I love Paris in the Spring time (Part 2)

As much as I am occasionally ashamed to admit, I am an old school Romantic. In a occasionally pretentious, slightly goth way - close to Keats, minus the consumption.

One of the reasons I was looking forward to Paris so much was the opportunity to be a corseted New Romantic. Oscar Wilde lived in Paris for the rest of his life after coming out of Reading Gaol and is buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery with many other famous artists, musicians, writers, scientists and statesmen. Individuals interred there included actress Sarah Bernhardt, composers Frederic Chopin and Georges Bizet, French writers Moliere and Colette, dancer Isadora Duncan, as well as singers Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison from The Doors. One famous monument there is that of journalist Victor Noir who was shot during complications leading up to a duel involving his employer. The statue of Noir on his tomb is extremely lifelike and has become something of a fertility symbol. It is said that if a woman kisses the statue on the lips or places a flower in his upturned hat she may not only have greater ease conceiving but may also find a husband within the year. In Dita Von Teese's book The Art of the Teese/ The Art of Fetish there is a photograph of Dita sitting atop Noir's statue about to kiss him.

There's also another famous cemetery, Cimetiere de Montmarte. This cemetery is full of famous composers such as Hector Berlioz and Leo Delibes, artists like Edgar Degas, famous ballet dancers, and writers like Emile Zola and Alexandre Dumas.

And last, but by no means least, there's Paris' catacombs (where the horror film of the same name was set). Whilst the catacombs are a little difficult to get to it really is worth seeing, just make sure you find out the opening times in advanced or you may end up standing outside after closing. Not very chic.

Paris is an amazing experience and unlike many places in France, the majority of the people can speak at least a little English and in many restaurants they have duplicate menus in English so if you're unable to speak the language you should be able to be understood. However, if you're looking to practice your French make sure you work on your accent; more often than not, if the person can hear you're English or American when you speak French, they'll reply in English.

Paris is one of those magnificent places where no matter what your personal taste you will always find something you will enjoy. If you ever get to go, do! You'll love it!

Vintage to Vogue

Just a quick review from my recent trip to Bath, Somerset.

I've been trying to get to Vintage for Vogue for ages ever since I first found out about them from a friend.

Tucked away down a side street is a real jewel of a vintage shop which was opened 2 years ago. I've always been disappointed that they don't have an online boutique as part of their website, but being in the shop completely made up for this. Being in the shop also gave a reason why they don't items on their website - it is filled to the rafters with all sorts of goodies. Though I did ask and they're updating their site and from September they will be selling items from their online boutique!

Despite the shop being on the small size their collection is vast, both in quantity as well as variety. They have everything a pin-up girl could ever want from shoes to hats and everything else in between from 1920s dresses to classic designer pieces.

They don't only have women's but have a huge range of clothes for men including 1930s and 1940s suits, and modern designer suits by the likes of Paul Smith and Giorgio Armani. One of their current wackier items is a pearly king coat from London.

They also sell antique items of clothing from the Victorian and Edwardian periods and a range of military wear (which I'm itching to get my hands on).

Despite the idea usually attached to the word 'vintage', it is not only for women. The last time I was in Vintage to Vogue there was a couple in buying each other their anniversary presents.

This shop is fantastic and a must-visit place in Bath if you're there. I was impressed, and I'm sure you all will be too!

http://www.vintagetovoguebath.co.uk/

I love Paris in the Spring time (Part 1)

Paris is, without a doubt, an international city. You can try and disguise yourself but if you don't get it spot on you fall woefully short of the mark. It is probably fair to say that, at any point, only half the inhabitants are Parisian.

As far as air traffic is concerned, Paris' airports are the second busiest in Europe (with London being the most busy). There are business men from all over the globe, people commuting from the surrounding area, groups of friends on casual day trips, families going to Disneyland...in short there are LOTS of people. Paris, picturesque as it is, is not somewhere for agoraphobics.

Some people - though mostly just those who can afford to be so - think Paris is a city for romantics and lovers. It's a bubble I hate to break, but I'm going to. Don't get me wrong! Paris IS beautiful, but there's more to this city than exists on celluloid: the glamorous women and kisses in front of the Eiffel Tower. For some odd reason, I feel quite at home in Paris, and for me it feels a lot like London. But the attitude of the people is quite different. Despite the rush that is built in to all cities, Parisians seem a little more relaxed. The best piece of evidence I have for this is the bins, or rather the amount of bins. Strange as that statement sounds, it's something you really notice if you spend a lot of time in London. In Paris there are bins everywhere, including at all train stations and even at Metro stations. Hopefully that's the most inane thing I'm going to say in this post - I can't promise anything, but I will do my best.

While Paris may not be the City of Lovers, it is most certainly a city of art. The number of Museums (yes, many of them deserve a capital M) in Paris is greater than you could visit in a week. There are probably more than you could visit in a month. That's even before you factor in the usual tourist traps like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc d' Triomphe. Having stayed in Paris for trips at least a week long I really do advise against weekend site-seeing trips trips. Even the most organised person won't see everything they would want to. The museums range in subject matter - with the most famous surely being the Louvre. There's also a museum housing France's largest collection of work by Dali and if you're a fan you really should go.

Now, like I said the tourist traps are all well and good, but I prefer to not stand around and have people try to sell me a little Eiffel Tower. Personally, I don't like the Eiffel Tower. Well, I don't like being up it. Having been to the very top, I can safely say it looks better from the ground. This isn't just because I suffer from chronic vertigo, but because whenever I go to Paris there seems to be a sort of mist in the air that makes the Tower look delicate and ethereal, like it's made of filigree or painstakingly made lace. Going up the Eiffel Tower shattered that illusion, and I wasn't happy about it.

Firstly...

First and foremost, I should probably say a little about myself:

I'm a Masters student taking Ancient History and Classical Culture, and rapidly realising that of all my school subjects I was good at I chose one of the most useless ones to read at university.

I love writing, art, and theatre and will use ANY excuse to dress up and go to out. I also perform in and direct plays (though not at the same time).

I have a growing wardrobe mostly crammed with vintage pieces, designer items I probably can't afford, and a variety or different corsets.