Do you remember that artsy French movie called “Diva“? It came out in the early 80’s, while I was in the height of my francophile stage. Me and my group of friends must have seen it, and “Betty Blue“, at least 5x each (that would have been in an actual theater…) For us, those 2 films personified everything that was Paris- vibrant, cool, and cutting-edge. Me and my newly-pubescent girlfriends would lie around each others rooms listening to their soundtracks and fantasizing about our French boyfriends- My Fantasy French Boyfriend and I lived in an artist loft with murals painted on the floor, and we would ride around Paris on his scooter. I would wear a black scarf that was about 3 yards too long and wrapped 5 times around my neck, and leg-warmers with scrunchy boots (just like Miou-Miou). My Fantasy French Boyfriend had floppy brown hair, and dreamy blue eyes, and drank
his cafe au lait out of a bowl, and smoked his cigarette with his palm cupped against his mouth (do you know what I mean? “French Guys” smoke like that…) For mid-80’s Kim, the Ultimate Romantic Scene in a French movie was in Betty Blue when Zorg takes Betty out for a drive and opens the trunk of that vintage yellow Mercedes and whips out a birthday cake (with the candles lit, no less!)
As it happens, I grew up and got married and now I live with My French Husband- not in a Paris loft, but in a house in the Paris suburbs. We ride around in a Picasso (a Frenchy mini-van). We drink our cafe au lait out of mismatched Christmas mugs and neither of us has ever smoked. He recently bought a Vespa (but just because there wasn’t parking at his office). His hair used to flop…… BUT he still has the dreamy blue eyes! For early- millennial Kim, the ultimate romantic scene in a French movie tends to feature Daniel Auteuil, rather than some brooding, doe-eyed “ado” with a retro-80’s shag…
Which brings me to the point of my ramblings: I’d like to know what other people consider to be the Ultimate Romantic Scene in a French movie, and why. What is it about that particular scene that stays with you? Have you ever been to visit the spot in Paris (or elsewhere in France) where that scene took place? What was that like? If you were there with your honey, did you try to recreate the scene? 
And, as a little incentive to drop me a line, I’m presenting the very first ever Parisian Party GIVEAWAY: “Pour mon mari, avec amour” - (”To my husband, with Love”), is a mini gift-book of quotes and love poems from all over the world, compiled by Helen Exley and translated into French . With Valentine’s Day just around the bend, this would make a sweet little bisous for your bébé d’amour (be he French or otherwise…). So, go peruse IMDb, and tell all your friends. Be sure to get your comments in by next Monday, February 4th, 12:00AM Paris time. I’ll compile the names, draw one and announce the winner around 8:00PM Paris time that same day. Good luck (this should be fun…)
weddings
Wedding Style
Paris, France
destination wedding
OK, yesterday I had one of those experiences where I thought, “OMG, I actually live in Paris”. I went to a show at l’Hotel de la Monnaie called “Unbridaled- The Marriage of Tradition and Avant-Garde“. Get this: to promote “Crystallized”, their new product brand for all of their loose 
create one-of-a-kind bridal gowns and accessories using their crystals. John Galliano, Vera Wang, Lolita Lempicka, Fendi, Pucci, Armani, Westwood and many, many others took them up on their offer and created the most amazing wedding gown collection ever assembled. Ever! From the Crystallized website: 
over at 
was a glass dome covering the most incredibly sparkly couture shoes ever. Oh, and there was some sort of lady-in-waiting sporting a fur coat which had been “crystallized” as well. Yup. A crystallized fur coat- 
