What to Do and How to Pack for Paris Fashion Week
Here, Marie Claire's digital director shares her top picks for what to do in Paris and how to pack for each excursion.
Welcome to The Agenda. Each month a Marie Claire editor opens up their Outlook cal to share an event they're looking forward to in the next few weeks—and that chic, globe-trotting women like yourself may want to add to your own calendars. Here, exactly where to go, what to do, and how to pack for your next trip.
Happy September! This month always brings with it back-to-school vibes, Virgo season (have you reorganized your closet yet?!), and, for the editors at Marie Claire, fashion month. New York Fashion Week kicks off this week and London, Milan, and finally Paris, will follow with designers presenting their Spring/Summer 2020 (eep!) collections to editors, buyers, and fashion fans alike.
This season I'm traveling to Paris for eight days at the end of September for the French shows and I am excited. Paris is one of my very favorite places in the world (I studied abroad there during college and travel back every chance I get!), and I can't wait to visit all my go-to spots. Plus, Paris in September? Heaven! I know everyone loves the summer months, but I'm already itching to put on cozy sweaters and try out my new fall denim buys. A turtleneck and trouser jeans in the Tuileries? Yes, please!
My schedule is going to be busy with back-to-back shows, but there are certain musts I'm determined to squeeze in this trip. Here, my top picks for what to do in Paris and how to pack for each excursion.
1. Drinks at The Lutetia's Bar Joséphine
I can already taste the glass of Champagne I'm going to order at Bar Joséphine. This uber chic spot inside The Lutetia Hotel, located on the Left Bank, is the perfect destination for a early evening or late night cocktail. Conveniently located steps from the Bon Marché (in case you want to do some pre- or, more dangerously, post-Champagne shopping) in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it's where I'll be camped out at the end of the night, unwinding from a day of shows. An ode to Belle époque France, the décor is breath-taking and feels quintessentially Parisian. Picasso, Matisse, Josephine Baker, and James Joyce all spent time at Hotel Lutetia (which first opened in 1910), so I'm hoping to channel their creative vibes from my seat at the bar. The spot also boasts some delicious sounding signature cocktails, like the Jardin de Provence (blended whisky, reduction of Suze with lemon peels, white Lillet, chartreuse, homemade cardamom tintura, and Provencal herbs), and, fittingly, the Rive Gauche (Guillotine vodka, St-Germain liquor, shrub flavored with citrus and celery, and champagne). Yum.
For a peak Parisian spot, I want to dress appropriately Parisienne, which, to me, means effortlessly chic. A cropped, tailored jean with a black top and classic sling-backs paired with a classic red lip is the perfect late-afternoon-into-evening outfit.
What to Pack for Drinks at The Lutetia's Bar Joséphine
2. A Trip to the Rodin Museum
The Musée Rodin is one of my absolute favorite museums for several reasons. First, a great chunk of the museum is actually outside, set in a beautiful garden. Especially in late September, being able to walk along the manicured paths and taking in The Thinker andThe Gates of Hell en plein air is such a treat. Second, inside, in addition to several of Rodin's most famous sculptures like The Kiss, the museum houses a number of stunning masterpieces from famous artists. Renoir’s Nude in the Sunlight, Monet’s Belle-Île, and three works from Van Gogh can be found tucked away on the top floor of the museum.
Since I'm planning to sneak a visit to the Rodin Museum in between runway shows, I'm going to wear something that makes as much sense for the front row as it does for a sculpture garden. I love a neutral, monochrome look, and oatmeal hues feel like the perfect transitional pick. Since the end of September can be cooler in Paris, I'm opting for a cozy knit and sleek cashmere blend trousers. And I love the idea of this Chylak bag as a twist on the tourist fave fanny-pack.
What to Pack for a Trip to the Rodin Museum
3. Hot Chocolate at Angelina
If you've never had the hot chocolate at Angelina, the famous tea room tucked under the rue de Rivoli arcades situated across from the Tuileries, it's worth a trip to Paris just to try it. Seriously. Perhaps more appropriately described as "hot melted chocolate" than just "hot chocolate," the drink isn't the Swiss Miss powdered business you had as a kid/last time it snowed/made at the office coffee machine yesterday. It's thick, super rich, and such a glorious treat—especially when paired with a macaron or one of Angelina's signature pastries.
Because Angelina is just steps from the Tuileries, my pro tip would be to get a chocolat chaud to-go (which you can do at the counter—and means you don't have to wait for a table), and sip it as you meander the garden. For this excursion, I'm planning to go cozy: A fuzzy sweater and slip skirt is the perfect pulled-together comfortable look, and these shearling slides are like chic (and walkable) slippers I can actually step out of the house in.
What to Wear for Hot Chocolate at Angelina
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