Bonjour Paris!

Hi there, it’s Olivia!

One of the biggest perks of my job as a fashion designer is to travel for “inspiration shopping”. For those who don’t know about this, designers often travel to cities like New York, LA, Paris, Madrid, London, and more to take pictures and buy garments for “inspiration” when designing new styles.

My favorite trip to date was a fall shopping trip to Paris. I was upgraded to a suite because someone cancelled at the last minute and, for whatever reason, the concierge decided to give it to me. Ok, maybe it was my batting eyelashes and accentuated southern drawl going on and on about how excited I was to be in the City of Love 😍. My room might as well have been a two floor Parisian apartment, with French doors opening to a balcony viewing the town of St. Germain. On my first day, I woke up and decided to take my coffee on the balcony. It was a crisp day with bright blue skies. Looking out onto the quaint cobblestoned streets, I could hear church bells ringing and the sounds of shop owners starting their day. I got dressed, walked to the corner, and quickly stole a seat at the famous Parisian café, Les Deux Magots. Diets are not happening in France, so I splurged by ordering a Monte Cristo sandwich. DIVINE is the only word that came to mind as I ate this simple, yet complex creation. I topped it off with a café latte and was now armed with the calories to do my day of shopping and spy-level picture-taking.

I sauntered down the uneven streets, soaking in every window I passed. Artwork, lace, home décor, and uniquely adorned mannequins all serve to ignite future concepts and products. I visited Mes Demoiselles, Dries Van Noten, and Galleries Lafayette, while also popping into small boutiques along the way. At times, I needed to “try things on” to get the detailed images needed, but also had 5 bags of purchases by the end of the day. Once again, I ventured out to a small café in the neighborhood and had the most delightful dinner and glass of Pinot Noir. As I was eating, a street performer serenaded me with his guitar. What a perfect end to the

most perfect day! I could never have afforded to do this on my own. I will be eternally grateful for my career and the experiences it has granted me.

Until next time,

❤️ Olivia