Paris Fashion Week Tickets and an Agenda!

One step closer to actually sitting in on a Paris Fashion Week show! Today I picked up two Invitations to 4 fashion week events. How'd I do it? You ask.

After taking a few tips from the women that surrounded me yesterday, I got dressed in mostly black today, added few quality pieces to an otherwise average ensemble and went to visit the Fashion Federation (controllers of Paris Fashion Week events) at the Louvre. I also brushed my hair a little bit.

As I attempted to walk into the federation location, I heard, "Excuse moi madam, bla-la-la..." something in French. "Uh?" I replied. "Do you have an Invitation Madam? See, like this black envelope." the fashion federation guard asked pointing to the woman behind me eagerly showing her invitation.

"Ahhhh...." I said, trying to think of something brilliant to get me past the entry, as his eyes locked into mine, then quickly scanned my body. First my hair, then my eyes, earrings, necklace, fabric of my coat, bra size, legs, shoes then back to my eyes again. Where do the French men learn to exam a woman so quickly and thorough?

"Ah..." he smiled completing my sentence, "You threw it away? Okay. Come, I will give you another one. Don't throw it away, This one, okay?" he said in one sentence with a French accent, as he escorted me to a reception desk, before I could blink an eye. A young girl guarding a book of names looked up. He said something in French, she smiled, asked for my name and gave me a little black envelope with the letters INVITATION in silver. "Keep this one. It is good for the week at three different locations." "Thank you very much." I replied. "May I bring a friend with this Invitation?" I asked. "No. You must have another Invitation." she replied as she handed me another envelope.

Who says the French are rude? I graciously accepted the second Invitation as I headed home after another interesting day of Paris Fashion Week.

An Agenda Book Schedule of all the Fashion Shows and 2 Invitations.
I also bought a copy of French Vogue, after a friend suggested I get a copy when I confessed that I did not know John Galliano was the designer for Dior. (Did I mention in the Air Force I wore "Government Issue" designed by The Government?)

Fashion can easily become addicting while in Paris. By now, one must understand completely why I love this city!

Dior Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear Afternoon.

Fashion Week Paris, began this week, so decide to stop by the Dior Fall 2010 RTW Fashion Show (click to read Style.com report) and take a few photos of the afternoon gathering. (Secretly hoping to get inside without an invite. No such luck!)
Standing outside the show, thinking I was tall...I realized, the Dior Models are Tall...reeeeally, tall!
The Dior Models are also insanely Thin...reeeeally, thin! What plant do this women survive on?

I usually feel like my life in in my photos. Today I was the outsider paparazzi of photos.
It was a great experience, but next time, I want the little white card that says, Dior on it to let me inside the gates! Here are a few photos I took of models, designers, and a few famous people I don't know...

An exciting week ahead.

Someone famous.
Another famous someone.
A really famous someone.
A Paparazzi.

Invited Guests.

Okay, Everyone knows Anna Wintour (click photo to enlarge) Editor of American Vogue. Even I mumbled, "Oh, Oh, there's...uh, uh..," "Anna Wintour." the paparazzi standing next to me finished my sentence.

Some models.

An American Model.

Invited Guest.

A model or guest?

An interesting afternoon outside Dior. It was great to be surrounded by so many wonderful looking handbags, coats, shoes and dresses.

Beauty on the Run.

A few photos of beauty from this morning's run. My new strategy is to sleep in my running clothes (the clean ones). Then when I wake up, I literally "hit the ground running". So far it's a great strategy!

Jogging past one of several morning temptation. Clicked one photo...mmm, No Thanks!
Ah, the fresh morning air.
Jogging through the calm nature.
This morning, my goal was to reach the lake at Bois de Boulogne. Success!
After 40 minutes of jogging at this point, the lake is too large for me to run around today.

Maybe in 2 weeks, I'll jog around the entire lake with ease.

Every now and then, I have to glance at the "Tower" to remind me of where I really am!

This place is for lovers! I love Paris and I love to run!

One more picture of the beauty of nature, before I put away the camera and continue my run.

Nothing Exciting to Blog About.

No more junk food. Instead of sucumbing to the call of the metro refrigerated vending machines, now I take their photo and continue on my way. My internal body system says "Thank you", each time I resist the wonderful junk food. Good-bye Snickers, M&M's, Maltesets (my chocolate malted milk balls) and Skittles...our love affair has ended.

Honestly, I am almost sure I will have one of them again at least once or twice more this year.
But for now, it's jogging, light breakfasts, goal setting, getting more and more organized, eating healthy and still "Just Living" in Paris.

Ah, the loves of my life!

