Dries Van Noten in Paris

May 17, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

The magic of Dries Van Noten oozes in his Antwerp flagship store and at his two, close to each other locations in Paris. The women’s and men’s stores, located on the Left Bank, could actually do accomodation services, because they are so gorgeous and it would be a fantasy to stay here for a day or two (ok, a week). Dries’ clothes look great, that’s a well-known fact, but in his stores they reach new dimensions of refined, eccentric elegance. It’s visible that each detail, from the tapestries to the flower bouquets, are well-considered and fit for Van Noten’s universe. Love.

7 Quai Malaquais & 9 Quai Malaquais / Paris

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Black Models at Musée D’Orsay

May 15, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

Taking a multi-disciplinary approach that combines the history of art and the history of ideas, “Black models: from Géricault to Matisse” exhibition at Musée d’Orsay explores aesthetic, political, social and racial issues as well as the imagery unveiled by the representation of black figures in visual arts, from the abolition of slavery in France (1794) to the modern day. Designed to provide a long-term perspective, the exhibition looks more particularly at three key periods: the era of abolition (1794-1848), the new painting era up to the Matisse’s discovery of the Harlem Renaissance and the early 20th century avant-garde movement and the successive generations of post-war and contemporary artists. The exhibition primarily focuses on the question of models, and therefore the dialogue between the artist who paints, sculpts, engraves or photographs and the model who poses. It explores the way in which the representation of black subjects in major works by Géricault, Manet, Rosseau, Cézanne and Matisse and many others evolved. Here are some of the wonders from this very moving exhibition (open until 21st July 2019)…

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Vivant

May 14, 2019May 17, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

Arnaud Lacombe and Pierre Touitou’s Vivant reopened towards the end of 2018, and the place went full throttle. With some incredible organic wines, impressive white marble bar table and the view on the chefs working in front of you, this place is the hottest address in Paris right now. Raw cuttlefish rolled like a cigar and marinated in aged soy sauce and shiso leaves; braised chuck steak topped with the mysterious “Mloukhya” sauce; the signature glazed tuna which sparks entire conversations. Book in advance.

43 Rue des Petites Écuries

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées

May 12, 2019May 17, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

The very new Galeries Lafayette is the only reason you should walk down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. While I hate the idea of department stores, especially with all the independent boutiques that shape the Parisian fashion scene, opening one feels like a pointless idea. But the new project from Lafayette is quite intriguing. As their site reads, the place is “shaking up the conventional notions of a concept store, on the scale of a department store”. Here, you will discover the latest fashion, lifestyle, and beauty collections from emerging and luxury labels, dreamed up by the surprisingly uncorporate team. There’s the rare niche (think Batsheva, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Magda Butrym, Molly Goddard, Rosie Assoulin, Paco Rabanne, Simone Rocha, Medea) as well as all the Guccis and Balenciagas. The perfume section is rich in niche brands like Ormaie Paris and Régime Des Fleurs. And also, this place is a Jacquemus paradise. Jacquemus & Caviar Kaspia teamed up to imagine an exceptional space in store – Cafe Citron. Conceived under the artistic direction of Simon Porte Jacquemus, the café offers a menu based on fresh seasonal products all year round, prepared on-site and served with the grounded simplicity of the French provençal style. Of course, there’s also the ‘Lemon’ dessert, which keeps on storming Instagram since the store’s opening. It’s really, really good.

60 Av. des Champs-Élysées / Paris

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent

May 9, 2019May 8, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

At Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris, my heart beat faster. Like, a hundred times faster. The museum is located in the legendary hôtel particulier at 5 avenue Marceau where Yves Saint Laurent spent nearly thirty years designing his collections from 1974 to 2002. The same building serves as the headquarters of the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent. Across 450 m2, an ever-changing rotation of retrospective displays and temporary thematic exhibitions present the Fondation’s rich and unique collection. The museum focuses on both the couturier’s creative genius and the process of designing a haute couture collection. Beyond its monographic ambitions, the museum seeks to address the history of the twentieth century and the haute couture traditions that accompanied a way of life that no longer exists. From Yves’ studio, which seems to be completely untouched, to the space dedicated to the designer’s collaboration with Claude Lalanne (forever love), this place is a visual and historic treat.

5 avenue Marceau / Paris