I’ve only been back in Paris for about a week. I took an ‘almost-a-month vacation’ away from my Paris ‘vacation’..

I have to admit, it took me a whole week for ‘re-entry’. The French experience this phenomenon in September, after they come back from their month, or longer, summer holidays. You can read more about it here: https://www.frenchentree.com/living-in-france/culture/la-rentree-frances-fourth-season/

I was at the beach and in the countryside in northern Croatia, southern Italy, and Sicily, so I’m guessing I did experience some of what the Parisians are talking about, especially since it involved the strong contrast of returning to a large city, like Paris. Fortunately, what wasn’t included in my return is having to don my professional clothes and rigorous work schedule nor the harried routine of shuffling the kids off to school, for instance.

And, because my holiday was in May, I returned to my Paris neighborhood infused with color! All of these shops are within 20 minutes walk of my 6th arrondissement apartment

 

Paris is known for its uniform of black, white, and grey with some color thrown in with a scarf, for instance, but things are a-changing, at least by what I see walking down the rues (streets) of Paris, as well as in the shops! Casual dress has definitely been gradually embraced, especially over the last 5-10 years. I would say it started when the Parisians made the decision to wear active wear shoes their preference, claiming ‘stylishly comfortable’ when busying themselves around town. And, then the clothes calmed down as well. On a warm early June day…..(note the woman behind the adorable couple with the scooter, as her dress attire is even more casual than the woman’s in the foreground).

And, yes, they did hop on!

Now, it’s true, the shops are fashionably styled and supplied with the latest products for the upcoming French summer holidays. My top photo is an abundance of color, effectively dominating the display I encountered when I first walked into The Conran Shop (Terence Conran’s shop at 117, rue du Bac, 75007 Paris).

His shop is always worth a stroll through. I recommend at least some ‘eye-shopping’ at Bon Marche at 24, rue de Sevres, 75007 (both the main building but also the gourmet shop), then onto The Conran Shop, heading down rue du Bac, all the way down to Saint Germain Blvd. Actually, I would  also cross the boulevard and head into Deyrolle for a truly unique experience (at 46, rue du Bac, 75007 Paris-see some photos in this article: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/deyrolle-paris-book)…But back to the Conran Shop and the next 10 representative photos of just some of the color experience that pleased my eyes. Geometric color!

Splashes of color!

More delicate use of color!

Variety of home accessories and natural greenery color!

A plasticized array of color!

Wrapping paper!

Do you recognize the Baggu bags? More than twice the price than in the U.S. but oh, so fun to see lined up in a row!

Wrapping twines!

The children’s section is always a delight to see: Lamps!

Cherry float for the pool or lake!

Other shops are definitely in on the summer action of colorization too! Agnes B (6 Rue  du Vieux Colombier, 75006) always stimulates my senses. This time with geometric design. 

Les Toiles du Soleil-another favorite at 101 rue du Bac, 75007..

Now, the Left Bank’s Louis Vuitton shop (170 blvd. Saint-Germain, 75006) is basically next to Cafe Les deux Magots (6 Place Saint Germain des Pres, 75006) in the 6th and across the street from Saint-Germain-des-Pres Church (3 Place Saint Germain des Pres, 75006) . Their address is just a few minutes from my apartment. I don’t think they have to water these flowers! 

And Laduree (21 Rue Bonaparte, 75006) is always showing its ‘full of life’ style of food presentation. Which, of course, means you can have tea at their tea salon with their well-known macarons or other tasty desserts or even a rather sophisticated  lunch.

But you can also stop in at Kusmi Tea (72 Bis Rue Bonaparte, 75006) and pick up your favorite. Mine is ‘Anastasia‘ but I have by, no means, sampled them all.

In my neighborhood, this is just one of the treats you can pick up at Pierre Herme (72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006).

A few days ago I joined friends for an exhibition at the Musee Maillol (59-61 Rue de Grenelle, 75007), a small but lovely space which in and of itself, is worth exploring. Once again, color was beholden!

A Japanese artist’s exhibition: Foujita See more information here: http://www.museemaillol.com  

When I arrived in Paris in early March, I ended up with a nasty respiratory infection so I had to hunker down for a few days. On one of those colder days, I got out my ‘coloring book’ holiday gift and listened to Joan Baez, in concert (One of her 75th birthday concert versions on ‘you tube’ can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrQhLBNPh-8). I hope you are having a colorful day!