Just another day, walking home from Blvd St. Germain.

Seeing the grandpere with the children made me smile.

Just another rainy overcast beautiful day in Paris.

Street interviews, not uncommon.

I think it's a compliment to be stopped by a camera crew. I always think they only stop the ones they think are attractive for the camera or friendly to talk to.

Nothing else really exciting to blog about on this Thurday evening.

Almost Perfect Evening for an Almost Middle Aged Woman.

My older sister sent me the video below, the same night my almost perfect evening ended. How could she have known that the video would be a source of comfort for me as I returned home?

The evening started off wonderful, ending with a romantic candlelight dinner (in Paris), and a great carafe of wine. It doesn't get much better for me, but it did get worst.

Just as I was leaving his apartment, I turned around one last time to wave goodbye as I walked down the spiral staircase.

All in slow motion...I looked back and my feet simultaneously moved forward, down the steps together, as the bottom of my leather shoes hydroplane over the wooden steps and became airborne for no apparent reason. My butt headed for the edge of the steps, my left wrist tried to break the landing, without much luck. Wham!, goes my butt on the steps, I turn to look forward as I watch my feet come down from the air along with my hands trying to grasp something, anything. With nothing grasped, I begin to slide down the stairs like a downhill Winter Olympic toboggan, only no toboggan and no snow, just the hard steps and my body...down the spiral steps until finally hitting the landing. Ouch!

I heard the footsteps of my friend running down behind me. He stands in front of me. I pull my coat and skirt down to cover my exposed lace stockings and lingerie. He doesn't touch me, but asks seriously, "Are you okay?" "Yes." I reply in shock. He helps me to my feet, walks up a few steps to get my purse, cell phone and umbrella off the steps, Looks at me seriously one last time, then laughs hysterically.

It wasn't funny to me. My wrist and neck ached all the way home, as I began to think once again about my medical insurance in France and the idea that I should start taking calcium again. I arrived home, checked my email, and received the video below from my sister. She had no idea...or maybe she felt my fall in Paris all the way in Las Vegas. I could easily see from the video, I am not alone. Next time I go out to dinner, I might just skip the second glass of wine. After watching the video, I understand why my friend laughed at this (almost) middle aged woman.

Delicious Romantic Candlelight Dinner.

A Nice Stroll After Dinner.

I am better now and have begun to take calcium (for preventative measure) starting this morning.

Finally Spending Time at the Paris Museums.

I confess...museums are not my favorite places in Paris, although I've finally made some time with a friend to visit the Louvre and Musee Carnavalet all in one afternoon. Needless to say we only saw the tip of the iceberg in one afternoon and now I am curious to see more.

After a brief overview visit to the Louvre followed by lunch in the Louvre "Food Court". (Yes, there is now a McDonald's inside the Louvre. No, we did not eat there!) We spent the remainder of the afternoon at the Musee Carnavalet.

The Musee Carnavalet, is dedicated to the history of Paris. Needless to say, Musee Carnavalet, is my favorite Paris Musee of the five (so far) I have visited so far while living here.

Looking Outside at the Musee Carnavalet Gardens.

Musee Carnavalet Gardens.

Musee Carnavalet.


Musee Carnavalet.

Musee Carnavalet.

Chambre of Marcel Proust. (French Novelist - "Remembrance of Things Past")

Gallery-Hotel Carnavalet.

Not only is there an abundance of beauty in the streets of Paris, including fashion and architecture, there's so much more beauty and fascinating history preserved inside so many of the buildings.

Gold, Silver or Tarnished?

Even when things seem dark, Beauty and Light is always present to be revealed.

"This is it. I'm going to tell him face to face, enough is enough, I must move on with my life...I have new goals, our relationship takes up too much of my energy, and I'm setting out on a new path..." I think to myself. I have my lines rehearsed. I know exactly what I'll say in a very friendly way.

He opens the door.

"Ahh, you are lovely! You are more and more beautiful every day!" he says with a big smile, open arms ready to greet me with a kiss on both cheeks.

My mind presses the pause button on the lines I've been rehearsing. Although my mouth is open, no words come out.

"Really! Yes, yes, I know this. You are more beautiful each day. More beautiful!" He replies to my silence, in English covered with a French accent. "Come inside -- Yes, you are beautiful." he said, confirming.

He makes herbal tea, We talk, we laugh, we discuss my new "Income in Paris" goal. I forget about dropping our relationship. "Of course I will help you with your goals." he says. "Of course." as we end our conversation.

Ah, Pierre, what category of my life do I place our relationship? Golden, Silver or Tarnished?