QUOTING FASHION

Some of the best feelings I experience are the result of reading or hearing someone say something so spot-on, so fabulous, so true that my mind is left feeling light, happy, and excited. A few months ago this happened as I was perusing Style.com for my daily fashion fix and stumbled upon a video profile of my sole-mate, Christian Louboutin.

Like many other females I have always wondered why no one has yet to make (at least as far as I know) a comfortable high-heel. As I graduated from chunky heels in my teens to designer stilettos in my twenties, I was under the illusion that paying several hundred dollars for a pair of designer heels would mean that they would be less painful. My sore arches and blisters disagree. And this was all very frustrating until Mr. Louboutin shared a few simple truths with me. He described his aim: "I wanted to do shoes that are really just for seduction, for pleasure, for sex. That's it! A shoe you cannot run, cannot even walk. You want to run in a shoe, buy sneekers."

So there you have it. High heels were never meant to be comortable. They are meant for taxis, dinners and seduction. They exist to make women look beautiful, sexy, and alluring. I love it! Isn't the truth liberating?

And one more thing. I would just like to say that I find it really upsetting that lower-end footwear manufacturers not only copy Mr. Louboutin's time-consuming designs to the T, but they have also started to paint their soles that same trademark shade of red! So please support the true designers by saying no to the newest trend in counterfeit fashion, knock-off shoes. Pay homage to the holy trinity of shoes: Manolo, Choo and Louboutin.

(see http://www.batchplease.com/2007/10/what-should-christian-do.html to see just how similar the copy shoe is)

PICKS OF THE MONTH - PARIS

Cafe: Le Fumoir

6 rue de l'Amiral de Coligny, 75001, www.lefumoir.com
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Picture a Frenchman and he will probably be wearing a beret and loafers, with a baguette tucked under his arm, a bottle of red wine in his left hand and a cigarette in the right. France may have recently banned smoking in restaurants and cafes, but the government will not be able to remove smoking from French culture. My favourite smoky cafe in Paris is none other than Le Fumoir, just two minutes from the Louvre on the Right Bank. Filled with cosy leather chairs, a chic atmosphere and a library of books to entertain coffee drinkers, this place has that unexplainable Parisian “je ne sais quoi.” It is a perfect place to meet with a friend on a cold, winter’s afternoon and chat for hours over a hot Irish coffee and some pastry.


Nightlife: Drinks at the Hotel Lutetia Bar

45 blvd Raspail, 75006, www.lutetia-paris.com
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One of my most Parisian experiences occurred on a cold autumn evening when I met a friend for drinks at the bar lounge of the lovely Hotel Lutetia on the left bank. Probably the largest and fanciest hotel on this side of the Seine, the Lutetia is a posh hotel built in the beautiful Haussmann style that has come to represent the classic style of Parisian architecture generally shown in Hollywood movies and American guidebooks. The lounge is spacious, comfortable, chic and ornately decorated, complete with a musician playing jazz on a grand piano.
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On this first visit of mine to the lounge, the room was filled with chic Parisians of all sorts: trendy college girls, a young family, couples, business acquaintances, a young man with his grandmother and, the most charming of all - two old gentlemen chatting on a sofa, dressed in their best suits, smoking cigars and drinking aperitifs, with two greyhounds laying peacefully at their feet. The picture could not have been more perfect. And as my Parisian friend pointed out, the whole image was just so very Saint Germain des Pres. So on a cool or rainy evening in the city of lights, what better way is there to spend it than indoors in heavenly surrounding, sipping a casual cocktail with family, a close friend or a good book. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the moment.


Shop: Chantal Thomas

211 rue Saint Honore, 75001, also sold at several other boutiques, www.chantalthomass.fr

Over the centuries, sometime between Diane de Poitiers, the Moulin Rouge and Dita von Tesse, the word lingerie has become synonymous with France. Every country has its talents, and for the French, these include dissecting the delicate flavours of red wine, making love after lunch and designing seductive undergarments. Think Eres, Fifi Chacnil, Dior, Lejaby, and - rumoured to be the inventor of the bra - Cadolle. For that classic boudoir look with a hint of old-world burlesque, Chantal Thomas is the very best. Even the brand’s flagship store on the fashionable rue Saint Honore in Paris is designed to look like a burlesque dressingroom. Whether you want to wear cute panties for your own benefit or to surprise your oh-so-lucky lover, undergarments from Chantal Thomas will leave you feeling confident, empowered and beautiful. All that’s left to do is to whisper a few sweet French nothings into your lover’s ears: Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

