She was the last surviving credited cast member of the 1942 wartime drama, one of the greatest films ever made.
Today I am sharing the obituary of Madeleine LeBeau, a French actress who made a small though significant contribution to AFI’s second best film of all time: ‘Casablanca.’
Au revoir!
Casablanca 1942 retro image by Roberlan Borges, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
Have you ever noticed how effortlessly beautiful French women are? Gorgeous hair, perfect skin, beautiful figures… and the best look of all: killer confidence. How DO they do it?
Post adapted from Source: French Girl Beauty Secrets: 11 Tips To Look Parisian Pretty – Beauty Guide – Livingly
French women have an allure all their own. It is my experience that many people believe they are simply born beautiful, and that there is nothing that the rest of us mortals can do to attain their beauty and glamour. After working in the beauty industry, however, and upon close inspection, I believe I can offer insights into how to achieve at least a smidgen of French elegance. While I do believe genes you are born with have something to do with how attractive you are, it’s what you do with what you’re born with that matters in the long run. To me, this last point is crucial in understanding “how French women do it.” They take care of themselves today in ways that benefit them tomorrow.
French women are careful in the sun. Think about the pictures of French women you’ve admired: how many have a tan? Probably not many, if any. French women are not sun worshipers because they learn early on about the long-term effects of sun on the skin. Being careful in the sun, which means using plenty of SPF when you are out and avoiding the hottest sun during the day, is the number one thing people can do to avoid premature aging. Many girls and women don’t accept this until it’s too late. While working in the beauty industry, several women I knew from high school came in to my store and were desperate for something to alleviate their dry skin. They were all sun worshipers back in the day. Unfortunately, when they were younger, they didn’t understand that a tan is for the moment; skin is for a lifetime.
French women are not work-out obsessed. Of course, they have better eating habits — fresh food, little if any of it processed, portions in moderation — and they have friends who are likely to gently nudge each other if they notice one of their group putting on weight. They also walk a lot. It makes sense that French women are not work-out obsessed because they don’t have to be. As the French culture is focused on pleasurable experiences, French women choose activities to stay in shape that are fun, such as water aerobics.
French women love water. What is your approach to water? Do you drink it on occasion only because you know you should? Would you rather have iced tea or a diet drink? For French women, water isn’t just a beverage that they drink plenty of, it’s a beauty product, because they know that well-hydrated skin glistens from within, which no rouge can match. As France is well-known from their mineral springs, water and its benefits are incorporated into French cosmetics and skin care lines.
French women get enough sleep. Like water, sleep is acknowledged as the beauty treatment that it is. While you sleep, skin produces collagen, a necessary ingredient for cell turnover. The better your cell turnover, the more radiant your complexion will be. If you chronically deny yourself enough sleep, your skin is deprived of collagen while increasing the amount of cortisol, a stress hormone that leads to inflammation: the result is dull, lifeless skin that is prone to wrinkles. Sleep is crucial to overall good health; it should not be regarded as a luxury or unnecessary. I often cringed when I had clients come in for a product to hide the dark circles under their eyes while telling me about how they deprive themselves of sleep like it was a badge of honor. It isn’t.
French women love masks. If my experience working for Sephora is any indication, American women want beautiful skin without putting in the time to get it. Great skin doesn’t just happen; you have to work at it. French women know this, and learn to do one or two masks a week. Nothing says you have to use the same mask every time, though I would be careful about doing two types of active ingredient masks in one week. This means that if you do a glycolic acid-based mask one day (for its anti-aging benefits), it would be better to use something like Clinique’s Even Better Brightening Moisture Mask for the next one, rather than a different anti-aging mask using retinol or sulfur, for example: your skin might react from using the two active ingredients close together.
French women trust kitchen remedies. Since French women have mothers and grandmothers with beautiful skin, they trust what their elders tell them, and that is, kitchen remedies work. Why buy the latest product if your mother has beautiful skin using a homemade remedy? I use a mask that consists of 3 tablespoons of cooked white rice, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 tablespoon of milk. This softens my skin, makes it glow, and helps with wrinkles. In addition, I save the water that I cooked the rice in and wash with it. It makes my skin silky smooth.
