In Australia, everybody wears them. It’s the official model off-duty outfit since 2005. You see them everywhere in New York and they are on their way to Paris. You can find some fantastic pairs in thrifht shops for about 4$.

Tell me, have you bought a pair of minishorts too? Are they the same as mine, even tighter and shorter than the one on the picture? Are you looking at it telling yourself Woh! This thing is not much bigger than Dita Von Teese’s panties!

Are you wondering if, really, you will be able to go out on the street wearing them?

You’ve gotta imagine a Saint-Tropez filled with stylish girls. The first day, they would all head to K-Jacques and Rondini (including me). The second day, they would painfully experiment with the rising prices in the touristy parts of town (including me, again –> how are you going to try to sell me a pair of Alexander Wang shoes at double their price – 1000 euros). And the third day, they’d finally find happiness in an amazing thrift-shop, the Marché du Marin.

Can you imagine the atmosphere of a showroom during fashion week ? Well, the day I got there, it was exactly the same. Mademoiselle Agnès wasn’t the only one here: she’s got Emmanuelle Alt and Carine Roitfeld with her who are all happily vintage-shoppin’-it-up for their whole family, surrounded by lots of other stylists and fashion people. I didn’t take photos because I’m no paparazzi — except to get Agnès, who was just about on her knees for these too-cool shorts and wanted to show them to me.

Yep. So you’ll have to take my word for it when I tell you that doing your shopping next to Emmanuelle Alt is hell. It’s like she has an antenna for awesome outfits. Every time I saw something that could potentially interest me, from afar, by the time I got there, she would already have it in her hands. This big faded pink fleece sweater, for example. Or this grandpa shirt. Or this awesomely shiny marine vest. Pffffff.

FRUSTRATION! I let it go and promised myself I’d be back the next day, alone, far from any fashion intimidation.

The next day, I pillaged and plundered. And I usually hate vintage stuff in general but it’s like they opened up a treasure chest just for me :

- The clothes smelled good.
- The selection was incredible. Nothing overly stupid or too-much, a big section just for vintage marine wear, but done tastefully. There were also a few lacy things and college sweat-shirts, leather bags, but all was already sifted through. You didn’t have to spend three days to find something which is exactly what drives me nuts in most vintage laces.
- Reasonable prices.
- And then on top of all that, the shop was super cute.

Why isn’t there any places like this in Paris?

PS = THIS IS MY NEW IT-BAG ALL FOR MYSELF. YOU LIKE IT? YOU’D BETTER CAUSE I’VE BEEN CARRYING IT AROUND SINCE WEDNESDAY.

Le Marché Du Marin, 4 Avenue Foch 83990 Saint-Tropez.

Translation : Tim Sullivan

The next time, between two waves of inspiration and four times “Whoooaaaaa your YSL bag is so amazing!!!” I asked her what her favorite places were in Paris. Seeing as I’m often asked for my favorites in Paris and for summaries of each, I’ve always got to have three good places handy so I thought it was time for me to ask some advice for some friends so we could share and everything. Then they’ll hate me forever for revealing their secrets.

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… So as I was saying, Ondine likes color. And all things vintage as well. Like these Chloé sunglasses (I want ‘em) dating back to the early 80s.

Then on her fingers, it’s a real menagerie. As you can see in the other picture from before with her other hand, she collects animal jewelry.

On and get this, this time around, she paid for the coffee.  But the next time…

Translation: Tim Sullivan

Hey! I’m in for a quick stopover in New York after a few days in Arizona, and guess what? SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

The trees are all heavy with flowers! The birds are singing their little hearts out! Girls are wearing light dresses! I feel like tossing all my winter clothes out the window! Especially my tights! Time to lose 5 pounds! No, how ’bout 10!!! And party until the wee small hours! Cut my hair (?)! Go surfing(??) ! Buy myself an iPad (???) ! Adopt a doggy! Get my garden ready! Even if I don’t have one!

But tonight, I’m heading back to Paris.

Okay Paris, listen up and listen well. I love you. But I don’t want to hear it about this whole gray skies thing, OK?

Okay, off to JFK!!! Big hugs and I’ll see you super soon!

… Yes, I know…

…. This was my usual stupid springtime post. Nonsensical and smug, as always. Sorry ’bout that. It’s just that every year I get all giddy and it always happens! I love it. And don’t miss the chance to admire Stevie’s vintage Alaia dress in the first photo… Okay, if I keep going, I’m going to miss my plane. Let’s go! Big hugs!

Right before leaving Milan, I went to go have coffee at Illaria’s. I already loved her style, very 80s inspired, and I swear I almost hallucinated when I saw some of the pieces in her wardrobe. A true vintage mine. Ferragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, collection of Interview Magazine strewn about and even whole bottles of Fidji, a perfume I was so crazy about when I was a kid.

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Aha!  I did end up running into a girl in Pitti. Ilaria. I saw her long mysterious silhouette pass by and right away, she reminded me of pictures of my mother from her golden age in the ’70s. I went to go meet her.

We got along instantly. It had to be the hats that brought us together.  With her vintage Aquascutum coat and her Borsalino, Scott had a good laugh when he saw us together: we were practically wearing the same thing.

But this was not the case the next day: she showed up wearing this huge sweater. Vintage Ferragamo. Aaah.

Ilaria loves getting inspiration from the late ’70s, early ’80s. Back then, Bardot was wearing big hats, Birkin, flowy white shirts and high waists, and Rampling was in sweaters and turbans… And all of them were in boots and the cinched coats that I love so much. Ilaria and I kept talking…

We ended up with the same thought: Hats are fun. You get so many compliments, lots of attention and when you finally take it off, you feel naked. It’s really addictive!

Conclusion: I went back to Borsalino yesterday in Milan, and I tried on these two hats… I think I’m gonna get this one, top & bottom image. I like that it’s very feminine, I like the rounded top, the soft texture and the elegance of its ribbon. What do you think?

Translation : Tim Sullivan