PARIS - A COMPARATIVE STUDY, CHAPTER 2.

It seems like everything in this city is polarized within 2 axioms of good and bad, of nice and naughty. For instance, people that roam the street are nothing short of horribly Rotten, while the ones I actually meet (Bonjour, bise bise, moi c'est Helena, enchantée) are arguably much nicer than...dare I say it...Montrealers? Gasp! 

They go out of their way to include you in their fast-paced and heavily-intonated discussions, they insist to pay for your meal, dranks as to welcome you to their city, they offer to you their number in case you need anything... What is going on?? 

While bad cop is busy refusing to give you directions, or, in the latest developments, working at the shoe shop and messing up your put-away or bitching about the fact that you interrupted their shop floor gossip sesh with a question about hair conditionner ("ughh, c'est un après-shampooing, c'est çaaaa??"), good cop is striking up a conversation with you at the Sephora lineup and giving you her card - "N'hésites surtout pas!"

Are Parisians actually nice? Do they smile? Do they dance in front of their mirror? Do they melt at the sound of laughing children?

Do they put up this hard cold front when in reality they're just all mushy and warm? 

Or is the City so damn cold that whenever they actually get to really interact with somebody, they release all the niceness that they have been suppressing?

Or are there 2 distinct species sharing a common ancestor, but whose genetic predisposition to tolerance and kindness diverged somewhere along stepping in dog shit, not being able to find a taxi (yeah more on that later), and cramming like sardines in the metro?

If you want to follow my séjour photo-diary-style, including but not limited to pictures of French puppy shit, follow me on instagram @helenaliang.

PARIS - A COMPARATIVE STUDY, CHAPTER 1.

Soooo another hiatus, but for good reason as I was prepping (mostly mentally)  for the golden opportunity of a 4 month internship in...Paris. So here I was, packing Altfits and Loubs, grooving to Joris, sipping on café au lait all the while getting ready to only look at my man through my Facetime screen, and to nestle in my 10m squared studio. But I would be in Paris! The romance, the history, the lights, the fashion! The studio I rented is in Bastille, a terrific, lively neighbourhood! Everything was going to be mighty fine and mighty fabulous!

(images google, jak&jil, garance doré, sartorialist)

Ahem. 

My first interaction with a Parisian was when I was lost on my street, holding on to my huge luggage, I searched around confusingly and couldn't find my door. I stopped a guy walking past for directions. He had this to say:

"Vous ne voyez paaas, que jsuis au téléphoooneuh?" (Can't you seee zat I'm on ze pheuune?)

The charming rue de Lappe that wiki described is actually a full-on terrorshow. My modest building is tucked between a slew of loud, overflowing bars, restaurants and kebab counters (more on THAT later), and my studio? I think nothing can reflect my feelings about it better than the lines I furiously scribbled into my journal.

"These first days in Paris have been nothing less than a nightmare."

"My apartment can be best described as a shit hole."

"The studio will be henceforth called the SH."

"I spent the better part of my first day scrubbing the SH from top to bottom, and crying."

etc.

This is my Paris:

The façade of the SH. Modest charm?

The SH, post scrubbing. Modest charm?

And the best at last, the SH, flooded after my first shower. Dare I say it, MODEST CHARM?

DO IT YOURSELF, GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE

I absolutely loooove this DIY, mostly because the video is so adorbs.. If you're like me, and aren't that much of a "jeweled" kind of girl, this would make a cute gift. Perhaps add a little hand written note  specifying to "hand wash". 

STENDIG

I've received a few questions concerning my Stendig calendar. It's got a really decent size (48" x 36"), and is great and cheap way to add a little design flair to any space.

I got mine at Nota Bene on Park avenue.

A BITE OF THE BIG APPLE

Oh hiiii. While I've certainly mastered the art of non-blogging during my 2 months hiatus from HBD,  I am back today, bearing pictures of my past weekend escape to the city that truly, doesn't sleep.

