Author: Sam Growdon

Locking your love this V-day

Published by

Happy Valentine’s day! As a prelude to this global day of love, I took a stroll through the Instagram hashtag Lovelocks and I loved what I saw. While Paris is obviously famous for being The Origonal City de l’amour and the Pont de l’Archevêché and Pont des Arts are as notorious for being where lovers can place a padlock on the bridges as a symbol of, well, their eternal love – the key gets thrown into the river therefore bonding the couple forever. It was awesome to see where else all over the globe lovers are locking their affections – and so, here is a mini gallery of instagrammers who’ve #lovelocked the world over. I hope you find your special spot!    

Wishing for the hippest arm candy

Published by

You may have seen these gorgeous multi-coloured wrist adornments in the last few years when they’ve become awesomely popular, but do you know the story behind these colourful strings? Created by two Parisian women, Jenny and Delphine, who were inspired after their travels in Brazil and as the story goes, these coloured ribbons are given out to visitors in the city of Salvador, Brazil as a symbol of luck. They are tied onto the left wrist by a third party – each one tied with three knots and each knot comes with a wish made by the wearer. Once they have aged and finally fall off it is believe that your wishes have come true. The Hipanema duo used the idea of these multicoloured ribbons and devised a way for us to wear them as a fashion accessory – taking 200-year old tradition and making it trés boho chic. Each bracelet has a few strands of coloured ribbon, pearls, beading, shells and threads that join onto a chic magnetised clasp which make it super easy to wrap around …

Blogging, babies and boxes of memories : Nirit Sumeruk

Published by

Fashion blogger and full-time mom, Nirit Sumeruk can’t help preserving each memory and experience she has through her love of photographs. She talks about her life in Paris, recounts her first Michelin-starred restaurant experience and why she started her much-loved blog. You can’t help but not like Nirit Sumeruk. When she opens the door to her apartment in a chic Parisian suburb her smile is warm and welcoming. I’m instantly attracted to her fun, un-intimidating and friendly personality and she has a way of immediately disarming you. Her energy is infectious and easy-going which probably has much to do with her very global upbringing. Born to Argentinian parents and one of 4 children, she was brought up in Cape Town, South Africa. After her final year at university she moved to London to do a gap year, followed by a few years in Tel Aviv where she worked for MTV which is what eventually brought her to Paris for a four-day job – where serendipitously she met her French husband. After a long distance romance, Nirit moved …

Bloomin’ style

Published by

When I first arrived in Paris I went on an induction to the city, a day where you mix with other ‘newbies’ to the City of Love an gather practical information that will help to settle you. This induction was labelled “Bloom where you’re Planted” – a gorgeous concept for anyone starting a new life in a new place. New job, new house or neighbourhood or moving to a different country with a foreign language and culture, everyone has experienced being the new guy at some point. And so, with SS2015 collections hitting the stores soon, and the strong influence of florals in all colours and forms, I’m reminded that just being “planted” is one thing, but to “Bloom” is quite another. From my experience, you have to ground yourself deeply into your new environment to be able to flourish and fully open yourself to the adventure. So where ever you are planted, here is some inspiration to get your floral on and bloom!   Image sources: Vogue.com, Pinterest, Elle.com, isisafrica, Marie Claire magazine

Miss Natalie Portman really is this pretty in real life…

Published by

Miss Dior’s newest ad campaign features Miss Portman as a runaway bride and she’s wearing the perfect strapless Dior couture gown embellished in delicate flowers… sigh, it’s the dress we all dream of and along with the sparkling blue waters of the French Riviera it looks like the perfect wedding. That is, until the bride kicks off her shoes, ditches the dress and hikes up a ladder into a helicopter and flies into the Parisian sunset with a super beau co-pilot! Watch the “It’s Miss, Actually” commercial and sob (like I did) when she dumps THE dress! Oh, and did I mention that I get to see this super-star most mornings on school drop-off and she really IS that pretty!  

You’ll never want to take them off!

Published by

A little peek at the Spring Summer 2015 collection of the famous red soled heels by Christian Louboutin. Any gal who sees her heels as more than just accessories and more of an extension of herself will love this cute campaign,”Water in Love” shot by Peter Lippmann, and will force you to add to that ever growing shoe collection and keep those beauties real close! Browse the new collection … (don’t say I didn’t warn you!)  

Dear Doc, do I have to suck in my stomach in all day to have a flat tummy?

Published by

Every Monday morning I promise myself to lay off the baguette, drink more water, eat more raw veggies, use a cellulite cream religiously every day, oh and get to sleep earlier to help my ever darkening black eye bags. By Wednesday the boulangeries (every 20 meters or so) have cruelly lured me in, the cold weather has hampered my l’eau intake, the school run has messed with my cellulite cream and Mr Sandman keeps missing my apartment on early his rounds! However, this doesn’t stop me from enthusiatically starting each Monday with a “this week will be different” mantra. Lucky for me, this week I have a little extra help as I’ve been paging through the funny and useful “Doctor, I want to be the fairest of them all” written by Olivier Courtin-Clarins. The book is super cute – I especially love the illustrations, by Soledad Bravi – has loads of useful tips that cover the whole body. Dull skin? Tight skin? Red skin? Monsieur Courtin-Clarins has a solution to try for all of it. Which foods will help from …

Sitting FROW at Lan Yu Couture at Paris fashion week

Published by

Last night I donned my FROW shoes and headed of to the Grand Palais with my gorgeous friend and model Ingrid Seynhaeve to watch Lan Yu‘s haute couture show. Lan Yu is one of China’s leading couture designers and her previous collections of dreamy wedding dresses make any girl want to get married… or in my case, married again! In last night’s show however there were no white bridal gowns but a striking collection of bright red couture gowns that reflect her personal commitment to preserving and sharing her Chinese culture whilst catering to a contemporary western customer. Her particular passion for the fine art of suzhou (a special technique of the Chinese art of embroidery whose secrets have been passed down through three generations of family) is seen throughout the collection and each gown is a unique masterpiece combining lace, satin and feathers. She’s combined these textures with transparent layers that carefully show off this embroidery skill and even though I would have nowhere to wear one of these showpieces a girl can certainly dream of having one in her …