EN PRIVÉ (IN PRIVATE) is a brand new column designed to share ideas of things to do, places to see and inspiring, useful objects.
1. Santa Maria Novella Candle
Even if I do it less often at the moment, lighting a candle in the evening is always a pleasure, especially when it has woody notes like Tabacco Toscana. January and February are among the months I like the least, just after July and August, and allowing oneself a few small indulgences never hurts. It is also a good time to make a list of the exhibitions we want to see and to plan outings with friends at the beginning of the year.
2. Kaweco Fountain Pen
The fountain pen was an essential part of my school pencil case when I was younger, and I have kept a real fondness for this beautiful object. The Kaweco version, in this lovely mossy shade, has caught my eye and would be ideal for filling my many notebooks.
3. Smythson Diary
A true classic. It represents a significant investment for a diary, so for now it is not among my priorities, but I always enjoy stopping by the Smythson stand at Le Bon Marché in Paris to admire the art of fine English stationery. As a true lover of paper, I always have a large diary at home, one at work and a smaller one that I slip into my handbag. I often choose them from Lett’s of London, even though I struggle a little with their multilingual versions.
4. Joyaux Dynastiques.
Do hurry to discover the jewellery exhibition at the Musée de la Marine (Place de la Concorde in Paris) before these treasures are stolen as well, and we once again make fools of ourselves in the eyes of the world (without, of course, anyone being held responsible). Sarcasm aside, though well deserved, this exhibition was created in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and brings together remarkable pieces associated with Catherine the Great of Russia and Queen Victoria.
5. John Singer Sargent
I have always been very fond of the portraitists, and this exhibition is devoted to one of them, the celebrated John Singer Sargent, an American painter who lived mainly in Europe. I strongly encourage you to visit this exhibition, Dazzling Paris, at the Musée d’Orsay. It will be followed at the end of next year by an exhibition dedicated to Mary Cassatt, another of my favourite painters, whom I also discovered while living in Boston.
6. Casa Lopez Armchair
I had a real crush on this beautiful armchair, clearly beyond my budget, but there is no harm in dreaming a little. Its fabric, combining green and blue in an always elegant way, appeals to me greatly. This piece would be perfect in a bedroom, a small office or a reading corner. It comes from Casa Lopez, a place I enjoy visiting from time to time.
7. Santa Maria Novella Oil
I am using facial oils more and more, especially in winter. They provide softness and hydration, and this one has the advantage of not being too greasy.
8. Galignani Bookshop
Once Christmas and New Year are over, and to avoid the post-holiday blues, I like to put together a pleasant schedule filled with things to see, do and discover. A visit to a bookshop always tops the list, and Galignani in particular, after a stop at Smith & Son. We buy the magazines we are missing, and I enjoy wandering through the different sections to discover an Anglo-Saxon book, often the best ones, on decoration or gardening. During the holidays, we even took great pleasure in enjoying a very good waffle at the pop-up at the Hôtel de Crillon nearby.
9. Azzedine Alaïa and Dior. The Exhibition
An exhibition that greatly appeals to me, organised jointly by the Dior Gallery and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation. It features many pieces from the designer’s personal collection, presented to the public, as well as a dialogue between Alaïa’s creations and historic Dior designs, highlighting their shared aesthetic sensibilities.
10. Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection. The Book
Published by Rizzoli, this book accompanies the exhibition by shedding light on Azzedine Alaïa’s personal Dior collection. It includes photographs of the dresses, archival documents, drawings by Christian Dior and collection boards showing fabrics, sketches and annotations.
Small Pleasures
Northern Exposure
I spent the entire autumn and winter watching with great delight a multi-award-winning series from the 1990s, the best decade in my opinion, entitled Northern Exposure. Original, funny and deeply comforting, it makes me feel as though I am part of Cicely, a small village lost in the middle of Alaska, which welcomes Dr Joel Fleischman from New York. He arrives to repay his debt after the government funded his medical studies at a prestigious university.
I still have two seasons left to watch, and I really do not want it to end, as the characters are so endearing and delightfully a little unhinged.
Recommendations are made in full editorial independence, without affiliate links.
Photo credits: Musée d’Orsay, Santa Maria Novella, Smythson, Rizzoli, Casa Lopez, Laziz Hamani
