Hello Dear Readers!

No matter how often my job brings me here, I never get tired of Paris! It has to be one of the most ridiculously beautiful cities on Earth. If you're a city person, this is one trip you've got to make at some point in your life. (Don't forget to bring money.)

Of course, I always love to take in the museums (I'm still working my way through the Louvre, which is huge) the Picasso and the fabulous Centre Pompidou, but there's more to this city than big, cultural monuments. Paris is a city of tiny, out-of-the-way boutiques and bistros, bookstalls and sweet shops. Here's five places in Paris I never miss...






Colette, 213 rue Saint Honoré - 75001
Paris' hipster outpost. Whether it's a pair of Doc Marten's covered in painted flowers, a limited edition Kangaroo Mirror box by artist Jeff Koons, the latest music mix or the handbag product of a collaboration between (fashion model, singer, and France's current First Lady) Carla Bruni and a South African Township design cooperative, this is the place to go.

Berthillon, 29-31 rue Saint Louis en l'ile - 75004
We all scream for ice cream, or in this case glacé, which is even more rich and sinful. Fortunately, the servings are smaller than what we're used to in America (which may be one reason those French women stay so thin). This is also a perfect excuse to visit the Île Saint-Louis; nestled in the Seine (there are plenty of bridges) it's like a small town in the middle of Paris.

Jean Paul Gaultier, 44 Avenue Georges V - 75008
He's brilliant, but like most smart people, he also has a sense of humor (he made that cone bra Madonna wore way back when). His flagship boutique is no less amusing, and his clothes are exquisite. It's worth a visit even if you can't afford anything (and in this economy, who can?)

Mariage Fréres, 30 rue Bourg-Tibourg, - 75004
They've been in business since 1660. And if you want what has been called "the best tea in the world," (more than 500 varieties) this is the place to go. Cozy and inviting, and there's no better place to escape a chilly winter's day.

BHV (Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville) 52-64 rue du Rivoli, - 75004
Want to see how regular Parisians (i.e. not Catherine Deneuve or Jane Birkin) shop? Check out BHV, which is named for its proximity to the Hotel de Ville, which is Paris' City Hall. Chock full of fabulous housewares, clothing, cosmetics and just about anything you could want, it's like Target on steroids. (This will be our secret.)

More to Come! Phyllis

One dress, five options...

One of the most remarkable things about Paris is how pulled-together its female citizens look. No question, Parisiennes know their Fashion. And while there are certainly those Lucky Few who can sweep into some couturier's atelier each season, big checkbook in hand, ready to order a series of outfits each more sumptuous than the next, the average Parisian woman has to watch her pennies just as carefully as her sisters anywhere else.

And yet, every weekday morning, thousands of Parisian women emerge from their homes in neighborhoods fashionable and not-so, looking like a million Euros. "Dressing well, and appropriately, is an innate part of French, female culture," remarks RS Style Director George Kotsiopolous. "The French are still very particular about self-presentation," he observes. "Mothers take a lot of time to teach their daughters about grooming and dressing and the results are obvious."

What may not be so obvious, he observes, is that an incredibly well-dressed Parisian woman may be working with as little as three or four outfits total, where her American cousin may have 15, 20 or more. "What a lot of French women will do is save up for one incredibly well-made, well-tailored dress or suit that they can then wear a million different ways," George explains.

"I have one incredibly chic friend in Paris whose wardrobe essentially consists of one tweed skirt, two blouses, one jacket, one pair of wool trousers, one pair of jeans, some cotton T-shirts and one classic Little Black Dress. It's all very well-made and meticulously-tailored, and she always looks like an heiress."

"She told me 'I don't need a lot of pieces. I buy really high-quality, simple clothes that I never get tired of wearing. They always look good and I can dress them up or down as the occasion - or my mood - demands. When I was younger and I literally had no money, I would actually wear the exact same dress five days in a row, with different shoes and accessories and no one even noticed!"

That's a comforting thought - especially for those of us for whom looking good is a source of succor in the midst of a dreary economy (or job search). With George directing, RS put the Theory of Parisian Chic to the test: One simple (but by no means plain) Dolce and Gabbana black wool sheath was pressed into service and combined with accessories, hairstyles and makeup schemes ranging from Sexy to Serious to Cerebral.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESULTS IN THE FASHION GALLERY!

We think the results speak for themselves. And you? What do you think? Tell us...