French women believe less is more. French women like to look the same with makeup as without, only fresher. Since they have great skin, a little mascara, rouge, eyeliner, and lipstick go a long way to enhancing their looks. That said, if you don’t have great skin, high-end makeup brands such as Dior and Lancome can give you the look of little makeup while covering flaws and enhancing your natural beauty.
French women spend more time on skin care. I would add to this, French women take a pro-active approach to their skin and prevent problem skin rather than try to conceal bad life habits with make up.
Red lipstick makes you stand out. There is a red for every lip.
French women appreciate a simple red lip. Women have been wearing red lip color since the Mesopatamia time, about 3,000 B.C. Perhaps the red lip became French during the 1700s, when upper class French women were encouraged to wear cosmetics, which differed from their arch-rival England, whose anti-cosmetics laws left only the prostitutes to wear them. Certainly, French actress Sarah Bernhardt helped to solidify the red lip as French when she wore it in early films in the late 1800s; red lipstick helped her lips to be seen on black-and-white film. In our modern time, there’s something about red lipstick that just says “classic,” and with so many reds available, it is easy to find a hue you can call your own.
French women don’t fuss with their hair. They don’t wash their hair every day because it strips the hair of natural oils. They set their hair once in the morning and don’t touch it during the day; if a few hairs fall out of a twist, they let it go. After all, a few fallen hairs is sexy.
French women have a signature fragrance. The American women I waited on working at Sephora always seemed to want the latest in everything — skincare, makeup, even fragrance. Conversely, French women stick with what works: they find a fragrance they love and call it their own. It becomes part of their identity, and they aren’t dressed without it. My favorite is Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue. What is your favorite scent? Let it become part of you and wear it every day.
Au revoir!
Image of French actress used by permission. Evian designer water bottles by Stella Yoda, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Red lipstick by Wen Chen, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
No priming, no sanding. Just a little bit of effort can transform an every day piece of furniture to French Country. Visitors might think you’ve just been on a shopping trip to France! This is the second in a series on adding French flair to your home.
Source: How To Distress Furniture With Vinegar – White Lace Cottage
This piece was distressed using chalk paint.
French Country furniture often has a distressed look — like it’s been around the barn a few times. If you want to add a touch of French flair to your home, why not distress a piece you already own? Or one that you just bought at a garage sale and not sure of what to do with it? This method is super-easy.
Clean piece with a damp rag.
Using chalk-type paint, paint the piece at least 2 coats, allowing the paint to dry between coats. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the can for drying time. PIECE MUST BE FULLY DRY BEFORE DISTRESSING.
Fill a spray bottle (after testing it first, to verify it has an even spray) with white vinegar and water, using a 1:1 ratio for vinegar to water.
Spray mixture onto piece. Using a white rag, wipe off the mixture using varied pressure so that some areas have more paint removed. Continue wiping and spraying as needed.
You might want to paint the hardware separately; lay hardware on a white surface, such as a rag.
After piece has dried, apply wax to seal the chalk paint. Wax isn’t needed all of the time, but your piece will wear better if you do.
Au revoir!
Image of distressed piece using chalk paint by 5023 Creations from Pinterest, CCBY 2.0.
Joyeuse Saint Patrick!
The City of Light will be The City of Green today.
Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. For many, it’s a day to wear green and drink Guinness Beer. If you’re in Paris, there are plenty of ways to get in the spirit of Joyeuse Saint Patrick.
As part of Tourism Ireland’s 7th annual Global Greening initiative, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and the Roue de Paris (Big Wheel) at the Place de la Concorde, as well as many other buildings in Paris and elsewhere in France will be lit up in green. Take in the light show by walking or perhaps a cruise on the Seine River. (Note: It’s curious that the Eiffel Tower isn’t on the list.)
Paris has plenty of Irish pubs to celebrate the day:
O’Brien’s Irish Pub
77 rue Saint-Dominique
75007 Paris
O’Brien’s Irish Pub is always busy.
