Fashion – Karen's New York Love Affair

I went to Paris for the first time in early June, and was very interested to observe the style on the street, Parisian fashion. Of course the area around the Louvre was swarming with tourists (days after the strike by museum workers concerned about severe overcrowding), but I hoped that by staking out a corner on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, I would be able to see what actual Parisians were wearing as they shopped on le weekend.

The style themes I noticed are:

Parisian women almost always accessorize with a scarf
Fancy sneakers are popular all over the world, including Paris
Cross-body bags are a practical favorite
Leather jackets remain cool as ever

I snapped some Parisian pairs, which are featured in my July “Style on the Street” column in the WestView News. Here are some additional shots of stylish Parisians:

Paris Fashion

Chanel window in Paris — *So exciting to see the Chanel shop in Paris, but this look says Chanel is past it. That white dress under the classic Chanel suit is ugly, I’m sorry!*

Stunning dress on Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the fashion capital — Stunning dress at Balmain on Rue Saint-Honoré. The pleats and folds in this ivory satin asymmetrical number are exquisite. That’s me in the mirror in a magenta raincoat and fantastic pink satin sneakers by Diana Broussard. (A French designer in New York.)

And of course I had to take some pictures of the sights as well.

*The fantastic Hôtel Les Rives de Notre-Dame (with the red flower boxes in the windows). I was in a room facing the river.*

*My room was a glorious orange, just like my first New York apartment. I loved it so much!*

I was staying on the Left Bank in the Latin Quarter, very near Notre-Dame Cathedral. It was so sad to see this glorious old dame scaffolded and barricaded.

I was stricken by a majestic statue guarding the travelers who cross this bridge across the Seine. To me, she looks regal, yet humble and severe—a protective presence.

Statue on the Seine — *Protecting travelers who cross the bridge*

Statue Guarding Bridge — *Saint Geneviève statue at the Pont de la Tournelle. I later found out Saint Geneviève actually did protect Paris from Atilla the Hun! She is the patron saint of Paris.*

I went to a couple of late-night jazz clubs in underground caverns: Le Caveau de la Huchette (built in the 1500s; Count Basie and Art Blakey played here in a later century), and Le Caveau Des Oubliettes. So cool!

Le Caveau des Oubliettes late-night jazz session--in the dungeon where prisoners were left and forgotten — *Le Caveau Des Oubliettes late-night jazz session—in the dungeon carved out of the stone, where prisoners were left and forgotten*

And afterwards, people get crepes at an all-night stand on Rue de la Huchette. It was raining a bit, and at 2 AM there was a crowd of 10 people ahead of me waiting at the window for their crêpes. The cook makes them on a flat round griddle just inside the window, so it is performance art as well. And then the delicious reward—in my case, a cone of crêpe enclosing mushroom, tomato, and cheese. So French, so delightful!

Waiting for crepes in Rue de la Huchette — *Waiting for crêpes in Rue de la Huchette. There were many all-night cafés and restaurants in the neighborhood. New York, take note!*

I spent the final morning of my whirlwind visit (two nights, one day, one morning) going to as many pastry shops as I could find and reveling in French delicacies with espresso. I managed to go to four during my quest for an open post office. First off, I had two choux—cream-filled little round pastries—in la Maison Odette, a charming, narrow 4-story pastry shop and café with curving black staircases, near my hotel. Then a pain au chocolate at a sidewalk café near the Sorbonne.

I was surprised how modern and severe the Sorbonne looked. Closed for the summer, it desolate and forbidding. — I was surprised how modern and severe the Sorbonne looked (this is the Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, for the faculties of science and engineering). Closed for the summer, it seemed desolate and forbidding.

Next, I had a clod-foot cherry clafoutis on Île Saint-Louis, sitting on a stone bench on the north side, away from the hordes, watching boats go by on the Seine. And yes, reading Vogue! The final treat was to sit at this charming café, Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, on Île de la Cité, the oldest, original part of Paris.

