors were not open yet, we had so much fun walking the alleys of the market, watching them open up, and discovering the most beautiful things. Our favorite little shop, and where we found our plates, was called “Artemesia”.  I didn’t even realize the name until I got home and unpacked the plates to uncover the business card!   All of the pieces are handmade in Brittany by ceramic artists and are just so beautiful and all so different. 

xx, Milicent