Phone: +33 01 45 51 75 87
Hours: Monday – Thursday, Noon – 2:00 A.M., Friday & Saturday Noon – 3:00 A.M., Sunday 5:00 P.M. – 2:00 A.M.
Metro: La Tour-Maubourg or Invalides
Located in the 7th arrondissement a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, O’Brien’s is a reasonably priced pub that was always busy during my last trip to Paris. Besides alcohol, they serve mouth-watering burgers and a different dessert created by their chefs is featured every day.
The Green Goose
19 rue des Boulets
75011 Paris
Phone: +33 09 82 37 73 41
Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri, 12:00 Noon – 3:00 P.M.; Dinner: Mon-Sun, 6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.; Weekend Brunch: Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays, 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Metro: Rue des Boulets or Nation
Funny enough, this relatively new Irish pub in Paris doesn’t serve Guinness though they do serve handcrafted beers, including……. They also serve a fairly extended lunch and dinner menu, and brunch on the weekends (I have my eye on the Eggs Benedict. Mmmmmmmmm.) The Green Goose is often reviewed as the friendliest pub in Paris.
The Harp Bar (see their Facebook page)
118 boulevard de Clichy
75018 Paris
Patrons enjoying a Celtic game at the Harp Bar.
Hours: 5:00 P.M. – 2:00 A.M. Daily
Metro: Blanche or Place de Clichy
Located next to James Hetfeeld’s Pub at 118 boulevard de Clichy, The Harp Bar is a sports pub featuring a Celtic game always showing on the big screen TVs, a pool table downstairs, and plenty of beer and food. This is a must-stop for any Celtic fan.
How about a dessert? Maison Dalloyau teahouses and patisseries will celebrate the day by dressing up the religieuse (“nun”) pastry — a type of eclair — for St. Patrick’s Day, filled with chocolate coffee cream and a bit of Irish whiskey, topped with a chocolate hat and an edible four-leaf clover.
If the religieuse pastry is too rich for your taste, try a pistachio-flavored macaron (“macaroon”), available at patisseries (“pastry shops”) all over Paris.
Au revoir!
References: “Religeuse,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0. “Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day: What’s On?” Bonjour Paris, March 8, 2016.
Eiffel Tower lit green by Jerome Bon, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. O’Brien’s Irish Pub by Loren C., Yelp, CCBY 2.0. Image of The Green Goose by TripAdvisor, CCBY 2.0. Image of The Harp Bar from their Facebook page, CCBY 2.0. Image of religieuse pastry (made by Dalloyau) from BonjourParis.com, Google search, CCBY 2.0. Macarons (pistachio and cassis) from Laduree by Jamie Anderson, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
This post is the first in a series on adding a little French influence to your home. The series begins with three venues in Paris to shop for antique and vintage items.
Source: Where to Go Shopping for Antiques in Paris
Several well-placed items can add French flair to your home. This is a vintage French Champagne Gathering Basket.
There are many ways to add French influence to your home. You could buy a piece of furniture, a painting, or an objet d’art in Paris and send it home. You could distress your own furniture to make it look French Country. You could remodel your kitchen or bathroom (or parts thereof) with French accents. Or you could add natural visual elements, like wood, to give your decor for that certain French je ne sais quois (“I do not know what”). This series will cover all of these topics, just in time for spring cleaning and redecorating.
The sign says “Second-hand Antiques.”
I begin the series with information on purchasing items in Paris and sending them home. Each of the 20 arrondissements in Paris has its shops and markets to shop for antique and vintage items. Look for signs that say Antiquites (“Antiques”) or Brocante (“Second-hand market”) or a combination of the two. The markets featured here are open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Check their websites for more information.
Carre Rive Gauche has a spectacular view of the Seine River.
Carre Rive Gauche (Left Bank Square)
Metro: Rue du Bac or Solferino
As a child of the 1970s, I associate “rive gauche” with “high class” due to Yves Saint Laurent’s fragrance of the same name, launched in 1971. Saint Laurent was a French couture designer who popularized pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear) for the masses. His fragrance, Rive Gauche, was prominently displayed in a local store that, to me, was the epitome of class. I didn’t care how it smelled: I was intrigued by this product made by a French couture fashion designer who dressed one of my favorite actresses of the time, Catherine Deneuve. Talk about an effective ad campaign. I was 10 years old in 1971.
