Cannes Film Festival - Friday

Cannes at last!
For my first red carpet this year, I wore my long black crepe Martin Margiela dress with a light silk Christian Dior cape... and a smile, adorned by MAC's Russian Red glamour.

We saw Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Üç Maymun (English title: Three Monkeys), a poignant film I can only describe as a psychological thriller. With his talent for framing, composition and colors, I want to imagine Ceylan was a painter in a previous life; some stills from the film are worthy of a magical visual artist's best work.
The actors are all extraordinary, but I was especially moved by the expressive and supremely beautiful Halice Aslan, the only woman in the movie.
On our way back to the hotel, on the Croisette, we ran into two of the film's leading actors, whom we were happy to congratulate. And after a glass of red wine at the very chic bar of the Hôtel Martinez, I came back to our room to make sure you, dear readers, would be updated promptly on Cannes...

Thanks, my amoureux

A few days ago, I told you about my perfume, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. My amoureux gave me a companion present, also for my birthday: Penhaligon's exquisite sterling silver fragrance bottle, which dangles and chimes on a long chain. I carry Blenheim Bouquet everywhere, inhaling its lemon and pepper blend for a happiness boost.

Now aforementioned amoureux is making me yet another exciting gift: as he is heading for the Cannes Film Festival for work, he has invited me to tag along. We'll be staying at the supremely luxurious Martinez hotel, where many stars are just down the corridor, and will be walking the red carpet at night to attend screenings. Naturally I will cover this extraordinary event, with papparazzi snapshots, pictures of my red carpet outfits, party reports and, oh yes, film reviews.
If you can't wait for us to head for the Croisette, Cannes's sea-side boulevard leading to the Palais des Festivals, check out CannesGirl, my very own coverage of last year's Festival, where this picture was taken...

Thanks, Bloggers!

Marie, whose blog is an exquisite treasure trove, has just settled in Paris and yesterday I invited her to meet Benjy and have tea with homemade strawberry-peach crumble... I was thrilled to meet her! She spoilt me with wonderful strawberries and a bouquet of pink peonies. My favorite flowers, in that Schiaparelli hot pink I love - bliss!
Thank you, Marie...

I am a fan of Artycho's lovely creations and was delighted today as I received my first order from this artist and seamstress based in the English countryside. The navy blue Victorian-style bonnet, a model she named after me (!), is perfectly crafted, unbelievably pretty, and came in the most beautiful package ever! I'm eager to wear it - it's ideal for a someone with sun-sensitive skin like me. The talent of bloggers such as Artycho never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, Artycho!


Finally I'd like to thank Kwana, who like me owns an adorable pocket-size pooch, for giving me this Arte Y Pico award.
The icing on the cake: this award originated with a Uruguayan blogger!

Color Of The Season: Yellow

I read that yellow is the color of the season - witness Sonia Rykiel's beautiful new ads...
Challenging as it is to wear, especially for blondes, I like my acid yellow. I confine it to shoes though: my patent leather "Apple" flats by Charles Jourdan, and my Dr Scholl slides.

At the sound of the name Dr Scholl, some shiver and think Clunky, Anything But Chic. For me though, these Dr Scholls are very special.
Back in Uruguay, inspired my her aunt Raquel, a fearless and unconventional woman who got married in church in bright red and was a Scholl devotee, my mum started wearing Dr Scholls as a young woman. I saw her with this practical footwear all my life - she 's wearing a pair on in the picture above, taken during a vacation on Cape Cod in the mid 80's... My friends' French mums wore precious shoes, fancy heels, but they never seemed to play with their kids the way my mum did, with all her heart and her extraordinary energy, and to me, Dr Scholls came to epitomize what my mum is, an independent-minded woman whose appetite for exploration, fun and knowledge is boundless.
After Raquel and my mum, Laura, I carry on the Dr Scholl tradition. Only I wear them in pop yellow rather than clinical white.

Pick Your Lipbalm

I can't live without lipbalm - I think I'm not alone... Right now I'm using a zesty Sugar balm by Fresh; this is a Boston brand and it reminds of my days in Cambridge, when I'd cross the Charles River to wander happily on Newbury Street, where Fresh has its lovely, original store.
Vaseline and Rosebud Salve are classics - don't you love their super retro designs? I've recently finished my Rosebud Salve and recycled the empty vessel: it now holds my favorite rings.


But I must confess Rosebud Salve and Vaseline are not my favorites. Indeed, like many other brands, this concoction is petroleum based; that's right, the same gooey and environment-busting oil used to make gasoline goes straight onto your skin and lips via cosmetics...
Here's my cosmetics ingredient black list:

Petroleum/Paraffin/Mineral Oil/Parrafinium Liquidum

Anything that ends in -paraben, usually towards the end of the list (parabens are known to alter hormonal functions)

Propylene Glycol (used to make anti-freeze, low oral toxicity - can poison children)

Lanolin (useless animal suffering)

If you know of any others ingredients that are best avoided, or if you'd like to recommend some products, please do mention them in the Comments section!

