Packing For Italy

Tomorrow I am leaving for Italy - Tremezzo, by the Lago di Como, in the North. Maybe it's because I had an Italian great-grandmother, but since my very first trip to Italy I fell intensely in love with the country. I just adore it.
Here are some of the things I am packing...
A vintage 1930's man's hat I bought on Etsy and, also from Etsy, a Japanese eye mask to sleep in the car; the latter was made with an old kimono by Naomi and its soft silk lining rests soft soft soft against my closed eyelids.

A pile of freshly purchased all-cotton Petit Bateau T-shirts. This classic brand is worn by French little kids and stylish young women alike. I've been buying the same models for decades! I have to say though that those tees used to last a lot longer back in the days when they were Made In France.

Supreme historian Juliet Gardiner's 800-page volume on The Thirties - the 300 first pages are fascinating so far, especially for someone like me who is obsessed by the 20's and 30's.

A Saturday In Paris

Down the rue Michel-Ange...

... and then left on the rue Molitor...

... past the intersection with the rue Boileau...

... to take the Métro at Chardon-Lagache.

Waiting for the Métro...

... to take me to meet a friend at La Motte-Picquet, where the Métro flies above the street.

And then, off to the Théâtre du Châtelet, where Diaghilev produced his first Parisian shows of the Ballets Russes...

... to see the amazing Novosibirsk Ballet dance Balanchine!

Petit Garçon Parisien

Last summer, my little friend Arthur visited me in Los Angeles - where he discovered the beach. This summer, I paid him a visit at his Paris apartment. Despite the unbearable heat (the temperature is in the mid 30's Celsius, or the 90's Fahrenheit), Arhtur was a gracious little host. He showed me his favorite piglet book and then we walked to a nearby park.
Isn't he just perfectly adorable, with that pouty mouth and that silky shock of hair?

Ballet De L'Opéra

Last night, I was delighted to go to the Opéra Bastille to see the institution's ballet company performing Jiri Kylian's extraordinary Kaguyahime, inspired by an ancient Japanese legend. My favorite ballerina, Marie-Agnès Gillot, was regal as ever (but pictured above is the equally exquisite, emotional Agnès Letestu). An ensemble of traditional Japanese musicians played live, as Eastern tradition merged with Western modernism in its most graceful and poignant expression. It was a triumph.

Speaking of art and sublime women, did you know that the Louvre's Venus de Milo has a blog?

What Would Alice Wear?

Here are some of my most recent Etsy purchases... This Alice In Wonderland Oversized Bow by Zara Carpenter, made with some vintage cotton upholstery fabric (as if a naughty Alice had cut out a bow from her mama's fancy living room chairs...) has become my everyday accessory. I adore it so much that I may buy this one too. In fashion-conservative, conformist Paris, people stare at my quirky bow on the street but I don't care.
My bloomers by Under The Root have also become a staple. I love their candy colors and their old-style design. I think Lewis Carroll's Alice would like them too, no?And finally, these exquisite vegan shoes (yes, that does exist!) by The Generation, oriental style Mary-Janes; these flats are super comfortable, and perfect to run after a rabbit who dashes ahead as he mumbles "I'm late, I late..."

Paris Balcony

Bliss - Coffee & A Good Book

Bye Bye Mr Dreyfus

A few days ago, Francis Dreyfus, the father of my dear friend Chloé, died of cancer. A larger than life character, he created his own independent music production company, FDM, which went on to become hugely successful. His passion was jazz, and he paid tribute to this genre's masters in his critically acclaimed Jazz Reference collection, in addition to producing many an extraordinary contemporary artist. He loved art and mint-flavored candy. He adored his 3 daughters, Julie, Chloé and Laura. He will be missed.

The Sky, The Moon & The Branches

Céline at 30

My dear sister Céline is 30 today! It's hard to believe that the baby who was once so tiny that she needed to wear my doll's clothes (regular baby clothes were too big for her...) is now 30.
In the picture above, she's a few months old - we were living in Kenya at the time. The pic on the side was taken a couple of months ago, on the occasion of her wedding.
I have just found out that March 3 is considered a lucky day for a girl to be born in Japan: On the third day of the third month, it is traditional in Japan to celebrate Hina-matsuri, or Girls' Day — a day for wishing all little girls health, growth and happiness, writes Heather in her post about hina-matsuri.

As for Benjy, he just turned 9 yesterday, March 2. He is in great shape of a 9-year-old and just met a new girlfriend at the Venice dog park - a Great Dane (!!!).

We're Napping!

Benjy is napping. And right now, so is AUREA.

Obama Speaks

Did you listen to the State of the Union last night? Whatever you think of President Obama's ideas, you can't deny that he is a superb orator and a talented writer; I interned as a speech-writer at a Paris foundation for the arts and, a few years later, at the French embassy in Tokyo, back in the 90's, and I find speech writing a fascinating process.
Ever so cool, with its great team of designers, Penguin has released a slender blue hardback with Obama's inaugural address, some speeches by Abraham Lincoln and my dear Ralph Ellison's essay, "On Self-Reliance." If you are interested in Obama, in history and in the USA, it's a wonderful little book. Here's a brief passage:
And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself.

And if we mention our President, can we fail to mention Michelle Obama? I find her as stunningly intelligent as she is elegant and beautiful, and Glamour voted her one of its Women Of 2009 - how could it be otherwise?