FAVORITES - FEBRUARY

Song: Love Like This by Natasha Bedingfield

Musician: Dixie Chicks

Movie: The Planet Earth documentary series by the BBC

Book: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Artists: Paolo Uccello

Trend: mix and match bright colored spring clothing

Designer: Rodarte

Drink: Shirley Temple

Food: Enchiladas

City/Place: Melbourne

TV Show: Cashmere Mafia

PICKS OF THE MONTH - VANCOUVER

Cafe: Caffe Artigiano

Several locations throughout the city, www.caffeartigiano.com/
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Commonly-referred to as the best coffee makers in Vancouver, this charming chain of cafes combines Italian old-world charm with North American coffee shop culture. As a contender in the World Barista Championships, Artigiano’s friendly baristas are skilled at making lovely swirling foam designs, termed latte art, to top off your chai lattes and cappuccinos. The cafe also boasts a selection of paninis and baked goods for those with the munchies. For a special treat, try their infamous $15 coffee. It is made with a Panamanian bean, Hacienda la Esmeralda Especial, which has been crowned as the “world’s best coffee.” So forget your Vente Starbucks just this once and immerse your soul in a bit of Italian comfort, Vancouver-style. Ah bellissima!

Restaurant: Honjin

140 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=2467
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Vancouver isn’t generally considered a major player on the international stage. It doesn’t dominate in world politics, big business or the arts. However there are categories with which my city dominates all others: nature and outdoor sports? No. How about Aboriginal culture and logging? Wrong again. The correct answer is Starbucks and sushi. The Arabs may have one thousand and one nights but we have 1001 sushi bars. It is true that one cannot go for more than a block or two without stumbling upon another Starbucks and sushi restaurant (or ten). Vancouver has the best, the cheapest and the most abundant supply of sushi in the world. It even beats out Japan in this category. Thanks to our healthy lifestyle, multicultural community and access to fresh, affordable seafood, sushi has become a phenomenon in Vancouver – a trend that is here to stay.

My favourite Japanese sushi restaurant in the city is Honjin in North Vancouver, just near the Sea Bus. There is a second location in Yaletown for the downtown crowd. In my opinion it is one of the very best sushi restaurants in town. Honjin serves up all the traditional Japanese food we adore, plus an assortment of their own concoctions. Try the North Shore Roll. It’s amazing! In any case, this place is an absolute must. If you want to be sure to get a table, call that same day to make reservation. I guarantee that it is worth the effort!

Shop: Chintz & Company

950 Homer Street, http://www.chintz.com/
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Every so often I discover a new shop that sends my pulse racing. Usually this occurs as a product of spectacular footwear or playful spring dresses just begging to come home with me. One discovery set itself apart, the uber fabulous Chintz & Company, a home furnishings and accessories store in Vancouver’s ultra hip Yaletown district. Filled with chic, beautiful items at reasonable places, every visit to Chintz leaves me on the verge of wanting to buy an apartment just so I have an excuse to decorate. Whether you fall head over heels for a set of dishes, an armchair or a garden statue, it is virtually impossible to part from the store empty-handed.

PICKS OF THE MONTH - PARIS

Restaurant: Alcazar

62 rue Mazarine, 75006, www.alcazar.fr/
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Regardless of my whereabouts in the world I long to be chez Alacazar. Pourquoi? For starters, their tartare au boeuf (served Tuesdays) is, in my opinion, the best on the planet...and I have had my share of steak tartare. Not to mention that their frites are delectable and cappuccino, served with chocolate covered orange slices, is my favorite in France. No they don't skimp on the foam and only the real ingredients will do. Nicole Kidman was willing to temporarily forego her skim milk-only policy for the Alcazar experience. Located in an airy, modern space (once the infamous Alcazar Cabaret), and decorated tastefully with fresh flowers, the service is good and everything on the menu is tres magnifique. There is a hip lounge upstairs for in the evenings and a chic club down below.


Shop: Colette

213 rue Saint Honore, 75001, www.colette.fr/

Mecca may be a place of pilgrimage to believers in Islam, but to those who pray to the Gods of Fashion, Colette is the place spiritual worshipers call home. It may take a few visits to appreciate the brilliance of this concept store, with its water bar, book collection and eclectic mix of (0ften rare) high fashion clothing and accessories. Not only is each piece handpicked from the designer showrooms to fit in with the Colette image, the boutique has become so revered that designers frequently design special pieces just for the store. And you never know who you are going to get to see...Monsieur Lagerfeld may be just around the corner.


Culture: Musée Galliera

10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75115, http://www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/Portal.lut?page_id=5854
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The word Paris is synonymous with style, elegance and luxury, so it comes as no surprise that visitors to the city of lights will want to brush up on their knowledge of la mode - museum style. For other some visitors to the epicentre of fashion, merely meandering through the city's endless stream of boutiques will not suffice. So, in order to preserve Paris's rich textile history, the Musée Galliera was created out of an old palace to store and preserve thousands upon thousands of pieces of clothing.

