J’aime Paris

It’s the city of lights…love…fashion…and art. It’s also the most popular city destination to travel to in the world. This city is Paris. During my recent trip there, I was blown away by the unbelievable architecture, historic sights, exquisite fashion sense and the overall Parisian lifestyle.

Some of the most famous sights I visited included the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame Cathedral and of course the Louvre Museum – breathtaking! You can literally spend hours at each location taking everything in; especially the Louvre. It felt so surreal to be surrounded by masterpieces created by celebrated artists such Picasso, Van Gogh and Michelangelo, to name a few.

Arc De Triomphe

Eiffel Tower

The Louvre Museum

From glorious works of art, to the art of makeup; I made my way to the Make Up For Ever Academy. Being passionate about my craft and having developed a Makeup Artistry program at Vancouver Community College, I wanted to see first-hand how the program is run at the prestigious Academy in Paris. I received a warm welcome by the Assistant Director and Instructors. Although there was a major language barrier (my tragic French and their broken English) we managed to carry our entire conversation in Italian – who would have thought? We shared a few stories and laughs. As I took a tour of the classrooms, I had the opportunity to meet with the students; some of whom were Canadian. All in all, it was an honor to be there. I am thrilled that I had the occasion to visit with them and am looking forward to my next visit.

Make Up For Ever Academy

Make Up For Ever store…I felt like a kid in a candy store:)

On that colorful note, the fashion and beauty industry in Paris is over the top! Everywhere I looked there were beautiful women; tall, slender and gorgeous! The women were well dressed and it wasn’t uncommon to see them zipping around on their Vespas or bicycles – heels and designer bags to boot! And let’s not forget the men; they were looking pretty fabulous as well! The shopping (window shopping that is…) on the Champs Elysess was exquisite; from Chanel to Louise Vuitton. It was buzzing with tourists and locals looking for the latest in designer fashions. I was truly in my element!

This is the Louise Vuitton flagship store where there was always a line up to get in!

One of my favorite pass-times is people watching and Paris is the perfect place for that. Whether I was strolling in Les Tuileries Garden admiring the beautiful botanical gardens, fountains and statues; shopping and dining on the Champs Elysees; or enjoying a glass of wine and a baguette in the Latin Quarter; the common thread was style. Well dressed and groomed men and women, who took pride in their thoughtfully selected outfits, left me with the impression that…well, you only have that ONE chance to make a first impression.

This photo is Priceless! These two men hopped out of their car, in the middle of the fashion district, to set up for a friendly game of chess.

Les Tuileries Garden

Paris; filled with centuries-old architectural structures, avant garde fashion, world renowned art and beautiful people with a love for life – “joie de vivre”. It’s a city that inspires all; one that leave you wanting more; one that everyone should travel to at least once in their lives.