Birthday Gifts: Scents

Who doesn't love getting a bouquet of fragrant, fresh pink roses?

I was also spoilt by my abuela (grandma); a perfume addict who thinks nothing of pouring gallons of Yves Saint Laurent down her neck, she's always happy when I choose a scent as a birthday gift.
I've been devoted for years to Annick Goutal's pear-based Petite Chérie (Little Darling), which smells as sweet as its name suggests. However this year I adopted a new signature scent, Penhaligon's citrusy and peppery Blenheim Bouquet. It comes in a lovely bottle, complete with a pearl-gray bow and a tiny card that reads Keep Me. I sure will.

What's your signature fragrance?

Birthday Gifts: Dance Books

My parents know that when they want to get me a present, they can't go wrong with books about dance. For my birthday (May 4), they surprised me with Martine, petit rat de l'opéra, a children's book that very much fueled my passion for ballet when I was a little girl. A bit cheesy, granted, but inspirational nonetheless...

And who is Martine's best friend but Patapouf, a dachshund - a cousin of Benjy's, no doubt...

My parents also gave me the sumptuous Etudes d'après modèle, danseurs, by Finnish photographer Elina Brotherus, who collaborated with dancers from the Opéra de Paris.
I love it how rather than showing expected tutus and arabesques, Brotherus shows us the dancers' bodies genuinely in motion, in the middle of intimate, exquisite gestures.

I Spy Styles In Amsterdam

That's my hand, holding my tram pass... I'm wearing a shocking "Schiaparelli" pink nailpolish by Essie, available at Skin Cosmetics, a terrific store on the lovely Runstraat.

Bikes are absolutely a part of the Dutch lifestyle; I loved this tandem bike, and those fun sneakers...

If I were bolder I would copy this hairstyle, a fresher version of my own cut. I spotted it on a waitress at Ysbreker, a great café by a canal.

Don't you love this comics-style bag? Very Roy Lichtenberg...


This girl, who was having lunch at Ysbreker, was super stylish. I really loved her jacket with that crown. Like the Brits, the Dutch have a playful, tongue-in-cheek take on their monarchy.
I also liked how she wore a bright blue dress - her high heels were the same color, too...

Amsterdam: meet Pia

Everyone loves Pia's fabulously pretty, fresh and smart blog, so I was thrilled to meet this amazing girl in the flesh.

With Benjy in tow of course, we went for a walk and drinks in Amsterdam where she lives and chatted endlessly like old friends. She gave me plenty of tips about the city. Pia is so nice, fun and interesting it was absolutely a treat to spend time with her, and it made her blog even more precious to me.

Sneak a peek at her style: her cool bike, her oh so colorful bag and her elegant shoes... Too bad you can't see her smile and her sparkling eyes: like many people who were trained as photographers, pretty Pia is camera-shy.
And tomorrow we'll see more Amsterdam styles in an I Spy post!

Posters in Amsterdam

Today (May 4) is my birthday! Let's celebrate with the colorful designs of posters from around Amsterdam... Vote for your favorite one!

To Amsterdam!

On Friday morning, Benjy and I headed to the Gare du Nord and boarded the Thalys, the fast train that goes to Belgium and the Netherlands. There we met up with my sister, who just moved to the Dutch capital to work.
I love the city's canals, narrow brick houses in all shades of red, the omnipresent flowers and of course, the sumptuous cheese!
In the days to come, Benjy and I will share some snapshots from Amsterdam: wonderfully designed posters, styles spied on local girls and more - stay tuned...

Guest blogger Benjy on high heels

Dear Benjy, how do Parisian women manage to walk in 5-inch heels? Chloe

Dear Chloé, dear readers, Ah, the mysteries of Parisian women! As if walking in 5-inch heels weren't hard enough in itself, they are also often seen trotting on tricky coble-stones and biking on Vélibs with such shoes... My unique vantage point, super low (yes, I am tiny!), allows me to study shoes up close and I believe the secret to walking in heels is to choose well-designed shoes. Christian Loboutin, who shared his knowledge with the readers of the British Harper's Bazaar May issue, and I would like to give you some tips:

You need a heel that sits in the middle of you heel, not one set flat against the back of the shoe. The top of the heel, where it joins the shoe, needs to be as wide as possible, as does the gap between the bottom of the heel and where the sole touches the ground.
That's why Mary-Laure's Martine Sitbon heels are so easy to walk in...

Dear readers, if you too have a question about fashion, shopping, Paris or anything, post it in the Comment section. The Oracle always answers!
Benjy

A note from Mary-Laure: those of you who liked my article on CalorieLab about Smart Choices At French Bakeries, may want to read my companion article on Smart Choices For Dessert at French Restaurants.