Hey there happy reader!
I’m back from my short but action-packed trip to London and Paris! What an amazing experience to go on this adventure with my childhood friend Leslie. We did a little bit of everything – shopping, eating, sight-seeing. Well maybe not a little shopping. Or eating. Maybe a lot. We had a blast!
London was bustling with holiday shoppers.
We went to Harrods for all of five minutes before we turned around and left – the mob there was intense! So many tourists looking for a great gift idea… we decided to try the smaller boutiques instead.
We got lucky. Leslie had her eye out for a formal dress to wear to her youngest son’s wedding next fall, and she may have found the perfect one! If her daughter-in-law-to- be likes it, that will be one big thing to cross off the list. Let’s hope so…
Plus, I was there to meet Leslie’s first grandchild, a beautiful little girl. She is just perfect, and I can’t wait to see what wonderful things she does as she grows up. It was so special to get to spend some time getting to know her.
Then we took the Chunnel train to Paris and ooh la la! Paris is all dressed up for the holidays.
As one of my daughters-in-law says, “Paris is always a good idea,” and believe me it was!
We wandered around the decorated streets and soaked in the beauty of this great city. We ate our way through it as well. Bread and cheese and wine, oh my! But, for me, the highlight was getting a chance to see the Dior exhibit up close in a gallery behind the flagship store on Rue de Montaigne.
If you watched the Apple TV show “The New Look,” you might remember that the French fashion designers did not have enough fabric after the war to make a new collection of dresses.
To revive the industry, a group of these men made doll clothes to display their concepts to a hungry public. When the materials became available, they made the actual dresses. That’s what this exhibit reminded me of – tiny designs, one more beautiful than the next, tempting a fashion-minded public to place an order for something new, to leave the horrible war years behind them and boldly step into their future.
Of course, Dior made history with this classic silhouette.
And like any other museum, you can “exit through the gift shop” when you’re done taking in the display and purchase any of the Dior merchandise of your choice. Et voilà! We had a great time there. If you find yourself anywhere in the vicinity, don’t miss this very special exhibit!
Before we knew it, we were headed back to London.
I did get to have dinner in a pub and made lots of notes for my current work-in-progress, which takes place there… it was an educational and fun trip. I can’t wait to return, and I will once the weather is warmer, to take another trip to the iconic Stonehenge. Travel is one of my greatest sources of inspiration!
I hope you get the chance to shake things up a bit and go somewhere special, even if that means sitting by your fireplace at home, reading a good book. Sometimes you don’t need to leave to be transported… that’s what an engrossing story will do for you. It can take you anywhere!
As always, let me know what you think!
xoxo,
Hilari
PS I’m taking off some time for the holidays. I’ll be back here right after the new year. For now, I’m sending love, gratitude for you, and wishing us all a 2025 filled with good health and peace, in both your heart and your home! Enjoy!
Recent Comments