Ironically, “rive gauche” means “left bank,” an area in Paris known for its hipsters and bohemians — sort of the French version of a Greenwich Village — where Saint Laurent had his design house. Ironically or not, Carre Rive Gauche is a mostly high-end antique and objet d’art shopping area, comprising over 100 shops, on what used to be private gardens of French princess and Queen of Navarre, Marguerite de Navarre. Located in the 6th and 7th arrondissements, rue des Saints-Peres is about a 12-minute walk from Rue du Bac metro. (The shopping area: rue des St. Peres, rue de Beaune, rue du Bac, rue de L’Universite, rue de Verneuil, rue de Lille, quai Voltaire.) Carre Rive Gauche’s close proximity to several museums (Louvre, d’Orsay, Arts Decoratifs) has helped solidify a trusted relationship between its vendors and the museums.
Here are three links to galleries within Carre Rive Gauche that might have that certain French something for your home:
Galerie Altero – Glassware and furniture
Galerie F. Baulme Fine Arts – Paintings, drawings, sculptures
Galerie Francois Paul Belliard – Furniture, art objects, 18th and 19th seats (such as chaise lounges)
Le Village Suisse sign in the 15th arrondissement.
Le Village Suisse (Website is still under construction)
Metro: La Motte Picquet Grenelle
Le Village Suisse got its name from the mini Swiss village erected in the same spot for the 1900 Universal Exposition, also known as the World’s Fair. After the Exposition, the location evolved into a place for antique shops, gallery owners and decorators to sell their wares. There are roughly 150 shops in Le Village Suisse currently.
The Village is in the 15th arrondissment, and is bordered by avenue de la Motte-Picquet and avenue Suffren. Entrances are located at 78 avenue de Suffren and 54 avenue de la Motte-Picquet.
At present, it looks like once the website is live, you will be able to search individual galleries, search for a particular object, as well as search by keywords.
Marche Malassis serves as an entrance to Marche aux Puces in Saint Ouen.
Marche aux Puces de Paris/Saint-Ouen (Flea Market)
Metro: Porte de Clignancourt or Garibaldi
I’ll venture a guess that you can probably imagine a flea market as large as a football field. What about one that is just over 13 and a half football fields? That is the size of the Marche aux Puces de Paris/Saint-Ouen, Paris’s best known flea market, often referred to as “the Paris flea market.” Fourteen markets comprise the Puces de Paris/Saint-Ouen, so if you’re looking for a particular type of item, it would be wise to check the marche website before you go — even if it’s to rule out certain markets. Not only is the marche large, but about 150,000 people visit the market every weekend.
The marche is located at Porte de Clignancourt, just north of the 18th arrondissement, and includes antique dealers, retailers, designers, craftsmen and artists. If you exit Porte de Clignancort and walk northwest toward the marche, keep walking past the vendors of inexpensive items (and who generally get in your personal space) to rue des Rosiers on the left, which is the main market street.
Three markets in the marche that could add French flair to your home:
Two chairs wait to be selected at Marche aux Puces in Saint Ouen.
Marche Cambo – 18th and 19th century furniture, earthenware, ceramics, Art Deco items
Le Passage – unusual furniture, chairs, paintings
Marche Malassis – Antiques, oriental stalls, tableware
Get the latest information on second-hand markets, every week in L’Officiel des Spectacles and the Pariscope App and on the websites Brocabrac (with calendar) and Vide Greniers.
Au revoir!
Reference: “Margauerite de Navarre,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.
Vintage French Champagne Gathering Basket by Wicker Paradise, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Second-hand Antique Shop by MetroCentric, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Carre Rive Gauche by Henri VK, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Le Village Suisse sign by Monceau, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Marche Malassis at Marche aux Puces in Saint Ouen by Brett Hammond, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Two chairs in Marche Vernaison at Saint Ouen by Edsel Little, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
Spring is a time for renewal and trying new things. Grab a light coat, scarf, and umbrella and visit Paris ahead of the crowds. Here are three activities that I recommend.
