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a peak at laduree make-up line

Ok, whoever didn’t swoon when they heard about the new Ladurée make-up line is obviously dead inside. For the REST of you, let’s take a look at what’s in store when Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée launches in Japan on the 29th of this month.

Like the late 18th-century French “Marvelous Ones” that undoubtedly inspired the line, the pretty packages of sweet eye shadows, luscious lipsticks, and flower petal blushes are a delicious mix of femininity and decadence that we Ladurée lovers have come to expect. The collection is slated to launch in Europe in the fall, followed by the U.S. at the end of 2012. Until then- we can only dream…

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paris wedding trend: pearl engagement rings

It’s wedding salon season here in Paris, and while scoping out the latest French wedding fashion, accessory and deco trends, my eyes keep going back to a certain piece of jewelery that’s very hot right now in Paris: The Pearl Engagement Ring.

All over Paris, from trendy contemporary bijoutières like Jean-Marc Garel or Rambaud to classic, haute joaillerie boutiques like Chanel and Dior on the Place Vendôme, newly engaged French women seem to be flocking to get their manicured mitts on one of these gems.

Now, I think big pearl rings are GORGEOUS- the look is so fresh and unique and chic. But is this just because I’ve already “got my bling” (merci, Monsieur Petyt)? I also know that we American girls like our ice. Is this a French wedding trend that American brides-to-be are willing to adopt (and before you “hubby-to-be’s” get too excited, some of these doozies can carry a price tag of upwards from +5000€…) I’d be interested to know what the thought is from across the pond- could you show your face around the water cooler if you sported an engagement pearl instead of a diamond?

top row: yellow gold, cultured tahitian pearls, south sea pearls, precious stone and diamonds, by rambaud. 18k white gold, diamond and pearl, by chanel. “absolute chocolate”: rose gold, cognac diamonds, chocolate pearl, by rambaud. “caprice” pearls and diamonds, by dior. bottom row: golay pearls and yellow gold, by karim rachid (2004). white gold and tahitian black pearl, by dinh van. “nara”: rose gold, diamonds and chocolate pearl by jean-marc garel. “envol”: white gold, tahitian black pearl, by jean-marc garel.

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paris wedding trend 2012: vintage antique lace

I stopped by the Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre over the week-end to find out what’s on the radar for French wedding fashion trends for 2012. First, I have to say that this year’s salon did seem a bit more, well… meager than in years’ past. I expected to see some of the classic vendors that had been staples of the Salon - designers like Ana Quasoar and Cherry Chau, or fabulous florals by Varda. While some of the bigger key players were still on hand- Pronovias and Rosa Clara, for example, I actually didn’t see any florists at all! Jean-Luc Blaise created his customary over-the-top, blinged out opening tablescape- but even it seemed a bit rehashed. In fact, this year’s tablescape looked suspiciously like 2009’s tablescape- just with an overlay change, non?

Top: Salon du Mariage, Carrousel du Louvre 2009 by Jean-Luc Blais,

Bottom: Salon de Mariage, Carrousel du Louvre, 2011 by Jean-Luc Blais

The theme of this years Salon was “Noces de Dentelle” - Lace Wedding, and it was reflected throughout the exhibit space and runway shows. The runway show itself was a bit, um… eclectic. It opened with a gospel sing-a-long (note to gospel groups: the French don’t really seem to go for sing-a-longs…) and above all else, seemed to illustrate the fact that one can go high or low with a lace wedding dress.

Inspired by the theme as well as the current trend, there was a much heavier emphasis on vintage and antique-inspired gowns this year. Some of the finest lace in the world comes from France, and this salon was the perfect vehicle for French lace-makers to strut their stuff. Their work was absolutely beautiful, and at times the Salon felt more like a museum exhibition than a wedding fair- so many of the dresses were near works of art. Having a chance to see this level of handiwork up close was such a rare opportunity, but I think I was happiest to have been able to discover some Parisian wedding dress designers that may have been over-shadowed in the past by their more high-profile colleagues.

I think the take-away from the 2012 Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre was that Paris still reigns supreme as far as wedding gown craftsmanship and artistry is concerned- but I think I may be preaching to the choir on that one, n’est-ce pas?