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A collection of photos taken horizantally during our trip to Paris last September. 

1. The most aesthetically pleasing metro stop I saw in Paris.

2. Two Matisses that have long inspired me and by total coincidence were in Musee de l'Orangerie.

3. Plants at the Turkish Market we went to. 

4. Flower paintings by Renoir. Also at Musee de l'Orangerie.

5. Amelia and my aunt Petra at Cafe Angelina. Their chocolat chaud, while expensive is insanely delicious. 

6. A painting of a ship on a stormy sea. Musee de l'Orangerie. Artist known, but forgotten by yours truly.

7. The ceiling of a rather well known department store.

We'll always have Paris

  Hmmm... I think I have nothing to say about Paris that hasn't already been said, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Part one of a multi-part series. (I was there for a full week after all.)

Panic on the streets of London

 Sadly the post title is pretty accurate because we kept getting lost and took the wrong train at least once. This is just a collection of places we went to or passed on our 3 1/2 day stay. It was delightful and unexpected and made me want to live there.

My favorite places we went to in London were Leftovers vintage and Simply Fabrics (both in Brixton), and Konditor and Cook (the best bakery I've ever been to). Pub-wise I loved the Twin Towers pub (Gypsy Hill/Crystal Palace) because of its delightful Irish proprietress, delicious apple cider, and pub cats (!). Next time I will use her as a guide to the city instead of the guidebooks. She had so much more interesting suggestions. 

(My really crappy picture of Konditor and Cook. ^ Their lemon tart is a revelation.)

(Leftovers Vintage: a tiny paradise of well chosen 1900s-1960s clothing. Sadly nothing I tried on fit, although I did buy a 1930s leaf shaped belt buckle.)

Part 3 of the Europe trip series.

How many secrets can you keep?

 Me plus the pastel 1910s buildings of Essen equals a love affair for the ages. 

(I am wearing an Edwardian blouse, 1950s cardigan, and a thrifted Anthropologie skirt.)

 

Post 2 of the Europe trip series

Schloss Lembeck.

  One of my uncles (one I am not very close to, who lives in Germany) got married in a castle. Well technically it's just a rather fancy manor house. Either way it was a gorgeous place with beautiful grounds and a moat. It was not nearly as glamorous and over the top as I thought a castle wedding would be. It was just in a room on the ground floor of the castle. We had to get in and out pretty quickly and got no real tour of the castle. The wedding party had champagne and orange juice on the grounds of the castle after the ceremony. That was easily the best part. 

I wore a 20s dress from a nearby estate sale a year ago, clogs from Lotta from Stockholm, and a rather ratty 50s sweater from the Goodwill that I've worn to death. And a star barrette from Giant Dwarf. I wore a 1920s teddy as a slip because I forgot to pack one. 

Installment 1 / infinity of the Europe 2014 posts.

Les Annees 50s at Musee Galliera

 I have been to a grand total of 5 museums on my trip to Essen, Paris, and London. My absolute favorite was Musee Galliera. "Why?" You may ask. Because it is a fashion museum. I have never been to one before and I have truly found my happy place. I love it more than flea markets, baguettes, and the rest of the other trappings of Paris. 

Les Annees 50s is an exhibit spanning the years 1947-1957, featuring clothing by French couturiers such as Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, Mme. Gres, Gabrielle Chanel, and more. It even had the iconic Dior bar suit from his a/h 1947 (New Look) collection. It also has accessories, magazine covers, and sewing patterns from that era. And... they are screening movies of that period too! It is the best and if you are in Paris in the next month or so (or live in Paris) you need to go see it! 

(Pictures via vogue.fr, because cameras are not allowed.)