Enchanting! French designer Clémentine Henrion makes these fanciful eternal helium balloons. Never face the disappointment of your foil balloon deflating ever again. She explains the “illusion” of an helium balloon is entirely made from fancy fabrics.
“There is no helium in this Helium Eternal balloon : it is stuffed with kapok, like a soft pillow. A tiny flap fixed at the top of the balloon helps hanging it to your interior’s ceiling, hook it to a curtain rod, the top of a wall etc. The key thing is to hang it up as high as possible, in order to recreate the magic illusion of a real flying helium balloon!”
Le feu d’artifice is French for fireworks! May there be many overhead as you celebrate Bastille Day. Here’s what I’d, uh, wear and accessorise with if I was going to go out on the town in Paris!
Macaron charms and a Dior oui ring, a little black satchel, a striped puffball dress, Coco parfum, Repetto Kandinsky Lace-Ups and of course, lashings of Veuve! Best champagne ever.
❤
I’m not quite a Francophile yet – but oh! I’m sure I could – assuming I could dismiss all the bad memories of my slovenly housemate from Marseille. But let’s not focus on that. Today is about LOVE! Here are some of the previous Code For Something declarations of amour for the sexy, decadent and stylish nation of France:
Antoinette-Fleur is the French illustrator behind these vivid fashion pieces. Executed in a sketchy style with an electro palette, they are the embodiment of the word eye candy. After going through her entire portfolio, I actually want some of the pieces… especially the eye wear.
Are you or a loved one infected with a dreamy wanderlust? Are you a known Francophile? Do you swoon at the thought of puffed macarons? Then perhaps this gift combination would tickle your fancy…
The Paris Wallpaper City Guide will go down a treat when you are plotting an excursion to the fair city – full of cool tidbits and local nous that will see you hitting the ground running. When you make your own discoveries you can note them down in the back of the book. Multi-function for the win! I have recently bought one in anticipation of taking on Beijing and the Tokyo one has been a good friend to me in the past.
And to go with your travel literature, may I suggest a Maison de cire Trudon candle, in the scent of Roi Soleil! “The candles are part of a legacy which extends back to 1643, when the first Maison de cire Trudon apothecary opened in Paris, providing its services to Queen Marie Therese. ” Since then they have been gracing the olfactory spheres of royalty, parishes and other notable residences.
What makes Roi Soleil especially wondrous is its fragrance – inspired by the “”Mirror Gallery” and the vast wooden floor of the Chateau de Versailles”. It is described as a “kingly and solar perfume”, that “blends a green and wooded wake of coniferous trees to the sumptuous dizziness of incense with a light ray of citrus”.
Ooh la la – that language! Egads, I am almost sniffing my screen… As you know, I am on a Français film spree and have just watched Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (so sweet, like candyfloss hair) – so this is perfect. The candles are also vegetable-wax based – meaning they’re animal friendly, which is the only way to go.
Imagine the two items bundled in tissue, wrapped in brown paper, then tied up with peach tulle. Whether for yourself or someone dear to you, what a breath-taking gift to unwrap – magnifique!
I have been feeling the urge to watch a lot of French or French inspired films lately. One of the DVDs I picked up was Le Scaphandre et le Papillon or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Directed by Julian Schnabel, it tells the story of Jean-Do Bauby – the editor of French Elle – who suffers a stroke, leaving him completely paralysed. The only thing he can move is his left eye.
Thankfully, with the dedicated care of the people around him, he still enjoys a quality of life and the ability to communicate – with a blinking derived alphabet system. It all culminates in the publishing of a novel, as transcribed by his supporters.
If you have seen the recent James Bond movie, you may be familiar with Mathieu Amalric, who plays Bauby. I was saddened by his role in the Hollywood explode-a-rama, however do not fear he is a brilliant actor and The Diving Bell is a testament to this.
The film has not been without disputes. In real life, Bauby’s girlfriend is not the wench she is made out to be in the movie, as this article discusses. Florence Bensadoun actually spent weeks by his bedside, tending to her lover, while the filmic wife was apparently not true to life.
Despite the controversy, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon is still a loving, dreamy film that shows that a life is still to be valued even when everything but your mind is gone.
RATING:
(This is the French cinema trailer, which in my mind is far superior to the Western offering.)
This APC belt is perfect. Creamy pressed leather and the right sized buckle. Petite, functional buckles always win my heart. Much to my despair – I cannot find it anywhere, or even what season it is from. A serious, total fashion calamity, non?
I love Justice and the mere idea of a collaboration between them and French wunder-creatives Surface To Air makes me very excited!
Yep it’s reality, it’s out and together they’re produced a collection of jeans and sassy, unisex leather jackets. I like them very much, especially the ‘Blue’ denim (which reads “Justice For All” on the waistband) and the belted Gaspard jacket.
It’s a pity (or rather, a good thing for my wallet!) that’s no ‘Stress‘ style bomber jackets have been produced otherwise I’d be there – regardless of a 800€ price tag. If you’re a member of the nouveau riche please consider buying something from the collection, just so I know what it’s like – at the Surface to Air online store. Très bien!
On the laziest of Sunday afternoons I slipped off to the cinema to see 2 Days in Paris; a Julie Delpy vehicle she wrote, directed, edited and starred in. She even cast her parents in the film, as her character Marion’s parents. The story however was not autobiographical, but a tartly comedic semi-romantic romp through Paris, with raging taxi drivers and suave artists. (It was amusing to see a modern portrayal of the French attitude because I am currently living with a Frenchman and I could see little cues to his personality on screen.)
Anyway, what I loved the most was the styling and costumes! I adored both Jack’s Goddard sunglasses and Marion’s Woody Allen style specs (as seen above). But what I especially coveted was Marion’s party dress and simple gold disc earrings.
It left me wondering when I got home how I could find a similar frock, then it struck me – Cybèle! Cybèle is a New Zealand based designer, who is becoming increasingly well known for her edgy, slinky designs. Last year I was obsessed with her chain motif, now I’m all about the ink-splotch science primary colours on her satin dresses. Take a peep at the Fractal Dress (left) or the Eclipse Square Dress (right) from her Eclipse Winter 08 collection… Both very good matches for the 2 Days in Paris look, albeit a little more sleeker.
I believe a Cybèle dress would prove a worthy investment for one’s wardrobe. These dresses are both ripe for summer wear and winter layering; with leggings, boots and perhaps a beret… to truly stay in the celluloid moment.
Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
will go down a treat when you are plotting an excursion to the fair city – full of cool tidbits and local nous that will see you hitting the ground running. When you make your own discoveries you can note them down in the back of the book. Multi-function for the win! I have recently bought one in anticipation of taking on 
