Category Archives: Friday@Flore

Friday@Flore

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The fashion at Flore is fantastic, but what first drew me to this café was the history. Once there, I loved the vintage ambiance; mosaic floors, intricate glass light fixtures and the traditional green tables. Oh, and the dame de pipi. Not many places still have a bathroom monitor, but the Flore does, and she sits there, making sure the restrooms stay clean demanding a few centimes for your visit and offering candy as you leave. Makes you feel like you’re 7 years old. I kind of liked being 7.

But I started coming back for the people. Like Dominique, a waiter, but also a photographer who keeps a bird call whistle in his mouth, spontaneously spouting zippidy-doo-dah’s that leave visitors looking towards the sky, trying to identify the flock overhead. I get a infantine thrill when he does this in the inner terasse, and clients swoowh down, protecting their heads as they look for the renegade sparrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I am not alone in my fetish, these men are stereotypically impatient Parisiens who are not really familiar with the concept of waiting in line.  And they are regulars, so normally, they’d expect special treatment, but the tables on the terasse at the Flore are on a first come, first served basis. Trying to jump the line may earn you the wrath of the staff and that is a daunting thought, so they stand there and wait. And wait…

Here is someone who never has to wait. Bernard-Herni Lévy is France’s foremost philosopher. Yes, being a philosopher is actually a career in France and Henri is famous for doing it while wearing a bespoke white shirt, wide open to the sternum. Even while visiting war torn Libya (he played a not insignificant role in the tear). He is also famous for his sex symbol girlfriend Arielle Dombasle. He is so cool that we just call him BHL.

Then there are all the people who just look famous, even if they’re not.

Today was a particular fan-ta-bulous day at the FLore, because we had a brief window of sunshine and the girls were out in their most colorful finery, thrilled to be wearing summer cloths, even if it was for just 1/4 of the day.

The End.

Friday@Flore

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It is not an easy season to be photographing fashion. Hell, it is not an easy season for anyone but the taxi drivers. What was all that fuss about a drought? The weather has been down right schizophrenic, going from bright, sunny, summer weather one moment, turning into sheets of pouring rain the next.

It is hard to keep apace with the season, as our fashion conscious souls scream for sandals and summer dresses, while our minds think of the practicalities of Paris puddle hopping and staying warm. This woman has a nice little mix going on, with her modern trench protecting her from the rain, while high-cuffed jeans let hope spring eternal for spring.

 

Some have just surrendered, giving in completely to the early fall. I love that she’s wearing socks, so that she could potentially slip them off if the sun ever did start to shine. Not a bad option to the boots so many of use are still pulling on to our feet each morning.

And then, we crack. We can’t take another minute of the gloom, so the eternal optimists put on their skirts, leave their legs bare and leave us all with a spring in our step, hoping for more sunshiny moments to come.

This girl was so stunning that I actually asked to take her picture. She was surprised, taken off guard and happy to play along. She had no idea how perfect she looked standing there.

The men don’t seem to be loving it any better than us girls. The white’s are out and color is IN. Rain be damned.

These guys are not letting the weather, or anything else get them down. One of the great things about shooting Friday@Flore is that I get to meet some interesting people. Yassine and his friend obviously spend time working their up do’s but they don’t take themselves too seriously, even taking some time to pose for the old lady with her camera.

 

Friday@Flore

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It is not easy to follow fashion from my favorite café in Paris when I am out exploring New York City. Fortunately, NYC is a fashion capital in its own right and there was an overwhelming choice of outdoor terrasses, but I had no way of knowing which would be the perfect place for setting up shop. Finding “your” café is not an easy task. Parisiennes each have their own personal favorite and their choice is about as logical as their ability to eat full fat cheeses while maintaining the longest life expectancy in the western world.

Fortunately, I have friends to guide me. The beautifully bright blogger Kristen, behind Un Homme et Une Femme, is an intrepid NYer who was ready to help, happy to share a private slice of her beloved New York with a Big Apple neophyte like me. Kristen pointed me towards Pastis in the Meatpacking District.

I had a great time sitting there watching the crowd go by. It wasn’t long before I was ready to get up and start firing, très contente that Kristen had aimed so well.

After the shoot I settled back to “my” table, to start looking through the photos, when suddenly, as if hit upside the head, I was transported from 9th Ave to Sesame Street, “One of these things is not like the others…” infusing my thoughts.

Because in NYC, BLUE is IN.

And it would seem, that when something is IN in New York, it is on everyone, in every style imaginable.

 

From traditional business, to casual not-so-chic, NYers were chasing away the rainy day blues with their own shades of blue. Every shade of blue; denim, electric, navy, bright, cornflower… the tones were limitless.

But if the Michel Kors photoshoot, the bright splashes of color and the pink pants on every other man in Paris is any indication, NYers will soon be seeing red!

 Pastis

 

 

Friday@Flore

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Immelda, take note… its shoe time!!! It has been a weird, wet spring and women seem to have had enough of their Hunter or Aigle rainboots, opting for the classic ballerinas shoes, trendy boots and even heels. Not practical choices, but sense when is fashion about being practical? In France there is a rule about spring fashion, “au mois de mai, fait ce qui te plaît….”*

Wedgies are back, and this time they are in the style of running shoes, or ballet slippers, adding a bit of chic to the sporty look and giving you an elegant, long legged silhouette while looking considerably less painful than your traditional, leather soled heels.

I was loving the ballet slippers with a twist. They were by far the most popular shoe choice last Friday, I edited it down to two pairs I particularly loved, which just happen to show off two of the most popular trends in shops today.

Ankle boots are in, and the cowboy look seems to have come along for the ride. Went to the very fashionable Merci boutique the very next day and there were feathered jewelry, braided belts and fringed tops for the total look.

My step-daughter is the ultimate fashionista and just last week she started talking about the kilim boots that were going to be the next “must” have. It was not much of a surprise, then, when I spotted two pairs of boots that looked very close to what she’d shown me.

Out last Mademoiselle seems to be an incurable optimist with those melt in the rain espadrille platform sandals that were big (no pun intended) last summer, but if the shop windows are any indication, they are less of a fad this year.

Cafe de Flore

* in the month of May, wear whatever strikes your fancy…

 

Friday@Flore

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Le méteo predicted rain to day, so I prepared a collection of umbrella shots for my very first Friday at Flore. It didn’t rain. Happy Friday the 13th!!!

Spring had sprung, and this week, the crowds brought out their brightest, cheeriest umbrellas, to banish away the rainy gloom.

Every Friday, I’ll be sharing images taken near the Cafe de Flore, where tourists from across the globe mingle with chic Parisennes and the international jetset.

Café de Flore

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