Paris for Free: Le Dressing de Rêve des Parisiens

Le Dressing de rêve des Parisiens‘ is a free exhibition which is taking place in the store ‘Paris Rendez vous’ on the groundfloor of the Hôtel de Ville until 31st October on the occasion of the Fashion Week. You like fashion but are neither a journalist nor a rich or famous person and do not have the opportunity to attend a fashion show? Moreover you cannot afford to buy the expensive clothes designed by the most famous Parisian fashion houses? Go and see this exhibition: I am sure that you will love it!

‘Le Dressing de rêve des Parisiens’ displays clothes, shoes, bags and jewels designed and made by talented Parisian fashion designers: thirty or so in total. They have in common to be representative of the Parisian style: sexy and natural in the same time, smart but also comfortable and using beautiful materials, fabrics and colours. Some of them have been existing for years (1992 or 1996 for the oldest houses) while others have just opened their workshop. All have settled in Paris and their works are designed in Paris and made in France or Europe (even sometimes in Paris!). I loved most of them and when I went out of the exhibition, I felt like going and seeing at least three or four fashion designers’ stores which I did not know before, especially: Ambrym and Miki Mialy, for their women’s fashion; Mi Mai and Philippe Zorzetto, for their lovely shoes!

In the last room of the exhibition there is a large map of Paris with the exact location of each shop. One can see that fashion designers are mainly gathered in a few areas in Paris. Among them THE place for fashion design in Paris is the Haut Marais, an area which covers the better part of 3rd arrondissement: Do not hesitate to stroll there.

Behind the exhibition there is also a book, which was written by two well-known figures of the Paris fashion world, Régis Pennel and Philippe Zorzetto:  ‘Les nouveaux créateurs à Paris’. This book has just been updated, made richer and republished under the same name as the exhibition: ‘Le Dressing de rêve des Parisiens’. If you have loved the clothes diplayed and wish to remember them, to know more about their fashion designers and to visit their shops, you can buy this book on the spot in the store Paris Rendez-Vous (16,90€).

And to know more about the Fashion Week: Twice a year it brings all the top people of the fashion world to Paris, in early March for the presentation of the autumn/winter collections and in early October for the spring/summer collections. The second 2015 edition is taking place these days until 7 October. There is one fashion show after the other and one can admire the new fashion designs either in ‘haute couture’ or in ‘ready to wear’.

Christine Bokobza – Good Morning Paris B&B – www.goodmorningparis.fr

Practical information: Le Dressing de rêve des Parisiens-Paris Rendez-vous-29 rue de Rivoli 75004-10am till 7pm except on Sundays-Until 31 October

Osiris Exhibition in the IMA in Paris: A Must-See!

An exceptional exhibition dedicated to Osiris, the most fascinating God in Ancient Egypt, has just started in the IMA –Institut du Monde Arabe- in Paris. I had the opportunity to visit it with a guided tour by Franck Goddio in person, who is in the same time the French archeologist who conducted the submarine excavations in Egypt and the curator of the exhibition: really exciting!

The full name of the exhibition is: ‘Osiris, Egypt’s sunken mysteries’. It reveals the outstanding remains of the temples of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus, two cities in Lower Egypt which had sunk in the Nile delta in the 8th century. Those remains have been discovered during the past twenty years thanks to impressive submarine excavations which started in 1996.

About 250 objects among the 500 found during the excavations are exhibited today in the IMA complemented with about fourty masterpieces lent by the Museums of Cairo and Alexandria. Most of them can be seen out of Egypt for the first time; if you have never been to Egypt, take advantage of this opportunity to admire them. And even if you have ever visited the Museum of Cairo, so rich in masterpieces but so dark and dusty, you will be delighted to see the same objects much better highlighted by a good display and lighting!

I am not a fan of Ancient Egypt. However I have been fascinated by the legend of Osiris and by the ritual of the mysteries. Those ceremonies commemorating the martyrdom of Osiris and glorifying its rescucitation were practised in temples throughout Egypt and lasted 18 days between the 12th and the 30th of the month of Khoiak. The recent submarine excavations have revealed many sites and objects relative to those mysteries: the remains of Amon Gereb temple in Thonis-Heracleion, of the sanctuary of Canopus… and even the vestiges of a boat some ten meters long used for the nautical procession of the God between both places.

It is this exciting history that is told us in the beautiful exhibition of the IMA. It has just started and should not be too crowded yet. One can make advanced bookings on the Osiris exhibition‘s website. I highly recommend it if one can afford. Indeed my only restriction is the admission price… rather high: 17,30€!

Christine Bokobza – Good Morning Paris B&B – www.goodmorningparis.fr

Practical information: Osiris exhibition – Institut du Monde Arabe – 1 rue des Fossés Saint Bernard 75005 Paris – Until 31st January 2016

‘Petite Fleur Folies’: an Ephemeral Garden in Paris until 21 June

If you happen to be in Paris during the weekend I suggest you to have a walk along the Seine on the left bank next to the Pont d’Iéna. There, on both sides of the bridge at the river level (Port de Suffren westerly and Port de la Bourdonnais easterly) an extraordinary ephemeral garden has been laid for four days only.

500,000 flowers and more than one hundred varieties of plants have been displayed in colouful harmonious flower beds: white, yellow, orange, pink and purple. And among them eight eccentric metallic sculptures offer recreational activities: a slide is hidden into a cow; a tree has been converted into a merry-go-round for three kids; another cow is hiding ropes and rope ladders, … They are called the ‘Créatiles’ and invite you and your children to interact and play.

As this event has been set up by Yoplait (whose logo is a colourful little flower – ‘la petite fleur’) to celebrate its 50th anniversary, you will also be invited to taste some of their yoghurts: take one, have a seat by the water and enjoy nature sitting between the flowers and the river! I really recommend you this family walk either today or during the week-end as this event is to end on Sunday night.

And on the occasion of the ‘Fête de la Musique‘ several concerts will be given there on Saturday 20th June and Sunday 21st June by six international marching bands!

Christine Bokobza – Good Morning Paris B&B – www.goodmorningparis.fr

Practical information: Petite Fleur Folies – Port de Suffren & Port de la Bourdonnais – 75007 Paris