Subway Bodega 

Feminist art installation and view, MoMA.

Fresh deliciousness at Eataly. 

Perusing the Chelsea Flea Market.

Lunch at Friedman's in the Chelsea Market.

Warranted tourist moment - Times Square.  

1 a.m. ramen dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar. 

High winds at the Highlines.

And alas, Brooklyn, my heart belongs to your on this trip.

I realize that it looks like I spent the 5 days dressed in the same clothes, and also what a bad blogger I am for not taken the formidable opportunity of having NYC as the backdrop to some serious blogger worthy pictures...
Most of the time I'm just sporting a variation of the above - leather pants, this Theory jumper I got in Soho, my fur vest (an ebay score!) and chucks. I'm not ashamed to admit that the main objective of this trip was to feast upon the Big Apple's culinary scene. 
#Nom

GROOVYBABY - PART DEUX

Here you go. Part deux.

GRAVLAX

image via pinterest

So little work, so much yummy (and healthy!) in tummy.

There are many variations for this Scandinavian dish, but I went for the classic one requiring only 5 ingredients (salmon filet, salt, sugar, pepper and dill). Click here for a step by step tutorial. 

PS: I didn't add the dill seeds and it turned out just as good.

SPEAKING OF: OXBLOOD

image via style.com

If you are looking for ways to incorporate Oxblood into your wardrobe, get inspired by the above look by Proenza Schouler. Oxblood, Khaki, Black, White. Mm-mm-mm!

BEANIE

images via polyvore

Alas, it's that time of year again. I've been looking for a cute beanie to keep my ears warm, and as any reason is a good one for more cajjjjmere, here are my picks for the season. And yes, I love my poms.

GROOVYBABY - PART ONE

Recently, my friend J's playlist met mine - and the result is groovybaby. It was too much to share at once with you, so here's Part(o) Uno.

PS: Am I the last one of earth to have learnt about converting youtube videos to audio?

OXBLOOD

images via polyvore

I think that everybody should explore a new colour each season. I know I for one could certainly use a bit of that excitement. This fall? Try Oxblood. The beauty of this colour is that if you're more of a shades and tones kind of gal (read: blacks and grays), it will mesh wonderfully with the rest of your wardrobe. 

Unsure? Start with something small, like a lipstick (like the above Nars 'Volga', or Mac's 'Media') or a mani (like Essie's 'Burgundies'). Or, if you're like me and are ready to take the plunge, the cambridge satchel variation is amazing (hello xmax gift idea!), as is the AllSaints 'Sagan' blazer, or these 'Larson' booties from 80%20. Last but certainly not least, you can (and should) tuck your girlies in this sassy animal print number from Agent Provocateur.

TACO NIGHT

L, J and I are leanin' and cleanin' it for a skinnier November, so when it came time to host a night-in eat-out, without making our diets go loco, what's better than fish tacos? What else made the cut? Bites of spring salsa on endive and pompous bloody caesars dressed in oyster, pickle, olive and shrimpy finery.

HAIRDREAMING

photo: vanessajackman

I'm bipolar when it comes to hair - one day I want it short, the next I'll take it bum-grazing. I guess I'm still growing myself a hair-sonality. Today? I'll take it just the perfect length for a Antonio Beradi style braid.

DÉPANNEUR LE PICK UP

photo: depanneurlepickup

Saturday lunchtime brought L, J and I to a dépanneur (or a bodega for you non-quebeckers). A quick glance around, and you soon realize that it isn't your typical corner store. The rows of Kettle chips (my weakness!), organic mac n' cheese and a coconut water aside, the picnic table right smack beside the beer aisle is indication enough. The menu is simple, cheap and enticing - and the food, delectable. I ordered the grilled Haloum with mint coleslaw on multi-grain bread with a side of potatoes (a medley of sweet and regular). I took a bite of L's pulled pork - it's like a flavour explosion in  your mouth. 

Wearing: Jacket F21, Boatneck Space FB, Shorts Zara.