Its vast collection ranges from Dior's Fall 2007 Haute Couture gown and Katharine Hepburn's trousers to Marie Antoinette's culottes. Although the majority of its gems remain carefully stored away from the eyes of gawking tourists, every year the museum puts on a few special exhibitions, where hundreds of pieces are put on display for the public. All done to perfection, past exhibitions include Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Marlene Dietrich and the history of French fashion. Currently the museum is holding an exhibition about fashion from the roaring twenties that should prove to be a must-see. Aside from a stop at Colette, no fashionista's pilgrimage to the land of fashion is complete without a stop at the Musée Galliera.

FAVORITES - OCTOBER

Song: Non Siamo Soli by Eros Ramazzotti feat. Ricky Martin

Musician: Westlife

Movie: Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Book: Priestess of Avalon

Artist: Marc Chagall

Trend: Corset Belts

Designer: Valentino

Drink: Ice Wine

Food: Couscous

City/Place: Dehli

TV Show: The Tudors

PICKS OF THE MONTH: LONDON

Shop: Liberty.

At the corner of Regent and Great Marlborough Street, www.liberty.co.uk/

Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Well, the French had one thing right - a heartfelt passion for liberty. Nevermind that les Français embody this in a flag whereas their "friends" across the Channel express it through a luxurious shopping experience. That's right, Liberty of London on Regent Street is high-end designer boutique that carries the latest brands on several fabulous floors. Whether or not you can afford to shop there, the place is definitely worth a look around. Complete with wooden-beamed ceilings and walls à la Stratford-upon-Avon, Liberty department store is also the name behind the coveted Liberty scarves. Next time you are in the neighborhood, spend some time back in the 1800s strolling through the wonderfully maintained rooms of London's most beautiful department store.

Culture: The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden

Bow Street, Covent Garden, www.royaloperahouse.org/

When you are lucky enough to be in a city with a world-class art scene, my God, get thee to a theatre! London plays host to some of the best theatre, opera, ballet, visual art and musicals in the world and it would be a shame to visit the city without taking advantage of all it has to offer. As I live in a city where performance are rarely worth their large entry prices, I love to see a good ballet at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden whenever I visit London. Home to some of the best ballet on earth, the ROH is a beautiful old opera house dating back to the 18th century, located in the Covent Garden district downtown London. Ticket prices may be steep, but in my opinion they are worth every penny. For an incredible experience you will treasure for the rest of your life, splurge on a classical ballet next time you are in London.


Restaurant: Pubs
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When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in London, go to a pub. No visit to the land of fish & chips and bangers & mash is complete without an evening spent at one of the city's hundreds of charming, cosy pubs. Traveling in London on a budget, I figured I was doomed to mushy, inedible, overpriced "food", until a fellow traveler enlightened me to the world of pub grub. A great place to catch the game or chat with locals, the food in pubs is generally pretty tasty and the price is unbeatable. Seek refuge from a cold, rainy Autumn evening and enjoy a pint or three with some friends, English-style.

PICKS OF THE MONTH: VANCOUVER

Restaurant: Chopsticks

1193 Hamilton Street, Yaletown, http://www.foodvancouver.com/restaurant-review.php?restaurant=53
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Chopsticks are not just two sticks we use for eating sushi. Nor is it only a song children play on the piano. It's the hip Asian fusion restaurant in Yaletown - Vancouver's equivalent to Soho. A lively atmosphere, creative mouthwatering dishes and trendy patrons all make this bistro one of the hottest places in town. Order a bunch of different entrées and appies to share with friends and enjoy a few cocktails before making your way to one of the neighborhood's chic clubs or lounges.


Café: Savary Island Pie Company

1533 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, http://www.foodvancouver.com/restaurant.php?restaurant=2030
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Every evening around 8pm, like clockwork, a little voice inside my head whispers: a slice of pie would be really great right now. But not just any pie will do - it can only be from the uber popular Savary Island Pie Company in West Vancouver. Just looking at their selection of cakes and pastries makes me melt. Their products are made with natural ingredients, fresh organic fruits and loving care, which is why their pies are in a different league from the store-bought versions. The Savary Island Pie Company doubles as a coffee shop so you can eat in or take a couple of slices to go. My personal favorite is their raspberry rhubarb pie, which is, in my opinion, the most delicious dessert in town!