See Paris by Helicopter on a round-trip to Versailles.
Source: 40 Things To Do In Paris March 2016 | Paris Insiders Guide
VIP Helicopter Tour to Versailles
I love the water and being high in the sky. I’ve seen Paris taking a cruise on the Seine River — one of my best memories from my latest trip — and now I can’t wait to have the opportunity to go on a VIP Helicopter Tour to Versailles. You depart from Heliport de Paris in southwest Paris and fly to Versailles, where you soar over the grounds before landing. French law requires all helicopter tours to have a stopover for 1 hour, and you spend it by enjoying a glass of champagne, taking a few photos, and learning a bit about Versailles and your helicopter. You then board for your 10-minute flight back to the Heliport where you started.
Details:
Price: Adults and Children age 3-11: from $471.27 per person (price might vary)
Depart/Return: Heliport de Paris, southwest Paris (Metro:
Check-in: 30 minutes before departure
Helicopter: 6-passenger Ecureil
Le Grand Orgue (The Grand Organ) and West Rose window of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Cathedral Special Easter Season Performances
While Easter this year is Sunday, March 27, Notre Dame Cathedral is holding a series of concerts to celebrate the season, including a concert by Notre Dame’s celebrated organ on March 15.
Reservations are required. Prices vary.
View the schedule and book here
Market Tour & Classic French Cooking
Paris Insider’s Guide offers a wide variety of 1-time cooking and baking classes. My two favorites are the Market Tour & Classic French Cooking class (6-hour market and cooking class) and the Secrets of Croissants (2 1/2 – 3 hours).
Price: Market Tour & Classic French Cooking Class is 190 euros per person ($207.70 ), 2 people min. Baking classes are 125 euros per person ($136.65).
View the schedule and book here
Au revoir!
Aerial view of Paris by Gabriel, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Notre Dame organ by JanetandPhil, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Illustrations by CanStockPhoto.
There are thousands of websites out there to help you plan a destination wedding. Here are a few that I may not have mentioned in my series that I believe are worth knowing.
WeddingMusicInFrance.com
13 Cite Dupont
75011 Paris
Phone: +33 06 31 27 61 75
Metro: Rue Saint-Maur
As a brick-and-mortar business in the internet ocean, they stand out immediately. Fluent in English, French and Spanish, they have been supplying international clients (Oracle, Hilton, Hotel de Crillon) for over 10 years. They provide advice on repertoire, instrumentation, location, amplification, and arrange pieces of your choice upon request. They offer six packages to choose from. Complete their Contact form on their web page to contact them.
Minimum price for a duo for 1-2 hours is 850 Euros ($929); for a trio, 1200 Euros ($1311); and a quartet, 1650 Euros ($1803).
Email:internet@parisinfo.com
This is official website of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. They can help you navigate Paris and offer you a lot of in-country deals in the process.
Brides Without Borders offers a wealth of information for the DIY destination wedding bride. They offer a list of proven destination wedding professionals for any location you want to tie the knot. They also offer an advice column and a blog to help you through the process. If I was planning a DIY destination wedding, this would be my go-to site for the nuts-and-bolts details.
Email: info@FrenchWeddingStyle.com
If Brides Without Borders helps you with the nuts-and-bolts details of your Paris wedding, French Wedding Style helps you to immerse yourself in French culture as it relates to weddings in France. From explaining what “couture” means to learning French wedding traditions to bridal accessories by featured (French) designers, you’ll feel like a real French bride by the time your big day arrives.
Raph & John with their Rolls Royce.
(Pssssssssttttttt. Check out Locarolls on French Wedding Style’s website for a Rolls Royce for your wedding day. A Rolls is a French bride’s go-to vehicle.)
Au revoir!
Image by CanStockPhoto. Image of Raph & John by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
I am featuring photos of Raph & John’s wedding in Paris for this series. I want to make it clear that I do not know this couple: I selected their photos from an album on Flickr because I love their theme and the photos are available for use under the CCBY 2.0 license. If I married in Paris, I would want a theme somewhat similar to theirs–in terms of colors and formality.
