constantinople

Flying to Turkey with a mind prepared to bargain, search and fight for imperial accessories, as well as a wallet freshly stocked at the ATM with crisp euros: dangerous. Oh, and an insatiable hunger for all foods Turkish? Even more risky.

With a tendency to center all my travels around eating and shopping for the gem (often quite literally) of the trip, Istanbul was an ideal trip. I was constantly being stimulated- be it through a melting bite of baklava, touching a handmade pair of intricate, antique earrings, or taking in the sounds of 5-times-daily prayer. Looking at the current stamps in my passport, I can firmly say that the Turkish emblem is one I'm most fond of.

Once I entered the gates of the Grand Bazaar, all I wanted in my hands was a gorgeous, patterned, vividly colored carpet bag. I sprinted from booth to booth, most conversations ending without settling on a fair price and me storming away from the vendor in a purse fueled rage. I had a price in mind and my own it-bag imprinted in my thoughts. Apparently, it wasn't meant to be. I flew back to Paris with several additions to my scarf and jewelry repertoires, but lacking a new bag. Damn it...

keeping up

I tend to capture small moments as they happen, and Instagram seems to be the best way to organize those mini-moments. I can take photos and post them later, as opposed to drafting tweets that become irrelevant by the time WiFi is available. If you'd like to keep up with these postings, my username is elysiamann. See the snaps on the web here (though Webstagram seems to have a lag in updating photos).

antiquities

 

 One of my biggest missions here is to find cheap, fantastic, vintage jewelry to bring home. I've found fantastic pieces; cheap not so much. Though rough on the wallet, Le Louvre des Antiquities is easy on the eyes, and has case after case of stunning jewels spanning centuries. The perfect stop before or after a day at the Louvre for a dose of luxury and window shopping, walk through the halls feeling like a queen while you peer at solid gold lion's heads and pocket watches. I plan to go back just as often as I visit the Louvre--plenty.

street talkin'

 

Each place I visit and travel to, be it a tiny alley in the Lower East Side or a hidden neighborhood in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, I'm entirely drawn to and inspired by street art. There's something about knowing how much passion and power is behind those spray-painted streaks excites me, plus the bright colors are one of the most sincere ways to brighten up city streets. Get a taste of what I've been peering at in the past few weeks above and below.

 

the reason I'm here?

Phew, time flies. Finding time to blog is even more difficile than expected. Anyways, let's get to the root of Paris and what pulled me across the sea:

The fashion! The shopping! The stylish culture!

I might also have been attracted by these, this, and, um, these (1, 2, 3). (Real talk: these people aren't human. Something in their water breeds pure beauty.)

But the fashion!

So during my class breaks last week, I scoped out some of the best shops near campus (in the Marais district). Beyond the tiny boutiques that are way above my budget, I discovered a couple of gems.

Vintage, vintage, vintage. Fur, leather, denim. I cannot get enough. I've been shockingly good and haven't shopped too much; hopefully the window shopping will continue to suffice. I'll try to update more often! Parisian life is keeping me busy, busy, busy. For now, une bise for all!

part une

Day 3 of Par-ree is coming to a close. 

Thoughts so far? I love the culture-- no matter how many people say Parisians are persistently pissed, I prefer the terms private, composed, and pulled-together. Every single thing I've seen so far has been fairy-tale-style gorgeous, and the charm of the country reflects in each of the city's citizens. Most people are friendly as long as some broken Française is at least attempted and you don't look like a stupide Américain; blending in with the norms is highly appreciated.

More to come as I explore further! Please send any and all recommendations to eat, play, and see to elysiamann@fashionfille.com. 

Bisous!