Shop: Oliver Barret

B5-940 Main Street, The Village at Park Royal, http://oliverbarret.com/
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Why is it that whenever you ask one of your fellow fashionistas where she got that fabulous pair of shoes or bag she names some foreign city that you won't be visiting any time soon? It seems like the cutting edge brands filing the pages of magazines are never sold in Vancouver...until now. Oliver Barret, a small independent boutique at Park Royal in West Vancouver is the solution we've been waiting for. The store carries a variety of the hippest, latest brands from London, Paris, L.A. and New York. The girls that work there are super nice and trendy and, unlike most other stores, they are asked to recommend new labels for the store to carry, which keeps the merchandise fresh and exciting. The boutique often carries popular brands from foreign countries rarely seen in Vancouver. Next time you decide to add a little flavour to your wardrobe, Oliver Barret is the place to be.


The Museum of Anthropology

6393 N.W. Marine Drive, UBC, http://www.moa.ubc.ca/
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Let's face it, Vancouver isn't exactly a cultural mecca. Sure we have an abundance of nature, outdoor recreation, nature, restaurants, shops and (believe it or not) nature, but when it comes to satisfying our artistic appetite, this city leaves you unfulfilled. Thank God for the Museum of Anthropology, located at the University of British Columbia. History enthusiasts and tourists can soak up the culture at this beautifully museum designed by famed Canadian architect, Arthur Erickson. The Museum showcases several hundred years worth of First Nations art, history and mythology. On a rainy Vancouver afternoon, of which there are many, the museum is a great place for taking pictures of Indian carvings, hearing the secret stories of the totem poles, learning about First Nations history and understanding ancient cultures. It may not be filled with crown jewels or Caravaggios but it is a great place for all ages. If you visit one museum while in Vancouver, make it this one!

FAVORITES - SEPTEMBER

Song: Hate that I love You by Rihanna feat. NeYo
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Musician: Julie Delpy

Movie: The Red Violin

Book: The Idiot

Artist: François Boucher

Trend: Booties

Designer: Chanel

Drink: Red wine

Food: Cheese

City/Place: Buenos Aires

PICKS OF THE MONTH: PARIS

Restaurant: Le Pamphlet

38 rue Debelleyme, 75003, http://www.cntraveller.com/Special_Features/Paris_Bistros/Le%20Pamphlet/
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The first time I tried to go to Le Pamphlet I foolishly showed up without a reservation. I was told that there would be a table available in 3 hours (at 10pm) so, with nothing better to do than wander the streets of the Marais for hours on this summer evening, I accepted. In a city full of culinary masterpieces, I wondered if this little hole in the wall could actually be worth the wait? Absolument! Le Pamphlet is probably my favorite restaurant in all of Paris. Sure the staff is friendly and the chef is charming, but the bottom line is that the food is to die for. Each course is a sensation for the senses or what the French would call divine. The home-made terrine de canard is the best I have tasted. Just make sure to reserve a few days in advance to avoid une grande tristesse.


Nightlife: Le Bar Dix

10 rue de l'Odéon, 75006, http://www.timeout.com/paris/guidevenue/1535/Le_Bar_Dix.html

As fun and glamorous as the Hotel Costes or the Buddha Bar can be, sometimes a girl just wants to put on an old pair of jeans, some comfy shoes and a dab of lip gloss and meet up with her friends at a smoky little cave where pretentiousness is a cocktail and cigarettes are an accessory. For a casual night out on the town, amazing sangria and a very French drinking experience, le Bar Dix on the Left Bank is the place to be.


Shop: Les Petites

Several locations around Paris, http://www.lespetites.fr/
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No longer must you chase down chic Parisian fashionistas on the street to find out where they bought their fab outfit. Their luxe cashmere cardigans, feminine dresses and fitted wool jackets can all be found at Les Petites. This label, which specialized in small sizes, provides great-fitting basics for women with petite frames. Whats more, their pieces are all made with rich fabrics at prices that won't completely empty your Gucci wallet. So forget Vuitton, Gautier and Dior - for beautiful French clothing that you won't find anywhere else, I recommend Les Petites.


Culture: Le Jardin du Musée Rodin

79 rue de Varenne, 75007, http://www.musee-rodin.fr/

Let's face it, living in Paris doesn't exactly allow for a large backyard complete with flowers, trees, fountains and marble sculptures. But who needs the upkeep anyway? When the sun shines, Parisians of all ages flock to one of the city's many manicured gardens for an afternoon among the birds and the bees. For a few euros, city dwellers can enjoy a picnic and good book in the jardin of famous French artist Auguste Rodin. With a grand hotel particulier (now the Musée Rodin) presiding over the grounds, it feels like you are simply enjoying an afternoon on your private estate. There may be others around, but it still feels like your own special little place.