Karen Rempel in Paris — *Blissful moment drinking espresso at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, on Île de la Cité—wearing my New York black now, and feeling more like myself!*

I hadn’t realized that Paris began on Île de la Cité, possibly dating back to pre-Roman times (52 BCE), when it may have been a fortified crossing point held by the Parisii, a small Gallic tribe. By 300 CE, it was a walled city with wooden bridges on either side.

Curving street on Ile de la Cité — *Curving street on Île de la Cité*

But a few more modern sights were evident as well:

Scooters littering the sidewalk in a fashionable residential neighborhood — *Abandoned scooters littering the sidewalk in a fashionable residential neighborhood*

Political posters. The first I had heard of Frexit! — *Political posters, probably from 2017. The first I had heard of Frexit!*

The ubiquitous phone ad. I saw a similarly hideous iPhone 10 ad when I was in Barcelona. — *The ubiquitous phone ad defacing beautiful architecture. I saw a similarly hideous iPhone 10 ad when I was in Barcelona.*

I would be remiss if I didn’t include a few classic Parisian landmarks that everyone loves.

Eiffel tower & mosque — *That famous French tower and a golden-domed mosque gleaming in the rays of the setting sun*

Karen Rempel and the Eiffel Tower — *Me in pink and the tower in grey. So romantic!*

Hotel Plaza Athénée — *Hôtel Plaza Athénée on Rue Montaigne*

Thanks for joining me on my little Parisian jaunt. Remember, we’ll always have Paris!

The David Bowie tribute at the Orpheum on Oct. 5 was amazing! I got caught up in a bizarre flow of energy that led me to spend the two days before the show recreating David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust look, complete with the Kansai Yamamoto rabbit romper! I had so much fun that night, with a great view of the concert from the second row. The VSO and a five-piece rock band were faithful to Bowie’s music, with innovation in the arrangements, and the audience vibe held appreciation, love, and enjoyment of this chance to remember and celebrate Bowie’s life and music.

vso-4 — *The orchestra is doing exactly what I tell them! lol*

During the interval I received a million compliments on my hair, make-up, and outfit, and lots of people took their photo with me. I thought I should make the most of it all, and was waiting for the right opportunity.

As I mentioned, the VSO was joined by a Windborne Music rock band for this Bowie tribute. The singer, Tony Vincent, gave a lead-up to each song. In between songs he began talking about Bowie’s fashion sense and innovative style, and I thought this is my moment. (I had a feeling I knew which song was coming!) So I strutted back and forth like I was on a fashion runway along the “catwalk” in front of the stage during the song Fashion. Turn to the left, turn to the right!

And then the band invited me up to conduct the VSO for Golden Years! What a rush! I went up onstage and was up there for the whole song. The drummer cued me on how to do the final crescendo at the end of the song. They were all so nice to me on stage. It was an unbelievable night—so much love, celebration, sadness, remembrance.

After the show, many people thanked me for bringing a beloved memory-image of David into the air of the event, and said it was the icing of the cake. It was truly magical for us all.

This is me on stage at the Orpheum, with the VSO and the rock band, actually conducting, dancing, and making a fool of myself! This was one of the best nights of my life. I still can’t believe it really happened! (P.S. The lead cellist is gorgeous!)

I’ve been rocking the Ziggy Stardust mullet since the devastating news of David Bowie’s sad death in January. I will be running the New York Marathon on Nov. 6 in Ziggy Stardust costume, in memory of Bowie and to raise money for Harlem United. If you can help this fantastic cause with a small donation, please visit my donor page.

Bowie tribute — *With Judith and another serious Bowie fan*

concert-2 — *Nathanael, a hunky dory Bowie fan sitting near me and rockin’ his own Bowie tribute look. And here you see a close-up of Siobhan Uy at MAC Granville’s great make-up work.*

b-michael — *With Michael at Threads Fashion Alterations – he turned a dress into the rabbit romper in less than 24 hours. Amazing work!*

costume-1 — *Check out the detail in this fabric. It’s not woodland creatures like the original romper, but I think it’s unbelievably representative of the original outfit.*

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Tag: Fashion

Style on the Street: Paris in June

Karen Rempel conducted the VSO at Bowie tribute concert!