France
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I tried the Tea Time at the George V Paris (Four Seasons)
Several Parisian palace hotels offer tea time. We already tried the one at the Ritz Paris in a beautiful setting, so it’s time to try the one at the George V Paris. I know this palace by name, and I know for instance that they have a Hermès boutique (it’s the only hotel in all of Paris to have one), very well-trained estheticians (a facial or a massage at George V is on my wishlist). When JB suggested going there, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I’ve been so spoiled with many luxury hotels in Asia , and and in Dubai in recent years that the George V lobby cooled…
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Rouen, Harfleur, Le Havre (France): a little weekend away from the Parisian gloom – 2022
After a stopover in Germany, JB and I take the train to the Paris region, where we stay for just over two months for family reasons. The Parisian vibe is never extraordinary, especially when the weather is gloomy and gray. One day, on a whim, my friend M. and I decide to stop putting up with this bleakness and head off, leaving our respective husbands behind, for a girls’ weekend. It’s the first time we’ve traveled together, so I’m a bit apprehensive. We’re both picky, with our own travel habits—will we come back as best friends like before, or as worst enemies? Luckily, everything went smoothly. For the first destination,…
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Review of my (free!) lunch at Mallory Gabsi’s in Paris
With our card With American Express Platinum, we get a great perk every year: a €400 reimbursement for restaurant expenses at a selection of fine dining establishments. It’s even a perk you can enjoy twice, as this €400 is split into €200 in France and €200 abroad. While in Paris, we took advantage of this offer to have lunch at Mallory Gabsi’s, on Rue des Acacias in the 17th arrondissement. I didn’t know, but Mallory Gabsi is a Belgian chef who became known for reaching the semi-finals of the TV show Top Chef in 2020. Anh, who was supposed to join me, wasn’t feeling well that morning. It was too…
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Visit of the Delvaux store in Paris
After visiting the Moynat workshops, we are walking down the street when we pass by the Delvaux boutique. It’s a brand I’ve been following on Instagram for several months, so I’m pleased to see the bags in person. We are very, very well received. The store is almost empty, so we can ask as many questions as we want to our salesperson. He is extremely passionate, and very proud to have visited the Delvaux workshops in Belgium (of which he showed us photos). When he saw that I knew about leather, he was able to give me even more details about the exotic leathers in the store. In short, a…
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Special Days: Tour of the Moynat Workshops in Paris
The visit took place in October 2022, but I’m only getting around to writing a post about it now 😀 I’m not paid by anyone, no one’s sponsoring me, these opinions are my own, thanks! I first heard about and Moynat on YouTube: fashionistas frustrated by the cold, dismissive reception at Hermès and Goyard are turning to Moynat to get products they claim are “equivalent” to Hermès for less money and, above all, available. After doing some research, I found out that Moynat is part of the LVMH group, and that’s perfect! The LVMH Special Days offer a tour of Moynat’s workshops, and since most shareholders have never heard of…
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[story time] The day I dismasted on a Route du Rhum boat
October 4, 2014, 7:30 AM, I’m at Orly airport and about to experience an exceptional day! The employee I was at the time had been invited by a partner who sponsors a skipper who would be taking part in the famous Route du Rhum a month later. The plan: flight to Lorient, a day at sea, and a train ride back in the evening. There were seven of us in total: one of my colleagues came along, two people from the partner company inviting us, two people from one of their major clients, and the skipper! After breakfast upon arriving in Lorient, we met the skipper, who showed us his…
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Review & experience: Buying the Dior Zodiac Constellation 90cm silk twill scarf at 261 Rue St Honoré
I’m not the type to be a season ahead when it comes to fashion & accessories trends, so when I discovered Dior’s 2021 collection, it was already 2022. Looking at the products, I wanted to buy everything, which is rare because I’m generally not drawn to what Dior sells (except for the rings). Part of the collection was designed by artist Pietro Ruffo, and I fell in love with all his drawings for Dior, especially the “Zodiac” collection and the “Mille Fleurs” collection. This scarf is what made me come to Dior. In a video made by Dior, the artist explained his design: This universe is strongly influenced by magic,…
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I went back to studying law with Agorassas: My Review
Context : I’m writing this article right after taking my first law exams with Agorassas; my opinion may evolve in the coming months, and I’ll try to keep this article updated. Agorassas: what is it? Agorassas is the “digital campus” of Paris II Panthéon-Assas University. It allows you to pursue a law degree remotely. You can progress through the program without any geographical or scheduling constraints. You can study from anywhere, at any time. The curriculum and diploma are exactly the same as the on-campus program. Why did I dive into this? Here’s my personal background: I have a background in IT, I’m in my mid-30s, I’m self-employed, and I…
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My Hermès Collection: Carres, Gavroche, Small Leather Goods, Books, Cosmetics
I’m not very sensitive to brands, especially luxury ones, because I feel they look fake on me as an Asian person, so I’m very surprised to now have a Hermès collection. It’s a series of events that sparked my curiosity about this luxury brand, which has managed to maintain its image and reputation, and is the one that fights the most against counterfeits. Since then, I’ve been a huge Hermès fan. I bought these two books about Hermès carrés (Amazon link) & Hermès bags (Amazon link), to learn more about the brand. In the book “Carrés d’art IV” (Amazon link), we get the complete list of all Hermès carrés, along…
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My Current Favorites [January 2022]: Suitcase, Leather Goods, Hermès, Clothing, Cosmetics
After 6 months in Thailand where I had to take a speedboat to get to the only shopping mall on the island across to go shopping, I took advantage of a month in France to stock up on my favorite products, and change up my style a bit since I’m hiking less and less, I’m aiming for a more urban look. Warning, there are tons of purchases, and I paid for everything with my own money. If you’re a minimalist, look away. Samsonite Quadrix Spinner Suitcase Let’s start with my new suitcase. Before, I had a cabin suitcase, also from Samsonite. I love it, it’s super sturdy and has been…
